ass.” James was relieved, until Jake looked over at him. “Unless you don’t understand just how special Cassie is.”
Now that it was his turn to speak, James wasn’t sure he could. Not with four pairs of intense green eyes pinned to him. He cleared his throat three times before he could get anything out.
“I realize how special Cassandra is. I realized that the first time I met her.” The first time he’d met her, he did think she was special. Of course, her satin underwear and purse filled with condoms had helped sway his opinion. But he wasn’t about to let that slip. He liked living too much. Living with no cracked ribs or broken arms.
He cleared his throat again. “Not only is she beautiful, but she’s intelligent and funny.”
“Funny?” Matt looked confused. “Since when has Cass been funny?”
“She was funny when she tried to jump her tricycle over that ramp Jake and I made.” Rory laughed. “But you were too young to remember that. You were still clinging to Mom’s skirts.”
“I never clung to Mom’s skirts.”
“Yes, you did. You were the biggest Mama’s boy I’ve ever seen,” Jake stated. “But Cass breaking her arm wasn’t exactly funny, Rory.”
“No, but a flying red tricycle was.”
“Could we get back to threatening her new boyfriend?” Patrick grumbled.
“Are you her boyfriend?” Rory asked.
“Yes,” James said. He wasn’t, but he wanted to be.
Jake studied him. “You’re older than the others.”
Shit. He was starting to get a complex. Lance and Rod might not have better equipment, but from the sound of things it was newer.
“Could we get on with it?” Patrick’s scowl had deepened to something close to a snarl.
“Right.” Jake nodded at James. “You were saying?”
With all the banter, it took James a second to remember what he’d been saying. “I think Cassandra is special, too. And I have no intention of doing anything to harm her.” Except maybe lie through my teeth so I’ll get to hang out with her long enough to eventually get her into bed. God, he probably did need his ass kicked. Fortunately, her brothers couldn’t read minds.
Though he didn’t smile, Jake relinquished his pinched look and stuck out a hand. “So I hear you’re an architect.”
Before James could reply, Matthew butted in. “That’s it? You guys made me come all the way out here, freezing my ass off, just to get him to say that he thought Cassie was special?” He turned and trudged back up the path. “What dumbasses.”
“Don’t mind him.” Rory shook his hand. “He just wants to get back inside to all the women.” He shivered in the cold. “Which isn’t a bad idea.”
Jake nodded and rubbed his hands together. “I agree. Let’s finish this conversation inside.”
James took a step to follow, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. A very strong and persuasive hand. It seemed that Patrick wasn’t so easily assuaged.
“Let me make things a little clearer for you.” Patrick stepped around in front of him. “Mess with my sister and I’ll mess with you.” Not waiting for a reply, he turned and tromped after his brothers.
James followed, but at a safe distance.
Maybe he should skip looking in the trash cans and take things a little slower.
Chapter Five
A my Walker finished unloading the last set of glasses from the tray, then grabbed a sponge and quickly wiped the cracker crumbs off the granite countertop. She knew she shouldn’t be in the kitchen wiping off counters and cleaning up dirty glasses. Especially when this wasn’t even her house. And when there were company employees she should be helping to entertain. And when the Hillshires had hired plenty of caterers and waitstaff.
But she couldn’t seem to help herself. When she was upset or nervous, she cleaned, straightened, and organized anything and everything she could get her hands on. During college finals week, she reorganized her entire apartment. From the refrigerator to the
Now that it was his turn to speak, James wasn’t sure he could. Not with four pairs of intense green eyes pinned to him. He cleared his throat three times before he could get anything out.
“I realize how special Cassandra is. I realized that the first time I met her.” The first time he’d met her, he did think she was special. Of course, her satin underwear and purse filled with condoms had helped sway his opinion. But he wasn’t about to let that slip. He liked living too much. Living with no cracked ribs or broken arms.
He cleared his throat again. “Not only is she beautiful, but she’s intelligent and funny.”
“Funny?” Matt looked confused. “Since when has Cass been funny?”
“She was funny when she tried to jump her tricycle over that ramp Jake and I made.” Rory laughed. “But you were too young to remember that. You were still clinging to Mom’s skirts.”
“I never clung to Mom’s skirts.”
“Yes, you did. You were the biggest Mama’s boy I’ve ever seen,” Jake stated. “But Cass breaking her arm wasn’t exactly funny, Rory.”
“No, but a flying red tricycle was.”
“Could we get back to threatening her new boyfriend?” Patrick grumbled.
“Are you her boyfriend?” Rory asked.
“Yes,” James said. He wasn’t, but he wanted to be.
Jake studied him. “You’re older than the others.”
Shit. He was starting to get a complex. Lance and Rod might not have better equipment, but from the sound of things it was newer.
“Could we get on with it?” Patrick’s scowl had deepened to something close to a snarl.
“Right.” Jake nodded at James. “You were saying?”
With all the banter, it took James a second to remember what he’d been saying. “I think Cassandra is special, too. And I have no intention of doing anything to harm her.” Except maybe lie through my teeth so I’ll get to hang out with her long enough to eventually get her into bed. God, he probably did need his ass kicked. Fortunately, her brothers couldn’t read minds.
Though he didn’t smile, Jake relinquished his pinched look and stuck out a hand. “So I hear you’re an architect.”
Before James could reply, Matthew butted in. “That’s it? You guys made me come all the way out here, freezing my ass off, just to get him to say that he thought Cassie was special?” He turned and trudged back up the path. “What dumbasses.”
“Don’t mind him.” Rory shook his hand. “He just wants to get back inside to all the women.” He shivered in the cold. “Which isn’t a bad idea.”
Jake nodded and rubbed his hands together. “I agree. Let’s finish this conversation inside.”
James took a step to follow, but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. A very strong and persuasive hand. It seemed that Patrick wasn’t so easily assuaged.
“Let me make things a little clearer for you.” Patrick stepped around in front of him. “Mess with my sister and I’ll mess with you.” Not waiting for a reply, he turned and tromped after his brothers.
James followed, but at a safe distance.
Maybe he should skip looking in the trash cans and take things a little slower.
Chapter Five
A my Walker finished unloading the last set of glasses from the tray, then grabbed a sponge and quickly wiped the cracker crumbs off the granite countertop. She knew she shouldn’t be in the kitchen wiping off counters and cleaning up dirty glasses. Especially when this wasn’t even her house. And when there were company employees she should be helping to entertain. And when the Hillshires had hired plenty of caterers and waitstaff.
But she couldn’t seem to help herself. When she was upset or nervous, she cleaned, straightened, and organized anything and everything she could get her hands on. During college finals week, she reorganized her entire apartment. From the refrigerator to the
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