“Of me?” he asked, legitimately surprised.
“Oh, he sounds hot,” Andrea said through the speaker, and Penny pushed her phone up against her chest.
“Yep, just a quick shot,” she squeaked.
Brett leaned back in his chair and gave a cheesy grin.Damn it.This was going to be bad. Penny snapped a picture and texted it to Andrea. “There, you happy?”
“It hasn't come through yet, so no.”
Penny tapped her fingers on the arm of the couch as she waited, then heard the audible gasp.
“What the hell, Penny?You didn't tell me you were sleeping with the blonde version of Jason Momoa!”
Penny's cheeks flushed an angry shade of red, and she stalked into the other room so her sister's shrill voice wouldn't carry through the kitchen.
She tried to keep her voice low as she hissed, “Housemates, Andrea! I'm not sleeping with anyone!”
Brett coughed behind her, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Apparently her strategy hadn’t worked.
“Well, now I know exactly why you haven't sent me a picture. This guy isexactlyyour type. Did you notice that little detail before you signed on to live there?”
“No, Andrea. No, I did not. Because I’m a professional. Plus, I don’thavea type or—”
“I give it two weeks.”
Penny gritted her teeth. “Mmm, that's wonderful, Andrea. Whatelseare you working on for that project you have going on for that thing? On that . . . day?”
Andrea snorted. “Wow, great cover. Sorry, am I embarrassing you in front of your newhousemate?”
“Always. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about, or was this purely a reconnaissance call?”
“Nope, I am fully satisfied. I thinkyoucould also be fully sat—”
“Really? That’s where you’re going with this?”
Andrea laughed, and the sound of tinkling metal gave Penny a perfect mental image of her sister and the slim bracelets she always wore around her wrists. “Having any luck on the job front?”
“Working on it.” Penny stalked back into the hall.
“Excellent. Tamara already sent me her portion.”
“Of course she did.”
“No competition, Pens. We understand you're in transition.”
“Well, thank you for that.”
“Ooh! I found a place for the party, the ballroom at Winnleton.”
Penny grinned as she reentered the kitchen. “Oh, that'll be perfect. Mom loves that place. Do they have any idea?”
“No, they think Theo and I are taking them out for dinner. That's it.”
Giddiness bubbled up Penny’s throat. They'd never done anything like this, and her parents had no idea what was about to hit them. “Okay, love you, Andrea. Thanks for checking in.”
“Thanks for the eye candy. I might have to pop that in the family chat.”
Penny groaned. “Please don't.”
