If he does it again, I swear to God, I’m going to puke all down his back.
Remi’s eyes widened. “Gunnar, when a woman laughs like that, you gotta abort mission or end up in the weeds.”
That’s right, Remi, you freaking tell him!
“Where are you planning on taking her?” As if Remi was determined to make sure his brother didn’t ignore the warning he’d just given, he stood out of his chair and stepped in between them. Thankfully, Jerk-God released her arm and Jorja took three steps back.
“My apartment, where I know she can’t escape.”
What the heck does he think I am?
Wonder Woman? Maybe Spider Woman?
Dumbass.
She was resourceful; she’d find a way. Even if it meant waiting until he was asleep to do it.
“Bro, this whole place is like Fort freaking Knox.” Remi turned to his computer and shut off the screen. “Ain’t nobody coming in or out of here unless we allow it.” He stepped around Gunnar and went to the door. “I’m hungry, and I’m craving curry cheese fries.”
“What the heck, Rem, are you pregnant?” Gunnar muttered.
“Nope, I’ve just been eating healthy shit for too long.” Remi held the war-room door open. “Move your asses. I’m going to the main kitchen. You can finish the debate of where Jorja stays while I cook.”
Jorja watched the silent power play between the brothers as they glared at each other and decided it might benefit her to play them off each other. She’d never had curry cheese fries before, but they were now officially her most favorite food on the planet. “I adore curry cheese fries.” She side-stepped Jerk-God and smiled at Remi. “I’d love to try yours, if you are willing to share?”
“Absolutely.” Remi grinned at her. “Just as soon as Gunnarmoves his ass out of my office, I’ll make you some,” he promised.
Gunnar’s jaw tightened and he grumbled something under his breath which she couldn’t hear. But clearly, he’d decided this was a battle he wasn’t likely to win, and he stalked toward them. Jorja jumped back to avoid her toes being trampled on and stared after him as strode toward an archway further down the courtyard. “He looks pissy.”
“Hah.” Remi locked the war-room door. “Gunnar is always a grumpy shit, and pissing him off is one of the few fun things I do.”
Jorja walked next to Remi. “You do it often, huh?”
“Every damn day, if I have time.” Remi pushed open a door and led her into a massive but cozy kitchen.
Jorja ignored the glower from Gunnar who sat at the head of the table in the center of the room. “What can I do to help?” she asked Remi. Let the brooding Jerk-God brood his pants off. It reminded her she was happy to be an only child, even if she’d wished for the opposite when she was a kid.
“Nah, I got it.” Remi opened a door to what turned out to be a pantry. He grabbed a wicker basket of potatoes and returned to the sink. “I like to cook.” He dumped some potatoes into the sink and turned on the faucet. “I can do it without thinking too much, unless I’m experimenting with a recipe.”
She totally understood that concept. How many hours did she spend on her phone playing some matching game, hoping the repetitive nature of the swiping across the screen would settle her runaway mind? Candy Crush was both the bane of her existence as it was the ultimate time waster. On other days, it was her only sanity. She and Candy Crush had a love-hate relationship at this point. But she didn’t care if it was a time-killer, or that her mom called it her procrastination crutch. It soothed her brain, so it fulfilled a purpose.She hovered near where Remi filled a pot of oil and put it on the stove. The uncomfortable silence echoed around the room. She opened her mouth and snapped it shut again when Remi hit a button over the stove and soft music filled the kitchen.
“Coffee is there.” Remi nodded to a cabinet which had been set up as a coffee station. “Or there is wine in the fridge if you prefer. Water and juice too. Help yourself.”
“Thanks.” Having something to do instead of standing around holding down the floorboards was a relief. “Do you want something too?”
“Mons—”
“Nope.” The humming which she hadn’t noticed until it stopped paused. “No Monster for him. His brain is already running on too little sleep and too much caffeine,” Gunnar said.
“I thought all you macho types ran on too little sleep and too much caffeine. Isn’t that part of your DNA makeup or something?” She opened the fridge and found an open bottle of white wine in the door. Perfect, that would do. She wasn’t fussy when it came to wine. As long as it was white and cold, she’d drink it. “Glasses?” she asked Remi.
“Here.” Gunnar reached over her head to a cupboard over the top of the fridge.
Jorja jumped at the sound of his voice behind her and whacked the top of her head off his chin. “Shit. Quit sneaking around.”
“I’m in my own damn kitchen.” Gunnar placed the glasses on the counter next to the fridge. “I’m not sneaking anywhere. You didn’t know where the glasses were,” he pointed out.
That was true. But while she might admit it in her head, she wasn’t going to tell him he was right. Because from what she’d seen, he already ducked to get under doors. His headdidn’t need to get any freaking bigger. She flipped open the wine stopper and filled all three glasses to half full.
