“Am I allowed to leave the house, Andrew?” I asked carefully, my hand already on the door handle at my back.
His brow dipped in a slight frown and his jaw tightened noticeably. “Of course. You’re not a prisoner, Evelyn.”
A small breath of relief rushed out of my lungs, and I turned the door handle to open it.
“But since it’s after dark and the path back to the main grounds winds through the trees, it would be safer if you didn’t go alone.”
Irritation made my teeth clench, and I gave him a sarcastic smile. “Thanks but no thanks. I’ve taken self-defense classes. I’m sure I can handle any rabid racoons that might harass me on the five-minute walk.”
Not waiting for his reply—because like he said, I wasn’t aprisoner—I exited the house and pulled the door firmly shut behind myself. I could not make my point clearer if I’d written it into a legally annotated document for him.
So why in the fuck did Brodie come jogging after me before I’d made it fifty yards down the path?
“Are you serious?” I exclaimed when he caught up. “I can walk myselfjust fine.”
He quirked a brow like he didn’t understand my animosity. “I’m sure you can, Evie babe. I’m heading to Aster Hall to…uh…visit a friend.” His sexy grin said exactly what kind of friend he was going to meet with. “Seemed creepy if I was just following fifty feet behind instead of walking with you, since we’re living together and all.”
“All of it is creepy,” I deadpanned. “Don’t get confused about how this situation reads.”
Brodie just grinned good-naturedly, and I wondered how this famous, gorgeous, rich-as-fuck guy could appear so down-to-earth. If anyone ever questioned his acting skill in my presence, I would be setting them straight without hesitation. Because he was good.
By the time I made it to the main campus grounds, I found an empty cafeteria, and most of the students were either in their dorms or studying. I hadn’t really thought through my intentions in marching out. Mostly it was to prove that I was in factnota prisoner, and there might have been a secondary thought of catching up with Nina.
What could I tell her though? I guess I could let her know I wasn’t in the main dorm rooms any longer, but everything that went on in the house was firmly covered under the NDA, so if she asked me any questions, I probably couldn’t answer them.
It’d be better to not mention anything until there was no other choice. She could just assume I was gone from the dorm every time she stopped by.
“Everything okay?”
I jumped about a foot in the air because I’d completely forgotten my stalker. “Shit, Brode,” I said, slamming my hand against my chest to hopefully calm my heart’s frantic beat. “I forgot you were even there. We need to get you a bell or something.”
His lips twitched. “I have to say, you’re hell on a guy’s ego, Evie babe. I’m not sure I’ve ever had a chickforget I was therebefore. Though I do like the new nickname. Pretty sure that makes us besties now.” He bopped me on the nose. “And besties don’t forget besties are standing there.”
“Please stop saying bestie. You’re making it creepyandweird now.”
Brodie just shrugged, like he was okay with that assessment. “Did you change your mind about coming to campus?”
Needing to conceal that I had nowhere to go and no one I trusted enough to talk to, I deflected. “Weren’t you off to blow some woman’s mind?”
He was suddenly a lot closer to me, his expression serious as he brushed back a strand of my hair, tucking it behind my ear. He let his fingers linger along my cheek for seconds longer than was required in the circumstances, and I felt that gentle touch all the way to my core. “I don’t believe I said anything about blowing a woman’s mind, but if you’d like to volunteer, I’m happy to change your entire existence. All you have to do is say yes.”
Half of me was being seduced, while the other half was trying not to laugh, because there was no way he didn’t use those lines all the time. The trail of women behind this guy would be longer than the distance to the moon.
Deciding he needed a little fucking with, I leaned in closer. He stilled, and I was glad to see that move take him by surprise. Letting my lips graze near the corner of his mouth, I whispered, “There’s not a fucking chance I’ll ever be another notch on your well-used bedposts, Brodie Keller. But nice try.”
A desperate rumble escaped him, but I was already gone, heading back for the house. A few seconds later, a pounding of steps sounded behind me, and this time when Brodie strolled beside me, he remained quiet, but I caught him glancing my way a few times with an intrigued expression.
I’d wanted to deter him, but I got the sense that I’d just challenged the movie star, and he was about to show me the full force of his efforts. Efforts I wasn’t sure I’d be able to resist.
To my relief, once I was back inside the house, Brodie left me with a kiss on the cheek, wandering into the living area where I could hear a few of the guys setting up the television. Or possibly a gaming system. I heard some shouts aboutCall of Dutyandhow can we fucking shoot someone on a screen that sizeas I headed for the kitchen.
I wanted a glass of water before I headed up to hide in my room for the rest of the evening.
When I stepped into the brightly lit room, I was surprised to find Haze, aka not a janitor, already standing at the sink, staring out into the darkness beyond the window. Trying my best to ignore the giant of a man, I focused on the kitchen itself. It was a large room but as run-down as the rest of the house. What was once a beautiful home had been left to fall into a ruin, and the thought of having to live here with these men was too much to deal with tonight.
There were a lot of cabinets, so I decided to ask. “Do you know if there are any glasses?”
He didn’t show a lick of surprise by my presence, as if he’d known I was there all along. “High shelf next to fridge.”
