I purse my lips, not finding him the least bit funny.
“You’re going to love my spaghetti,” Emmett boasts proudly, pulling a glass bowl filled with leafy greens and a bottle of salad dressing from the refrigerator which he places on the table. “It’s my specialty.”
“I’m not hungry,” I lie.
Beau charges from his chair and scoops me into his arms. He moves lightning fast for a man his size.
“Put me down, Beau!” I demand, shoving at his hard chest.
I’m just about sick of these men carrying me around like a sack of potatoes.
“We’re going to fuck that stubbornness right out of you, Sweet Peach,” he promises, settling back into his chair with me on his lap.
“I’m not a child,” I protest, trying to push to my feet but his hold on me tightens. “I’m fully capable of sitting on my own.”
“I know, but I like you right where you are.”
“And what about what I like?” I exclaim, at my wits end with these men. “I can’t take any more of this macho bullshit. I’m packing up and moving clear across town. Far away from you three.”
Gene still hasn’t replied to my email. I’ll give him a call tomorrow.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Beau states confidently. “You have ten months and some change left on your lease.”
I glower at him. “How do you know the particulars of my lease agreement?” Has my landlord been discussing my business with them? If so, we’re going to have words.
“Because the house you’re living in belongs to us,” Shepard supplies, giving the cards a quick shuffle before placing them in a neat stack to the side.
“You’re lying.” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Gene owns the house.”
I’m not sure if they’re personally acquainted with Gene, but more than likely they know of him.
“No, Gene is an employee who manages our properties,” Emmett states, depositing two laden plates of spaghetti and garlic knots onto the table. “We flip houses on the side and then rent them out. Sometimes we sell. It depends.”
My mouth salivates. It looks absolutely amazing, plated expertly with parmesan cheese and parsley lightly sprinkled on top.
Shepard immediately digs in. “Thanks, cuz.”
“No problem,” Emmett responds and then looks at me. “Give it a try,” he says, gesturing towards the other plate.
“I said I wasn’t hungry,” I grind out between clenched teeth.
His face becomes crestfallen and I instantly regret my bitchiness.
“We’ll share,” Beau says, biting into a garlic knot.
Emmett nods and walks back to the stove.
I turn my wrath on Shepard, ignoring the behemoth man who has a death grip on my hip for the moment. “Why did you ask if my front door was unlocked?”
The sly bastard already had a key. I’m sure they all do. That’s why I didn’t see any signs of forced entry. Why the pretense?
He shrugs, swallowing down a mouthful of spaghetti. “I didn’t know my big bro was going to spill the beans today.”
Beau grunts. “Technically, you spilled the beans.”
Shepard shrugs again. “Potato, potahto.”
“Why not mention this before?” I ask.
