“Yes, sir.”
“Hand her the phone.”
Grant held it out for Brynnon, who yanked it from his hand.
“Will you please tell your watchdog his services are not needed?” There was a pause before her voice rose an octave. “Protection from what?You’rethe one who got the threat not me. If anything, he should be guarding you.” Another pause. “Fine. Then he can come give the other guy back up or something.”
The angrier she got, the more prominent the red in her cheeks became. Grant refused to admit how adorable it was.
“But, Dad,” she paused.“If you’d just listen...” Another pause. Brynnon rolled her dazzling eyes. “That’s not fair, and you know it. We’ve talked about this, Dad. You can’t use Mom as an excuse every time you want to...”
There was one final pause before Brynnon’s shoulders fell in defeat. “Fine,” she huffed. “But he’d better not get in my way. I have an open house here tomorrow, and I want to get my place finished so I can list the condo.”
Grant watched as Brynnon turned away from him. This time when she spoke, her voice turned lower. Softer.
“I know, and I appreciate that you’re worried about me.” There were a few seconds of silence before he heard her say, “I love you, too, Daddy. Bye.”
After ending the call, Brynnon drew in a deep breath, exhaling slowly before turning back around to face him. “Here,” she offered him back his phone.
Their fingers brushed lightly as he reached for it. Ignoring that same damn zing from before, he shoved it into his pocket and waited for her to speak.
“Okay.” She relented, as if the choice had ever really been hers. “You can stay. But I meant what I said to Dad. I have to get this place ready for the potential buyers who will be here tomorrow. If I can’t get this damn sink fixed, I’m screwed.”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“There’s a leak, and I can’t get the threads to seal enough to stop it.”
He looked behind her. “Give me the wrench.”
She scowled at his gruff order, but then her eyes fell over his chest and biceps. Deciding he may actually be able to do what needed to be done, Brynnon grabbed the tool from the countertop behind her and held it out to him.
“Knock yourself out.”
****
Chapter 2
