“Plus, she’s cleaning the house,” Ethan added.
“What?” Jack roared.
Ethan’s grin grew brighter as he turned to face an irate looking Jack. “I told her not to bother, but apparently, and I quote, ‘We’re all filthy slobs’.”
“I like being a slob!” Doug declared as he dropped his hammer and stormed over to Ethan. “Go over there right now and tell her to stop!”
Ethan laughed softly as he shook his head. “While I’m at itwhy don’t I jump in front of a charging bull, wave my red flag, and hope that he stops,” he retorted. Doug’s eyes narrowed as Jack folded his arms firmly over his chest. “Besides, what harm can it do?”
Their eyes flashed angrily as their scowls deepened. “She’ll have us smelling like women!” Jack snapped.
Stefan stifled a laugh as he turned away from them. “How much do you expect her to get done in one day?” Ethan retorted.
“Knowing Isabelle that house is already repainted, with scented candles, and potpourri everywhere!” Doug yelled.
“Whyis she all by herself?” Stefan interrupted.
They looked at him in surprise before shrugging absently.“Vicky and Abby had enough of work yesterday,” Ethan answered.
Apparently they were all used to Isabelle being on her own, and not having any help. He didn’t know why, but for some reason the thought of that did not sit well with him.“And Jess?”
They all looked at him as if he were crazy. “I don’t think she wanted to help,”Jack answered, chuckling softly.
Stefan nodded, but didn’t say anything. Of course Jess wouldn’t want tohelp;the idea of getting her hands dirty was enough to make her squirm her way out of anything. He groaned inwardly, wondering for the thousandth time why he was still with the girl in the first place. He had his answer almost immediately, she was good in bed. But she was also whiny, clingy, and truly beginning to grate on his last nerve. The sex was becoming not worth the trouble.
A flash ofwideviolet eyes unwittingly blazed through his mind, and to his amazement, he found himself hardening instantly. He could clearly recall how Isabelle had felt when he had seized hold of her tiny waist, a waist so narrow that his hands had nearly encircled it. Her skin had been warm, silky smooth, and utterly tempting.
For a moment, the touch of her had blazed through him, arousing him fiercely.The smell of her, apples, and fresh dirt, and her underlying sweet, natural scent had assaulted him instantly, and aroused his baser instincts.He had not wanted to release her, and since he had touched her he hadn’t been able to get her out of his head.Or his cock,he thought ruefully.
He shifted uncomfortably as the force of his erection became almost unbearable. “Go stop her Ethan,” Jack ordered briskly.
Ethan sighed as he ran a hand through histangled hair. “Leave her be Jack. It’s not going to hurt us to have a clean house, and clothes. Besides Jess is staying theretoo, and Isabelle is the one that realized that if there’s no human food in the house,she’ll think it’s odd. You know that none of us would have thought about it. ShesentDavid and dad shopping forgroceries.”
“That’s fine and dandy, but....”
“Jack,” Ian interrupted as he approachedthem. “Leave her be. You know how Isabelle is when she’s upset aboutsomething;this is just her way of working things out.”
Jack’s scowl faded as he nodded slowly. “What is she upset about?” Doug demanded. “Oh, Julian,” he answered.
“Yeah,” Ethan said tiredly. “I had a long talk with the four of them last night.”
“Did you tell your parents?”Doug demanded.
“I wouldn’t have, but...”
“They could have both been killed,” Ian finishedfor his brother.
Stefan glanced back at the four people stretched out in the sun, his aggravation mounting. He was half tempted to walk over there, drag Jess up, and force her to go help Isabelle. The house was obviously a bachelor’s place, and even he had been a little amazed by the amount of dust and filth in it. Jess had complained endlessly about it yesterday, the least she could do was helpclean ittoday.
“Yeah, so if this makes her happy than let her be,”Ethan said firmly.
“Anything for Isabelle,” Jack muttered, but there was a soft smile on his face.
Stefan raised aneyebrow as he turned back to them. “What, are you scared of her?” he asked lightly, but there was a tensionin him that he had never quite experienced before.
They grinned back at him, their eyes twinkling merrily. “Of Isabelle? Hardly!” Doug snorted. “She growls like a grizzly but inside she’s as mushy as a teddy bear. We just hate seeing her unhappy.”
“Isabelle’s our favorite,” Jack saidjokingly.
