"I don't think Slate would be cool with that," Jameson growls as he comes into the room we're working on with his clipboard. His gaze darts to each wall, and he jots down notes on my rough-in progress. Electrical wires sprout from every box, ready for installation.
"No. Candy wasn't signing up." I shake my head and turn back to my work, hoping they’ll drop it.
But the silence is deafening.
I glance back over my shoulder and scowl. They’re all lined up, staring at me.
"What?" I bark.
"You're this upset because Betty's signing up for a dating website? I'm sure she'd let you take her out to dinner if you asked nicely," Emmett says with a shit-eating grin.
"Hell, man. Don't do it. Betty would eat him alive." Archer claps Emmett on the back, and all three guys laugh. Well, Jameson grunts with a half-smile, which is as close as he gets to laughing.
"No." I grit my teeth, irritated that they won't let this go. "They signed Aubrey up for a dating website."
"Ah, and that has you all worked up?" Archer prods.
"I'm not worked up," I snap, then force a laugh when they all raise their eyebrows at my contradictory tone. "I had to wait there while they rated her prospects. I needed to get to work."
"Oh, so you were inconvenienced this morning. Of course. I'd be pissed too." Archer nods.
I eye him suspiciously. His words don’t match his tone, but I want this conversation to be over, so I nod slowly.
"Yes. I didn't want to be late."
"Again, you mean. Lateagain," Jameson adds unhelpfully.
"So I like a pastry in the morning. Sue me." I shake my head and turn back to the wiring.
"Right, so if I bring you a muffin every day, you'll be on time?" Jameson asks.
I shake my head noncommittally, even as my cheeks heat.
"Nah, man. Then he wouldn't get his daily dose of Aubrey," Archer teases.
I glare at him. "Sugarplum is the best in town." The back of my neck itches, but I don't want to seem fidgety, so I clench my jaw and stubbornly ignore it. "I can't help that it's her place. Am I supposed to eat subpar baked goods just because she hates me?"
"Hates you?" Archer asks, glancing at Jameson with that irritating smirk. "You're the one always glaring at her."
I don't say anything, turning back to the job I’ve assured Jameson will be completed by the end of the day.
"Don't worry about that dating website, man," Emmett says as he pulls out his tape measure. "One of Barrett Billings' friends is coming to town, and Piper wants to introduce him to Aubrey."
"Your brother-in-law? The billionaire?" I turn to gape at him. My blood pressure flies through the roof, but I cross my arms, trying to hide my reaction.
Emmett nods. "Yeah, apparently this guy is loaded."
"Money isn't everything," I scoff, but Archer's next words have my heart beating furiously.
"Oh, yeah. The guy she told Hadley Marie about. Apparently, he volunteers as a firefighter in his spare time and helps at the local animal shelter rescuing kittens and shit. His arms are like tree trunks. Is he coming here just to meet Aubrey?"
"Yeah." Emmett nods, marking measurements on the subfloor with his pencil. "I wouldn't be surprised if she heads back to the city to live happily ever after in the next few months."
"Over my dead body," I growl, my fists clenching. I'm overcome with the need to punch something.
"Why not?" he asks, his face scrunched up in confusion.
"Because she's mine!" I yell, then immediately clamp a hand over my mouth in shock. If the white-hot rage hadn't blinded me to being played by my best friend, I would’ve caught myself in time.
