I glare at him.
I’m the boss around here.
“Yeah, yeah. You’re the boss. Look, you need backup. Maybe try Vera?” I haven’t thought of that. “Or Brendan.”
“Brendan? You forgot Rory drove himself to avoid telling Brendan. Or that he’s warned me away from his brother?”
“No, he’s warned his brother away from you.”
I’m about to ask him what the difference is when it hits me. Brendan never told me to stay away from Rory. In fact, he doesn’t know I’m interested.
Mal grins as I pull out my phone and call Doc.
“Just tell me where?” he answers.
“What?”
“If you’re calling, it must be really bad.”
“No emergencies, I just wanted to invite you to dinner as a thank-you for all of the work you’ve been doing around here.” Mal snorts, and I glare at him.
Brendan is quiet for a moment.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m just holding up the end of my bargain. No thanks is needed.”
“I insist. Meet me for dinner tomorrow.” I put some ice into my words, and Brendan sighs audibly.
“I’d like to, but?—”
Normally I would kill him for that. No one brushes me off, but killing his brother would definitely kill my chances with Rory. “You can bring your brother too.”
There, let him find a reason to tell me no now.
“I’ll ask him, but he’s still nervous around strangers. You know, from the attacks and all.”
Well played, except I’m the expert manipulator.
“You can explain how I’m helping him.”
“Actually, I’d rather he didn’t know why we’re working together.”
I don’t tell Brendan that Rory already knows and that’s why he’s mad at me.
“Besides, Rory and I have already met.”
“I know,” Brendan grumbles. “And I don’t want him to get hurt.”
That gets my blood boiling. How dare he assume that I would hurt Rory! He’s mine to protect, but instead of sending Tag to dismember him, I take a deep breath and reply calmly.
“Why would I hurt him?”
“You don’t want to hurt him, but you will with your,” Brendan wrinkles his nose, “silver fox Daddy vibes.” He practically gags, and I try not to grin.
“Silver fox Daddy?” My mind flashes back to the scene in the elevator when he first called me that.
“You’re basically his dream man, and he’s already moreinterestedin you than I like.” There’s a pause. “Wait, are you?—”
Fuck.
