“Yeah, so about the real estate agent. You’re good?” Matt asked.
“I’m good. When I’m ready I’ve got a number.”
Matt pushed back from the table and started to gather up some of the take out containers. “I’d come with you, but I’m heading to the Cape first thing in the morning for the Fourth of July long weekend. Heather is already there.”
Heather. Right. The girlfriend.
“I’ll go with you, you know, if you want to look at the properties.” Georgia seemed surprised that she’d spoken and I didn’t miss the sharp look thrown her way by her brother. “I have no plans.”
“You’re not coming with me to the Cape?” Matt frowned.
“Hell no. Matt, I told you I wasn’t interested in playing third wheel on your weekend with Heather. I’m not going.” She rose as well, her glass in her hand as she faced her brother.
Matt looked hard assed. Intense. He looked like it was the final minutes of the third period and we were down by a goal.
His frown deepened.
Or maybe two.
I took another sip from my beer and watched the fireworks.
“But she’s expecting you,” he said carefully as if searching for the right words. As if he didn’t want to piss her off, which was something I found interesting.
“No, she’s dreading me and you know it. I don’t fit inside the perfect little world that Heather Newcastle lives in.” She shoved her drink onto the counter and folded her arms across her chest. “I’m staying here.”
“But—”
“I’ll be fine and look,” she pointed at me. “I won’t be alone either so you don’t have to worry. Besides,” she said and this time those amazing eyes were on me.
Fuck. There went the cock again and I winced. Big twitch.
Maybe it wasn’t a good idea for her to stay. Maybe I wasn’t strong enough to resist the pull of those eyes.
“If I don’t help Ben find a place to stay, you’ll never get your office back. It will be like LeBlanc all over again.”
What the hell? I was nothing like Trevor LeBlanc.
“What exactly does that mean?” I asked those eyes.
“Trevor stayed with Matt a few years ago when he was new to the Flyers. He was supposed to find his own place too but he ended up here for months. The guy was a slob and a whore and he drove Matt crazy.” She grinned. “Not that I’m insinuating you’re a slob.”
“Good to know.” Damn, I liked this girl. “Though I should point out I’m not a whore either.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Matt muttered.
Okay, what was up with the guy? I got the protective brother thing, but wasn’t he carrying it a little too far?
“It’s a done deal. I’m not going and unless you want to unleash Heather’s nasty side I suggest you pack your bag and make sure you’re on the road as early as possible because we both know her crazy is nearly as bad as mine.”
“Georgia. I just…” Matt looked like he wanted to say a hell of a lot more than those three words and for the first time I felt as if I was stepping into some family business that I had no desire or need to step into.
“So, Ben,” she said casually as she rinsed her glass out and tossed it into the dishwasher. “Get your list ready and we’ll head out tomorrow morning. Sound good?”
“Sure,” I answered slowly, for the first time thinking that maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. You know, with Matt glaring at me. His eyes saying what his mouth was unable to.
You touch her and you’re dead.
“I’ve got nothing but time.”
Chapter Four
Georgia
I was awake long before my brother was, though I pretended I had just woken up when he poked his head into my room. It was dark out, just after four in the morning and he would be leaving for the Cape soon.
“Hey,” he said moving toward my bed.
“Hey, yourself,” I answered propping myself against the headboard as we studied each other in the dim glow from my nightlight.
“So, I guess I’m heading out in a few.”
“I see that.”