14. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I vy
It’s back to status quo at the cabin after the flurry of excitement from three days ago has died down. Iris and I resume keeping house, and our sentinel is back to his grumpy, withdrawn self.
He sits at his favorite spot—the reading table by the window. His laptop is open before him. Brows knotted, his gray eyes dart back and forth over the screen, and then his fingers fly across the keyboard.
I should be paying attention to my work too, but I’m entranced by the fingers that brought me to a breathless climax days ago. They’re thick and long, perfect for fitting into tight spaces and making a girl scream.
His face moves as if he’s about to turn and I quickly bring my gaze back to the laptop propped on my knees. I stare at my barely written report. I should have just stayed upstairs and worked, but I would never let Brody think he had the upper hand. Like he can make me hide away.
No. I’m staying here and working. Even though I haven’t been very successful at the latter.
The skin of my neck prickles with awareness. Like someone’s watching me. I lift my head and Brody’s eyes seem to drop at the same time. Did I imagine that?
A few seconds pass and I catch him out of the corner of my eye. He’s looking at me. A warm blush travels up my face. To confirm, I turn to him but his gaze is back to his laptop. What? I could’ve sworn his eyes were just on me.
It’s driving me crazy. I want him to own up to the fact that he’s staring. He is usually the champ at stare-downs. Why is he pretending that he’s not looking now?
Wimp.
I focus on writing the report about my activities in the weeks leading up to my departure. Since I can’t be around to do my job, my coworkers would need pointers that’d assist them in taking on my casework. I’ve been at it for two hours. In reality, it shouldn’t take me more than one, but the man by the window is dividing my attention.
My gaze slips to him again. A whole living space divides us. Yet, I’m very aware of him. It’s almost like he’s sitting beside me. Not across the room and pretending I’m not here.
Ever since the day he had me up against the wall with his hand down my panties, he hasn’t hinted at anything physical. Not even in jest. The bastard. How rude of him to stir up conveniently dormant feelings and leave me hanging. If only I didn’t see him every day, then maybe it wouldn’t feel so bad. I wouldn’t feel so desperate for his touch.
Unfortunately for me, every way I turn, I’m subjected to his straining muscles, his sensual lips, and those eyes that switch from cold and distant to molten in a second.
I shift in my seat, suddenly feeling too much pressure there.
Brody looks in my direction. This time, his gaze stays, running over my body and lingering on my crossed legs. I’m fully dressed in a sweater and tights but every second he stares feels as though I’m naked. My skin feels tight and a swelling sensation batters my core.
He turns away and his lips lift at the corner.
“Idiot,” I mutter.
“Hm?” He lifts his gaze to me.
“Nothing.” I don’t look in his direction.
“Sounded like something,” he says.
“It wasn’t. Leave me alone.” I only half mean it. I like to banter with him just to hear his stern, commanding voice and the note of frustration that only I seem to draw out of him.
He huffs and resumes working. The minutes go by in silence but I’m too wired to let things lay low.
“What are you doing anyway?” I ask.
“Work,” he replies in a monotone.
“I hope so. Or you’re pretending to work but in reality, you’re playing Tetris .”
His gaze cuts my way and I snort a laugh.
His face is all hard, no smile to be found whatsoever. “I take my work seriously.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know.” I allow a lull. “Just hope you can find my sister’s stalker and our intruder.”
He sighs heavily. “You know we’re doing our best.”
“Who’s we? You’re right here with me.”
“Would you rather I swap with one of the guys?”
“You’d do that?” I make puppy eyes at him. “That’d be the best thing to happen to me this year.”
He scoffs. “Unfortunately, I’m not in the business of making you happy so you’re stuck with me.”
“Story of my life. Always getting the worst lot in life.”
“You’re just trying to hurt me.” He gives me a look. “Here’s a tip: you can’t.”
“I know, right? You’re a big strong man. Tough exterior. Impenetrable heart.”
His face falls. It’s only for a second but it’s long enough to see I hit a nerve.
I like things breezy. I’ve seen enough trauma to last a lifetime. Brody comes off as a well of deep, complicated feelings hidden behind a solid wall. If I break through that, combined with my desire to fix everyone, I’d be drawn into him with no way out.
So I keep things light and easy. “I’ve got a newsflash for you. You’re not. I can take you down with my pinky.”
That pulls a startled laugh from him. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“This here.” I hold up my little finger. “Has more power in it than you do in your whole buff body.”
“You’re looking at my body?” His eyes narrow.
“I’m stating a fact. Anyone can see it.”
“You’re talking about it. Looking at it now…”
I tear my eyes from his ripped muscles to glare at him. “You’re a piece of work.”
“You can’t get enough of me.”
I hate how true that is. “Keep telling yourself that.”
“Oh, I don’t need to. You tell me every time you…”
I stop listening to him. A noise outside draws my attention. Someone’s yelling. No, two people. One of them is Iris. I’d know that high-pitched, scared scream anywhere.
I’m off the couch and gunning for the door.
“Ivy? Ivy!” Brody yells behind me.
My heart slams against my ribcage. I don’t care about anything else other than getting to my sister and ensuring she’s okay.
I pause on the porch steps and try to get my bearings. The noise is coming from the side of the cabin. I round the house and come to a stop.
Iris has her hands pressed to her chest as a smaller, blonde woman leans into her. A feeling of déjà vu comes over me. I know this woman.
“Please, go away,” Iris says, infusing as much sternness as her gentle voice allows.
“I asked you a question,” the woman retorts.
“You did.” Iris steps backward toward the cabin. “After scaring the shit out of me. Please, leave.”
“Is this how you treat your fans?” She pushes closer to my sister, getting in her face. “Just answer the damn question. Why did you stop singing?”
Her face. The realization smacks me right in the head. This is the woman who clung to Brody that first day in the lobby.
My blood boils. I can’t tell if it’s because she’s harassing my sister now or because she had her hands all over Brody the day we met. I channel the anger from the first, squeezing my hands into fists. The second, I’m never touching because it makes zero sense.
“Ivy, what—” Brody’s footsteps come to a halt behind me.
I’m not going to let his little crush bully my sister. I march forward. The woman’s eyes lift to take me in.
“She’s not taking any questions, lady.” I come between them. Even in just my wool socks, I’m a good few inches taller than the woman and I look down my nose at her. “I suggest you get on your way.”
“Who are you?” She flips her rich blonde hair and sticks her chin out.
I’d ask for her haircare routine if I wasn’t a second away from smacking her in her smug face. “I’m the one who’ll kick your butt if you don’t leave immediately.” I turn to my sister. “Are you alright?”
Her eyes are wide in a pale face but she nods bravely.
This bitch. I hope for her sake that paleness is a result of the cold and not her intrusion.
“What are you still doing here?” I turn around to face her.
She looks between us. “You are her sister.”
“Great. Your eyes work.” I point to the path. “Feel free to buzz off.”
“You are hiding her here.” Her gaze is fixed on Iris. Her eyes move rapidly, making connections.
My heart spasms. If this nitwit can put it together and she happens to spread the news, then Iris’s safety can’t be guaranteed.
I have to come up with something quickly. “We are on vacation, smartass, and you’re intruding.”
“I’m just asking—”
“No one’s answering,” I yell, stepping forward. “Leave!”
“Ivy,” Brody cautions from where he stands outside the fight.
The woman’s eyes slip to him and something flashes in them. She turns and pushes at my shoulders. “Get away from me.”
I don’t anticipate the move so I lose my footing, crashing into Iris. Anger surges through me. I find my stance and return the favor. She staggers backward and I follow.
I grab her by the collars of her fancy coat, prepared to pull her off the cabin’s perimeters. “When I say you leave, you fucking leave!”
She yells, kicking her feet as I start to drag her.
“Ivy.” Strong arms wrap around my waist. “Let her go!”
“Let me go.” I try to shake him off but his grip is too firm.
Brody huffs as I scratch at his forearms. “Stop, Ivy.” He drags me off her and drops me behind him like I weigh nothing.
Disbelief leaves me stunned but for only a second. I try to push past him to get to the ballsy woman. When I’m through with her, she won’t trespass where she’s unwanted ever again. Brody grips my arm, holding me in place.
He mashes me against his side, imprisoning me. “Stop.”
The fight leaves me. I hang my head, my breath trembling out of me.
“Leave, Kerianne,” he says to the woman who is sprawled on the ground.
She must have fallen during the struggle. I should have stomped on her when I had the chance.
“She pushed me!” the woman—Kerianne—yells. “She’s fucking feral. She shouldn’t be here. Cliff is going to hear about this.”
Brody goes rigid. “Cliff is going to hear that you’ve been a disruptive guest and I’ll make him ban you for life if you don’t shut the fuck up and take your nasty attitude somewhere else.”
Whoa. Even for Brody, that’s wild and chilling. I thought they had something with each other. Nothing? I can’t say I’m mad about that.
Kerianne huffs and struggles to her feet. She throws a sad look toward Brody. He doesn’t ease up on glowering at her. Turning around, she walks down the path, leaving us in a quiet but tense aftermath.