“So, wit’s it gonna be?” Brody grips Chevelle’s shoulders from behind. She seems shocked at his friendly demeanor. Hell, me too. “Ye’re staying with my sister or with me?”
I lift a shoulder. “It wouldn’t be appropriate.” Not after this morning.
“Wit isn’t appropriate? Yer sexy, thick body in this wee house?”
I shift in my shoes, looking down. When I look back up, it seems I’ve missed an exchange between Chevelle and Brody. The smile on Chevelle’s face is menacing and fake. “I should really go. Apparently, I’m no longer on the run. I could return home.”
Brody’s eyes are defiant. “How’ll ye get there?”
“Same way I made it to New Mexico.” I take the high road instead of matching his aggressive stance.
Chevelle glances between the two of us, suspicion clouding her face. “Brody, if you—”
With his back to Chevelle, Brody places his hands on my throat, massaging softly. “Yer car was running hot, Justice. Was it not? Ye think I’ll letye drive this piece o’ shite? Try me.”
My efforts to gauge his reason for concern are foiled as Chevelle cuts in. “Then you’ll help fix her car, Fix-It Felix MacKenzie. Can’t you do everything?” Her tone softens while she glances my way. “Justice, I’m not saying I want you to leave. You were on your feet here. And you can do it again. But Brody can—”
“Aye, I’ll help ye fix yer car. Might take me a while.” He winks in my direction, standing next to Chevelle, then mouths to me, “I’m the bad guy remember?”
My mouth dips into an autonomous smile. Chevelle and Brody start to argue amongst themselves. I’m about to interject when Mia scampers down the porch steps. Leith calls after her. “That could be yer room!”
“Mommy!” Mia’s curly hair rustles. She jumps into Chevelle’s arms. While the mother attempts to console the daughter, the little one cries.
Brody steps to my side.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“I’m gonna kiss ya again and feck ya. That’s my lifelong mission, Justice Flowers. Nothing more.”
Nothing more.Infomercials speed through the fine print, not Brody. The bastard’s honesty hits different. Nevertheless, I vow not to fall into temptation. Hell, the way my emotions catapulted earlier, that embarrassment ate me alive. It should have deterred Brody MacKenzie too.