“No. I’m not selling.” My voice is firm, but inside, something quavers just a little bit. I might not have a choice soon, but I can’t tell Jacob that.
His shoulders relax.
“Maybe you should consider it,” Taylor says in a low voice.
Jacobs head snaps in her direction. “It’s not going to happen.”
“We’re not selling,” I agree. “It’s pointless to even bring it up.”
Taylor holds both hands up. “Sorry, sorry. I know, this is our home. I don’t want to lose it either. It was just a suggestion.”
“It’s a stupid suggestion,” Jacob mutters.
“Your face is stupid.”
He grins at her. “We have almost the exact same face, so you’re calling your own face stupid.”
“Anyway,” I cut in. “I’ve told him we aren’t going anywhere, but he’s offering to work and help out around the cabins, and I just have to answer questions about our business.”
Taylor leans back against the counter next to Jake. “What kind of questions?”
“So far, it’s standard stuff. What our busy season is, how many employees we hire.” I think over our conversation. “I probably asked him more questions than he asked me.” I shake my head. “I don’t know. He might be crazy.”
“Crazy hot.” Taylor grins. “That scar on his eyebrow makes him look wicked, but like in a good way.”
Jacob grimaces.
I sigh. “He offered free manual labor, and if all it costs me is a few conversations, we can’t afford to turn it down.”
Taylor sighs. “A hot guy who cleans and does chores. Seriously, what kind of thirst trap is he setting here?” She gasps and grabs Jacob’s arm. “You should use this. Post pictures of him vacuuming and changing light bulbs and whatnot on your social media. Get him to take his shirt off too. I bet every single woman in a two-hundred-mile radius would book a weekend getaway. Probably some guys too.”
It would have seemed like a good idea if the mere suggestion of strangers on the internet looking at Archer half naked hadn’t sent a bolt of jealousy shooting through me.Get it together, Finley. He’s not yours to lust over and he never will be.
Jacob gives her a weak shove with the back of his hand. “What am I? Scrum under a rock? You could take my picture.”
Taylor wrinkles her nose. “No way. You can’t be considered attractive. You’re my baby brother. Plus, you live here. We don’t need anyone becoming stalkerish and trying to kill you or living in the walls or something.”
I groan and cover my face. “I don’t want to talk about people living in walls or anyone lusting over my little brother.” I remove my hands. “What do you want for dinner?” I mentally evaluate the contents of our cupboards. “I can make grilled cheese and soup or something.”
“You work too hard. No cooking tonight.” Taylor claps her hands together. “Let’s go get dinner at Veronica’s. On me.”
“I need to shower.” I’m covered in dirt and crud, and I feel like mold and grime and dust all rolled together and made a filth baby.
“Okay, you take care of your little hygiene issue, and Jake and I can go and grab some food and bring it back. Then we can veg out and binge watchThe Tenth Kingdom.” She lifts her brows at me hopefully.
I smile at the name of an old, slightly ridiculous but charming miniseries from twenty-plus years ago that they used to watch over and over when they were kids.
“Sounds good to me. I could use a drink.” Jake pushes off the counter and grabs the truck keys from the hook.
“Keep an eye on him,” I tell Taylor in a low voice before she follows him out the side door.
She stops in the doorway. “Stop worrying so much.”
“He’s been drinking a lot.”
She pats my shoulder. “He’ll be fine. We’ll be back in a flash.” She gives me a quick hug and then disappears out the door after our brother.
I hope she’s right.