Page 45 of Battery Operated

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“Don’t worry about the dishes,” Brady said to his cousin, his sarcasm evident. But Cole seemed too excited to respond as he led us into the lounge.

He strode over to a small table set against the window. There was something on it, but I couldn’t see past his broad back. Then he stepped out of the way with a flourish. “Behold, the inn’s business center.”

Sitting on the table was an ancient typewriter that looked straight out of the 1950s. Penny and I laughed while Cole grinned. “It’s perfect,” I told him. “Our audience will love my review of this kind of tech.”

“Where’d you get it?” Penny asked.

“It was my grandmother’s. I had it stored with her things. I know it still works, though. I’ll get you some paper from my office.”

I examined it closer, pressing down a key. It was hard to push. How on earth had people typed on those things? Guess I was going to find out.

“Thanks,” I said when Cole returned with some paper. “This is perfect.”

Penny and I spent the morning recording video. It was fun, but it was also work. This was what I did for a living, and I took it seriously. Then again, the point of the videos today was to be fun and funny. But that was for the finished product, not the steps it took to get there.

For the most part, the men kept out of our way while we shot. Cole drove off shortly after breakfast, possibly to take care of his city council duties. He returned a few hours later.

Gideon showed up after that. Didn’t that guy have a job? He always seemed to be here.

And Brady stopped by to talk to us on his way to work. “When you get there, ask to be seated in Sandy’s section,” he said. “She’s the best.”

“Will do.”

When it was time to break for lunch, Penny went out to her car while I ran back to my room to use the bathroom. When I was done, I nearly ran into Gideon in the hallway.

“Easy there,” he said, his hands on my forearms, steadying me. Though I didn’t want him touching me, it was better than me slamming into his chest. Not that it wasn’t a nice, strong, broad chest—it was just that it belonged to a not-so-nice person. “What’s your hurry?”

“Penny and I are going out to lunch.”

His eyebrow arched. “If it’s Brady’s diner, that’s not much of a reason to hurry.”

“He’s a good cook,” I protested.

“Agreed, but his food is better here where he has free rein.”

“And what do you do for a living?”

“A little of this, a little of that.” He took a step back as he let me go. “I heard you added actual fishing to your fish-out-of-water routine.”

“Brady did the fishing, not me. If you’ll excuse me, Penny’s waiting for me.” I brushed past him and did my best not to stomp down the hallway. That guy just irritated me.

When I reached the lounge, I discovered Penny was waiting for me—but not by the car. The look on her face told me everything.

“It won’t start,” she said, looking defeated.

Such a shock. Though her car breaking down out here in the middle of nowhere was a problem, I was also surprised by the disappointment I felt at not being able to see Brady’s diner. Or maybe it was disappointment that I wouldn’t be putting some space between Gideon and myself.

Speaking of Gideon, he passed by behind us without a word, like the jerk he was. But a moment later, he returned from the direction of the study with Cole behind him. “We’ll take a look,” was all he said as they strode outside.

I exchanged glances with Penny. Sure, these guys posted the occasional video about how to change your wiper fluid, but that didn’t mean they knew much about cars.

Then again, it wasn’t like they could make Penny’s ancient station wagon any worse.

“I’d better go out there,” Penny said, dangling the keys from her hand. “Sorry about lunch.”

“Good luck,” I told her. There were probably enough leftovers in the fridge for a handful of humans and a fleet of cats, but truth be told, I was still full from breakfast. Full fromtrout, of all things.

I went to Penny’s room and settled in front of the laptop she used to splice together our videos. The footage we’d gotten made me smile. But it also felt good to actually use a computer without a man showing up to tell me I wasn’t allowed to use any twenty-first century tech. Since I had the chance, I shut the door and did some web surfing.


Tags: Stephanie Brother Erotic