“Don’t take any shit from him while I’m gone. But don’t think you can dish it out, either. He’s got a wicked temper. You’ve got to know how to handle the monster.”
The younger-looking brother snickers.
Jody’s gaze narrows before cutting his way, her tone withering. “Why don’t you have a rest? Take the day off from stupid.”
“I just didn’t realize you were familiar with the monster,” he says with a cheeky grin.
“Are you going to tell him, or do I have to get the handbook again?” Her attention shifts to Whit. My stomach flips because I realize he’s still looking at me.
“Get the handbook,” Whit says, breaking my gaze. “Hit him with it. It’s probably the only use for it where he’s concerned.”
“That wasn’t sexual harassment!” Brin protests.
“You shouldn’t make dick jokes to a woman twenty-eight weeks pregnant unless you don’t mind losing it.”
“Jody, love, come on!”
“Don’t youloveme. I will throw the book at you—literally.”
The pair begin to squabble, and I get the feeling this is the kind of scene that has played out before. And oh my goodness, I love it!
“Will you two knock it off!” Whit bellows. I jump at the sheer volume, but it does the trick as the room falls quiet.So this is new. New to me, at least. Maybe I’m a deviant because I kind of dig it.“I’m not bad tempered,” he then adds in a more even tone.
El coughs“bullshit”into his fist and I try to stifle my smile. This is more like a circus than an office. And as of next month, this is my circus, and those are my monkeys. Kind of.
“That’s something we’ll have to agree to disagree on,” Jody says, making for the door again. I scramble out of her way when she pauses, fixing me with a look. “His not-bad temper can be terrible, but usually not for no reason,” she adds. “Whit is a man with a great weight balanced on his shoulders.”
His lovely, broad shoulders. “Got it,” I agree with a nod.
“But keep him in check. I don’t want to have to retrain him when I get back.”
“Retrain—Get back? When you get back from where?” I don’t know, but I think Whit looks a little panic stricken.
“Oh, you know. A break in the Bahamas.” An unamused Jody points finger guns at her swollen stomach. “Where do you think I’m going looking like this?”
“But…”
“I can’t keep these two in here forever.”
“Oh cool! Twins.” It seemed impolite to ask.
Her expression scrunches even as she slides a tender hand over her stomach. “Twin hippos, I’m beginning to think.”
“Can someone explain what’s going on here?” Whit modulates his tone, holding his hands out in a plea.
“You’re complaining, as usual,” Jody deadpans. “Unless you’re questioning why I’m putting myself to the trouble of showing Mimi around when I should have my feet up.”
“I’ll show her ’round,” the younger brother pipes up, rising from his chair.
“I’m not busy, either,” El adds quickly.
“Down, boys.” Jody makes a patting motion with her hand.
“Absolutely,” Whit replies with a glower. “Put your feet up—take the rest of the afternoon off. But for the love of God, please explain why Miss Valente is getting the grand tour.”
“It’s part of the orientation,” she says as though talking to a halfwit. “How else will she be able to cover for me?”
4
