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I focused on the yard outside the window, desperate not to stare. Desperate to rein in my out-of-control thoughts and emotions. This woman was pure human chaos. And I would not survive another day with her in my house.
“Do you think you could maybe wear a bra while you’re staying in my house?” I asked, dropping my gaze to my feet, still unable to trust myself to look at her.
It was a simple enough request. And she was supposedly a professional. When I’d told her to make herself at home, I certainly hadn’t anticipated those round, perky breasts bouncing around untethered all goddamn day.
“Oh, Gagnon. Are you distracted by my boobs?”
I kept my head lowered, even as my face grew hotter.
“Pascal Gagnon, legendary ladies’ man, afraid of a pair of boobs? I like them, but they’re not that great.”
I bit my tongue to keep from sharing my opinion. Because they were fucking spectacular. I could spend hours exploring them with my tongue.
That, of course, was far from an appropriate response, regardless of our professional relationship.
I took a breath, tried to regain my composure. More than anything, I needed an escape from the topic of breasts and nudity. So I barked out, “Do whatever you want. I’ve got to go. Henri and I are supposed to help Remy train.”
Time with my brothers outside of work was rare, and the longer I’d been back in town, the more I looked forward to it. And since I’d made such an ass out of myself over the past few months, I owed it to them to show up and try to act like a decent human being.
I didn’t connect with them in many ways, but sports had always been common ground for us. Especially now that they were busy with their women, and I was feeling even more out of the loop than usual.
Today, more than ever, I needed an outlet for my frustration. Parker had totally taken over my house and my mind. Chopping wood was hard work, especially with my brothers, who tended to take things to athletic extremes. It would be just what I needed to get my head on straight.
Parker took a step closer, her eyes widening. “You guys are going to hulk out and go full lumberjack?” She was hopping around from foot to foot again, wearing a gleeful grin, which would have been cute if her tits weren’t bouncing, making it difficult for me to speak in coherent sentences.
“What are you babbling about?”
“You know, axes, plaid, staring off into the distance while you contemplate the meaning of life?” She pressed her palms together in front of her chest and watched me with wide, sparkling eyes.
I huffed and backed out of the room so I could get changed.
“Fighting off existential ennui by attacking trees with bladed instruments?” she continued, following me down the hall.
“You are so strange. Leaving in ten.”
“Wait for me. I gotta get some layers. I am so not missing this.”
Chapter15
Parker
Despite my better judgment, I climbed into his passenger seat.
He’d been completely out of line earlier, shouting and carrying on about my investigation. And my bras, of all things.
Just when I was starting to get a read on him, he went and freaked out, giving me way more to consider. Was he stressed about the investigation? Or was he merely a control freak throwing a tantrum because I was a messy, chaotic disruption to his empty house and lonely routine?
Either way, I found myself jumping at the chance to spend more time with him. To see him and his siblings and learn as much as I could. Not only because it was my job, but because I was curious. And curiosity was bad for me. Especially when it revolved around hot guys.
His strong hands gripped the steering wheel perfectly at ten and two as he silently kept his attention on the road in front of him. Like his house, his car was pristinely clean and empty. No papers or snacks or old water bottles. Instead, the SUV housed a gym bag and a small emergency kit.
“So you boys get together and chop down trees?” I asked.
His eyes never left the road. “Don’t forget about Adele. She’s frighteningly accurate with an axe.”
That didn’t surprise me one bit. Adele was one of the most capable humans I had ever met. “I like her,” I said, thinking out loud.
“Of course you do. You guys can form a coven and plot the destruction of mankind.”
