Page 15 of Bracing The Storm

“Lori,” someone says with enough insistence that it finally permeates my fantasy bubble.

“What?” I look at the two men and realize they’re both staring at me now. Duncan has a worried look on his face. Patrick—the object of my fantasies—on the other hand, is smirking and there’s that glint in his eyes that tells me he knowsexactlywhat I’ve been thinking, and he’s not exactly averse to the idea.

Dammit!

All that heat from before instantly leaves my abdomen and begins to travel up my neck. My face feels like it’s on fire while my legs are shaking slightly, though I can’t tell whether it’s from actual arousal or the sheer mortification at having been caught in the imaginary act.

Patrick inclines his head, seemingly amused. “A penny for your thoughts? Actually, make that a million. You seem in dire need of money and I could do with the entertainment.”

I gawk at him, lost for words.

Did he just describe me as “in dire need of money” whenhe’sthe one working forme?

The guy isn’t just gorgeous; he’s also infuriating. If I could smack him upside the head, I would.

The high road, Lori!

I need to take it, and fast, before I really do something I’ll come to regret. Somehow I just can’t picture myself in jail.

Holding his dark gaze, I straighten my back and try to turn away. It takes me ginormous effort to stop staring at him, and it’s an even bigger struggle to focus on my lawyer as I address him.

“Duncan, you said there was something else before you left?”

He opens his mouth to speak, but Patrick cuts in, “He has bad news for you.”

Can the guy be even more infuriating than he already is? I’ve no idea what’s wrong with him, but slowly I’m starting to think it’s either personal or he grew up in a cave and has never heard of social skills.

I take a deep breath as I force myself to show no reaction. If I pretend he’s not here, maybe he’ll just see himself out. Or dissolve into thin air. Or both.

“Well?” I persist. “You started saying something about the house. What about it?”

Duncan’s gaze flicks over to Patrick, and he clears his throat. “Unfortunately, he’s right. I have some bad news for you.”

“Told you,” Patrick says.

My brows shoot up as I choose to ignore his remark. “That being?”

“It’s right here, love,” Patrick says, drawing my attention back to him. “It’s literally staring you in the face. You only have to look.”

I heave an exasperated sigh as I lift my gaze and narrow my eyes on him. “What is it with you and your inability to mind your own business? As I’m sure you can see, I’m trying to have a private conversation with my lawyer.”

Ignoring my remark, he inclines his head, and shoots me something like a triumphant smirk. “Whatyour lawyer’sbeen building up the courage to tell you is that you have a huge problem on your hands.”

I shake my head, unsure where the hell he’s heading. “And what is that? Vermin? Mold in the walls? Care to be more specific?”

“Me,” Patrick says coolly.

“Call me if you need anything. I’ll be in touch,” Duncan mutters. “It was nice meeting you, Lori.” The door opens and closes with a soft thud. I can sense Patrick and I are alone, but my mind can’t quite comprehend it because the huge house is suddenly too small for the both of us and I’m having trouble sucking air into my lungs.

“You,” I say, “as in,you’remy problem?”

“I believe those were my words,” he says with a smirk. “Do you need me to explain them to you? I’m not goinganywhere.”

I blink as I try to make sense of what he’s telling me.

A disgruntled employee who doesn’t want to leave the premises?

That should be interesting.

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