Page 60 of Exposed

They both kept glaring at each other.

“Nigel, seriously, what the heck?” Matt asked. It really seemed like he wanted to drop the F bomb again, but I was glad that he didn’t. The last thing I needed was for Jacob to be a nudistandlove profanity.

Nigel stopped glaring at my son and looked up at Matt. “Have I done something to offend?” He kicked the machete out of the way. But it was a machete and he hadn’t hidden it at all.

“Why did you cut up all those roses I got for Brooklyn?”

Now Nigel was glaring at Matt. “You know why.”

“No, I definitely don’t,” Matt said. “And how did you even get in here?”

“You gave me a key to your place.”

“I definitely didn’t do that.”

“No? Oh. I must have made a key. I have so many keys, sometimes it’s hard to remember which ones were given to me or which ones I taketh.”

“I’ve seen your crazy big keyring. But that’s no excuse to break into my house.” He shook his head. “Brooklyn’s house, I mean. And why did you ruin all those bouquets?”

“Because Tanner is not always right. And you’re my friend too, so I’m looking out for you. And I’m a master of sabotage.”

“Nigel, you can’t sabotage what I have with Brooklyn. I love…” Matt’s voice trailed off. He couldn’t say he loved me in front of Jacob.

I didn’t really know what the two of them were talking about. But it seemed like a good time to jump in. And I wanted Nigel to like me if the two of them were friends. Even if this weird little man didn’t seem fond of my son. Maybe Jacob had stabbed him with a stick or something.

“This is actually really lovely,” I said. “The rose petal trail up the stairs? And this bath?” I looked at all the rose petals in the bathtub. It really was pretty. It seemed like something prepared for honeymooners. Not any kind of sabotage…

Nigel followed my gaze. “Gah! I’m too good at baths!” He turned back to me. “Wait. You like it?”

“Yeah, it’s beautiful.”

“You…you appreciate it?”

“Of course,” I said. “It was so nice of you. This must have taken a long time. And I love baths.”

He just stared at me. But at least he’d stopped scowling.

“I’m Brooklyn, by the way.” I put my hand out for him. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Nigel.” I’d hearda littleabout him. But he didn’t need to know that.

He looked at my hand for a few beats too long before finally taking it. “And I, you, mademoiselle.” He kissed the back of my hand.

I laughed.

He smiled up at me. And then he turned to Jacob and stuck his tongue out at him. I looked down at my son, whose tongue was also sticking out. I wasn’t sure who had started that, but that was quite enough.

“Put those away,” I said.

Both of them stopped sticking their tongues out.

“I knew I’d like you,” Nigel said. “Master Tanner usually is right about these things. I shouldn’t have doubted him. Shall I strip you for your bath now?”

Whoa…What?

“That’s entirely inappropriate, Nigel,” Matt said.

“Oh. I can only strip you, Master Matthew?”

“Nigel, get out.”

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