Page 42 of Brandt's Rule

“I don’t need one.”

“You do.”

“I don’t.”

Brandt clenched his teeth and shoved a grumble down deep. “I need you to have one.”

Tempest watched him curiously, the swirls in her eyes keeping him from determining if she was amused, or simply curious. Finally, she shook her head. “Why?”

“Because I need to know that you can reach me if you need me,” Brandt explained.

“I’ll be fine. I can take care of myself.”

He turned and walked a few steps away from her before a snarl escaped him as he spun on his heel and stalked back to her. He leaned closer to her and with his voice barely more than a whisper said, “I need to be able to reach you when I need to be able to reach you. Why is it such an inconvenience to carry a phone with you?”

“I have no use for one. If it’s that important to you, perhaps you should see to it that I have one.” Tempest blinked her eyes exaggeratedly as she pasted on a false smile and turned away from him.

She got no more than two steps before a cell phone in a black case was being held inches away from her face. It was so close Tempest actually had to lean back to focus on it clearly. When she did, her back was pressed against Brandt’s front. He’d extended his arm across her shoulder from behind to hold the phone directly in front of her.

“Take mine.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Take mine, please.”

“No, thank you.”

“Take mine, please, Tempest.”

“And how would I use it to call you if I’ve got yours?”

“Barron. His home is near mine. Call Barron, he’ll let me know you called to say you got home safe.”

“This is not necessary.”

“Humor me.”

“Will it make you sleep easier if I take yours?”

“It will.”

She took the phone from his still outstretched hand and slipped it into her back pocket. “Very well.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

“Do you work weekends?” she asked.

“Oh, yeah, it’s Saturday. We do sometimes, but we’re ahead of schedule so we’re taking the day off.”

“Then I’ll see you on Monday,” Tempest said.

“I might see you tomorrow. I have to have my coffee fix each morning,” Remi said, his eyes glued to Bailey.

Tempest watched Remi for a moment, gently probing his emotions for his intentions, and found nothing malicious there. He was simply interested in Bailey. Tempest gave herself the luxury of a moment to really see Remi. He was a very handsome male; tall, dark hair, sun-tanned skin, angular jaw, very powerful as well, but not needing to prove it to everyone, which made him even more attractive. If she wasn’t caught up in playing Brandt’s game, she might have noticed sooner.

“Tempest?” Brandt asked.

She turned to him without hesitation, knowing he’d seen her analyzing Remi. “Thank you all so much for such a fun evening. I’ve never had so much fun!”

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