Page 201 of Guardian Daddy

Ethan moved over to her, pulling her against his chest. He rubbed his hand up and down her back.

“Kevin,” Rhodes said warningly.

“You know this is going to kill us!” Kevin said to Rhodes. “Everyone loved the two of you. Rip and Sam. Samip, Ripam.”

“Those names are kind of ridiculous,” she pointed out, turning in Ethan’s arms.

Kevin turned to glare at her.

Her brother couldn’t see the look on Kevin’s face because he was behind him, which was likely just as well.

“Do not look at her like that,” Ethan warned.

Rhodes turned to Kevin.

“How are you looking at my sister, Kevin?” Rhodes asked in a low, dangerous voice. “Because I really don’t want to kick anyone else out today, but I will if I have to.”

Kevin threw his hands up in the air once again. “Nothing. I didn’t do anything! There’s no need to throw me out.”

“Yes, you’ll have a harder time finding someone else if Rhodes gets rid of you,” she informed him. “Your face is far less symmetrically pleasing, and your voice is grating.”

This time, both Ethan and Seth coughed.

She turned to him. “Are you sure neither of you are getting ill?”

“No, it’s just that’s not a very polite thing to say,” Ethan murmured to her.

“Oh. Right. Well.” Stupid Cate. She reached for the hair tie around her wrist, remembering at the last moment that Ethan had made her take it off yesterday.

“Is that why you’re coughing?” Because she’d been rude?

Seemed odd.

“Um. Yes. And it was funny,” Ethan said.

She hadn’t been trying to be funny.

“Kevin, I wouldn’t worry that your face isn’t symmetrically pleasing and that you have a voice that reminds me of fingernails on a chalkboard, I don’t think that those are the things Rhodes looks for in an agent. Although if you are looking for a life partner, you might wish to tone it down into some more pleasantly dulcet tones.”

Rhodes started to cough, and she glanced over at him in alarm. “Rhodes?”

Okay, she was certain now that everyone was getting ill. It was no wonder with all the stress they were under. “I’ll get you some medicine.”

“I’m okay.” Rhodes waved his hand.

“Are you . . . are you saying that I’m ugly?” Kevin burst out.

She jolted at the volume of noise, stepping back involuntarily. She banged right into Ethan, who lightly grasped her arms.

And she found herself calming slightly.

“Kevin,” Rhodes said sharply. “You know not to raise your voice around Cate.”

Kevin groaned, tugging at his hair.

He didn’t look well. “For fuck’s sake, Rhodes, I know you love her. But she’s a fucking liability. She’s ruining your fucking career. You have to listen to me, I know what I’m talking about. If you don’t do something about her, your career will be in the tank. She’s a burden, not a help.”

Her breath started to come in sharp pants as her mind spiraled.

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