Page 98 of The Roommate Remodel

“I can’t let you do that.” I shake my head. “Even if you try, I won’t accept.”

“No, Brax, this isn’t your responsibility.” She crosses her arms.

“I know that, but I wanted to do this for you.” I stride toward her, hoping that I can break through the stubborn look in her eyes. “You have Sloan to take care of, remember?”

“But this ismyhouse,” she insists.

“And this ismygift to you.” I move close to her, wrapping one arm around her back while I brush the back of my handacross her cheek. “You said you’d always dreamed of having a window seat along with a wall of bookshelves and a desk overlooking the rose garden. It’s not fair you have that ridiculously small office at the Ice House. You deserve better. And I want to give it to you.”

She blinks as she looks up at me, and I can see the conflicting emotion in her eyes. “But no one has ever given me something like this. I’m used to doing things myself. I can’t accept things I don’t deserve.”

I shake my head. “That’s just it. You deserve every good thing. You’ve never had anyone show you that kind of love. The kind that says I’ll take care of you. You do so much for everyone else, making sure they’re happy. Now it’s time for you to get that same treatment. You might as well get used to me spoiling you. Because I’m not planning on stopping.”

Her eyes swirl before she steps toward me and falls into my arms, like I’m her support, the one keeping her afloat. Then she whispers, “Thank you,” as she wraps her arms around my neck.

I take in her dizzying scent, the soft silk of her hair against my cheek, the way my hands fit around her body, like they were made to hold her.

“You have no idea how much I’ve needed this,” she says, her voice catching with emotion. Maybe she’s just missed me, but the way she clings to me is different, like she’s finally willing to let me help her carry the load.

Vale and Brendan peek around the corner.

“Are you going to take all day, or do you want us to show you all the amazing things we did to your house while you were gone?” Brendan asks with a mischievous grin.

“Are you in a hurry?” Jaz asks, pulling away from me.

“Date tonight with an old friend,” Brendan admits.

“Date?” Jaz squeals. “Oh, do tell.” She lifts her eyebrows at Brendan before hurrying back to her bedroom for all the gossip.

The doorbell rings, and I start down the hall, yelling over my shoulder, “Don’t forget to show her the custom desk drawers andthe new pictures.” I swing the door open, and a man with a slicked-back ponytail in a sharp black suit wheels around. As soon as his eyes meet mine, my stomach drops.

“Felipe,” I mutter.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the Crushers’ star himself,” he snarls. He’s got an East Coast accent that makes me feel like I’m in a bad mafia movie, and he’s dressed to kill. If I had to guess who, it’s most likely me.

I step onto the porch and shut the door behind us so Jaz won’t overhear. “What are you doing here, Felipe?”

“Was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by, Braxy.” He gives me a wicked smile, using the nickname he knows I hate.

“We both know you don’t live here.”

He takes a pair of sunglasses out of his suit pocket and polishes them with a silk cloth from his pocket. “We have unfinished business.” He glances at me with a bored expression. You’d never guess he was a threat.

“As far as I’m concerned, our business is finished. Anything else can be settled on the ice.”

He slides on the sunglasses, so I can’t see his eyes. If he’s trying to intimidate me, it’s not working. “Nothing is ever done, Brax. That’s why I’m here.”

I roll my eyes. “So what if we dated the same girl? We weren’t even compatible. I’m a different guy than I was a year ago. I’m not interested in grudges.”

His face doesn’t change. He keeps that same bored expression.

I step closer to him. “Didn’t we settle the score when I got hurt?”

“Not at all,” he says, leaning against the porch railing like he has all the time in the world.

“Well, I’m saying it is.” I turn my back, ready to slam the door in his face.

He glances at a newly planted rose bush. “Do you remember when you were sixteen, playing for that junior league in Vermont?”

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