Page 28 of Teasing

Thirty minutes and one Band-Aid later, both Rosie and Butters are dealing with thorn-induced boo boos. This dog can’t stay away from the thorns, and she’s not following Rosie. Rosie seems to be following her.

Once the scratch has been cleaned, the girls and I—yes, I’m including Butters in that statement because she’s been one of the girls today. So as I was saying, the girls and I walk out my front door with Rosie on my hip and Butters at my side to head back to Maverick’s house when Camden pulls into our driveway.

He slams the door of the Navigator, taking in the scene. His damp hair clings to his forehead as a curious expression tugs at the lines of his face. “Something you want to tell me, Em?”

Rosie rests her head on my shoulder and clings to me, so I run my hand up and down her back. “Camden, meet Rosie, my buddy for the summer.”

“Rosie.” He nods, still confused, but he smiles anyway as the little girl looks at him shyly. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, little rose.”

Rosie kicks her feet at my waist, a smile slipping into place. “That’s what Emmie calls me,” she whispers, and Camden’s eyes train on me.

“She does, does she?”

Shoot.

I hear the SUV pull up next door, before I see the guys, and cringe. It’s like an accident I can see happening but can’t manage to stop. Camden looks over as the guys walk toward us, and there’s no mistaking Maverick’s mood. It’s the same one he seems to be in every time I see him.Great. Men are so annoying.

“Thought you looked familiar, Monroe.” Maverick’s voice carries across the driveway before he gets close enough to reach for Rosie, who happily lets her father take her from me. “What are you doing here?” he asks as he looks between my brother and me while Jamie and Ryker move to flank him.

“What’s it look like?” Cam asks defensively as he moves closer to me. “I live here.”

Maverick’s dark eyes narrow on me, but I have no idea what storm is brewing behind them, just that there is one. “I thought you said you lived alone.”

“Watch it, man,” Camden warns, and Maverick hands Rosie to Ryker.

“Take her inside,”Maverick tells his brother.

Ryker takes Rosie from him, then mouthssorryto me before he turns for the house.

“What’s your problem, Beneventi?” my own brother asks, as I force my way in front of him.

“Stop,” I warn Camden.

“You’re my problem, Monroe. I don’t know you. And I don’t want to come home and find you talking to my daughter.”

They’re like two dogs peeing in circles, trying to claim their territory.

Well, guess what?

This is my house.

“We talked about this before you left this morning, Maverick.” I glance quickly from him to Jamie, hoping for some help, but the smiling ginger just shakes his head like he just needs some popcorn and soda to enjoy the show.

Maverick moves close enough for me to smell the cool, crisp soap he must have used to shower after practice, and damn him for how good it smells. “Might need to refresh my memory, Emmie. Because the last I knew, you lived alone.”

“You were all at the same practice all day, and you never realized you live next to each other?” I snap back, a little more annoyed than I wanted to let on.

“We were a little busy, Em.” Camden crosses his arms over his chest as he takes a step forward, and I shake my head, trying to clear it from the ridiculous amount of testosterone threatening to smother me.

“Oh my God.” Idiots. They’re all complete idiots. “Maverick, this is my brother, Camden. Your new backup quarterback.” I turn to my brother and push at his chest until he takes a step back, giving me room to breathe. “Camden, I already told you Maverick lives next door.” I wait for him to acknowledge me. “Well, now you’ve met Rosie, his daughter. That’s what I’m doing this summer. Nannying. Maverick doesn’t want the world to know about Rosie if he can help it, so I didn’t want to tell you earlier because I wanted to talk to him first.”

Jamie laughs a dry sound and mumbles something that sounds a whole lot likedumbass. But I’m not sure who it’s directed at.

“Now,” I draw out. “If that’s settled, I have a cherry pie in your oven that Rosie and I made, and I don’t want it to burn.”I put my hand up before Maverick gets a word out. “And before you ask, it’s completely allergy-friendly. I followed every rule. Rosie and I decorated aprons, then went to the farmers’ market and got a ton of fresh ingredients so we could try new recipes this week that would be 100 percent safe for her. We baked a pie and were picking some flowers when she got a boo boo from a thorn. We’d just cleaned it up and gotten a Band-Aid when Camden came home.”

The big grump closes his mouth, and I’m left wondering what he’s thinking, but I don’t dare ask.

“Great talk, guys.” I move around Maverick and head for the house.

---