Page 100 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

I pressed a kiss to the dog’s head, and he gave me a hearty lick in response.

“So much for the lazy morning I had planned. I was gonna let you have the remote and everything.”

Rhys threw himself back on the couch in a dramatic pose, which just stirred Bronson up. He jumped up and started licking Rhys madly. We left the two of them at it, Rhett walking me down the hallway so we could both get dressed.

“So, is it a really serious fire?” I asked as he drove me back to my place sometime later.

“Not enough back burning done after the record rains of last winter,” he told me as we pulled up outside my apartment block. “The extra rain creates unprecedented levels of growth, and because we’ve had higher than average rainfall…” He brought his truck to a stop and then smiled, turning to face me. “Letting me infodump? You really are perfect.”

“Just stay safe,” I told him, leaning forward to kiss him goodbye. “Come back to me in one piece.” I looked him up and down, now dressed in his work clothes. “That uniform? It’s giving me ideas for role plays.”

“Want me to rescue you from your parents’ place?” His voice got deeper, more intense as he stared into my eyes. “I can do that. Carry you out over my shoulder?—”

“With my parents following hot on your heels, asking questions about every aspect of your life, up to, and including, school reports and references from past employers?” I shook my head. “You don’t want that heat.”

“I do if it matters to you.” His hand flexed around the steering wheel. “Whatever you need me to do.”

My lips moistened, my mouth wanting to form the words that sat there in my chest, not even formed into sentences yet.

“Go and fight that fire.” That wasn’t what I was thinking, but it needed to be said. “And stay safe.”

I reached for the door then, forcing myself to get out before I changed my mind and dragged him back towards me.

“Katie.” I was doing so well, marching towards our stairs, when I heard Rhett call out to me. “Ibuprofen and paracetamol.” His eyes slid down my considerably more bedraggled form as if I was wearing the finest of couture. “I need you fighting fit for the next time I see you.”

Deep inside me, I could feel a pulse flutter, reminding me of everything that happened last night. I’d raid the medicine cupboard and have the meds lined up, ready to take every four hours if that’s what it took to have a repeat performance. I didn’t tell him that, just turned and ran upstairs with a grin on my face.

Chapter50

Katie

“There you are.” I wandered out onto the deck at the back of our parent’s place only to find Mandie was sitting there, a frothy drink in front of her. With one eyebrow cocked, she was one step away from becoming a Bond villain, complete with a white Persian cat. “What happened to you last night? The guys break down in the hills and you were forced to walk home? Got so drunk you all passed out in the gutter?”

“Hello, darling!”

Before I could answer, Mum appeared with a tray of nibbles. By the look of it, she’d found a new dip recipe on the internet again and had paired it with somecruditéto ‘make it healthy.’

“That looks amazing, Mum,” I said, and I wasn’t lying. Thank god I didn’t actually call in sick. We were short staffed at work anyway, and I’d been forced to work through my lunch hour. “I am starving.”

“Well, eat up, but don’t ruin your appetite,” she replied, turning to go back into the house. “Your father is cooking steak again, and you know how particular he is about his meat.”

“Dad’s meat…”

Mandie sniggered that out as Mum bustled back inside, and when we both burst out laughing, I thought I’d earned myself a reprieve.

I was wrong.

Her eyes narrowed after we stopped cackling, and then she leaned forward, taking me in.

“The dress was a big hit and the guys barely restrained themselves from tearing it off you, thanks to me.” Her hand came to rest on her chest. “Then you spent the night fucking those guys, despite the fact I told you to take it slow.”

“After telling me to take it fast.” I crunched on a carrot covered with dip, looking at it more closely when an explosion of spices hit my palate. It was kind of tomatoey, but also spicy, like Spanish food. “It’s hard to keep up with all your contradictory orders, so I’ve decided to ignore them altogether.” I grinned at her. “Older sister privileges.”

“Yes, but when it comes to getting guys to commit, I have valuable expertise.” She leaned forward abruptly. “I can teach you the ways to land your man… men, young padawan. As much as I want you to follow my fuckgirl ways, you seem distressingly determined to settle down, so sue me for being invested in your future happiness.”

“Well…” I grabbed a chunk of cucumber and dragged it through the dip. “Rhys called me his girlfriend last night.” The silence became deafening, making clear I had Mandie’s complete attention. “And as three hotties tried to chat the guys up, they all made clear they are committed to me.”

I went to take a bite of mycrudité,but Mandie reached across and knocked it from my grip.

---