Page 19 of Phillip

Phillip glared up but said nothing.

He shook his head, cleaned his glasses, and replaced them. “I can’t believe you’d make a move on her after what you did today.”

Phillip scowled. “I’m not making a move on her. Grow up.”

“Grow up is my advice for you.” Brock strode across the living room. The sun steamed from behind the westward window and framed him, making him appear as if he were about to dispense heavenly knowledge. “Don’t do whatever you’re thinking about doing.”

“Don’t do whatever I’m thinking about doing?” Phillip stood. “Is your opinion of me that low? That I’m only interested in one thing when it comes to her?”

“Prove me wrong,” Brock challenged.

“I don’t need to prove anything to you.” Phillip’s jaw ticked. He checked his watch. “The only thing I need to do is take a shower.”

Brock’s eyebrow crooked. “Housekeeping just finished in my suite and headed into yours.”

The summer’s stickiness clung to his skin. It wouldn’t take Ashley too long to arrive. He checked his watch again. He might have time to wait out Pam.

“Use my bathroom,” Brock said. “You can’t meet with Ashley—or anyone—looking like you do.”

“Always on brand.” But Phillip decided that using Brock’s bathroom was a good idea. “But okay. Thanks.” Then he pretended to smooth a hand over his nonexistent beard. “Maybe take your own advice too. I don’t remember adding a woolly mammoth to the brand packaging.”

“Funny.”

“I thought so.” Phillip walked toward the back stairs with a spring in his step. Ashley would be there soon and—a magazine whooshed across the room and smacked his shoulder. He turned to his brother. “So, you’re going for a caveman, not a woolly mammoth? Throwing things clears that up.”

“Earlier today…” Brock overlooked the joke and crossed his arms. “When I said that I didn’t see how you and Ashley would last, I meant when we were at Harvard.”

Caught off guard, Phillip waited to see where Brock would take the conversation.

“If you’re not bringing her over to make a move—”

“I’m not,” Phillip growled.

Brock dropped his arms and shoved his hands into his pockets. “How would you know unless the opportunity presented itself?”

Subconsciously, wasn’t that why Phillip had invited her over? Being near her and having an agenda weren’t the same. “Back off, Brock.”

“She’s a great person.”

Earlier, Phillip had been jealous of their interactions. Now he didn’t know who Brock was trying to protect. “You’ve already hammered that point.”

The corners of Brock’s gaze tightened behind his glasses. “If you’re after something more than a fling with her—”

“It’s aworkingmeeting. What are you missing?”

He met Phillip’s eyes. “Then I wish you the best of luck.”

CHAPTER TEN

“Good afternoon, Miss Cartwright.” The woman who answered the door beckoned Ashley in.

“Thank you.” Ashley stepped inside the breathtaking foyer. If she’d thought the lush gardens outside would leave her breathless, she had another think coming with the expansive entryway. “And please.” She extended her hand. “I’m Ashley.”

“Nice to meet you, Ashley. I’m Pam.” Pam offered to take her purse.

Ashley clung to her bag like it was her security blanket.

“I believe Phillip is waiting for you in the living room.”

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