Page 5 of The Proposal
The playfulness of his words is cut with a sharp warning—to tread carefully. It’s a message heard loud and clear.
Brock is a bit overprotective. He was only nineteen when our mother died, and the court system made him my guardian. He left his rugby scholarship, moved into our childhood home, and ensured I graduated from high school the following year. Made sure I had dinner. Helped me grieve. Kept me out of trouble. And then somehow managed to settle Mom’s estate, get me into college, and himself back on the rugby pitch.
We’re close—more like friends than siblings. But there’s one murky, muddy line that we haven’t cleared. That line is Renn Brewer.
I blow out a breath and gather my wits. “What are you guys doing here, anyway? Just a happy coincidence?”
“Becausehe,” Renn says, rolling his eyes, “couldn’t manage to get his—”
“I didn’t want to be away from my baby sister on her thirtieth birthday,” Brock says, smiling facetiously.
Ella smacks his shoulder. “Oh,that’s why? Good to know because apparently, I was under the wrong impression.”
Brock sits on the chaise, pulling Ella down on his lap. “That’s not the only thing you’ll be under when we get to our room.”
Our room? “I—”
“I’m not getting under you, on you, or around you until you tell me why you’re here.” Ella shifts until she’s looking at Brock. “And you better come up with the right answer this time and enunciate it clearly.”
Brock sighs. “El—”
“Wait a minute,” I say, setting my bag on my chair. Sweat drips down my spine. “Let’s back up. There is noour room.We have one queen bed, Brock. You know that.Youmade the reservation.”
My brother looks at me warily.
“What?” I ask, unsure where this is going.
Renn’s hand slides across the small of my back. He slips behind me, lightly brushing his body against mine, before sitting beside my pool bag.
I force a swallow before chuckling, shaking my head at him.
His lips press together as if to hide a smile.Bastard.
“No need to worry. I took care of it,” Renn says.
“Took care of it?” I ask. “What’s that mean?”
He rests his elbows on his knees and looks at me through his long, thick lashes. “A suite has been secured, birthday girl.”
A suite?He bookedusa suite?Us? As inthe four of us?
“Brock is going to bemaking upwith Ella since he pissed her off. Her ass will be in his bed all weekend, and you know it. So either stay with us too or sleep alone.” Renn smirks. “Or I can give them the suite and sleep with you in your room. Your call.”
I suck in a breath, the heat of his gaze melting me quicker than the desert sun.
“You two better knock it off—” Brock starts, but Ella springs to her feet.
“Since he pissed me off?” Her hands go to her hips again, her eyes narrowing at Renn.
I groan.Here we go.
Brock tugs on Ella’s arm, but she shrugs him away.
“Choose your words wisely because I’m already pissed at you,” she says to Renn.
“Oh no,” he deadpans. “You’re pissed? How will I survive?”
I cover my mouth and try not to laugh.
