Page 26 of Bragg's Match

Is he serious?

“They’re teasing you. It’s what siblings do.”

I assume. I don’t have any siblings but I’ve watched Ashlyn with her four sisters. They’re constantly kidding and joking with each other.

He crosses his arms over his chest and I notice his t-shirt is singed. Crap. Here I am being a bitch and kicking him out and he’s hurt.

“Did you burn yourself? Where are you hurt?”

I start to lift up his shirt to search for injuries but he bats me away.

“I’m fine. I’m not hurt.” He smirks. “I am touched by your concern, though.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’d be concerned if a stranger was injured.”

“But you wouldn’t try to rip a stranger’s clothes off of him.”

“I wasn’t ripping your clothes off of you. I was searching for injuries. There’s a difference.”

“All I heard was I can’t wait to see your naked chest.”

I throw my arms in the air. “Oh my god. You are delusional. You’re hearing voices now?”

“I hear the sweet voice of my pixie girl now.”

Hispixie girl? I am nothis. I’m also not a girl or a pixie.

“It’s confirmed. You’re delusional.” I whirl around. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to bed.”

“Does this mean I can stay?”

He almost sounds as if he’s begging. I feel a crack in my wall of resistance. This is not good. “You can stay here tonight. We’ll discuss this more in the morning.”

There. I didn’t totally cave the way I usually do. I mentally pat myself on the back as I turn toward the door.

“Great. I’ll be there in a minute.”

I freeze. “Be where in a minute?”

“In your bed of course.”

I spin around to confront him. He’s lucky he’s not wearing a dopey grin or smirk or I’d kick him out of my house right this minute.

“Why my bed?”

He bats his eyelashes. “Where else am I going to sleep?”

“On the couch.”

“You have one of those fancy couches. It’s four feet long at most. I’m six-foot-one. I can’t sleep on a mini couch.”

I scowl at him. “I’ll have you know my couch is designer.”

“And really short. Too short for someone of my length to sleep on.”

Damn it. He had to remind me of those long legs of his. His long torso with all of those delicious ab muscles. I clear my throat. Brody’s body is not the issue here.

“You can sleep on the floor.”

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