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Genevieve giggled. “It’s okay, Quill. That’s exactly what I was thinking. King Brain thinks we can’t reason through logic the same way he can.”
“Dammit, Gen, I don’t think that, and if you call me King Brain again, I’ll…” He tossed up his hands.
She bit her lip, stifling another laugh. “You’ll what?” She prodded her elbow at him. “You’ll do what, Mr. King? Punish me in the bedroom.”
Brendan turned a bright shade of pink. “I would never?—”
“Quill,” Genevieve interrupted, rolling her eyes at Brendan, “I’ve been meaning to thank you for your help with all this.”
Quill, looking more uncomfortable than carefree for once, narrowed his glacier-blue eyes at her. “I’m not helping you; I’m helping Brendan.”
“Quill,” Brendan ground out.
“Sorry, Genevieve.” Quill shrugged. “Just telling you like it is. Don’t mean any offense.”
“I’m not offended. Honestly, I don’t blame you for feeling that way.” She cocked her head as an entertaining idea occurred to her. “In honor of our time here in The Biggest Little City in the World, can I make a bet with you?”
“What?” Brendan glared Quill down rather than her. “No, no. No bets!” he shouted, making a slashing motion with his hands. “No interference, Quill.”
Genevieve cupped a hand over her mouth, concealing her amusement that Brendan was taking his frustration out on Quill for her idea.
“I’m listening,” Quill responded, nodding his chin toward her.
“When I earn your trust with Brendan’s heart being in my hands, you have to let me set you up on blind dates until you get married. If you’re not actively dating someone, I get to set you up, and if you break up, then I get to set you up again until I successfully pair you with someone.”
Quill snorted out a laugh. “That’s ridiculous.”
“You don’t trust me. It’s obvious.” Genevieve shrugged a shoulder, flipping up her palm. “So if you have so little faith in me, what’s the big deal? In your mind, I’ll eventually betray Brendan. That’s what you think, right? So why not take the bet?”
Quill studied her carefully, then cracked a faint smile. “All right, you’re on.” He leaned toward her. “But keep in mind that a bet has stakes for both parties. If you betray Brendan by giving me any indication that you’re after something other than his heart, I want you to leave and never come back, no questions asked.”
Brendan froze beside her, anxiousness shadowing his features.
Genevieve skewered Quill with a gaze, leaning in with equal fervor. “That’s never gonna happen, buddy. All I want is his heart.”
“You already have it,” Brendan clipped out, still eyeing Quill, “and Quill will never tell you to go anywhere, or I’ll have his head.”
Ignoring Brendan, she pointed at Quill. “When you’re convinced that you trust me with Brendan, and you will be convinced,” she added with confidence, “you have to be honest. No keeping it to yourself to shield yourself from the consequences.”
“Yeah, sure, will do.” Quill puffed a chuckle out through his nose. “If you ever convince me Brendan’s heart is safe with you, I’ll date whoever you want me to till your heart’s content.”
Genevieve rubbed her hands together and shot a delighted look at Brendan. “This is going to be endlessly entertaining.”
Brendan pursed his lips.
“Problem, Mr. King?” She smirked.
“Yes,” he growled, “with you calling me Mr. King and with you attempting to convince Quill of anything. It isn’t his business, nor do you need to prove anything to him.”
“I agree.” She smiled sweetly and bounced up on her toes before bending down to peck a quick kiss on Brendan’s lips. “But I really want to meddle in his life since he’s meddling in ours. It won’t take me long to convince him, and then I get to have some serious fun.”
Quill boomed out another laugh. “Good luck. I predict you’ll be around until we remove Jed Marshall as a threat, and then you’ll bolt, and even if you don’t right away for other obvious reasons, you certainly won’t convince me you’re worthy of Brendan.”
“Quill.” Brendan smacked his palm against the granite countertop, leveling him with a look. “That’s enough. You’re out of line. Do you want that busted jaw?”
Genevieve shook her head. Other obvious reasons? Did Quill mean Brendan’s money? Probably. It was a fair assumption, and one that would take years for her to prove wasn’t the case. If Brendan wanted them to live in that huge mansion of his, that was on him, but the things she wanted, she’d earn, and that included the shopping spree she was about to go on right now.
“All right, boys, I’m headed out. I’ll let you two hash it out in private.” She winked at Quill to be ornery and landed a passionate, lengthy kiss on Brendan’s lips.
