Page 40 of Chasing the Sun

“You heard me.”

“Yes, but I’m having trouble comprehending it.”

He pulled his lower lip between his teeth, his jaw ticking furiously. “It’s pretty simple, Chloe. It’s a bad idea.”

Shoving her hands on her hips, she demanded, “Why?”

He sighed and looked down at the carpet as if carefully choosing his next words. Finally, he looked back up. “Seb is my brother, but he doesn’t have the best reputation. I don’t think you want to associate with him.”

“Does he do drugs or something?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“Do his friends?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then what? What’s so bad about him?”

He heaved out a breath, removed his hands from his pockets, and shoved them in his hair. “It’s women, okay? They’re his weakness. He goes through women like I go through coffee.”

“You do drink a lot of coffee.”

“Exactly!”

She almost laughed, but she was still angry at him for trying to tell her what to do, or in this case, what not to do. Hadn’t they talked about this?

“So, you’re just looking out for my virtue, is that it?”

He sucked in his lip again, and her attention went right there. For a moment, she wondered what it would be like if he unleashed all that tension on her. She felt warm just thinking about it.

“You’re my employee. I don’t want anything to happen to you while you’re under my roof.”

It sounded like a valid yet flimsy excuse. Why did he care so much what she did in her free time? Or was it just Seb he was worried about? She was about to ask, but he kept talking.

“If Seb were a different kind of guy, it wouldn’t matter. But I know him. If he invited you over, there’s a reason.”

She scowled. “Have you considered that he might actually like me?”

He shook his head, and her ire rose even more.

“Never mind. I don’t need to stand here and listen to this. I appreciate your concern as my employer, but I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”

She started to stalk past him, but he grabbed her wrist and spun her around. Having his hand on her wasn’t altogether unwelcome, but she was still pissed at him.

“I’m not trying to tell you what to do. I’m trying to protect you.”

“I’m not your child, Bryce. It’s not your job to protect me.”

His eyes flashed, and she tried to read the emotions she saw there. Frustration, definitely, but there was something else too.

They stood still for a few seconds, locked in a silent battle, until he reluctantly let go of her wrist.

“You’re right,” he said stiffly.

She rubbed the place where his hand had been, not because it hurt but because she could still feel it there. “You can leave Seb’s address on the kitchen counter,” she said and started to leave again.

She’d only taken two steps when he said, “Chloe?”