the dog’s coarse coat. When I leaned down to reach his back legs, the dog seized on the opportunity to lick me.
Reeling back, I wiped a hand over my mouth. I pointed a finger at the dog. “The last guy who tried that almost got a knee to the balls.”
I unhooked the dog I’d been washing, lifted him out of the tub, and crated him before moving on to the next dog. I opened the door to see a cute black-and-white puffball. The dog looked sweet, with its tongue lolling out.
When I reached in to grab him, he growled and lunged at me. I sprang back, slamming the crate door closed before Cujo could take a bite out of me. I looked around to see the other girls staring at me.
“I think I’m going to save this one for the staff.”
There were no other dogs there for us to wash, so I took off my apron and hung it up before settling back against one of the unused basins.
Gina cleared her throat. “Bethany, how does Aamee feel her fundraiser went?”
Bethany looked surprised to be spoken to. As one of Aamee’s closest friends in the house, things had been frosty between us at best. But she’d signed up for this service opportunity at the beginning of the semester and, for whatever reason, hadn’t found a different one. Maybe Aamee had sent her as a spy.
Once Bethany recovered from her surprise, she said, “It went well.”
“Oh good,” Gina replied in a voice that was dripping with false enthusiasm. “I’d heard Aamee was nervous because she thought she didn’t raise much. I’m glad to hear that’s not the case.”
Bethany’s eyes managed to both flit in Gina’s direction and roll at the same time. “Why would Aamee be nervous? The party was packed.”
I wanted to point out that since Aamee hadn’t charged admission, a packed party meant nothing, but I managed to hold my tongue.
“Sophia’s auction will probably be packed too,” said Emma. “I can’t believe you got some of the football team to participate.” She looked like a kid who’d been promised a lollipop.
I was surprised too. Carter had come through big-time for me. When I’d explained my idea to him, he’d told me he’d get a few of the guys from the team, and he’d certainly kept his word.
He’d not only convinced the quarterback to participate but also one of the defensive linemen, Tim Long, who was scorching hot. He’d probably be able to beat Aamee’s fundraising total all on his own.
“Is your brother going to be in it?” Bethany asked.
“What?”
It hadn’t ever occurred to me to ask Drew to be one of the bachelors. The thought of some other girl touching him made my heart beat faster. The auction wasn’t intended for people to bid on guys they wanted to hook up with, but I wasn’t stupid.
Most of the girls bidding would be doing so because they had some level of interest in the guy they were trying to buy. And even though I’d explained the auction was for men to do small chores for the people who “won” them—and not some elaborate escort scheme—people were still going to bid with their libidos.
“Your brother,” Bethany repeated slowly, like I was intellectually impaired. “Is he going to be in the auction?”
“No. Why would he be?”
Bethany shrugged, but it looked too cavalier. This had been her mission, and she’d chosen to accept it. That Aamee would ask one of her lackeys to try to get intel on my event didn’t surprise me, but Bethany’s focus on Brody did. Or Drew. Whatever. I couldn’t figure out what her angle could possibly be.
“He’s obviously attractive,” Bethany stated as she finished drying her dog. “He’d probably bring in a good amount of money. I’ve heard quite a few girls talk about how hot he is.”
“He doesn’t want to.”
“So you asked him?”
Jesus Christ, is this chick majoring in interrogation techniques or something?
“No, I just know he wouldn’t want to.”
Bethany looked skeptical. “Even if it would help you with the fundraiser?” She turned her back for a second while she put the dog in his crate and then turned back to face me. “Unless, of course, there’s another reason you don’t want him to participate.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “And what reason would that be?”
She looked down and examined her nails. “A few of us were just wondering if you were maybe a little too…interested in your brother.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
She looked right at