next to you, tuck the sheets up around it. Maybe whisper sweet nothings to it while you drift off to sleep...”
“What happens between a grown man and his consenting smartphone is nobody else’s business,” James said.
Maddie’s lips twitched but there was no way she’d let a smile slip out. Her older brothers were, and always had been, the bane of her existence. They were bossy, arrogant and a collective pain in her ass.
She’d disown all three if she wasn’t so crazy about them.
“Now,” James said, “what’s this about me being a dead man?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Leo said. “She’s pissed and somehow it’s all your fault as you’re lower than a slug, in cahoots with the devil himself—”
“Whoa, whoa.” Maddie held her hand up. “I would never, ever say cahoots. What are you?” she asked Leo. “Seventy?”
He grinned and leaned back in his chair, all dark good looks and charming grin. “Old enough to know twenty-eight is way past the appropriate age for temper tantrums.”
She bristled so hard, the hair on her arms stood on end. On second thought, she could do without a brother. It wasn’t as if she didn’t have a couple to spare.
“Tantrum?” she repeated, knowing she sounded shrill and yes, damn it, like a two-year-old pitching a fit compared to Leo’s teasing tone. But that’s what her brothers did. They brought out the worst in her.
She slapped her palms onto the table and leaned forward. “I’ll show you a tantrum, you son of a—”
“Let’s leave Mom out of this, shall we? I get the point.”
“Wish I could say the same,” James said to Maddie. “What’s got your panties all twisted now?”
She straightened. “You took my crew from me today.”
“I needed them at the Simpson job. And they’re not your crew. They’re employees of Montesano Construction.”
“And one of Montesano Construction’s jobs is renovating Bradford House. Thanks to you, I’m now two days behind schedule.”
“We all have our problems. Mine are numerous and include Peg Simpson changing her mind about the dining room floor—again—the painters being three days late and the distributors sending the wrong bathroom tiles. Leaving me stuck still working a job that should’ve been done two weeks ago.” He crossed his arms. “I’m keeping them for the rest of the week.”
She mimicked his stance. Tried not to think about how they resembled each other with their olive skin, dark hair and eyes. Or how much she adored him with his anal tendencies and calm demeanor.
“Don’t expect me to feel sorry for you.” Although, truth be told, she did. Peg Simpson was a nightmare in three-inch stilettos, bright pink lipstick and jeans tight enough to cause damage to her internal organs. “At least give me Heath back. Or Art.”
“Dad needs Heath at the Morgans’ and Art’s working with Eddie on the Simpsons’ kitchen cabinets. You can have Rob.”
“Is Eddie here?” she asked of her other brother, looking around as if he was hiding under the table or something.
“He went to pick up Max from the sitter’s.” James wagged his phone at her. “And don’t even think about talking him into giving you Art. He needs help finishing up those cabinets.”
“I had no intention of talking Eddie into anything,” she said primly. “It’s not my fault my favorite brother agrees with me in most situations.”
“Don’t worry, Jimmy boy,” Leo called, frowning at the video game. “You’re still my favorite brother.”
James stared at him blandly. “That means...surprisingly little.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“I’m surrounded by boneheads,” Maddie murmured.
“Look,” James told her, “I know it’s a pain in the ass and you have a lot of work to do on the bed-and-breakfast, but this is how it has to be. And I promise, as soon as I’m done at the Simpsons’, I’ll put in at least a week with you. Deal?”
She dropped her arms. “What choice do I have?”
He pretended to think that over. “None?”
“That’s what I thought. In that case...sure. It’s a deal.” Besides, if James said he’d help her out, he would. He never broke a promise.
The door opened and their mother came in. “Madelyn,” she said with a smile, a straw hat on her head, a basket of herbs and green onions on her arm. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
Rose gave Maddie a one-armed hug. Could Maddie really be blamed if she held on a moment too long? She’d had a really crappy day so far and some days, a girl just needed her mom.
Even if that girl was a mother herself.
When they stepped apart, Rose studied Maddie’s face but