The Bluff (Graham Brothers, #2)(15)

Bob1

Let me know when you’re planning to shave a cat. I’d love to watch.



Sall-E

Do you know the cost of hairless cats? Because you could buy a car for that price.



1BigBass

Where are you finding your cars? Also, if hairless cats are going for that, I’m in the wrong business.

BagelBytes

Again, please don’t encourage buying purebred animals of any kind. Visit a shelter. They cost less and aren’t subjected to terrible living and breeding conditions.



Danielle_L

As I mentioned, my husband is allergic, so we can’t just adopt a random cat. Please take your anti-breeding comments elsewhere.



MaddieDVM

Your friendly neighborhood veterinarian popping in! While it’s true there are many puppy and kitten mills with terrible breeding conditions, it is possible to find responsible breeders. I’m leaving a few links on how to check for the right breeder AND the right pet for your family. It’s also true that we have a shelter right here with several adorable cats and kittens available for adoption! None hairless, I’m afraid.



SlimShabby

If anyone’s looking for cats, downtown is overrun with them! I think they’re living in that warehouse the Grahams are trying to turn into a brewery.



Vanz

If the brewery doesn’t work out maybe they could open a cat sanctuary

AlisaTheCotton

Or maybe like one of those cat cafes they have in Japan? Except instead of coffee and cats, it’s beer and cats?



DeltaDeltaDelta

Or maybe you could cuddle with one of the Graham brothers while drinking a beer? I’d pay for that.



The_Real_Shell-E

I second that suggestion! Beer + cuddling with a Graham brother (or their dad!!!!) = best business idea EVER



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CHAPTER FIVE





James



I’m totally feeling the phrase too many cooks in the kitchen. Though it’s more like too many workers in my warehouse.

Yes, I’ll concede it’s been helpful to have so many hands. What I thought wouldn’t take more than a few hours has turned into an almost all-day project, and we’re still going. I’m glad the contractor is late because it would have been even more of a disaster if he’d gotten here two hours ago.

Despite the benefit of extra help, I’m stressed, irritated, and overwhelmed with a near-crippling frustration. All the tension has centered in my skull, giving me a headache to end all headaches. And a big cause of it all is the woman walking by precariously balancing a stack of rotten boards.

I resist the urge to scoop them out of Winnie’s hands. She would fight me, first of all—I may not know her well, but I know this for certain. Plus, she’s shown through the day how well she can handle heavy lifting. Now that she’s wearing my gloves, I don’t need to worry about her getting splinters. She should really be wearing long sleeves to protect her arms though.

Or so you won’t find yourself distracted by her tattoos?

Busted. By my own internal monologue.

All day long, I’ve struggled. Struggled not to boil over when another person I hardly know shows up to “help.” Struggled not to snap when Winnie baits me—because, oh yes, it’s very clear half the things she says are to get a reaction out of me. Struggled not to stare at the tattoos covering her toned arms. Struggled not to worry about her safety—which is a thing I don’t know why I’m worrying about at all.

It’s not just Winnie. I also struggled not to toss Collin into the dumpster for his continued comments. Opinions about the interior setup, unwelcome suggestions about employees, and remarks about how much attention I’m paying to Winnie. Which was especially ironic considering the fact Collin spent most of the day glued to her side. Smiling, talking, even cracking jokes, apparently, based on the laughter I kept hearing from her.

“Don’t forget you have a girlfriend,” I muttered to him at one point.

“Oh—do you not like me flirting with yours?”

His grin was just begging to be knocked off his face. Winnie came around the corner at that point, which is the only reason the two of us didn’t end up in a scuffle. When he and Chase finally drive back to Austin, I couldn’t be more thrilled.

Tank left a little while ago to pick up Jo from Mari’s, and the other random Sheeters have finally gone as well. I should be able to relax now that the building is quiet. My head, though, is anything but. I won’t be able to really let go until the contractor shows. Plus, any minute now, Winnie will pop up with a snarky comment or some other surprise I’ll hate.

She started the day by throwing me off, bringing me a coffee with a smile and not even a trace of snark. It smelled like a trap. Both the gesture and the sudden sweetness were so uncharacteristic that I threw the coffee away. I don’t think Winnie is the type to put a laxative in my coffee, but I can’t be too careful when it comes to her.