The Bluff (Graham Brothers, #2)(21)

There is a lot more to my grumpy boss than he wants to reveal. Which only makes me determined to slice through him layer by layer.

Bad idea, Winnie. Very, VERY bad. Layers belong in dips or winter wardrobes, not in your boss.

Chevy walks in, his hair still wet from a shower, just as Wolf returns with my drink and a can of light beer for my brother. A few other Sheeters have wandered in, so Wolf heads back to the bar with a smile and nod but no chit-chat.

I hold up my phone. “You’re late.”

“Well, hello to you, too, sis.” Chevy makes like he’s going to ruffle my hair, but, at the last minute, throws an arm around me and squeezes me in a side hug. “Sorry. I got caught up at dinner, then wanted to make sure I showered after our long workday.”

I wrinkle my nose. “You didn’t shower before your date?”

“My date didn’t care about my smell,” he says, winking.

I try to cover both my ears and eyes at the same time, which doesn’t work and makes me look like I’m doing hand motions to some weird new dance. “Ew. I don’t want to know!”

Chevy only grins. “I think you do this time.”

“No, I really don’t want any details—”

“I took your boss to dinner.”

I drop my hands and stare. Then, with trembling fingers, I pick up my soda water and promptly choke. My brother grins at my reaction. I glare.

“Why?” I demand when I can speak properly again.

“I wanted to make sure he and I were on the same page.” Chevy takes a slow sip of beer, watching my reaction. My brother has a way of putting people at ease, friendly and casual while he’s actually cataloging every detail. It’s why he's so good at his job, and why he should probably be a detective in a bigger city rather than a deputy here. I only hope he doesn’t notice the way my pulse is fluttering in my neck. My heart has gone telltale, intent on beating its way out of my body and revealing the effect even the idea of James Graham has on me.

I attempt to keep my voice steady. “And what page is that?”

“The one where if he hurts my baby sister, he’ll rue the day.”

I can’t tell if Chevy is kidding or not, but if he actually had some kind of fatherly shotgun-in-hand talk with James, I’m going to shrivel up and die of embarrassment.

I push my glasses up on top of my forehead and rub my eyes. I’m not used to wearing my contacts for so many hours like I did working in the warehouse today, and my eyeballs feel gritty and dry. Blinking, I put my glasses back in place. Chevy fills my view, smiling. “Tell me you didn’t.”

“I most certainly did.”

My cheeks are burning. My heart has stopped beating altogether. Goodbye, cruel world—or maybe just cruel brother.

“Chevy,” I whine, pressing my drink to my hot face. “Why? You know James can barely stand me, right?” My eyes narrow as a thought occurs to me. “Wait—did you have this kind of talk with Dale too?”

Chevy takes a sip of beer before answering. “No.”

Whatever part of my brain is still functioning shorts out at this. “But you had one with James?”

“Winnie, be honest with yourself. Did you really see a future with Dale?”

“No.”

It’s a knee-jerk no. I don’t even need to consider the question. I’ve barely thought about my ex since we ended things. It’s like our breakup and maybe even our relationship didn’t happen.

Despite how well Chevy tried to hide it, I’m observant too, and I know my brother never liked Dale. Which really should have been cause to ditch him sooner. I don’t want the kind of man who doesn’t fold right into my family, and Chevy is the only family I have left.

Still. That doesn’t give my brother the right to go talk to James Graham.

“Me not seeing a future with Dale doesn’t equal you talking to my boss. It’s not like we’re dating. Or thinking about dating.”

“So, you’re keeping things just business?” His grin is smug and infuriating.

“Just business,” I insist.

“Hm.”

“You don’t believe me?”

Chevy finishes his beer and waves Wolf off when he offers another. My brother and I share the same sense of responsibility when it comes to alcohol and operating motor vehicles.

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you and James are at each other’s throats,” Chevy says.

I gasp dramatically and put a hand to my chest. “Me? I’m Miss Congeniality. I get along with everyone.”

Chevy chuckles. “But not with him. Don’t you find that interesting?”

“I’ll have to create a hypothesis and put my observations in a formal study. But I need a control group and some lab space …” I tap my lips, pretending to be deep in thought.

“I, for one, find it very interesting,” Chevy says, totally ignoring my joke.

“I find you annoying.”

“You seem to enjoy annoying James.”

“I beg your pardon. I am a picture-perfect employee. Didn’t you see how I organized help in cleaning out the warehouse today?”

“Help James didn’t seem to want. Which is exactly what I’m talking about.”

“I was just doing my job. Very well, thank you.”