Power Drilled (Roommates, #8)(14)

Her smile widened at that. “Seems like I’m getting the better end of this bargain.”

“We’re happy to be of service,” Hunter said, and I wondered if Penny noticed the way he emphasized the last word.

I jumped in quickly in case she hadn’t. “We’ll even give you the good sleeping bag.”

She nodded, but then her expression turned puzzled. “Sleeping bag?”

“Yeah. Didn’t we tell you? We always stay in the house we’re fixing up during the Ten-Day Turnaround. It saves us time, plus it motivates us to fix it up as fast as possible.”

“Yeah, not having running water because you’re installing new sinks is a pretty powerful motivation,” Hunter said. “I like a shower before bedtime.”

For once, Hunter hadn’t used any innuendo, but Penny’s expression was rapidly turning horrified.

“You’d expect me to stay here, too?”

It took me a moment to realize that she was seriously upset. “I promise, you can have your pick of bedrooms. Whichever one you want, we’ll fix it up first.”

“You want me to stay here with you all for ten nights?”

Shit, this wasn’t heading in a good direction. “I’m sorry, I should’ve made that clear earlier.”

“I did say we worked day and night,” Hunter put in. He wanted her to accept our offer but even he knew that there was only one way this was going to work out.

“I don’t even know you all,” Penny said softly.

“You know me,” I said. “Hell, you’ve even seen me naked.” The moment the words were out of my mouth, I could’ve kicked myself. That was definitely not the way to convince a skittish young woman that she’d be safe with us.

“She has?” my younger brother said, an eyebrow raised with interest. “Oh, right, Carl’s art class.” He grinned at Penny. “You know, if you’ve seen one of us naked, you’ve seen all of us naked.”

I kicked him under the table and glared at him. Sometimes he could be completely obtuse about women though the ones he slept with never seemed to have any complaints.

“I can get here early,” Penny said. “Six in the morning if I need to. And stay late.”

“It’s not the same. Take a look at the videos we already have posted online. Some are of us working on the house, but others are late at night when we’re all in our sleeping bags talking about our plans for the house.” I didn’t mention that the latter kind of video, in which we were often only in pajama bottoms, were some of the most popular ones.

“And there’s the bonfire,” Hunter pointed out. “That’s at night. Plus, I thought you didn’t have a car.”

Penny’s face fell. “I can use a ride service, but probably not that early.”

If she were only going to be here part of the day—and in and out because of the wedding—I didn’t see how this could work out. Either we found someone who was able to take and post as many videos as Chris did or we might as well just post a drastically reduced number that we took ourselves.

I met Penny’s eye, and tried once more, but I suspected I was going to be disappointed. “I promise you’ll be safe with us.”

She nodded, but misery was etched across her face. “I wish I could, but… I barely know you three. I just can’t stay here with you. I’m sorry, I wish I could.”

Shit. This had really seemed like the right solution for all of us. Then again, I couldn’t blame Penny for not trusting men she barely knew, not when one she had—her asshole ex—had treated her so badly.

Reid came back. “Please tell me I don’t have to wear a tux in the near future.”

“You don’t.” My voice was as neutral as I could make it, but it still sounded a bit glum to me. “Penny’s not able to stay here with us.”

“That’s a deal-breaker.”

Neither Hunter nor I contradicted him.

Reid looked pointedly at his watch. He didn’t need to remind me that we needed to get back to work soon. “It was nice meeting you, Penny.”

She took the hint and stood up. “Nice meeting you all, too.”

“Good luck with everything,” I said. Hunter said nothing, but he reached across the table and shook her hand. Her creamy skin looked extra light as his tan fingers engulfed hers.

Reid and Hunter disappeared inside.

“You know, I’m sure I can get away for the wedding at least. No one should have to go to a wedding alone if their ex is going to be there.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s next Saturday, right?” My heart sank when she nodded. That was one day before the end of our Ten-Day Turnaround, and it was often the most hectic day of all. But I’d find a way to slip away even if I had to use tranquilizer darts on my brothers.

“Thank you,” Penny said again, her voice as firm as I’d ever heard it.

I smiled. “You said that already.”

“But I really mean it. For offering me this job even though it didn’t work out. For giving me a ride the other night. And for offering to be my wedding date if I can’t find another fake boyfriend by then.”

The thought of her spending the week with another man didn’t sit well with me, but there wasn’t anything I could do about it. This was my career and my livelihood.