Page 53 of Boyfriend of the Hour

“Lea,” I started again. “Cut it out.”

“How did you meet anyway?” she asked. “Customer at the bar, right?”

“That’s right,” Nathan said. “Although we didn’t really get to know each other until she came to my office for a consultation for a breast augmentation.”

Every other head in the room immediately swiveled my way.

“You wanted to dowhat?” Lea demanded.

I gave Nathan a dirty look. “Thanks for that one.”

“Joni, what?” Kate chimed in. “Aside from the fact that it’s totally unnecessary, how were you even going to pay for something like that?

I shook my head. “I wasn’t. I’m not. I thought about it for a second and changed my mind, all right? So just drop it.”

I don’t know why I bothered. Lea wasn’t capable of dropping anything.

“So, what, you’re her plastic surgeon?” she asked Nathan. “Here to make her into some little doll just like you want?”

“Lea!” I snapped. “Stop!”

“No,” Nathan said. “I’m not. I actually advised her against doing the surgery. I didn’t think it was necessary.”

“Because you had the hots for her?” Lea pressed.

To his credit, he didn’t back down. “Because I think she’s perfect the way she is.”

The sudden silence in the room was so thick I could have spread it on toast. There it was again. That word. The one that made my heart race in my chest and my lips swell with need.

Kate’s hand floated to cover her mouth, Mike just looked bemused, and Lea looked like she’d been smacked upside the head.

“No.” She shook her head so hard that the messy bun on top threatened to fall out. “And you’re not staying here. You can takethe couch at our house if you absolutely can’t stand the shop, but I’m not leaving you here with an obvious predator.”

“Predator?” Nathan asked. “Why am I a predator?”

“You’re not,” I assured him. “My sister is just being a bitch.”

“Harsh, but maybe fair,” Kate remarked to Mike, who had the good sense not to do anything but grunt.

“It’s not a lack of manners when I’m just protecting you,” Lea argued with a hand on her hip. “No offense, but you don’t exactly look like you need a roommate, guy.”

“His name isNathan, you absolute brat,” I snapped.

But again, Nathan just shrugged. “None taken. I don’t.”

“Nathan,” I hissed at him this time. What was he doing? Giving the entire agreement away?

He ignored me completely.

“Well, at least he’s admitting it,” said Kate, now appraising him. “Anyone who wears The Row on moving day isn’t hurting for cash.”

Nathan looked down at the simple clothes that, yes, looked a lot more expensive than the thrifted overalls I used when cleaning houses for extra money.

She grinned. “I run a men’s vintage shop in Riverdale. If you’re ever looking to clean out your closet, I’ll give you my card.”

Nathan took it, looking puzzled.

“Kate, don’t add to this garbage, please.” As the fairest of my siblings, I at least expected her to be on my side.