Grant laid a hand over hers, stopping her exploration, but she noticed he didn’t pull her hand away. He considered Rome for a long moment. “We actually discussed hiring a carpenter to come in and build some obstacles for the paintball course.”
“No need,” Rome said, and his stance relaxed a little. “I can do that for you. I know a little carpentry.”
“That’s great,” Grant said, enthusiasm in his voice.
“You ever thought about running a paintball gear shop, too? Might be a good idea. People come in for paintball and buy stuff while they’re there.”
Grant seemed impressed by Rome’s business acumen. “That’s a good idea, too. And it’d give Pop something to do so Brenna doesn’t have to keep breaking things for him.” His hand slid around her waist and he gave her a light squeeze. “I’m getting tired of my Audi constantly being on the fritz. Sounds like you have a lot of paintball experience.”
For some reason, that made Rome a bit more guarded. As Brenna watched, he seemed to visibly withdraw. “I’ve got a little bit of everything under my belt.”
“And he’ll look hot for Elise’s photo shoot,” Brenna pointed out.
Grant’s brows drew together and he frowned down at her.
“I don’t recall agreeing to a photo shoot.”
“I’m pretty sure we discussed it at dinner with your parents.”
“Yeah, but discussing isn’t agreeing to.”
“Isn’t it?” Brenna said in a light voice. To distract him, she slid her hand into his back pocket and squeezed his ass. She looked over at Elise to fill in the picture. But for some reason, Grant’s sister had totally withdrawn into her shell again. She was staring at the ground, one shoe scuffing in the dirt. Her long, smooth hair had swung in front of her face, obscuring it from view, and she wasn’t saying anything or participating in the conversation. She looked as if she wanted to hide.
Well heck. Clearly she couldn’t count on Elise to step into the argument, so Brenna took the reins again. “Come on. It’ll help your sister out to get the spread. And think of the business you’ll get with some pictures of hot guys all muddy and woodsy.” She fluttered her lashes at him in an obvious way. “It’s great promo.”
“From a woman’s magazine?”
“Uh, yeah,” Brenna said. “If I want to take a survival class, I’m going where the trainers are ripped and studly. No-brainer.” She glanced over at Elise, but the shy woman’s face was bright red and she still wasn’t speaking up. “Anyhow, it’s decided. Right, boo?”
“Don’t call me ‘boo,’” Grant said. “But it’s not a bad idea. We’ll discuss it later with the guys.”
She gave his butt a pat. “Don’t think you’re getting out of the picture day. Four studs sells more magazines than three.”
He gave her a startled look. “I’m not a trainer.”
“So?” She scratched his stomach, pretending to draw lines across his washboard abs. “You’ve still got a hot body. Women everywhere will be wanting to sink their teeth into you, right, Elise?”
“He’s my brother,” Elise said, her whisper just barely audible.
“We’ll discuss it later,” Grant said again. “For now, we need to pick up my parents from the bed and breakfast so they can get the grand tour.”
We? She stifled a groan. She’d signed up to be his fake girlfriend, though. She supposed she’d have to deal with this sort of thing. “So what am I supposed to do with Rome? I can’t leave him unsupervised on his first day.”
“Where’s Pop?”
“I don’t know. I’m not his owner.” Brenna brightened, a devious idea coming to her mind. “I know. He can take Elise around and show her some of the nearby areas so she can get an idea for the photo shoot.”
Rome’s gaze went to Grant’s quiet sister, and she could have sworn that he’d warmed up a bit. Elise, however, looked utterly stricken, her eyes wide.
“I don’t think that’s wise,” Grant began.
As he spoke, Brenna watched Rome grow shuttered again, the cold look coming over his face. Wrong thing to say. She sighed. “Maybe some of us need to talk privately,” she told him, “and can’t do it with your family in the car. Or, you know, do other private things.” She fluttered her eyelashes up at him.
He turned bright red.
Just then, Colt pulled up in his jeep.
“Problem solved. We’ll send Colt with them,” Grant said, and then tugged at her waist. “Come on.”
Brenna frowned at Grant, and then gave Rome and Elise a helpless look. “We’ll be back soon.”
Rome nodded crisply, and Elise gave her a mutely pleading look that Brenna ignored. Rome was hotness personified—it’d do Elise well to spend some time with him, since it was clear that Rome was interested in her . . . if she’d ever make eye contact with him.
When she got into the Audi with Grant, she continued to wave cheerfully at the others until they pulled out of the parking lot. Then she reached over and thumped Grant on the arm.
“Ow! What the hell was that for?”
“You were mean to our new employee!”
Grant shook his head, staring out the windshield. “I hope to God that he had some incredible qualifications for you to hire a guy who looks like him that fast. I didn’t even see his résumé.”
“I’m sure his qualifications are fine,” Brenna told him. “And what do you mean, a guy who looks like him?”
“You’re sure his qualifications are fine? Jesus, Brenna! Did you even look at them?”
“Does it matter? So Colt will show him how to rub some sticks together and make some fire. So what.”
He stared at her as if she’d grown another head. “Are you kidding me? There are certifications and trainings that someone needs to have to qualify to teach classes. We were hiring someone who had those.”
She shrugged. “I liked Rome, and he needed the work.”
“He’s covered in tattoos. He looks like a hoodlum!”
“I’m covered in tattoos, too! You didn’t seem to have a problem with mine.”
“They’re not covering you up to your neck.”
“They can. Maybe I’ll go get a few more tomorrow.”
He shot her a dark look. “Very funny.”