Page 38 of Nothing to Win

“What are you doing here?”

With purpose, he marched up the stairs to join her.

“What are you wearing?Mom would have a stroke if she saw you like this!Is this how Spurn likes you?”He took a step toward Julius.“And with another guy?How many men do you strut around for up here?”

Striding to the kitchen again, she put herself in front of Julius.“I do not strut around for anyone.Julius is Brogan’s family,” she asserted.“And the only man allowed to take issue with my state of undress in front of other men is my boyfriend.If he has no complaints, you have no right to raise them.”

It was great to be full of bravado and bluster, but it might not have been smart to make such a declaration without having asked Brogan his opinion.

“You were raised better than this,” Bram hissed.“Than to be flaunting yourself in strange places around strange men.”

Startled by Julian’s contact when he rested a hand on her shoulder, she did her best to hide her reaction to the unexpected support.

“Gia is at home here and that’s how Brogan likes it,” Julius said.“She’s a daughter to me, nothing more.Her comfort is Brogan’s utmost concern.”

Her brother wasn’t appeased.“But not her virtue clearly,” Bram said.“You would never find women dressed like this in the public rooms of a Sear home.”

God, his judgment was infuriating.“You’d never see a smile in a Sear home either,” she snapped.

Not like there had been a lot of hilarity at Spurn’s home so far either.

“Gia!”

“Isn’t this a jolly sight?”

The sound of Brogan ascending the stairs surprised them all.Bram turned as Brogan reached this level in sweatpants and a half-zipped hoodie.She could see the definition of his chest beneath, no tee-shirt.Intrigued by that triangle of warm flesh, her brother’s scolding disappeared way, way, way to the back of the line in lieu of her drooling.

“We have an unexpected visitor,” Julius said.

Brogan came to her side and bowed to kiss the corner of her mouth.She was still in something of a daze when he wrapped an arm around her.

“So I see,” Brogan said, looking at Bram.“What can we help you with, Sear?”

“Seems he came to comment on his sister’s choice of morning wear,” Julius said.“He’s not a fan of the robe; we are sullying her virtue.”

Brogan inhaled.“Sullying Gia’s virtue is solely my responsibility.She’s encouraged to make herself at home here.Her comfort is our priority… is that why you came, Sear?To check her apparel?Because you got here a little late, she was wearing far less in my bedroom last night.”

Bram lunged forward.“Spurn!”

Gia jumped in front of Brogan.“What are you doing here, Bram?”

Her brother glared over her head.Brogan would be glaring back, she didn’t have to turn to check.

“I came to talk to you…” Bram said, “in private.”

“Well, in private is not—”

“We’ll give you the space,” Brogan said and skimmed a hand over her ass as he moved away.

“Are you sure?”she asked.Brogan and Julius were already ascending the stairs.“Thank you, Mister.”

Halfway up the stairs, he glanced back and winked.She smiled without knowing what the gesture meant; she knew what she wanted it to mean.

Once the men were out of sight, she folded her arms and set her attention on her brother.“Okay, what do you want?”

“Don’t snark at me,” Bram said.“I’m here to do you a favor.”

Gia wasn’t going to relax just yet.“Didn’t seem that way a minute ago.If this is some kind of reconnaissance mission—”