“You can, but I don’t promise not to repeat it.”
Chuckling, he picks up his water bottle. “Out of all my brothers’ girls, you are my favorite.”
“Ah, Ford. You say that to all the girls.”
“Sometimes,” he laughs. “But I mean it this time. Especially because I need a favor.”
“Typical,” I sigh. “What do you want?”
“Can I borrow your yoga studio for a day one weekend? I want to do a self-defense course and I don’t have a location. Our building is too office-y. I need mats and space.”
“Um, you kind of own the yoga studio,” I laugh. “It’s a Landry business. I just run it.”
“Come on now,” he teases. “You know Graham bought that for you.”
“Don’t say that. It makes me feel weird.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” I laugh. “It just does.”
The lines around his eyes crinkle. “So I can use it? We can get together one day this week and find a day?”
“Yes, Ford. You can use it.”
“Good.”
“Now, on to the return favor . . .”
“Oh, shit. Here we go,” he groans.
“You didn’t think it was that easy, did you?”
Graham’s feet slap against the tile as he makes his way in the kitchen. “You aren’t asking her for a favor, are you? She always gets you good in the trade.”
“He did,” I say cheerfully. “Now I’m figuring out what I want as a payback.”
“I had no idea you were such a predator,” Ford sighs.
“She’s worse than Barrett,” Graham laughs, sitting down beside me. “So, let’s hear it. What are you going to do to poor Fordie Boy?”
I tap my finger against my lips, pretending to give it thought. Truth be told, I already know what I want. I was going to do it anyway. At least now, he’ll have to participate willingly. Or semi-willingly, knowing him.
“In return for use of the studio, I am going to set you up with no less than two blind dates,” I say.
“The hell you are!” he laughs.
“I am,” I insist. “And you will go happily.”
“To a place with forks,” Graham chips in.
“Yes. To a place with forks. I’ll ensure the ladies are sweet and pretty and kind and would do you justice.”
He groans, rubbing his hands down his face. “I don’t know, Mal. I’m not really feeling it right now.”
“When is the last time you had a date?” I sigh. “A real one. Not one of those things where you pick someone up for a quickie.”
“I don’t do that!”