Two. Four. Six. Eight.
When my eyes start to follow the V that leads to his shorts. I quickly glance away.
“I thought I’d arrange a little surprise for you all,” Rhett says.
“We’ll get started then,” Phoebe says as she unties her belt and slips her jacket off.
My eyes dart around as I take a step back, trying to get behind the other girls. All the guys stare at the girls as they start to strip out of their jackets.
“I’m going to Mia’s,” one of the guys says as he darts out the front door.
I let out a relieved sigh, knowing that it’s one less guy to deal with.
The two in the living room shrug at each other and then continue to finish their meals while watching something on TV.
I swallow hard as I start to untie the belt of my jacket.
“Come on, Carter,” Rhett says to the guy with the amazing abs who walks by him to get to the stairs. “You’re going to shower now?”
My eyes dart between them as I finish untying the belt. My fingers dig into the silky fabric of the jacket, but instead of taking it off, I wrap it tighter around me.
Carter looks bored as his eyes sweep over us.
“Yeah, there’s nothing down here that’s worth my time.”
Ouch. I should be thankful that none of us pique his interest, but it still stings.
Phoebe nudges me with an elbow and gives me a look of warning before she walks into the living room to start cleaning.
I swallow hard as I look down at my feet.
Think of the money, Evie.
I loosen my grip on the jacket and start to pull it open. A wave of shame hits as I glimpse the curves of my breasts.
A hand clamps over mine, startling me. I jerk back as an alarmed shriek escapes my lips. Panic floods every inch of me, but before I can try to free my hand from Rhett’s, he steps closer to me.
I wish I could say that I’m brave, but I’m not. I’m the kind who runs and hides, instead of fights. Right now, all I want to do is run until my body gives up from exhaustion and hunger.
Rhett lifts his other hand towards my body, and I try to yank free so I can get my butt out of this house.
“Shh… it’s okay,” Rhett whispers as he takes hold of the jacket and covers my right side which was exposed when I pulled back the first time.
I watch with stunned amazement as he ties the belt of my jacket. When he’s done covering me, he turns to the other girls.
“The joke’s over. You can all go.”
My heart is still beating like crazy as I try to calm my breathing from the fright I just had. As the other girls collect their jackets and put them on, I straighten my own out.
Phoebe comes to stand in front of Rhett. “You still have to pay.”
“That’s no surprise,” Rhett says as he takes a few bills from his wallet.
“Thank you for using Double D’s Cleaning Services,” Phoebe says with the usual fake enthusiasm she’s mastered from doing this kind of work for years.
She walks out of the house, and the other girls are quick to follow. I stick close to the last girl, but before I can get out, fingers clamp around the top of my arm, pulling me back.
I watch in horror as the front door is slammed shut, then Rhett steps between me and my exit which instantly makes my heart hammer against my ribs as a fresh wave of panic engulfs me.