Brody had already heard them, and from the way he was looking at her now, he was even more pissed off than before.
Becoming impossibly taller, the man’s entire body stiffened. A handful of seconds passed before he spoke again, but when he did, his voice wasn’t raised as Ro had expected. Instead Brody’s words came out slow and steady.
“You want to run that by me again?”
Not really, no.“Which part?” She played dumb.
But Brody wasn’t dumb. He was one of the sharpest men she knew. A trait she typically found sexy as hell.
Today was anything but typical.
“You didn’t tell me he took your panties.”
“I was just using it as an example.”
He began walking toward her. No, not walking.Stalking.And with several slow, booted steps, Brody closed the distance between them.
“Hot pink.” He stopped directly in front of her. “That was oddly specific.”
“I’m an artist.” Ro schooled her expression. “I put color in everything.”
She thought maybe her acting job had been convincing, but then Megan cleared her throat much louder than necessary, tipping Brody off to the lie.
His broad chest rose and fell with several long, deep breaths. Eyes tight with simmering rage, his tone was an eerie calm that sent shivers racing down her spine.
“Are you also missing a pair of panties?”
“Okay, seriously.” Meg begged her brother from over to the side. “Can you please stop saying the wordpanties? It just sounds…weird coming from you.”
One corner of Ro’s lips started to twitch but fell flat again when she realized there wasn’t a trace of humor to be found in Brody’s stony expression. And he was still staring down at her, clearly waiting for a response.
“Yes,” Ro admitted softly. “They were in my drawer this morning. I’m sure of it.”
If she hadn’t told him, Megan probably would have. Of course, she still wanted to strangle her best friend for ratting her out to her brother.
Though deep down, Ro knew Meg’s betrayal had stemmed from a place of love.
“Why didn’t you tell me that before?” Brody continued with his interrogation.
She swallowed, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Because it’s my underwear. It’s…private.”
“It’s creepy, is what it is.” Megan sidled up beside them, the three of them now gathered in the open space between her living room and kitchen.
An arched brow was Brody’s only response.
“I agree, if someone really did take them, then you’re right.” Ro swallowed again, her arms crossing in front. “Itiscreepy. But you’re also still missing the point.”
“Which is?”
“Clayton didn’t do this.”
Dark, aggravated eyes searched hers as the man before her asked, “Why are you so sure he’s innocent?”
“Why are you so sure he’s guilty?”
“I’m not sure of anything yet.” Brody shook his head. “And you shouldn’t be, either.”
“I’m sure you’ve got better things to do than worry about my missinghot pinkpanties.”