Jon wasn't happy. "So we're moving in?"

"I'm planning to work for Reed. We need to be at his house when he's out of town and it's easier if we live there. I'll be sharing a room with Bitsy so you can have your own room to yourself without having to sleep on a couch." Reed had discussed Jon moving into the main house, but I put my foot down. My brother would remain with Bitsy and me.

"You think I'm stupid. I know exactly the kind of work he wants from you."

I had to tighten my fingers to keep from slapping his face. "It's a job, Jon. I'm not having sex with Reed and I don't plan on it." That was the biggest lie of my life. I sighed loudly and looked straight into my brother's eyes. He deserved honesty even if my face flushed bright red. "Okay, I might have sex with him, but it's not your business. I promise it won't be in exchange for anything he gives us."

Jon looked away, but his voice carried his concern, "I like him, Jaycee, but I don't want him hurting you."

"I'm not our mother, Jon." He turned back so I could see the look in his eyes. His lips tightened, but I didn't let it stop me. "Don't take that wrong, I loved her too, but she was far from perfect. So am I, but I promise to use birth control."

"TMI, sis."

I gave him a blank look.

"Too Much Information. You have a cell phone. You need to get with the program and learn how to talk."

I laughed, but it was a nervous one. I'd dodged a bullet and realized once more how much Jon had matured.

I would continue working two nights a week at Tasty Burger. Reed didn't like it, but I didn't care. I couldn't afford to lose the job if the one with him didn't work out.

I spoke to Dwaine the next day and he was a doll. "Go for it, Jaycee. If anyone deserves a break, it's you, Jon, and Bitsy. I'll take you off the emergency fill-in call list unless you tell me to add you back."

I gave Dwaine a huge hug and received a tentative pat on the back. My show of affection made him uncomfortable, but I didn't care. "Thank you, Dwaine."

I worked my double shift. Like my other late nights since breaking into Reed's house, he stood outside waiting for my shift to end. He was helping us move our stuff in the following morning and this was moving too fast. Reed was a steamroller. He'd called Jon and Bitsy's schools, driven by Tasty Burger earlier in the day with un-enrollment paperwork, and basically paved the way. I knew exactly what he was doing. Reed wasn't giving me a chance to change my mind.

After I left the restaurant, he pulled me in for a light kiss. I wondered how he could stand the smell of fried food that clung to me.

"What's wrong?" he asked after the kiss.

I had no idea how he knew I was uncomfortable. "Nothing."

He moved away and pushed a few loose strands of my hair that had fallen from the bun behind my ear. "You are the worst liar."

When it came to him, I was. "I smell."

He had the audacity to laugh.

"Thanks," I said with all the sarcasm I could muster.

"You smell wonderful."

"Now who's the liar? I smell like burned grease and burgers."

He pulled me back in close, his nose going to the hair under my ear, sniffing me.

Oh, God, I was probably sweaty too. Reed had some serious issues.

He started kissing the same spot he sniffed, traveling down along my jaw to my chin. I couldn't help giggling like an idiot. "What's gotten into you tonight?" I managed to say.

"Hmm, you I guess. I also got permission from your guardian to take you on a date."

"What?" His kisses made me crazy and I must have misheard.

"Jonyour brother, surrogate father, fighter of evil baseball players who try to take advantage of his sister, keeper of the key that unlocks your chastity belt."

"Stop, please." I started laughing so hard it was hard to talk. "I do not wear a chastity belt."

His tone lowered to that oh-so-sexy deep whisper. "That's what I wanted to hear, baby," he said then kissed me again. Dwaine unlocking the front door startled us out of our lip lock.

"What are you still doing out here?"

Reed gave a low groan I hope only I could hear and replied to Dwaine's question, "We're going on a date, but like everything else, I needed to talk her into it." Reed backed away from me and clasped my hand.

It was dark, but the nightlights from the restaurant allowed us to see Dwaine's expression. "I know it's a Friday night, but you shouldn't have her out too late."

Reed's fingers tightened ever so slightly around mine. "Yes, sir. I spoke to Jon already and he gave me the rules for dating his sister."

I moved in closer to Reed and elbowed him in the ribs.

"Goodnight, sir," Reed said as he led me to his car while rubbing the bruise I hoped I'd left behind. He buckled me in like a child before we took off. I started laughing and his groan was louder this time. His fingers rubbed his chin. "You have a legion of guardians. It's a date. I'm not running off to Vegas with you or getting you so drunk you can't resist me. You'd think you were sixteen."

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing again. "I'm sorry you went through all that trouble, but I'm not going on a date with you while I'm in my uniform and smelling like a day-old hamburger."

He gave me an exasperated glance. "I told you I like the way you smell."

"You need to take medicine for your stuffed nose then. But back to my point, I'm not going on a date with you while I'm wearing my ugly uniform either."

"I wasn't expecting you to, though. I don't mind and with you in it, that uniform is far from ugly. We're going to my house so you can change."

Talk about maddening. "I don't have anything to change into."

"Your brother packed you a bag."

Annoyed anyone?

I seriously wanted to slap him and then get ahold of my brother. Anger made my voice hard. "Is this what you do? Take over people's lives, pre-plan what they're doing and when they're doing it? Do I even have a say?"

He ignored me and continued driving until we pulled into his driveway. He stopped the car in front of his door and turned off the engine. Quiet settled around us. He unfastened his seat belt and turned. I couldn't quite see his face in the shadows, but I was thinking that was a good thing at this point.

"You always have a say, Jaycee, but-"

I made a low grumbling noise in my throat.

"But-you live in a world where your sister and brother always come first. You've never come first. I understand how hard it must be, even if you think I don't. I want to help and it's not only because I'm trying to be a nice guy. You turn me on, drive me insane, and bring out all my protective instincts. I've never been unsure about anything in my life, but with you, I don't know if I'm coming or going. I want to explore whatever this is. I want you living over the garage and working for me because I actually need the help, and it will help you at the same time. I want to take you on a date because you deserve a date, so I'm asking." He hesitated, taking a deep breath then releasing it. "Would you like to go out with me tonight?"

We were both insane, but he put me in a place of constant hunger for sex-for him-frustration that I could no longer live with. And he wanted a date. I didn't think I could take any more. I went for broke. "No, Reed, I don't want to go on a date. I can't sleep at night because I'm turned on and ready to explode. It's driving me crazy. It's not a date I need from you."