female?” The sheer strength of his personality seemed to fill the kitchen. But Ellen refused to be intimidated.
“Pat is a male friend who attends classes at the university with Derek and me.”
“So you’re all students?”
“Yes.”
“All freshmen?”
“Yes.”
He eyed her curiously. “Aren’t you a bit old for that?”
“I’m twenty-five.” She wasn’t about to explain her circumstances to this man.
The sound of the front door opening and closing drew their attention to the opposite end of the house. Carrying an armload of books, Derek Morgan sauntered into the kitchen and stopped cold when he caught sight of his older brother.
“Hi, Reed.” Uncertain eyes flew to Ellen as if seeking reassurance. A worried look pinched the boyishly handsome face. Slowly, he placed his books on the counter.
“Derek.”
“I see you’ve met Ellen.” Derek’s welcoming smile was decidedly forced.
“We more or less stumbled into each other.” Derek’s stiff shoulders relaxed as Reed straightened and set the mug aside.
“I didn’t expect you back so soon.”
Momentarily, Reed’s gaze slid to Ellen. “That much is obvious. Do you want to tell me what’s going on here, little brother?”
“It’s not as bad is it looks.”
“Right now it doesn’t look particularly good.”
“I can explain everything.”
“I hope so.”
Nervously swinging her arms, Ellen stepped forward. “If you two will excuse me, I’ll be up in my room.” The last thing she wanted was to find herself stuck between the two brothers while they settled their differences.
“No, don’t go,” Derek said quickly. His dark eyes pleaded with her to stay.
Almost involuntarily Ellen glanced at Reed for guidance.
“By all means, stay.” But his expression wasn’t encouraging.
A growing sense of resentment made her arch her back and thrust out her chin defiantly. Who was this...this man to burst into their tranquil lives and raise havoc? The four of them lived congenially together, all doing their parts in the smooth running of the household.
“Are you charging rent?” Reed asked.
Briefly Derek’s eyes met Ellen’s. “It makes sense, doesn’t it? This big old house has practically as many bedrooms as a dorm. I didn’t think it would hurt.” He swallowed. “I mean, with you being in the Middle East and all. The house was...so empty.”
“How much are you paying?” Reed directed the question at Ellen. That sarcastic look was back and Ellen hesitated.
“How much?” Reed repeated.
Ellen knew from the way Derek’s eyes widened that they were entering into dangerous territory.
“It’s different with Ellen,” Derek hurried to explain. “She does all the shopping and the cooking, so the rest of us—”
“Are you sure that’s all she provides?” Reed interrupted harshly.
Ellen’s gaze didn’t waver. “I pay thirty dollars a week, but believe me, I earn my keep.” The second the words slipped out, Ellen wanted to take them back.
“I’m sure you do.”
Ellen was too furious and outraged to speak. How dared he barge into this house and immediately assume the worst? All right, she’d been walking around half-naked, but she hadn’t exactly been expecting company.
Angrily Derek stepped forward. “It’s not like that, Reed.”
“I discovered her prancing around the kitchen in her bra. What else am I supposed to think?”
Derek groaned and cast an accusing look at Ellen. “I just ran down to get the pie out of the oven,” she said in her own defence.
“Let me assure you,” Derek said, his voice quavering with righteousness. “You’ve got this all wrong.” He glared indignantly at his older brother. “Ellen isn’t that kind of woman. I resent the implication. You owe us both an apology.”
From the stunned look on Reed’s face, Ellen surmised that this could well be the first time Derek had stood up to his domineering brother. Her impulse was to clap her hands and shout: “Attaboy!” With immense effort she restrained herself.
Reed wiped a hand over his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps I do.”
The front door opened and closed again. “Anyone here?” Monte’s eager voice rang from the living room. The slam of his books hitting the stairs echoed through the hallway that led to the kitchen. “Something smells good.” Skidding to an abrupt halt just inside the room, the tall student looked around at the somber faces. “What’s up? You three look like you’re about to attend a funeral.”
“Are you Pat?” Reed asked.
“No, Monte.”
Reed closed his eyes and wearily rubbed the back of his neck. “Just how many bedrooms have you rented out?”
Derek lowered his gaze to his hands. “Three.”
“My room?” Reed asked.
“Yes, well, Ellen needed a place and it seemed logical to give her that one. You were supposed to be gone for a year. What happened?”
“I came home early.”
Stepping forward, her fingers nervously laced together, Ellen broke into the tense interchange. “I’ll move up a floor. I don’t mind.” No one was using the third floor of the house, which had at one time been reserved for the servants. The rooms were small and airless, but sleeping there was preferable to suffering the wrath of Derek’s brother. Or worse, having to find somewhere else to live.
Reed responded with a dismissive gesture of his hand. “Don’t worry about it. Until things are straightened out, I’ll sleep up there. Once I’ve taken a long, hot shower and gotten some rest I might be able to make sense out of this mess.”
“No, please,” Ellen persisted. “If I’m in your room, then I should move.”
“No,” Reed grumbled on his way out the door, waving aside her offer. “It’s only my house. I’ll sleep in the servants’ quarters.”
Before Ellen could argue further, Reed was out of the kitchen and halfway up the stairs.
“Is there a problem?” Monte asked, opening
