Clay laughed, but shook his head. "We'll go up together."
Even though her heart fluttered at his deep laugh, her chest tightened in anger. "You really need to cut the cord."
"Cut the cord?" He glared down at her.
"Yeah, you know…." Julie flipped her hand around. "Go do… whatever it is you do and let me take care of your brother. That is what you are paying me for, is it not?"
"Let's see how today goes."
"Not well, if you don't listen to me." Julie put her hand on her hip. "Now go and get him some coffee, and then you can see that I'm still alive and breathing when you bring it up. Oh, and if you don't mind I'll take a cup. I like mine black with three scoops of sugar."
Julie didn't even wait for him to reply, she just turned and hurried up the steps. When she didn't hear his footsteps behind her, she sighed in relief. It took nerve, she'd give herself that, to order Clay Marshall around, but her first priority was Bo and she had to remember that.
Stopping in front of Bo's door, she gave herself the normal short pep talk, cracked her neck back and forth, and knocked on the door. When Bo didn't answer, she knocked again. Still no answer.
"I'm not going away." She grinned when she heard him say "shit" behind the closed door. "Only knocking so I don't catch you naked or something."
"I'm naked," he growled. "Now go away."
Rolling her eyes, she opened the door and walked in. "I've seen little wieners before, so if you don't care neither do I."
"Little… wiener?" Not only did he look offended, he sounded offended. "Lady…."
Julie chuckled, noticing someone had cleaned his room. She highly doubted it was Bo. "Who cleaned your room?" When he remained silent, she glanced over at him. He lay propped against his headboard with a stubborn frown. "Well, I know it wasn't you since you're blind, but that's going to change."
"Why are you so damn mean?" Bo crossed his arms over his chest with a huff.
"I'm not mean. My attitude is reacting to your attitude." Julie glanced over at a bucket with a frown. Walking closer, she looked in, knowing what she was going to find. Picking up a towel, she used it to grab the bucket. "And from now on, you will be using the toilet and not this bucket."
She walked out of the bedroom and headed down the hall, looking for the bathroom. Finding it, she emptied the bucket, placed it in the shower, flushed the toilet, and washed her hands. Heading back to Bo's room, she heard the brothers talking and slowed her steps.
"She took my damn bucket, Clay," Bo was saying in a low hateful voice. "She just up and took it."
"Guess she figures it's time you walked out of this room to take a piss, and honestly, I have to agree." Clay's voice wasn't lowered. She didn't even have to try to hear him.
"Oh, you do?" Bo snorted, then cursed. "She's here because you're paying her. She don't give a shit about me. Fuck you and that bitch."
"You need to watch your mouth, Bo." Clay's voice turned hard. "She is here to help you and I expect you to give her respect. And she's right. It's time you man up and stop feeling sorry for yourself."
"I'm going to kill you, you son of a bitch." Bo's anger radiated out to the hallway.
Julie sighed, quickening her steps since it seemed like a good time to interrupt, and was surprised to see Bo standing, punching toward Clay. "Will you look at that, you do have legs." Julie made sure he could hear the smile in her voice, even though it was a sarcastic smile. "And yes, he is paying me, because I have to make a living, but you're wrong… I do give a shit about you and what happens to you."
"You were listening?" Bo growled.
"Ah, yeah." Julie put her hands on her hips. "Now it's time to get a shower and shave."
"Oh, God." Bo felt for the bed and collapsed. "Please make it stop."
"You're pretty smelly, and that beard is unattractive. Now, where are your clothes?" Julie glanced around, her eyes meeting Clay's.
"He's been getting sponge baths and doing it himself." Clay's voice hinted something Julie couldn't really read.
"And that stops today." She responded with a cock of her eyebrow, daring him to disagree. "The only thing that doesn't work on him is his eyes. There is no reason whatsoever he should not be showering. The shaving he will need help with. I will help him with his first shower, and—"
"What?" Bo popped up at that.
Clay didn't say a word, but gently grabbed her arm and ushered her out into the hallway, closing the door behind him. "No."
"Excuse me?" Julie pulled her arm away, staring up at him.
"You heard me," Clay replied with a stubborn tilt of his head. "You will not shower my brother."
Julie rolled her eyes. "He is not the first man I have ever—"
Clay took a step closer to her, bending down slightly. "I said no."
"But…." Julie took a step back.