The next morning I brought three carefully wrapped gifts into the bedroom, sneaking back to the kitchen to retrieve the breakfast tray before Briar woke up. French toast, fresh fruit, vanilla yogurt, orange juice, and strong black coffee. Her favorites. I’d make a damn good boyfriend, if only she wasn’t too stubborn to realize that.
“Hey.” Her eyes opened slowly when I sat down on the bed beside her, causing it to dip with my weight. She glanced around the room, taking in the breakfast tray and presents. “Rhett, what did you do?”
I smiled at her reaction. She could deny it all she wants, I knew she loved being spoiled, and fortunately I was in a position to spoil her rotten. “Happy Birthday, gorgeous.” I leaned in, brushing my lips over hers.
“Thank you, but you didn’t have to do all this.” She gestured to the tray. “You’ve done more than enough for me already. I honestly don’t know how I’ll ever be able to re-pay you.”
Keeping her safe was starting to feel like my job and I knew that meant I was breaking all kinds of boundaries. It didn’t feel like I was helping out a friend anymore. It felt like I was protecting the woman I—cared about. I couldn’t keep dropping the L-bomb. Not even in my own head.
“You don’t have to re-pay me for anything.” I loved that Briar was a strong, independent woman who could take care of herself. She’d never needed a man. Maybe that was the reason I wanted to be the one man she did need.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” she asked, adjusting the pillows behind her back before reaching for her coffee.
“I ate while I was preparing,” I said, winking at her. “I guess I worked up an appetite last night.” Sometime between round two and three, no doubt. Briar was the only woman I’d ever been with who was as insatiable as I was.
“You certainly did.” She sighed, sounding content as she reached for her fork. “Made me realize all I’d been missing out on, sneaking out on you all those times.”
“Why’d you do it?” I knew she had walls up, but I needed to hear her explain why she’d been so afraid to stay. “Bail on me like that?”
She fixated on her breakfast before biting her lip. “Um, I guess I was afraid it would complicate things. You know, blur the lines.”
“Hmm.” I knew exactly what she meant. She was afraid one night would lead to two, and after a while I’d start developing feelings, or expectations, she couldn’t handle.
“What?” she asked, giving me the side-eye.
“Nothing. Eat your breakfast.”
She sighed before digging into her food. She moaned appreciatively. “Jesus, this is amazing, Rhett. What the hell? You can cook too? Could you be any more perfect?” Color filled her cheeks, tipping me off that she hadn’t intended to reveal too much.
I let the comment go, though I wanted to tease her about it. I hated having to be so guarded with her, but I knew she was skittish after last night. I’d woken up to find her cuddled against my side. Her arm and leg pinning me to the mattress and my arms wrapped around her. Instead of trying to quietly extricate myself I closed my eyes, inhaled the scent of her shampoo, kissed her forehead, and let a smile tease my lips. She’d given me the morning-after I’d always dreamed of with her. And in return, I was determined to give her a birthday she’d never forget.
Her gaze slid to the wrapped packages. Glossy white wrapping paper with hand-tied black silk bows, carefully wrapped by a friend of mine who was a personal shopper. We’d hit the boutiques near the jewelry store where I’d shopped for Briar’s fake engagement ring. Except there was nothing fake about the two and a half carat marquis solitaire. Or the Jimmy Choo shoes and handbag, or Dolce & Gabbana dress. My friend had tried pumping me for information about the lucky lady receiving the expensive birthday gifts. I’d considered brushing off her questions, but since we’d soon be going public with our pseudo-engagement, I’d decided to try it on for size, telling my friend I was spoiling the woman I loved… and wanted to marry. The lie fell off my lips so easily it didn’t feel like a lie at all. Another indication I was in real trouble.
“Eat up,” I said, curling my hand around her bare calf. “Because I know you can’t wait to tear into those.”
“You’re right.” She grinned before her smile slipped. “So, um, any sign of him?”
“No, I did a quick check outside this morning. How about you? Have you heard from him?”
“Not yesterday.” She grimaced. “But since today’s my birthday, I’m almost afraid what he might do.”
“Hey, don’t worry. I won’t leave your side, baby.”
I hated to think of her living in fear, but it gave me some measure of comfort that she’d come to me for protection. I knew I’d been her last resort, after the police failed her, but after the way I’d reamed her out after her brother’s wedding I couldn’t blame her for being apprehensive about reaching out to me.
“I feel so bad about this,” she said, closing her eyes. “You’re a busy guy. You don’t have time to babysit me.”
I wasn’t surprised she felt that way, and she wasn’t wrong. I routinely worked seven days a week, but for the first time in a long time, something— someone, took precedence over my business.
“I think I’ve earned a little downtime,” I teased. “I’ve probably even banked some vacation time they’d let me use if I needed to.”
She smirked. “I’d be careful if I were you. I hear the boss is a real tyrant.”
I chuckled, thinking she wasn’t the first person to call me that. “He’s not such a bad guy, when you get to know him.” I let my gaze drift over her slowly. She was wearing one of my t-shirts, and it looked even hotter on her than the sexy lingerie she loved.
She licked her lips as her nipples puckered under the soft white cotton. “No, he’s not. In fact, he’s a really good guy. The best.”
Something tightened in my chest when she said shit like that. Her opinion mattered to me, too much. “You know what…” I eased off the bed. “I left the kitchen a mess. I’m going to go and clean up while you finish eating.”
