Page 79 of Hearts Storm

The woman, played by Carrie Southern—model turned actress and Rowan’s other BFF—was a source of contention between him and Lizzy at the beginning of their newfound relationship. Now, Lizzy and Carrie are becoming fast friends.

I’ve seen this movie more times than I can count, mostly because Rowan Cole has been one of my favorite actors for years. There’s something comforting about it. Familiar. His movies always feel like coming home. At least, how I know it now.

Before my life as I knew it was torn to shreds, and I had to put the pieces back together. All by myself.

thirty-three

Even though I know Brex has checked in with Reyna via text, and that my sister and her friends hung out with her last night, I need to see her for myself.

I’ve been going back and forth with the idea since I got up this morning, but ultimately, I talked myself into it. Convincing myself with the lame excuse that I’m her boss—which puts me in charge of her well-being—at least when it comes to accidents on the job. So, it’s fine, me showing up here. Unannounced.

I pull up next to her truck, which I had Justin and one of the other guys drop off last night, and cut the engine to mine, giving myself a moment to come to terms with what I’m about to do.

Deliberately put myself in Reyna’s orbit.

Scrubbing a nervous palm over my freshly shaved face, I grab the two lattes, breakfast sandwiches, and box of cinnamon rolls I got from Bean & Co., and exit my truck.

When I get to her door, I hesitate.

What if she doesn’t want to see me?

I have been kind of a standoffish dick. Most of it stemming from the fact that she left without so much as a fair thee well after all the naked time we spent together.

Underneath the relief, I’d let the pang of disappointment take over. Let it fester until it became a huge ball of resentment. Which I know now, wasn’t fair to her.

If the roles had been reversed and I had seen texts from some other guy on her phone, would I have confronted her? Probably not. I mean, we’d just met.

Brex was right when he’d said he knew I’d felt it too. The instant connection. The bright burst of lust.

Deep down, I know if she hadn’t left like she did, I would’ve pushed for more. I’ve come to terms with the fact that both she and Brex have the same undeniable connection—the possibility of us keeping her to ourselves.

But I can’t stop circling back to the fact that I’m her boss. And how a relationship, not to mention us as a throuple, could very well put my career in jeopardy, even if there aren’t any rules set in stone against dating a co-worker.

Blowing out a breath, I take a moment to get my head straight, then ring the doorbell.

Hurried footsteps sound, then fumbling comes from the other side of the door before a muffled curse hits my ears, making the corner of my mouth twitch.

The doorknob jiggles, like she’s struggling to turn it, then another muffled curse, and I have to bite back a laugh.

When it finally swings open, Reyna is paying more attention to the rug on the floor than to who might be standing outside her door as she attempts to straighten it with her bare foot.

The surprise on her face when she finally looks up is almost comical, and it makes me want to chuckle again.

But instead, I lose all train of thought as I take her in.

Hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun, a couple of loose strands frame her face. A cropped, loose white T-shirt shows off her creamy skin and firm abs. Red joggers mold to curvy thighs, tapering down long, sexy as fuck legs that have been haunting my dreams for what seems like a fucking lifetime.

“Logan? Hey.” She blinks, still looking a little dazed. “What are you doing here?”

My cock twitches, and it takes every ounce of willpower I’ve got not to pop a woody right here on her porch.

“I wanted to check on you.” Holding up the coffee and food like a peace offering, I suddenly feel stupidly nervous when my next words come out more like a question. “Brought breakfast.”

Her eyes bounce over my face. Like she’s searching my soul for some ulterior motive I might have for showing up here without so much as a heads-up.

For a moment, I think she might slam the door in my face. Her lips part, close, then part again like she’s trying to find the right words to tell me to fuck the hell off.

Finally, she takes a step back, opening the door wide enough to let me in.