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“Kayla, holy shit. Has he been here all night?”
Horror set in as she turned, hoping she wouldn’t find Rafe wearing a wicked rash or sporting a new tattoo, courtesy of her overprotective brother. But there he lay, sound asleep and sexy enough to make her wish she had the morning alone with him. Somehow, they’d made it through the night without discovery. But she knew their luck wouldn’t hold out much longer.
“We have to get him out of here,” she whispered, her unease growing with every breath.
Rafe rolled toward her, draping his heavily muscled arm across her body. He cinched her tight and curled his warm, solid heat against her back. Her eyes nearly rolled back in her head, it was so good, but it was time to function. So prying each of his fingers back in turn, Kayla whispered, “Rafe? Rafe, you have to get up. You’ve got to get out of here.”
He sat up, rubbing the scruff on his chin. “What’s the matter? Are you okay?” Then catching sight of her sister, coughed, “Oh shit—err—Morning, Opal,” before looking back to her.
“I’m fine. But… look, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
Opal cut in. “Dude, not smart to spend the night.”
Kayla shook her head and stared at him. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, baby,” he assured her, reaching over the side of the bed for his jeans. Opal turned, giving him some privacy as he pulled them on.
The muscular expanse of his back rippled with his movements, making Kayla’s mouth water and her mind wander. At least, until Opal had her way with the moment.
“Hey, speed it up, lover boy,” she said.
“Is this just about your brother, or your parents too?” Rafe asked, pulling his shirt on over his head.
Opal’s eyes went wide. “Jesus, Kayla, didn’t you tell him anything?”
Rafe’s confused gaze fixed on Kayla, making her flinch.
“There really isn’t time to explain. You have to go,” Kayla said, desperate. “It’s just my brother, but he’s more than enough.”
“Honey, that’s the thing,” Rafe started, shaking his head. “I don’t think this going to be as big a deal as you’re making it.”
Opal snorted her disbelief in the background, and Kayla’s stomach tightened. “Rafe, you don’t know my brother. You don’t want to—”
“I think I met him. Early twenties, shaggy brown hair. He was downstairs one night when I came in for a drink with some friends.”
Both women’s gazes snapped to him.
“I don’t think so.” Kayla answered.
“I met him last year, the day before I met you, and I saw him again yesterday in the bar.”
“No, you must have met someone else.” She shook her head. “That wasn’t Aaron. He…umm…he can’t hang out in the bar. Look, let me walk you out. He gets really upset about…guys. But I promise, we’ll talk later.” She bit her lip, and peered up at him. “I could come by after work?”
The smile that spread across Rafe’s face was like the first rays of sun breaking the horizon. Warm and beautiful. Filling her with hope for what the day might bring. It was crazy. She never felt this way, but after last night, suddenly all she could see was possibility.
He stepped closer, wrapping his big hand around her waist. “I’d like that.”
Opal reached for Kayla before she could melt into the hold. “Hold up.” One eye squinted, her mouth pulled to the side, she looked between them. “Um, Kayla, maybe you ought to talk to him now.”
Shooting her sister a warning look, Kayla shook her head. “I’ll take care of it, Opal.”
Only the promise wasn’t enough. “But if you don’t do it here,” she leaned in and whispered, “He’s not going to believe you. You know he won’t.”
Rafe was hanging back, clearly not sure how to give them the privacy he would have liked to. She had to make this quick. Get him out of there before something happened. She could talk to Opal once he was gone. Explain.
But for now, she whispered back. “Maybe I don’t have to tell him anything. Maybe…I don’t want to.”
Opal jerked away, her eyes wide with alarm. “Are you serious?”
