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He responded:I’m not entirely convinced she wasn’t expecting something like the hospital scene.
The disappointment that came over me, the feeling of failure even, was unexpected. It runs through me just the same as I read the messages again.
Declan: Do you have another test for her, then?
Carter: Not at the moment. I’ll think of something.
His next question, the one that just came in, earns not just annoyance, but an anger that I’m becoming more and more familiar with.What did she do that left her with a bruised ass if it’s not related to this?
I respond to him without thinking twice:Nothing that’s any of your business.
It’s then that there’s a knock on the bedroom door. Gentle and in an easy pattern of three:knock,knock,knock.
I’d be surprised if it was Carter behind the door. I’m quick to find my boxers under the pile of clothes left in a puddle on the floor. With a quick glance to the bathroom door that’s open, and with the sound of running water, I decide to only open the door just enough as necessary.
With a slight groan of the hinges it opens and I find Jase in a dark gray suit. With a clean-shaven jaw and a charming smile, no one would ever suspect my brother to be as ruthless and cutthroat as he is. I’ve seen him kill a man for uttering his wife’s name. He’s fast with a knife, even faster with his temper.
Anyone would fear Carter from a single glance, but Jase could fool the best of them. I know that all too well. It’s never made me feel uneasy until this very moment to know that.
“Hey,” I greet him and he offers me a stack of boxes.
“These came for you?”
“It’s about damn time,” I say and accept the boxes, opening the door wider. Jase’s first instinct is to look into the room.
“She sleeping?” he questions as he glances to the bed before thinking better of it. I’m almost sure the moment he saw the sheets disturbed he realized she might be less than decent.
“How’s she feeling?” He’s careful to keep his eyes averted when he asks.
“Better. Much better,” I answer and a bit of the unease wanes. It’s unmistakable, this shift inside of me. As much as I will never forgive myself for letting her go through that, I find myself shifting the blame to my brothers.
Scratching the back of his head, Jase stares at the door until I tell him she’s not there.
“She’s in the bath, it’s fine.” With that, he relaxes somewhat, but as I pile the boxes on the bed, he stays outside of the door.
“I’m guessing these are for her too?”
“Yeah,” I answer him, checking the labels. All three of these are from Saks Fifth Avenue. I’m not sure if it’s the heels, lingerie, or the clothing that have come in for her. “As much as I love her in my T-shirts, I decided she should wear a bit more around the house.”
“You two ever going to come out of there?”
“I thought I was supposed to take off this week and next?” I remind him. “Or do you need me back.”
“You don’t need to work … just … haven’t seen you.”
“Wouldn’t you spend your vacation in bed?” I say lightly, like there isn’t another reason that I’ve avoided them and stayed with her.
“I’d like to get to know her.” His statement brings a prick at the back of my neck and a chill to flow down my shoulders. Again I’m struck by the fact that I’ve felt this before, but never toward my brothers. Never toward my family. Jase adds in my silence, “Because she means something to you … right?”
“Yeah, she does,” I answer him and shove down whatever the fuck it is that’s come over me.
“No rush,” he says and shrugs. “We should do dinner this week, though, I think? She could meet Bethany and Aria … or is it too soon for that?” he questions.
I don’t have any answer for him. All I can offer is, “Maybe, I’ll let you know.”
His expression drops slightly, but he nods and clears his throat. “There are a couple other boxes in the kitchen too,” he tells me although his brow is pinched and his gaze shifts from me to the bathroom where the water has stopped running.
Her bath must be full.
