AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I glance at him, missing the correct keys. “Clothes, Martel. Please.” Him and his ill-mannered body parts. They can’t help but gape.
He retreats to the bathroom. I hear water running as he bangs around, getting ready for the day.
When he returns, he slowly approaches my piano. I don’t look up. I only know he’s there because his aftershave precedes him.
The keylid cover on the piano slowly begins to close, nearly covering my fingers. I look up at him as I pull my hands away.
“What are you doing?”
“Saving you from yourself.”
“I need to practice.”
“It’s Saturday. Take the day off.” He sends me an eyebrow raise, challenging me.
“I have a performance this week.”
“And you’ll be amazing.”
“Not if I don’t practice.”
“You’ve practiced every single day this week. You’ve played for ballet classes every day this week. You’ve practiced with the symphony every single night this week. You’ll do better if you take a break.”
“I...” He’s right. I’d planned on taking today off. “Nervous energy is building inside me and I have to do something or I’m going to go crazy. I always get this way before performances.”
“Go crazy with me.”
If he’s trying to shock me, he did. We stare at each other as Ryker’s fancy wall clock ticks loudly in the room, making me aware that time is passing while we’re lost in each other’s eyes.
I look down at my lap. “What do you want, Zane?”
“I want you to relax. Look at this place. It doesn’t look like anyone lives here.”
“I’m the caretaker.” I’ve never been the girlfriend/almost wife enjoying free rent for a few months. This has never been about me. It’s been about Ryker’s needs. A sobering thought. “That means I’m doing my job.”
“Hey, you live here. So do I. For now, anyway.”
“We don’t belong here.”
“Sure we do. Ryker gave us permission to be here. He could ask us to leave at any time.”
True.
“Let’s get outta here, get some fresh air. Let’s do something crazy, like shop for things to add color to this place. Ryker will appreciate it, he just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Ryker will hate it.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
I study him, worry evident in my features. “Why do you stay here, Zane? When you know how Ryker feels about you?”
He retreats into himself, enough that I notice. “He’s my brother. Shocked me when he offered, I admit. I thought it was a breakthrough. I guess I’m always hoping we can somehow be friends, mend our ways. We’ll never be best friends, but at least we can try to like each other.”
I feel for him because I don’t think that will ever happen. “Zane...”
“I know Ryker has ulterior motives when he lets me stay here, Mila. I know they keep track of my whereabouts. Joke’s on them. I have nothing to hide. Guess I figure some good might come of me staying here. Might change our relationship. You never know.”
“He’s not here right now.”
