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Ashely chose the interior décor for me. Simple. Clean. Modern. Black iron for all the metal bedframes and curtain rods, whites and grays for the fabrics.
Guess who’s waiting at my white marble kitchen island, eating my last ice cream sandwich and waiting to chew me out?
Big sis. She better not have touched my Cookies n’ Cream. I walk into the kitchen first, Rhett behind me.
Ashely stands from her cushy leather stool, daintily brushing nonexistent crumbs from her fingertips. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in—”
Her verbal assault stops, her eyes widening as Rhett steps out from behind me. “Oh, hello! Beckett, you didn’t tell me you brought company.”
“A, this is Rhett.”
Why is my sister smiling like that? Probably because I’ve never brought a girl back to the Village before. Ignoring me, Ashely brushes right by, making a beeline for Rhett.
After a quick introduction, Ashely’s eyes lower to the bruises on Rhett’s arms. “Let’s get you cleaned up, sweetheart.” Ashely steers her to the bathroom. She immediately takes Rhett under her wing, insisting Dr. Thomas visits. He checks her out and thank God, it’s only bruises.
After a long, hot shower, a pair of borrowed sweats from Ashely and a bowl of mac-n-cheese, Ashely tucks Rhett into the guest room bed where she sleeps for almost twenty-four hours. When Rhett wakes, she takes another shower, longer than the first. Is she trying to scrub the memory of that guy from her skin?
When she’s finished getting ready, being a normal human being, she wants strong coffee.
A latte later and the girl’s totally over her kidnapping.
Rhett—she’s one tough cookie, and she loves cookies. After dinner, she dips into the stash of Boston’s double chocolate chip oatmeal. The sound of Rhett’s tinkling laughter travels from the kitchen where she sits with my sister, eating dessert and sipping hot chocolate, up to my third-floor bedroom.
I’ve been put on bedrest, imprisoned in my room, practically tied down by A. My boss Rockland’s given me the okay to take some time off to heal and protect Rhett. He’s been after me to take a break anyway. I haven’t taken a day off since I joined the family. Haven’t wanted to. Love what I do and the people I work with.
Didn’t have a reason to miss work until now.
I move from the bed to the window of the luxurious owner’s suite of my townhouse.
I look over the twinkling lights of the street below. I take a sip of my drink, the amber liquid warming my chest as I admire the stunning view.
The sound of the door opening behind me interrupts my quiet moment of peace. My sister coming to check on me. She’s going to give me hell about this drink in my hand.
I hold up my glass, turning to send my sister back downstairs. "A, it's one drink. If a gun couldn't kill me, one whiskey won't either."
But it’s not my sister in my doorway. A flicker of desire licks at my core to see Rhett standing there. She's breathtakingly beautiful as she comes into my bedroom.
Her long, dark hair, still damp from her shower, cascades down her shoulders. Her curves tempt me, the material of her light-gray sweats tight across the back, the front of the white tee hugging her deliciously.
The sight of her in my room brings to mind a memory of that dream I had. I run the tip of my tongue over my bottom lip. The taste of whiskey and memories of that dream, our kiss.
My voice goes hoarse with desire. "Hey."
She enters the room, giving me a shy, "Hey, yourself.”
"What're you doing up here?" I swish the liquor against my glass, taking her in. I enjoy another long sip.
She gives a shrug. "Your sister looked tired. I told her to go home. I told her that I'd check on you."
Mmm... yes, please, nurse. I hold my arms up in the air. "How do I look?"
"Let me see." She sashays a few more steps toward me, her hips swaying seductively, even though she doesn't mean them to. That’s just the way she moves. She's one of those women, naturally sexy without even trying to be.
I just enjoy my drink and watch the show.
She gives me a nod of approval. "Pretty good from here."
I set my drink on the window ledge, moving toward her stunning body. She’s like a magnet, drawing me in with her beauty, the soft way about her that I can’t seem to get out of my mind.
