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“One more thing before they come back.”
“Go for it,” I reply easily, not intimidated in the slightest by his big brother act.
“What happens when your situation is over? Evie mentioned that you two met at the truck stop but wouldn’t give the details out of respect for your privacy. I’m not asking for that.” He waves his hand to brush the intrusion aside.
I cut him off. “If you’re asking if I’ll leave her to sleep in her car alone, the answer is I fucking hope not. We both know she doesn’t take orders or handouts easily, but if she isn’t on her feet when I get back on mine, I’m going to do whatever I can to at least get her a safe place to sleep.”
Eric sucks in sharply through his teeth. “Even if that means your bed, am I right?”
I catch his eye over the rim of my glass, raised to take a drink. “I didn’t say that,” I mutter and toss some back.
“I suppose I should be grateful,” he grunts.
“I’ll offer the gamut. Hotel room, spare bedroom, friend’s couch, first month’s rent. You and I both know she’ll only accept what she feels ready to accept, and there’s not a damn thing
we can do about it. All that to say, I suggest we drop this conversation now because I don’t feel too good discussing this with her brother behind her back. You asked your questions, and you’ve been given a wide range of answers.”
“Thanks. If you don’t mind, I’ll ask them to come back.”
“That’s not a bad idea. Food’s probably about ready, and I know she’s eager to see what you think.”
19
Evie
“First of all, he’s hot as hell, sister,” Caiti says as we relax on the patio. The cool air chases away the heated tension from arguing with my brother. “Secondly, Eric is absolutely going to kill you.”
“I don’t care.” I gaze off into the darkness beyond the parking lot and sip my crisp drink. The bite of vodka perfectly counteracts all the words crammed into my throat. If Eric hasn’t learned to chill before we come back, he’s going to get a damn piece of my mind. “He has no reason to.”
She scoffs. “Tell me with a straight face that you aren’t sleeping with Rhett.”
All I can manage is a quirk of my brow as I return my attention to her. “And that matters why?”
“It only matters that he’s treating you well, and my guess after seeing the two of you together, he is. But Eric isn’t going to like that you’re halfway across the world sharing a bed with a stranger.”
“We aren’t sharing a bed.”
“Excuse me, a back seat.” She leans forward and fires back. “I think it’s sexy and adventurous.” She tosses a curtain of dark hair over her shoulder and gives me big, flirty eyes. I can’t help but giggle for the first time tonight.
I bite my lip. “Sexy is one word for it. Though we’ve only hooked up once, and it was in a hotel room.” I leave out the incident in the front seat of his car. She doesn’t need all the wicked details.
Caiti rubs her two first fingers on her temples and closes her eyes. “I’m getting a message. I see a lot of hot, dirty sex in your near future.”
“Oh, shut up.” I shove one of her arms away with a silly grin.
“Are you kidding me?” She jerks her thumb over her shoulder. “Were you not in there when he was all possessive and commanding? ‘Girls, go outside,’” she mimics a deep voice sounding nothing like Rhett. “I’m positive there’s a wet spot on my panties.”
“You’re married to my brother,” I toss out teasingly. They’ve been in love for so long I know she’s not serious.
“Don’t you worry, I get hot and bothered plenty when he does the possessive thing too.” She delicately sips her cocktail.
“I know you’re like my sister and all, but that’s TMI.”
A shadow crosses over our table, interrupting her response. I know without even looking that Eric stands waiting for my attention. To stall for time, I drain the remainder of my glass.
“Food should be at the table soon if you’re ready to come back inside.” He announces his presence with the soft-spoken invitation.
Caiti and I lock eyes as she stands. Her fingers curl around my brother’s bicep for balance, and she rises on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “I’ll give you two a moment.”
