10. Briar
Briar
I can feel my eyes widening as I bolt upright. “God, I’m sorry. I didn’t even realize—,”
River’s hands are already up, placating, even as he glances at the two other men he’s with. “Don’t worry. We just got here. We were discussing how to… uh… wake you.”
How embarrassing.
Despite myself, my gaze returns to the taller one. He’s just as handsome as River, with curled brown hair, longer on top and short on the sides, and steel-gray eyes that should be cool, but instead feel like a brand as he watches me. As if he’s marking me, somehow.
You probably have drool on your chin.
He looks away, and my face flushes with heat as I scramble out of the chair. I glance at the second male, but he’s almost hidden behind River. “I have your jacket ready.”
“So I saw.” River’s smile is crooked, the dimple just as devastating as it was yesterday. God, but he’s almost more handsome than I remembered. “It looks perfect. Better than new.”
Belatedly, I realize I’m staring, and they’re all… staring back. The third man edges out from behind River, his lips tilted upright and his arms crossed. Muscles bulge, and my mouth goes dry as I take in the ink that curves up his throat. Clearing my throat, I look away. “Right. Let’s get you fixed.”
My voice is overly bright as I dart to the railing in the corner, tugging off an empty hanger. River is closer than I expected when I turn, and my breath catches. “Oh!”
“Briar,” he murmurs, raising one eyebrow at me. “Breathe.”
My nod is a little weak. “I’m sorry. It’s just—,”
I stop. How can I explain that it feels like they’ve sucked all of the air out of my studio? All three of them are so… big.
“This is Jenson.” River indicates the taller man, the one with the steel-gray eyes. He nods, not smiling, but there’s an intensity to his gaze that has my blush deepening as I turn to the third male.
“Hi.” My smile is shaky. He smiles back at me with ridiculously pretty eyes for such an imposing man. Sapphire blue.
“That’s Kai.” River deftly steals the hanger from my hands. “He doesn’t speak, - not out loud. He signs, though.”
The smile wavers on Kai’s face, as if he’s waiting for my reaction. I lift my hands, but the other man – Jenson – speaks up. “Why didn’t you have your door locked?”
At the accusatory words, my back snaps straight. “In case I had a customer. Which, as it happens, I did.”
I try to smile, but he frowns at me, gray eyes darkening. “It’s not safe. Especially while you’re sleeping.”
“Jenson.” River’s smiling, but there’s a tension to it that has me glancing between them. “It’s her store.”
Jenson stares at me for a moment longer. “I know. But it’s not particularly safe around here. You have to be careful.”
Is he worried about me?
I bite the inside of my cheek. He might have a point. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Did you dream of me?” River’s teasing words suck the tension from the air and have me blanching. All three men pause as I force an awkward laugh.
“No! Of course not. That would be—,”
“Perfectly acceptable.” The low murmur has my head snapping around. There’s a slight smile on River’s face as he leans in to inspect his sleeve. “You have magical hands, Briar Rose.”
I’m almost tempted to respond with so do you and see what he says, but I’m still dazed by his previous words.
Swallowing, I take a step back and press my hands against my burning cheeks.
I’m not going to sleep well tonight either. Not after that comment. And not after finding out there’s three of them.
River crosses to a cream bag I didn’t notice, close to the door. “I brought some of those clothes I mentioned.”
Catching movement from the corner of my eye, I turn to look at Kai and Jenson. They’re staring at each other, Kai signing as Jenson watches.
My eyes drop to the movement of his fingers, and I frown.
I—
What?