12. PAIGE
12
PAIGE
After we play a few rounds of Uno, we decide to switch things up.
“Wanna play chess?” Rhett asks as he studies the games tucked into the small bookcase.
“Sure, but I’m probably a little rusty. It’s been a while.”
He gives me a sad smile. “Your brother always kicked my ass at this game.”
“Same.” Danny taught me how to play during those long hospital nights.
We sit in companionable silence as we take turns. I finally get Rhett cornered. “Checkmate.”
“What the fuck? No.” He studies the board, then looks at me. “I don’t think I’ve ever been whooped this fast before, not even by Danny.”
I smile. “He taught me well, I guess.”
When I realized we didn’t have a TV set, I was worried about how we’d spend the weekend. My ex, Marcus, couldn’t deal if he had to unplug from his PlayStation that long, but Rhett just rolls with it.
When he gets up off the couch to grab us drinks, I shamelessly ogle him. Clothes don’t do him justice because his body is a work of freaking art. My breath catches in my chest as I remember him tugging off every stitch of clothing.
If all I get out of this marriage are those thirty seconds of Rhett stark naked, it was one hundred percent worth it.
He’s freaking huge. Everywhere.
A minute later he returns with two glasses of champagne and some strawberries. I give him a look, and he shrugs. “Seems a shame to let this go to waste.” He holds out his glass. “Here’s to being married to a fine woman.”
I smile and clink his glass with mine. “And here’s to being married to a fine man.” After I take a sip, I chuckle. “I didn’t even have to give up my left tit.”
He snorts. “I had no idea you were so funny.”
Hell, I didn’t know either, but now that I finally get to spend time with Rhett, I want to make him laugh all the time. I buff my nails. “It’s part of my charm.”
He chuckles and wraps his arm around my shoulders and hugs me. “I owe you big, Lewis.”
It feels so good to be so close to him, but I pretend like I’m unaffected. “We’re even. Beau said he’ll make sure I get on your health insurance this week, and then I can book my therapy sessions.”
“How’s your ankle feeling?”
“It’s a little achy, but that dip in the lake helped. I think I’m going to soak in the hot tub.”
“There’s a hot tub?”
I nod. “Out back.”
He’s quiet a minute. “Gonna skinny-dip again? Or can I join you?”
“You can join me. I’ll wear my underwear. It’ll be like a bathing suit.”
We enjoy the strawberries and champagne, and by the time I’m done, I’m feeling a little tipsy. The booze gives me extra courage.
“Come on. Let’s go soak in the hot tub.” I pull off my shirt, which leaves me in my bra, and head for the front door. He takes off after me.
Once I reach the hot tub deck, I tug off my shorts. A giddy shock of excitement surges over my skin as I feel his eyes travel over me. Finally , the little voice in the back of my head whispers. And since I have no shame, I bend slightly at my hips to jut my thong-clad ass back towards him.
When I turn around, Rhett’s eyes dart up, and he clears his throat. “Here.” He holds out his hand, and I take it to steady myself.
I groan as I sink into the warm water. “This is awesome. Get in.”
Sitting, I watch him shrug out of his t-shirt. In the low light, his muscles stand out in stark relief. The sexy tattoos on his arms and shoulders make an ache start low in my belly. Damn, he’s hot.
Then he slides down his jeans, which leaves him in black boxer briefs that strain against another erection. Don’t stare and make this weird, Paige. I look away as he climbs into the hot tub.
The sun is starting to set, and I let myself get lost in the brilliance of the sky. “In high school, I couldn’t wait to get out of Wild Heart, but now that I’m taking the time to appreciate how beautiful it is here, I’m starting to regret being away for so long.”
“I’m sorry shit was so tough for you back then. I had no idea that people found out about our discussion, or that Irma was such a bitch about the whole thing.”
I shrug. “It’s my own fault for butting in. I had no business doing what I did. It’s just…”
“Just what?”
My heart races as I carefully choose my words. “I know I was young, and I’m sure to you I was just Danny’s kid sister, but I considered you one of my best friends. I cared about you, and I didn’t want to see you get hurt.”
When he doesn’t say anything, I look over and find him studying me. “It took a lot of guts to do what you did, wildflower. If I’d had more sense at the time, I would’ve taken it more seriously. You were right about Amber all along, and I hate the idea that you’ve changed because of what happened back then. You’re perfect. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
My throat gets tight, and I nod. “Thank you.” If I’m so perfect, why is it so hard to find a good boyfriend? One who actually cares enough about me to introduce me to his family?
“And since you know all my dirty laundry, you gonna tell me what happened between you and that ex of yours? How long did you date?”
It’s eerie how he nearly read my mind. “Ten months I’ll never get back, though he did let me live with him after a tree destroyed my house.”
“What happened?”
I pull my hair out of a ponytail and twist it into a messy bun. “We had a crazy storm that uprooted a tree, which slammed into the house I was renting. It actually pinned my roommate down.”
“Holy shit.”
“Abby was fine, but it scared the hell out of both of us. We couldn’t stay in the house any longer, and Marcus invited me to stay with him. I had nowhere else to go, so I took him up on his offer. But he and I were a mistake.”
His face goes hard. “Did he not treat you right?”
“He was always preoccupied. I always felt like an afterthought.” I look down. “And then…”
“Then?”
I sigh. “I overheard him talking with his friends, and one asked if he was bringing me to his parents’ anniversary dinner, and he said, ‘Fuck, no. My parents won’t like her. She doesn’t have any real goals. They won’t think she’s marriage material.’”
“Are you serious? What an asshole.”
“It would’ve been fine if he hadn’t strung me along. If he’d just been honest that he was only into me for sex.”
Rhett rubs a hand over his face. “Not sure I wanna hear this.”
“Don’t be so parochial. I lost my virginity when I was sixteen in Adam Olsen’s backseat.” I don’t mention that I did it solely to get over Rhett. “Had a couple of boyfriends in college. Nothing noteworthy, though. What about you? Have you met any special ladies since you and Amber called it quits?”
“Nobody special.”
“Just a few friends with benefits?”
“Just one friend, but we weren’t serious.”
“So she won’t care that you tied the knot? Or…” I pause. “Do you still plan to hook up with her over the next few months? I just want to know what to expect.”
He scowls. “Fuck, no. I’m not hooking up with anyone.” He holds up his left hand. “I’m married, in case you didn’t notice.”
I glance away. “It’s okay if you do. Six months is a long time to ask you to go without sex. I won’t mind.” A little piece of my soul dies when I utter those words. “Just don’t tell me what you do or with whom. I don’t want to know.” This isn’t a real marriage. I can’t make any demands.
That gets me a growl, and the next thing I know, I’m in Rhett’s lap. “Paige, listen closely. I’m not gonna fuck around behind your back. I hate cheaters, so I would never do that to you.”
I stare up at his handsome face, at the scruff I want to rub against. “Okay.”
He glares down at me. “Wouldn’t it bother you if I fucked around? Because it sure as hell would bother me if you did.”
I suck in a breath. Between the hot water and the champagne, I’m feeling extra brave.
Screw it.
I shift to straddle him and wrap my arms around his broad shoulders. “Would it really bother you if I slept with someone else? I thought I was just your friend’s little sister? Why would you care?”
His hands move to my hips, and he drags me closer until I’m pressing against that incredible erection. “Because I do, okay?”
“Did you really not mean our first kiss?” I whisper. “Because it felt real. It felt like it meant something.”
His grip tightens. “It shouldn’t have meant anything, but how can I kiss you and it be meaningless?”
My heart gallops in my chest.