9. Wren
9
WREN
I don’t breathe the entire walk back to my room, ducking in quickly only to grab my water bottle and to let out the biggest exhale of my life.
What the hell was that?
Merrick had been so close, a potent mix of agitation and lust pouring off him in waves as he denied first being involved with Holly and then anyone else.
And I believe him.
It shouldn’t matter—nothing good ever comes from crossing the line with your boss—but I can’t help the way Merrick sends a flashfire roaring through my veins. He’s charming and sexy, arrogant and cold, and I want to lick every inch of him and watch him lose control.
I’m just about to step out into the hall when I hear footsteps right outside. Staying in the shadows, I wait, hearing a knock and then Merrick’s low rumble to enter.
And then Holly’s voice as the door snicks shut again.
Blood roars in my ears as I slip through the quiet building and out into the parking lot. My hand shakes as I start my car and ease out of the lot when all I want to do is gun it and get away from here. I hate that he has such a hold on me.
I hate that I care.
And seriously, what the fuck is her problem?
Merrick Ellis is a line I can’t cross, but I wasn’t lying when I told him I wouldn’t tell him to stop. I didn’t want him to—and that’s a damn problem.
Another problem?
I don’t want to go home.
The promise of walking into an empty apartment now that my cousin is basically living with his boyfriend holds zero appeal. And that alone is enough for me to head into downtown Wintervale and into the parking lot of the Range Bar and Grill.
There’s no one here I can talk to about this, but hopefully I’ll find some sort of reprieve along with everyone else.
My phone vibrates in my purse, pulling me from my thoughts as I wrestle my gloves off to look at it.
MERRICK: What the fuck is her problem?
WREN: Whose?
MERRICK: Don’t do that
WREN: I still quit
MERRICK: No
WREN: You can’t say no
MERRICK: Please.
My breath catches as I stare at that one singular word.
Please.
WREN: I’ll think about it.
MERRICK: I sent her out as soon as she walked in my office
WREN: Why are you telling me?
MERRICK: Because I’m serious, Hellcat, if I break every one of my rules—it won’t be with her.
Oh my God.
What do I even say to that?
Swallowing hard, I shove my phone into the pocket of my coat and step out of my car. I can already hear music playing as I walk to the door and pull it open, entering the rustic and classically cozy building. I can already feel myself relaxing as I scan the bar, my eyes widening when I find Harlan sitting at a table by himself.
Looking up, he gives me a little wave, and I take it as an invitation, ordering myself a beer when I get to the table.
“Is Reid running late?”
Harlan nods. “Yeah.” He grips his glass tighter, obviously uncomfortable with being here alone.
Thanking the waitress as she sets my drink in front of me, I take a sip, and resolved, I start talking.
“I want to fuck my boss,” I blurt out, somehow relieved to not be the only one who knows. Harlan chokes on his beer, beating his fist against his chest as he blinks at me.
“What?”
“I needed to tell someone and you’re here. And God, I love my family, but I really don’t want to talk to them about it.”
“And I’m the obvious choice?”
“Mm-hmm. Like a happy coincidence. You don’t care who I do or don’t sleep with, and you know what? I already feel so much better.”
“You’re welcome,” he deadpans.
“Can we keep this between us?” I ask and he nods.
“Sure, but if Reid asks…”
“I won’t ask you to lie to him,” I say, giving him a soft smile. “How are things going?”
“Amazing.” The tips of his ears heat and my heart squeezes in my chest. He’s so good for Reid and he’s already done so much for our family—for the horses and what will be the sanctuary.
“I’m really happy for both of you.”
“Are you guys drinking without me?” Reid says, slipping his jacket off and draping it over the back of the chair. He presses a quick kiss to Harlan’s lips but melts a little when Harlan holds him captive for a moment longer. My cousin is grinning like a fool when he finally turns back to me. “Tough day?”
I shrug. “I didn’t want to go home.”
His smile falls, guilt swimming behind his black-framed glasses. “Wren?—”
“Stop,” I tell him, taking his hand and squeezing it in mine. “This is what it’s supposed to be. And I don’t think Harlan is ready for a girls’ night although he did say an entire six words to me before you got here.” I wink at Harlan, and he smirks behind his beer.
My phone buzzes on the table and I can’t help but smile.
PEN: YOU GUYS ARE HAVING GIRLS’ NIGHT WITHOUT ME?
WREN: What’s with the shouty caps?
WREN: And who said it’s girls’ night?
PEN: Harlan
“What?” Reid says, looking over my shoulder at my phone, a goofy smile gracing his lips as he looks at his boyfriend. “You’re a dream.”
Harlan shrugs as he stands. “As much as I’d like to keep you all to myself, I should probably let you out of the sex dungeon once in a while.”
Reid’s cheeks flame as he sputters, his gaze whipping back and forth between me and Harlan, as I nearly fall out of my chair I’m laughing so hard. Whether they have an actual sex dungeon or not is none of my business, but Reid’s face is priceless, and so is the comic relief.
“You cannot say things like that,” Reid hisses at Harlan before turning to me. “We don’t have a sex dungeon.”
“I wouldn’t judge you if you did,” I tell him, barely able to keep a straight face as he covers his with his hands.
“I hate both of you,” he grumbles, and I see Pen weaving her way through the bar.
“Why is Reid miserable?” she asks as Harlan stands and offers her his chair.
“Because Harlan announced they have a sex dungeon,” I tell her, eliciting another groan from Reid and a smirk from Harlan.
Pen blushes but she nods. “Good for you guys. I was thinking about one of those swings, you know? We had sex in the back of Lake’s truck, because I never got to do that in high school, and holy hell, the number of times I smashed my knee on the seatbelt was…” She looks up as we all gape at her because this rant is unexpected. “What?”
“I’m trying to separate my friend wanting a sex swing from my brother wanting a sex swing,” I tell her as Harlan drags his hand over his mouth, his amusement evident even as he tries to hide it.
Reaching over, Reid downs my beer and sets the glass down with a thunk as he tries, and fails, to form the words.
Any words.
“Well,” Harlan muses, dropping a kiss on Reid’s temple, “that’s my cue to go.” He’s a step from our table when he takes his card out and sets it in front of Reid. “It’s on me tonight. Pen, send me the link for that swing, because we have the perfect spot for one.”
She salutes him as Reid’s forehead drops to the table. Rubbing his back, I share a smile with Pen.
“Can I get you another round of drinks?” the waitress says as she approaches.
Lifting up, Reid meets her gaze, desperation in his eyes as he says, “We’re gonna need shots. A lot of them.”
Snickering, I nod, because I just can’t argue with that.