7. Rex
SEVEN
REX
I pulled up the driveway at Abigail’s and looked up at the house. Home sweet home. At least for the rest of the week. In the passenger seat, my duffel bag sat like a slug, like it didn’t want to move from its place because going inside the house meant this was really happening.
Sure, my brother was marrying my ex-girlfriend. That didn’t bother me as much as people probably thought; they were better for each other, anyway. I’d grown up making sure Donny had everything he needed, and this was no different. It felt good to be that guy, to take care of everyone around me. I liked going out of my way to help people. So no, it wasn’t weird to be doing a favor for my brother and his wife-to-be.
What felt weird was playing house with Abigail Stone.
Weird. But not bad.
Knowing Donny and Blair, there would be a thousand metaphorical fires to put out over the course of their wedding weekend. Calm, they were not. I’d have to step up, and I’d do it because that’s the role that was required of me. But Abigail wouldn’t need that from me. She wouldn’t need anything from me, other than for me to keep my mouth shut about her night in jail.
It was refreshing to be around her and not feel like I’d be called into action at any moment. Being with Abigail felt like I could take a heavy weight off my shoulders and just…be.
I still hadn’t figured out what I was going to tell Gabe, and I could feel the sticky strands of my web of lies starting to cling to me.
I could tell him the truth, that Abigail was doing me a favor, and it was all fake. Which was the truth. Wasn’t it? If I nursed an attraction for my best friend’s little sister, that was nobody’s business but my own.
I grabbed the duffel, feeling its weight as I tugged the handle. More resistance. Donny and Blair would be arriving soon, and then the four of us would be living together in Abigail’s house. My duffel resisted again. Maybe I shouldn’t have dragged Abigail into this. It was already spiraling into something so much more than a date to my brother’s wedding.
Now we were going to be sharing a bed.
Shit. It was too late to call it off, and besides, Donny needed me.
Finally, I lifted my duffel off the seat, got out of the car, and started my approach. I knocked on Abigail’s door.
“Who is it?” she called from behind it.
“It’s your get-out-of-jail-free card,” I teased.
“Sorry, try again.”
“Your, uh, boyfriend?” I tried, tripping over the word. She probably hated the sound of it, and I… I didn’t know how I felt.
“I’ ll open for ‘eternally indebted supplicant,’” she replied from behind the door. I could almost hear the raised eyebrow and glittering, attitude-filled look she was giving me.
“Eternally indebted?” I repeated, my lips twitching. “That escalated quickly.”
She opened the door, her big brown eyes and bright, playful smile greeting me after a long day. I could get used to that sight, I thought, then mentally smacked myself.
Fake. Gabe’s kid sister. Completely off-limits.
She breathed out a sigh. “I just like the sound of you owing me one now.”
“Mmhmm,” I murmured, thinking maybe I should have gloated less about the whole favor exchange. Then again, I didn’t mind the coy light in her eyes, or the way her ponytail swung back and forth as she danced out of the way to let me in. She wore loose jeans low on her hips and a tight white tee, and I was once again reminded of just how much she’d grown up. All curves and hollows and sweet-scented hair.
Hisssssssht!
A venomous hiss flung at me from the other side of the room. I flinched. What the hell was that?
Abigail made a sharp turn, and her ponytail whipped across the back of her head. “Winston,” she said in a gentle scolding tone. “C’mere, kitty.”
Kitty? I glanced up ahead and watched as a full-grown black and white cat prowled into the room, his eyes on me like I was his prey. She scooped him up in her arms and lightly scratched the side of his face, and he seemed to melt at her touch. “Winston, meet Rex. Rex, this is Winston. He’s going to be staying with us for a while. ”
“When did you get a cat?” I asked.
“He’s a new addition to the household, and he’s the best kitty in the world.” She pecked him with a kiss, hearts dancing in her eyes. I gave Winston another look. Upon closer inspection, he was pretty cute. I reached up to pat his head, and he let out a long groan as if to say, Don’t even think about it, pal!
I backed off.
Abigail set him back down and he turned with his tail straight in the air like he was purposely flashing his butt at me, and he walked away.
“Nice cat,” I noted.
Abigail smiled. “He’ll warm up to you. I’ll take that for you.” Abigail reached for my bag. It plunked to the floor like an anchor. “Geez, what’s in this thing? Is your groomsman suit made of fireproof metal?”
“No, but you’re close.” I kneeled down, unzipped the bag, and pulled out a small fire extinguisher. “I wasn’t sure if you had one of these.”
Abigail held the red extinguisher in her arms, looking unimpressed. “What’s the opposite of someone being full of surprises?”
That didn’t sound like a compliment, but there was still a small smile playing around the edges of Abigail’s lips. And why did I keep staring at her lips? “You don’t have one, do you?” I asked, nodding to the extinguisher.
“I don’t because I don’t need one. I’d have to actually cook food to risk a kitchen fire. But thanks.” She set it down in the corner of her living room.
“Fires don’t just start in the kitchen. There are other hazards, you know.”
“Such as?”
I pointed to her jasmine-scented white candle burning on her coffee table. The flame flickered in a pool of melted wax. “Unattended candles.”
“Yeah, right. It’s in a glass jar. You know how many times I leave them burning by accident?”
Most people never thought about fire until it happened to them. And I knew Abigail. The woman thought she was untouchable—or at least that’s how she behaved. “You should really stop doing that.”
“Yes, sir, Fire Marshal Rex.” Abigail saluted me with a kind of cheerful insolence that went straight to my cock. I cleared my throat and shifted, grabbing my duffel back from her and slinging it over my shoulder.
Abigail and I hadn’t spent that much time together without Gabe around, and I was realizing that his presence had acted like a big, impenetrable buffer to my wayward thoughts. Right now, with Abigail’s fresh mouth and the impertinent way she pushed back against everything I did, I needed that buffer more than ever.
As she made a show of blowing out her candle, I watched the way her jeans hugged the generous curve of her ass. I thought about how much I’d like to kiss the sass right off that mouth. Or have those manicured nails scraping down my back while she finally gave in and let me please her.
I blinked.
I’d made a mistake. A whole series of mistakes, actually. I never should’ve asked Abigail to do this for me.
“C’mon, I’ll show you to the spare room. ”
Her words snapped me back to the present moment. “Spare room? Abigail, we’re supposed to be together.”
“And?”
“And, Donny and Blair will be around. Don’t you think it’ll look off if I’m not sleeping in your room with you?”
“You are way more demanding than I remembered, Rex Montgomery,” she pronounced.
I must’ve been distracted by the haughty arch of her brow and the way that tight, white T-shirt hugged her frame because what came out of my mouth in response was, “Baby, you’ve got no idea.”
Abigail blinked a few times in quick succession, her cheeks flushing pink. She recovered quickly, clicking her tongue as she waved me toward the rickety staircase covered in old, worn carpet. “Fine,” she said. “You can take the floor.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, trundling up the steps behind her. She opened her bedroom door and stepped aside to let me through. It was tidier than I imagined. I had never gone into Abigail’s teenage bedroom, not because I wasn’t invited, but because there were so many clothes everywhere I couldn’t see the floor.
“You see.” She pointed to her bed. “Room for one. As you’ve invited yourself into my home like some sort of stray dog, you can take the floor.” She pointed to the circular rug in the middle of the room and gave me a cold, insolent smile.
I was discovering I liked the shape of all of Abigail’s smiles. I wanted to kiss this one off her mouth too.
Instead, I glanced at the bed. “Why do you have a full-size bed? You’re a grown woman. ”
She tucked her arms and popped her hip. “Listen, I got the house, but the ex got the king bed in the divorce.”
“So why not buy another one?”
“Circumstantial, Rex. Single people don’t need huge beds.”
“I have a king to myself.”
“Well, doesn’t it get cold?” she asked.
“Not really. I’m a hot sleeper.” The truth was it did get cold without someone there to share it with. Just not temperature-wise.
“Lucky me,” she mumbled.
“What was that?”
“Nothing. But as you can see, the two of us sharing this bed isn’t going to work.” She swept her arms toward the rug. “A cozy space with a fantastic view of the ceiling fan. You’re going to love it.” Her smile was deliciously evil. And I was enjoying myself a hell of a lot more than I should have been.
“I haven’t slept on the floor since I was a broke college student.”
“Well, maybe you should have thought of that before you invited yourself and your family to stay at my place.”
She had a point, but I took a step toward her, drawn to the challenge in her eyes. She stood her ground, lifting her chin and popping a brow. She smelled sweet and floral. Being this close to her, I could feel the heat of her body along my front.
Abigail was hard as nails. Tough. Making her soften would be so sweet and so, so wrong. I ached to touch her, but I couldn’t. That wasn’t what was going on between us. We were faking it—or at least we were supposed to be.
Whatever was going on inside me felt far from fake.
“Tell you what,” I started .
“Here we go,” she sassed.
“I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I hear a ‘but.’”
“There’s no but,” I told her, and then my mouth ran away with me again. “I promise I’ll only get in bed when you invite me into it.”
Her scoff was loud, but the flush on her cheeks grew deeper. I liked that almost as much as I liked the wicked smiles she’d been flashing at me all evening.
And I could have none of them. Firstly, because Abigail would never go for a guy like me. I wasn’t impulsive enough, spontaneous enough, or criminally inclined enough to keep up with her. And secondly, because Gabe was my best friend, and dating his little sister would be a dagger to his back.
It was hard to worry about Gabe when Abigail was right here, looking like a fantasy I wasn’t supposed to have, standing beside a bed I wasn’t supposed to occupy.
Abigail, still pink-cheeked, shot me a dark look. “Never gonna happen, fireboy. I’m not inviting you anywhere after this. If I did, you might drag your entire extended family along, and I’m not that kind of exhibitionist.”
“What kind of exhibitionist are you, specifically?”
Her eyes flashed, and it wasn’t anger. I needed to step away from her or I’d do something stupid.
Heart beating erratically, I checked my watch. Donny and Blair were probably close. Abigail and I needed to be in our places as the happy little couple in the happy little house, and I needed to get my thoughts back in line and remember that Abigail was my best friend’s little sister, and she was only doing this because I’d essentially blackmailed her into it .
Sex wasn’t on the table, and that was a good thing.
Maybe if I kept repeating it to myself, it’d sink in.
“They’ll be here soon. Do you mind if I hide this in your closet?” I asked, walking my duffel over to the wardrobe.
“No, wait—” Abigail called, but it was too late. I opened the closet door, and an avalanche of laundry tumbled out to the floor, spilling out onto the rug that would be my bed, covering my shoes and piling up against my legs.
I stood there, looking over the pile. Maybe Abigail’s laundry habit hadn’t changed in high school. “What’s all this?” I asked.
“None of your business.” She rushed over, scooped up the garments, and shoveled them back into the closet with a grunt, then shoved the door closed and used her full weight to get it to latch. A single piece of silky fabric slipped by her. I reached down and picked up a lacy purple thong.
I imagined her straddling me, purple lace framing all the most intimate parts of her. My cock throbbed at the mental image, my hands itching to feel all that soft skin. Reeling myself back in, I painted a teasing grin on my face. “You forgot one.” I swung the panties around on my finger. “Nice butt floss.”
“Butt floss?” Abigail turned. Her face went fire-truck red as she snatched the scrap of fabric from my hand. “Give me that.”
I chuckled. Abigail always played it so tough; it was fun to see her unravel a little. I wondered if she ever let other people in, or if those walls stayed up all the time.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t open any more closets around here. And that goes for cabinets and drawers too.”
“Fair enough. Is there at least some counter space where I can put my toothbrush? ”
Abigail rolled her eyes and gestured for me to follow her to the bathroom. “You decide.”
If I thought her closet was bad, her bathroom countertop was an explosion of cosmetics.
“Did you buy out Sephora with your last commission check?”
“Ha-ha. You know, it’s not easy looking this good.”
I smiled and leaned against the doorframe. “Could’ve fooled me.” Abigail always struck me as one of those natural beauties. She had that pretty girl thing. A petite nose that freckled in the sun, pink, kissable lips, and big, mesmerizing eyes. No wonder Gabe was so protective over her.
My words made her look up, and she met my gaze in the mirror. “Stop it,” she said.
“What?”
“Just…stop saying that kind of thing.”
“You don’t like people complimenting you?”
“I do. It’s just weird when you do it.”
Frowning, I straightened and let her brush past me to exit the bathroom. Her shoulder nudged my chest, and I resisted the urge to follow her into the hall. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know what it means, Rex.”
“I can’t tell you you’re pretty?”
She spun around in the middle of the hallway, and I had to jerk to a stop not to run into her. Our chests nearly brushed, and Abigail stuck her chin out. She wasn’t backing down. I liked that about her.
“No, Rex. You cannot tell me I’m pretty.”
If she wasn’t backing down, I wasn’t either. I inched forward so that our chests did touch. I felt dizzy and out of control. It had been a long time since I’d felt like breaking the rules. “What about beautiful? Can I call you that?”
“Absolutely not.” She blinked a few times, then narrowed her eyes.
I smirked. I liked this game. Liked getting a reaction out of her. I wondered how she’d react if I told her I thought she was drop-dead gorgeous. That she’d been turning heads for as long as I could remember, and the only thing stopping every guy in town from slavering over her was the promise of deadly retribution from Gabe.
It had stopped me.
Until now.
Ding-dong!
Abigail and I froze, sharing a look.
“Is that them?” Abigail asked.
“Probably. You’re not still expecting the pizza guy, are you?”
“As a matter of fact, I am.” She walked past me with a big, proud smile.
As I followed her down the stairs, it hit me that I was about to see my brother and Blair for the first time since they got engaged. My gut tightened and my hands grew clammy. I could barge into a burning building without so much as a second thought. So why did this reunion make me so uneasy?
It wasn’t that I was jealous. And it wasn’t that I was bitter about their relationship. Not exactly. But I knew how demanding Blair could be—and Donny was no better—and I wasn’t sure I was really feeling up to playing my usual role. Taking care of other people was as natural as breathing, but I’d been doing it for so long that I wondered if I liked it or if I did it because it was expected of me.
Abigail marched toward the front door, and I wondered if she’d even let me take care of her. She was so independent that it was almost pathological. And being around her felt…easier. She didn’t expect anything from me.
Abigail put her hand on the doorknob. Her eyes were clear, rich brown as they met mine, and she must have seen something in my expression because all the sass and teasing melted out of her, and she asked, “Are you sure about this?”
I shrugged, feeling very unsure. But it was too late now; they were already here. I smiled. “Yeah, how hard could it be?”
“Okay, then. Lights, camera, action.” And with that she opened the door.
“Hey!” Donny said with his big, goofy grin. His face had matured since we’d last seen each other, and he hadn’t shaved the patchy scruff that crawled up his cheeks in clumps, but all I could see when I looked at him was my baby brother.
“Donny, come on in,” Abigail said, a polite smile on her lips.
My brother stepped inside and greeted Abigail with a hug, then slapped my hand with a brotherly shake. “Thanks so much for putting us up this week.”
Abigail and I shared a look. “No problem,” she said, giving me a side-eye glare. “Where’s the bride-to-be?”
“She’s coming,” Donny said, setting his luggage aside.
Blair walked in, or rather, glided in, fully lit by the ring light she held at arm’s length. Her phone was fastened at the center. “Hey, y’all, we made it to New Elwood! Isn’t this house so quaint?” Blair practically sang for the camera. Was she recording? “Donny, say hi to our followers. ”
“What’s up, guys! Sending love to all y’all!” Donny kissed his two fingers twice like a ’90s hip-hop star. I raised an eyebrow. What was with all the theatrics? Even his voice was different.
“Are you guys making a video?” Abigail asked.
“No, we’re live!” Donny said. “C’mon, why don’t you meet our followers?”
“Umm, I don’t—” Abigail started, but it was too late. Donny roped her in with his arm around the back of her neck, pulling her close. I jerked, wanting to pull her back so there’d be distance between them. Blair’s eyes flicked over to me, a brow arching even as her wide smile stayed in place for her video.
Donny looked into the camera. A circle of light gleamed in his irises. “Meet Abigail. She’s our hostess with the mostess.” Hostess with the mostess? What had Blair done to my brother?
“All right, y’all. We’ll check in with you later. Stay tuned for all the wedding updates! Love y’all!” Blair puckered a kiss at the camera and ended the recording. “And we’re off.” She dropped her shoulders and sighed. “Oh, my God, that drive from the airport was exhausting.”
“But you didn’t drive,” Donny replied.
“Donny. Please.” She shot him a look, then turned her attention to Abigail. “Hi, I’m Blair.”
“I know.”
“Oh, you’re one of our followers?”
Abigail wrinkled her brow, looking equal parts confused and insulted. “No, we went to high school together. First period English class. Senior year.”
“Oh, sorry. I don’t remember you.” She snapped her fingers. “Oh, wait. Didn’t you use to dye your hair black and smoke in the bathroom?”
My lips twitched. I’d almost forgotten about Abigail’s goth phase.
Abigail looked even more insulted. “The hair, yes, but I never smoked.”
“Whatever. Anyway, thanks a bunch for hosting us in your little house. It’s so…cozy. Teeny tiny! Look at all those scratches on the floorboards! How cute! And look, Donny, down the hall! The kitchen looks totally nineties with those cabinets!” She laughed. “Oh my goodness, how retro! I didn’t know people kept those in their houses these days.”
“Uh-huh.” Abigail’s expression flattened. I tensed, waiting for the typical Abigail explosion. She had a short fuse and enjoyed a good blow-up. Instead, I watched as a professional, cool mask dropped over her features, and I realized there was more to Abigail than I gave her credit for. And as her gaze slid to mine, I saw the determination in her eyes.
She’d promised me she’d do this, and she would follow through.
For me.
That…did something to me. I swallowed thickly, wanting to say something?—
“And you, Rex!” Blair spun around and looked right at me. She was just as beautiful as I remembered. Bombshell proportions, shiny hair, and those big blue eyes that had made me want to twist myself into knots to do her bidding when I was young and dumb and in love.
They blinked at me now, wide and clear and knowing. “ How are you, handsome?” She leaned in and kissed my cheek. It was strange feeling her lips on my skin again. Strange as in…wrong.
Relief swept through me, cool and clear. It’s not that I’d thought I was still into Blair, but knowing it for sure now made me feel steadier. I didn’t want her lips on me, and I didn’t care if she was marrying my brother. I was mostly glad she wasn’t marrying me.
“Doing great,” I answered, and as I sidled up to Abigail and slung an arm around her shoulders, I realized it was true. Abigail tensed slightly, then softened against me and leaned her head against my shoulder. Her arm wrapped around my back, thumb hooking into my belt. We fit against each other. I smiled at my ex-girlfriend with my arm around my fake girlfriend. “How have you been?”
Blair rolled her head back as if she was soaking in this moment with pleasure. “Oh, my gosh. So fantastic. I’m getting married.” Blair flashed her engagement ring.
“That is one honker of a diamond,” Abigail commented, leaning forward.
“Oh, this old thing?” Blair tittered, wiggling her fingers. “It’s only fourteen carats. Donny said my fingers are long and thin, so I shouldn’t go any bigger. But you’ve got those strong, broad, working-woman fingers! I bet you could handle an even bigger one, if you could afford it.”
Abigail glanced at her hands, and I wondered if she was thinking about throttling the other woman. But she just widened that cool smile of hers and shrugged. “I’ve never wanted anything ostentatious. ”
Blair’s eyes narrowed slightly, then she looked around the foyer. “That’s for sure. Rex, honey, my bags are in the car. Would you mind terribly…?”