Chapter Twenty-Three
Lucas
I’m standing in my bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist when my phone buzzes. I glance down at the text from the front desk.
Jack Dare is here to see me.
“Fuck.” I message back to let him in. Then, I run a towel over my hair, change into a pair of track pants, and walk out to meet him.
I can’t say I’m surprised by the visit. Ever since Hudson caught Rainey and me kissing in the storage room, I’ve been expecting a text, a call, or for him to drop by after he arrived back in Miami. Apparently, he had an early flight.
A loud knock sounds on my door, and I open it to let him in.
Jack looks me over from my bare feet, up past my pants, to my exposed chest, and scowls. “Where is she?” Jack storms past me into my apartment.
“She’s not here.” No way will I play dumb with my best friend. “Sit down and we’ll talk.”
Next thing I know, he swings, his fist connecting with my jaw. “That’s for breaking bro code,” he mutters.
“And that’s the only free one you get.” I rub my throbbing jaw. “Now sit the fuck down and let’s discuss things like civilized people.”
Jack’s frown deepens. “My sister? Really? And you’re making out with her in a storage closet like she’s not worth—”
“Do not finish that sentence,” I warn him. Without another word, I turn my back to him and head into the great room off the kitchen. I take a seat in a club chair and wait for him to do the same. Hopefully across the room from me.
From my teenage years running with a rough crowed, I know how to take a hit… and give one as well, but that’s not what I want with my friend and Rainey’s brother.
Jack sits down in the matching chair, so there’s a large cocktail table between us. He rubs his hand over the back of his neck as he shakes his head. “She’s my sister and she deserves respect.”
I narrow my gaze. “What makes you think she won’t get that from me?” Does he really think I’m dumb enough to fuck up our friendship and our business by treating Rainey like shit?
Jack catches my gaze and stares. “Really? Mr. I Don’t Date and They All Know the Score? Or do you give them more than a night or two, then dump them when they get too close? Is that what you’re doing with Rainey?”
“That insinuation is offensive, but I can see why you made the assumption.” I draw a deep breath and let it out.
Lucas is well aware of my past. What he doesn’t know is how it’s affected me.
I’m not one to bare my soul. Rainey’s gotten more of me than anyone before her; looks like I’m going to have to give Jack something.
I lean forward, elbows on my thighs, my hands dangling between my legs.
“I admit to how I’ve treated women in the past. No, I didn’t let anyone get close.
Did you ever wonder why?” Before Jack can answer, I go on.
“When your own parents don’t give a shit if you come home for dinner, eat, or even show up at night to go to sleep, you get used to being treated like an afterthought.
” I swallow over the lump now in my throat.
“I dumped those women before they could do the same to me. And let’s not forget, they all knew my lack of intentions going into things. ”
He winces, the friend in him feeling bad for me, something I neither want nor need. “I never knew any of that.”
My lips lift in a wry grin. “We’re men. Do we ever talk to each other about feelings?”
He lets out a laugh that gives me hope we’ll work our way past this.
“And my sister?” he asks. “Does she know the score, too?” Jack rubs a hand over his face and groans. “Because I’ve got to tell you, the idea of you treating her like all those others doesn’t sit well with me. Even if I understand your reasons.”
I take the time to gather my thoughts before answering. The sun streams through the extra-large windows and I pick up a remote and click a button. Slowly, the window treatments begin to close and kill the glare.
“Your sister is different,” I finally tell him.
“She has been from the beginning. We both tried to fight the attraction and when we couldn’t do it anymore, we agreed to end things when the Thunder party was over.
And to keep things quiet so we didn’t hurt you.
She’s been worried sick about what you’ll do when you find out.
” And I doubt she’ll be happy when she sees the bruise he no doubt left on my jaw.
Jack shakes his head. “I’m not hurt. I’m worried about my sister getting her heart broken,” he mutters.
“That’s not going to happen.”
He narrows his gaze. “Because it’s just a fling?” he asks in disgust.
“Because I love her!” I shout, then rise to my feet and begin to pace. “I don’t think Rainey or I ever truly believed we could walk away when the event was finished. We’ve gotten too close. She’s a special woman.”
I glance at my friend who’s merely watching me carefully. Listening.
“I admire Rainey’s work ethic. I appreciate how she cares about her friends, family, and employees. I love her smile and her laugh. I like how she’ll eat a huge sandwich in front of me and not blink an eye. No salad for her. And I adore the freckles on the bridge of her nose.”
“That’s enough.” Jack holds up a hand, an uncomfortable look crossing his face. “I get it.” He pushes himself up and stands, then walks over to where I’m leaning against the bookshelves lining the wall. “Those intimacy issues you had?”
“I can’t say they’re gone completely. But being with Rainey has taught me to trust. And if you think back, when was the last time I was with another woman?”
Jack remains silent.
“Right. It’s been a long while. I’ve been working on myself, whether you knew it or not. I have been since I let Matthew and Jacinda in. Since I trusted them.”
“And Rainey knows all this?” Jack asks.
I nod. “No secrets.” I meet his gaze. “I’m committed,” I assure him, and extend my hand.
Jack doesn’t pause before shaking it. “But cliché or not, you hurt her and next time I won’t just punch you, I’ll break your jaw.”
And no matter how much I can protect myself, I know he means it.
Good thing I have no intention of doing anything to Rainey but protecting her and making her happy.
Once he’s calm, we talk about his trip and the various locations he scouted, and I learn he’d been in Charleston the longest.
“I—”
A knock sounds on my door, which means it’s someone on my automatically “allow up” list. I doubt it’s my parents, so that only means… Rainey.
“Hang on, Jack. I’ll be right back.” I hope to talk to her before she goes off on her brother once she sees my jaw. I know it’s red and will turn black and blue eventually. But it’s no big deal.
“Sure.” He rises to his feet and walks over to the large window.
Once I’m sure he’s occupied, I turn and head to the door. I open it and I’m right. It’s Rainey. “Hi!”
“Hi.” She meets my gaze and her eyes open wide. “What happened?” She gently trails her fingers over my jaw.
“It’s nothing. Just two friends coming to an understanding.”
“Where is he?” She strides past me, a woman on a mission.
“Rainey, wait.” I shut the door and follow her into the family room, her long hair gliding against her back as she walks. “Let’s talk about this first,” I say, but she’s not paying attention.
“Jack!” she calls out.
Her brother turns from his place at the window. “Rainey.”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? How could you hit him?” She shoves his shoulder with one hand. “You don’t get a say in who I’m with.”
Jack sets his jaw. “He’s my friend and you’re my sister. I have every right to look out for you.”
“If he’s your friend, then you know he’s a good guy! Why would you hit him?”
“Rainey, I told you. It’s two friends coming to an understanding. We did and now it’s over.”
Jack steps forward. “Almost over. I need to talk to you.” He grasps her hand. “We’ll be right back,” he says, and tugs lightly, leading her toward the den for some privacy.
“Do not give her a hard time,” I warn my friend as he disappears down the hall with the woman I love.