FORTY-EIGHT
“ANYTHING YOU WANT, you’ll get,” Astrid, one of Roxie’s young assistants said as they traversed the sleek, carpeted hallway high in the Crimson building. “Roxie’s made that clear. To everyone. Your comfort and safety are our highest priority.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s a directory in the phone that will link you to anyone you need. We’re twenty-four hour equipped, none of our services close. And only a trusted few are allowed on this floor. If you want spa services, Roxie’s people will come to you, day or night.” Astrid stopped by a door. “Tripp is the door we just passed.” The young woman indicated that way. “My number is in the directory too, don’t hesitate to call if you need anything. You want an outside line, dial nine, though Rouge logs every call in and out of the building, just to make you aware. If you want to make a private call, you’ll need to come upstairs.”
“Which is…?”
Astrid smiled. “Only Roxie and Zairn’s is above us.”
“I would never—”
“Your cellphone isn’t monitored.” The woman’s smile was meek. “Sorry, I’m used to Roxie’s not being an option.”
Astrid slipped something from her pocket.
The box was familiar. “What’s this?” It couldn’t be… She popped it open to see, yes, it was her cherry necklace. “Where did you get this?”
“Your apartment. Well, I didn’t. Ballard did. They got a few things for you.”
“They?”
“Anything that’s been missed can be replaced or retrieved. Please wear the cherry, it’s your security pass,” Astrid said and opened the door an inch. “Everything’s taken care of here. Crimson Palace is a place of pleasure, as Roxie likes to remind me all the time. If you’re ever anything other than happy here, just pick up the phone and we’ll change that.” She boosted open the door while staying in the hallway and gestured inside. “Enjoy.”
The assistant left with a smile before she ventured to go in. Right there in the middle of the sunken living room stood two men. Two Breckenridges. Tripp and, of course, Darroch.
“I’ve checked it all out for you,” Tripp said, his usual affable self. “Your room’s on this side.” He pointed one way, then the opposite way. “Roch’s at the other.”
They’d be sharing?
“Just for safety,” Darroch said, reading her mind.
“My place is just…” Tripp gestured higher in the direction of her room.
“Astrid told me.”
“Cool.” Tripp slipped his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, you need anything, or get scared in the night, just bang on the wall and I’ll come rescue you.”
The way his smile turned to a smirk was enough to curve her own lips a little.
“How much are you actually here?”
“On this floor?” He raised a shoulder. “Be here more if you need me here.” His hands were next to go up. “As a sister. You’re one of Roxie’s girls. There’s rules about that. Serious rules to be taken seriously.”
Said like a man who’d heard that more than once. Tactful, diplomatic, Tripp was smarter than people gave him credit for. Smooth though? Everyone knew that about him. He’d put her at ease without raising her connection to his brother but still conveying the point he had no intention of crossing any lines.
“I’ll leave you cats to get settled in. I’ll bring food and people later. Leave the party to me.” Tripp laid a brief hand on his brother’s upper arm, then did his mosey thing that could be quick or slow, everything with him was effortless. Coming in close, he kissed her cheek, and raised his lips to murmur in her ear. “We’ve got you.”
His serious eyes met hers for just a flicker, then he walked out and closed the door.
On her and Darroch.
Yep, that was them now, completely alone in their new home.
Living room in the middle, long dining table to the left, sort of semi office area to the right, all open plan. Double doors in each of the far corners, to the bedrooms by Tripp’s indication.
“If you want your own space—”
“It’s fine,” she said. “This isn’t—Roxie and Zairn are being incredibly generous. I don’t think it’s time to start making demands.”
His own lips quirked. “Good, because I was going to tell you tough. There’s no chance of me going anywhere.”
Maybe the humor was supposed to lighten the mood or lessen her burden. The danger superseded whatever was going on between them personally, she got that. In her weakness, her stupidity, of reaching out to him might’ve sent the wrong message.
Except it was worse than that. Whatever they’d been, that they were no more, had possibly put his life in jeopardy. This man may still be in physical danger over a relationship they no longer had.
“I’m sorry,” she said, which quickly wiped the amusement from his face.
“You’re apologizing to me? What the hell have you got to apologize for? If you and the Germ—”
“For this,” she said. “You’re here in this mess because of me.”
“I’m here in this mess because of a maniac stalker. I completely understand how he could be obsessed with you; I’m obsessed with you. But if I ever scared you—”
“Don’t compare yourself to him.”
Though in some ways they were alike, not necessarily the scaring thing, Darroch had occupied two roles in her life. Been two people to her one. No, she couldn’t think that way. She couldn’t obsess about what was because it never would be. The hurt didn’t matter anymore. As soon as this mess was over, she’d apologize again and let the Breckenridges go on their way.
“None of this is your fault,” he said, venturing closer while she stayed near the door. “Che—”
“Please, just let me say this, your family are kind and generous and do what they can to make this a better, brighter world. You should be proud of them. You are proud of them. I know you are. And what happened with us, yes, I… I did get caught up in it and let things go further than they should have. It was flattering to have the attention of a guy like you, someone I’d never normally cross paths with. And I don’t just mean the money, it’s who you are and the way you carry yourself in the world, you’re a catch.” He was smart enough that his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “For someone else. For someone who isn’t me.”
“I apologize,” he said, “and I’ll keep apologizing.”
“No, that’s why I’m saying this now. This is it, the period at the end, at the end of the whole episode. I don’t know how long this will take to get cleared up—and I’m glad that we’re sharing space, I want to know that you’re safe, and it is easier for Roxie’s people and your brothers… It’s easier for everyone protecting us to have one site rather than two.” Divide and conquer was how these people succeeded in the wild. Could she really compare this to that? “You have your room and I have mine, and we can be polite. There’s no need for things to be awkward, and there’s no need for us to rehash everything over and over again. Let’s just let this be what it is. And when it’s over, we say goodbye.”
“I don’t accept that.” Though his good humor was gone, he didn’t push. “But the point of this isn’t to figure us out. You’re right about that, so I’ll play things your way. I’ll do whatever you need me to do to make this easier, because there’s no way I want you uncomfortable or thinking about leaving this safety. You’re the boss. If you want to keep your distance, I won’t make it difficult for you, but I’m here. I’ll be here every minute for whatever you need.”
And after?
She didn’t ask the question out loud because they’d only end up going in circles. Being over was easier when they were apart. No, it had never been easy.
There, at least, she knew he was okay and didn’t have to wonder what he was doing, if he was thinking of her… spending time with other women.
Which was his right. She closed her eyes. He could date whoever he wanted, kiss whoever he wanted… make love with whoever he wanted.
“Okay?” she asked, sidestepping to skirt between the living room and the office. “I’m going to get settled in.”