Chapter 29
Keira
I’ve lost my concentration for reading a long time ago, awaiting the inevitable.
“Keira, it’s me. I’d like to talk.” My brother’s voice follows the knock on the door.
I heard the doorbell earlier and figured he was back. I tiptoed out of my room to listen in on his conversation with Rhys, but the COO’s massive house isn’t conducive to spying.
“Might as well get it over with.” When I open the door, remorseful blue eyes stare down at me. I step aside and let my brother in.
“Can I sit?”
I nod.
He lowers himself to the bed. Even seated, Noah’s size is impressive.
I sit next to him, but keep a distance.
“I’m going to cut to the chase,” he says. “It’s been a maddening day. The three of us lost control of our emotions and it turned ugly. I take full responsibility for the way I acted and what I said.” He angles his body so he has one leg on the mattress.
That is not how I expected him to start this conversation.
“I can’t go back in time and wipe the slate clean, but I can say I’m sorry.” He combs his fingers through his thick blond hair. “I apologized to your boyfriend.”
My eyes grow as wide as dinner plates. “Did you just call Rhys my boyfriend?”
“Yes, I did.” Three words stated with unwavering steadfastness. “That’s what he is, right?”
“Well, yes, but…” I search for my words. “I was afraid Rhys would be forced to choose between his loyalty to you and what could potentially be us.”
“I’m not going to let that happen.” Noah shakes his head. “That would make me the world’s biggest jerk. Your boyfriend and I… had a long conversation.”
I can’t help my huge grin.
“I was an ass. Plain and simple. Like I said, I can’t take back what came out of my mouth, but I hope you’ll forgive me.”
The sincerity of his words tugs at my heart.
“Apology accepted.”
“That’s it? You’re not going to make me eat humble pie?”
“No. I’ve been sitting here for most of the day, mulling everything over in my head. I’m the flame who ignited the fire. I broke a promise I made to Rhys when we found out you were at the security gate.”
“What promise?”
“I was so much in a rush to announce our relationship status, I ignored his request. He wanted to be the one to tell you.”
“I got that much from talking to him,” Noah says. “FYI, you need to work on your delivery, sis.”
“I’m sorry. I went off the deep end without considering the repercussions,” I say. “We had a fight after you left. I told him we should break things off. I didn’t mean it. I was upset.”
“Did you apologize to him yet?”
“He only just got here.” It’s a weak excuse to my own ears.
Noah’s eyes shift to the nightstand. “Your new iPhone is broken, so you can’t text?”
I play-punch him.
With the muscle he’s packing, I’m the one who feels the pain.
“No, silly, my phone isn’t broken.”
“Lucky for you, he’s here. You can apologize in person.”
I nod. “I will.”
“He’s in his bedroom changing into his workout clothes. We’re going to hit his state-of-the-art home-gym with a view of the ocean for a quick workout. This guy’s house is ridiculous.”
I giggle. “The first day, I kept getting lost.”
Noah chuckles. “He just gave me the grand tour, so I should be able to find my way. Worst case, you’re here, right?” He winks.
“I’m here.”
We exchange a warm smile.
“I guess in many ways, I was fooling myself,” Noah says.
“What do you mean?” I frown my confusion.
“I didn’t want to admit it, but deep down, I knew. It was written all over your face every time Rhys was over at Grandma’s house. You’ve been crushing on my best friend since you were twelve––”
“Ten.”
Noah groans. “It’s worse than I thought.”
“If we’re getting it all out there, I might as well be honest,” I say with a huge smile.
“The plus side of you dating Rhys is I won’t have to waste money doing a thorough background check on him,” he says with a laugh.
“Yeah, that’s the kind of thing you’d do.” I laugh along.
His face falls.
“You know it’s coming from the heart?”
I scoot closer to him on the bed and drop my head on his arm. “I do.”
“Granted I can be a little overbearing, and I probably mother you too much—I guess I should say, father you—but I don’t know how to dial it down. I’ve had this job for so long and I take it seriously.” He sighs. “I know I need to learn to let go. I hope you’ll be patient with me.”
A lump forms in my throat.
“I know you care. A lot. Way more than Mom ever did—”
“You got that right.” There’s an edge to his tone. It’s always there when he talks about our mother.
“The memory of her fades a little more every day.” I fidget with my fingers.
“Nothing worth remembering,” Noah says.
A chill runs up my spine. “I guess you’re right.”
We sit in silence for a beat.
Our mother died when I was eight. Noah was sixteen. Living with our grandmother was a convenient way for Mom to avoid her responsibilities as a parent by disappearing for weeks… sometimes months on end with some guy without any consideration for her kids.
Most times, she didn’t even bother calling to check up on us. She was constantly in and out of our lives. Mostly out. It’s like my brother and I were never a good enough reason for her to stay.
Noah kept the painful stuff buried deep, but our strange and somewhat loveless childhood colors how he views the world––hence his over protectiveness and his unwillingness to commit.
Not that he’d ever admit it, but I’m certain Noah’s long-standing single status is because of our mom.
On some subconscious level, he doesn’t want to get close to anyone, worried and afraid they might leave.
“It’s been the two of us against the world for a while, Cocoa Puffs.” He cradles my face with his strong hands, forcing me to meet his blue eyes. “Now, it’s the three of us. Rhys is more family now than ever before.”
Our grandmother died eleven years ago. Noah has been taking care of me ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Hartford guided him along the way in his new role as my guardian.
“You’re right. He is.”
Our childhood and Rhys’s are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Grandma took care of us, but it was by obligation.
She made that clear. I guess my brother and I were a reflection of our mother’s poor decisions when it comes to men.
She didn’t mistreat us, but she never loved us, or even seemed to like us.
Rhys’s mom is so different from Grandma.
Mrs. Hartford is warm, and friendly, and loving, and caring, and she bakes, and she gives kisses, and hugs freely.
Mr. Hartford was an incredible dad and a great influence for my brother.
The only reason we lived in the same neighborhood as the much wealthier Hartfords is because Rhys’s dad inherited a house that had been in his family for three generations.
Many renovations later, he refused to leave.
Rhys still owns the house. It’s being rented.
“I love you so much,” I say out of the blue.
“I love you, too.” He kisses my forehead. “The press knows you’re in LA,” he says, changing the subject. “I hate the idea they might hound you in their frantic quest for a scoop about Chelle’s tragic death.” He pauses. “Rhys seems to have it under control, so I trust he’ll keep you safe.”
“Michaela texted me first to warn me. Rhys’s and Arianne’s texts followed. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hide forever. I didn’t expect to be outed this way.” Thanks for nothing, Addison Moody.
“Are you going to be able to handle it?”
“I will.” I’m not sure about that, but I’m not about to give him another reason to worry about me.
“I’m glad you’re not alone.”
“Same here.”
“Your boyfriend won’t let them get in your face.”
“He’s good like that. Speaking of my amazing boyfriend, I should go and apologize.”
“Yeah, you should,” he says. “I have one request.”
“What’s that?”
“I still have my training wheels on, so be gentle. When you go talk to him, please keep it PG rated. I don’t need to hear—or see—my sister and my best friend making out. And for the love of God, no make-up sex.” His expression is priceless.
A laugh bubbles in my chest at his unwavering protectiveness. I place my left hand against my heart and lift my right one. “I promise. No funny business while you’re here… just cuddly hugs, chaste kisses, raindrops on roses, rainbows after the rain, and everything nice and sweet.”
My brother grins wide. “That, I can deal with.”
I roll my eyes.
With a hesitant step, I cross the hallway to Rhys’s room.
His door is ajar.
I’m about to knock, but his echoing voice has me reconsidering. I peek through the opening. His phone is pressed to his ear, and he’s pacing his bedroom, wearing nothing more than a pair of gray workout shorts.
Damn.
I have to remind myself why I’m here. Salivating over his sculpted body isn’t on the list… not until I’m waving my brother off.
“Okay, Mom,” he says. “I’ll tell them. Noah will be excited to see you again. No. Don’t worry about bringing anything. I have dinner covered. Just get here. See you in ninety-minutes.”
He hangs up.
“Knock, knock, knock.” I rap on the door.
His gaze meets mine.
“Hey. Come on in.”
“Hey,” I say.
I swallow, trying to not glance down at his shorts.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear. Your mom is coming over for dinner?”
“She invited herself over when she found out your brother was in town.”
I giggle. “Those two have such a great relationship.”
“I keep reminding her I’m her only son,” he says.
I close the gap between us.
I stare up into his gorgeous blue eyes.
“If you’re standing here with a smile stretching your lips, I gather Noah and you talked?”
I nod. “We did.”
I keep my eyes on his to pretend I’m immune to the badass ink, the yummy strip of hair that disappears under his shorts, or the divine lines of his V-muscle.
I wonder if I’ll ever get used to his godly body.
When I wasn’t fuming at him during the day, images from last night’s multiple steamy sessions flashed in front of my eyes.
I’d love to take credit for the bold striptease and basket of props, but once again, unofficial sex doctor, Michaela Knight, came to the rescue.
Apparently, we have one of the employees who works for her hotel to thank because she just discovered the iconic eighties movie, and it revived her marriage.
A quick trip to French Appliqué and a few other stores, and I was ready for a sexy night with my boyfriend.
“Keira?”
He breaks my trance.
I blink.
Was he talking to me?
“Where did you go just there?”
“Long day.”
He catches me by the waist, pulling me closer to him. “You can say that again,” he says. “But you’ve ironed things out with Noah, right?”
“Yes, it’s all good. Many apologies later and a trip down our sorry ass memory lane, and here I am… standing in front of a guy I’m crazy about, wondering if he’s willing to forgive me for acting like a brat.” I bite my lower lip.
He tips my chin up with his fingers. “You’re crazy about me?”
I swat his chest. “As if you didn’t know.”
“I don’t mind hearing it over and over again.”
“I’m crazy about you, Rhys Hartford, and I’m afraid I put my foot in my mouth, yet again––”
“You don’t want to break things off between us?”
I shake my head. “I was upset. I should’ve been more patient and I shouldn’t have stormed out on you the way I did.
I keep demanding Noah treats me like a woman, but I was acting like a petulant child.
I’m sorry. I still want us to be together.
I hope you haven’t changed your mind about us. ” If you have, I’ll die.
“Nothing’s changed for me.” His voice is deep and sensual. “As far as I’m concerned, my girlfriend and I had a disagreement. End of story.”
“Really?”
“Really,” he says. “You’re going to have to try a lot harder if you want to get rid of me.”
I trace a finger along his muscular arm. “God, no. I don’t want that. I want you right by my side.”
“You got me, dimples. I’m yours.”
My heart swells and my limbs go all liquid.
“Oh, Rhys—”
His mouth is on mine, his hands in my short hair, his bulge pressed against my body, the scent of his masculine cologne flirting with my nostrils.
There’s nothing about this moment that isn’t absolute perfection.
No one has ever kissed me this way––with sinful irreverence and abandonment––and I doubt anyone ever will.
He wraps a possessive arm around my waist, holding me closer.
God.
Another breath and I’ll push him on the bed for a passionate quickie.
It’s not just the two of us.
I pull away from him.
His brows knit together. “What is it?”
“I promised Noah we’d keep it PG while he’s here. With you… it’s like my lips are connected to my…” I point to my pussy.
“You’re right. Now that I’m back in his good books again, let’s play it safe.”