Chapter 32
Sage
The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the curtains of Rhodes' guest room, pulling me out of a terrible night’s sleep. Usually, I could brush things off, but now I felt like things had gotten complicated.
I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling as the events of last night replayed in my mind like a bad movie on repeat.
Catherine. The ex-wife and her smug, smirking confidence.
I hated everything about it. Especially the way she’d called Rhodes ‘husband’ right after we’d been in bed together. It made me feel dirty.
It made me feel like I had broken one of my rules, and doubt had wormed its way in deep like one of those tiny splinters.
We argued afterward, and my insecurities bubbled up like uncontrollable things. He was so upset, his hair stood on end as he growled, “She’s nothing, Sage. You don’t understand.”
He was right. I didn’t understand because we had rushed everything instead of doing normal things like going on a date and talking about our past. I’d fallen right into bed with him without actually making sure that was the right step to take.
Her words echoed: He's always come back to me, sweetie.
What if she was right? What if he really went back to her?
She was the mother of his child, after all.
Even worse, I’d heard what he said—that her being the mother of his child meant nothing.
I wasn’t sure how to deal with that. What sort of man said something like that to a woman?
I thought I had the measure of who he was, but maybe I was wrong.
Yesterday, when Rhodes came to my rescue, it overrode my usual caution, and I just fell right into bed with him.
Twice. Part of that was because I’d seen that protector side of him, and I thought that was who he was.
Now I wasn’t so sure. It confused me, but it also made me realize I needed to slow down, no matter how cute he was with Opal.
Not that I was going to slut shame myself over having some epic sexy time, but doubts were starting to creep in.
Space was what I needed.
I slipped out of bed quietly, not wanting to wake him or Opal.
The house was quiet, the faint smell of last night's dinner still lingering. It was a reminder that my family had been here just last night, right before the whole fiasco—my family, with their bonds and unbreakable loyalty. It had been something I’d started seeing my brothers find.
Their own half, like Maggie had with Levi.
Someone they could love and build a family with, and it had got me thinking that maybe I’d been taking small steps with Rhodes.
I texted East.
Can you take me to the shop?
East
Sure, Sage-O-Rama. I’m actually outside right now working. I’ll take you.
Grabbing my clothes, I dressed quickly and tiptoed downstairs, leaving a note on the kitchen counter:
Gone to the shop. Need to think. Talk later.
It made me feel like an asshole, not giving him a chance to explain when we were calmer, but the whole drama had been too much for me on top of everything else that had happened at the gas station.
“Hey there.” East was waiting when I came outside, giving me a squeeze as he opened his truck door. “Ellis is following.” He nodded towards the truck already parked behind us and the hulking figure at the wheel. “Apparently, he’s with you today.”
I shrugged, not really willing to dissect the fact that I was two parts annoyed and relieved that one of Rhodes’s men was going to come with me. Last night still had me messed up, and I hadn’t slept well. Now I’d left without coffee and was starving, but I was still pretty scared.
I tried to ignore the fact that I could see Rhodes standing in his office window, watching us drive away. There was the tiniest bit of guilt in my stomach about leaving without talking to him this morning, but I smoothed my hands over my legs and took a breath.
The drive to the shop was short at this early hour while the streets were quiet. The town carried that peaceful, early-spring feel with birds chirping, a light mist drifting over the meadows, and the distant hum of a lawnmower somewhere. But that sense of peace felt hard to grasp.
Giant
You left without saying goodbye. We didn't finish talking last night. I didn’t like you sleeping away from me. Are you okay?
Rolling my eyes a little, my fingers hovered over the screen, insecurity burning hot in my chest. No, not really.
Catherine’s showing up at the house reopened old wounds.
Rhodes was different, intense, and protective in a way that made my heart race.
But what if his past pulled him away? I typed back, my response sharper than I’d intended.
Okay? Your ex shows up at midnight, acts like you’re still married, and you want to know if I'm okay? Really?
God, I sounded like a bitch. Instead of dwelling, I changed his name on my phone to Rhodes, rather than the cutesy nickname I had. His reply came almost immediately, as if he'd been waiting.
Rhodes
She's my ex-wife. We’re divorced. It was over before it even started, really. She never wanted me, and she didn’t want Opal. I have full custody. She shouldn’t have even known where I lived. She fucked one of my men to get the address.
My stomach pitched a little as I tried to dissect all the information.
East gave me a sideways glance. “Are you okay? We can talk about it if you aren’t.”
My big brother was awesome, but I wasn’t sure if I could handle the way he was looking all concerned right now. I definitely didn’t want to talk to him about how I had sex with Rhodes Collins.
“I’m fine. Things got weird last night. It was a big day.” I wasn’t sure how to feel. The whole day had been a shit show, from the flowers being delivered to being grabbed to Catherine showing up. Honestly, I was a wreck.
Instead, I typed the text out resolutely.
It feels like unfinished business. What if she is right? What if you go back to her? What if she changes her mind and wants to be a mother?
I regretted it as soon as I hit send. If I could have hit my head on the dashboard, I would have. Geez, Rhodes didn’t need more baggage, and here I was sounding like some needy whiner. It wasn’t even my place to be putting those kinds of demands on him. He just got here.
Rhodes
Never will she and I be together. As for her being a mother … we can talk about this more in person, but that isn’t who she is. Trust me. Please.
Trust. That word hung heavy. I wanted to, but the back-and-forth in my head wouldn't quiet. Before I could respond, another buzz— this time from Lila.
Lila
Hey, you okay after yesterday? Coffee? Breakfast? I can make it happen. Phiny can drop some stuff over to you. East says you’re coming to the shop early.
Even though my bestie didn’t actually ask the whys and the what-fors in the text, I knew she wanted details. I never came in early, but she was kind enough not to press.
Yes and yes.
Lila
10-4
Bless her all the way down to her toes for not asking any questions.
Pocketing my phone, I let East walk me into the building before we said goodbye, staunchly ignoring Ellis as I unlocked the shop door, the bell chiming cheerfully as I stepped inside.
Cedric was actually scheduled today, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t check on everything here after the chaos of yesterday.
If I had been at home, I would have sat at my kitchen table and worked on some of my crafts, or gotten out my journal and tried to work through some of my feelings.
That was not what I needed right now. Flipping on the lights, I started my morning tasks: trimming wilting leaves from the roses and arranging a new display for the window.
While checking my online portal for orders, I printed them out and tried to staunchly ignore Ellis.
Today, he appeared less intimidating, and the scars didn’t surprise me like they did yesterday, but his eyes missed nothing.
When East had stepped away from the shop, and Ellis took his place, they nodded at each other in that silly way men do to communicate all sorts of things with the grunt and the nod, like they were animals in a forest.
I glared at him and then felt pissed off at myself. It wasn’t his fault. “Good morning, Ellis.” I forced a smile. “Hope you slept well.”
"Morning, Ms. Holt," he said, nodding politely. “I slept fine.”
“You can call me Sage,” I offered. “I’d prefer that.”
He shrugged as if he couldn’t care less what he called me and set down what I assumed were the tools he needed for whatever he was going to install.
“I brought the cameras and sensors today. If you have any thoughts on spots we need to cover, let us know. But I’ll stay out of your way, and I'm here if anything feels off. "
"Thanks," I replied, forcing a smile. I wondered whether I should mention my ‘feelings’ to him.
Instead, I said, “Appreciate it. Start wherever you need.
" He got to work immediately, climbing a ladder to mount a camera above the entrance, his movements efficient and quiet.
It felt strange having someone his size in my little flower shop, but after yesterday's grab, I wasn't complaining. The shop felt extra small with him in it since it wasn’t very big, but I tried to focus on other things, blocking him out.
I was still trying to work out why someone would try to grab me or send me weird messages. It didn’t make any sense to me that someone would come after me. I wasn’t that interesting.
A knock sounded on the locked door, but Ellis had already moved over to it like we were going to get raided any second, his hand already going to his holster.
I rolled my eyes since it was only Phiny, hopping from one foot to the other with both her hands full of what looked like coffee and a bakery box.
“That’s one of my sisters. Don’t shoot her.”
“I’m not going to shoot a chick.” Ellis unlocked the door and earned a box in the chest that he obviously wasn’t expecting. “Maybe I’ll change my mind. She seems like a psycho.”
“Take this,” Phiny ordered. “Don’t drop it or I’m charging you.” She swept past him without a backward glance. “Why are you even here so early, babes? Could you not sleep in that place? I should have brought you your weighted blanket.”
She unpacked the coffee tray and pried off the lid, peering at it with consideration.
“I’ve got new things to try today that Lila sent.
” I perked up. “This one is for you.” She thrust a cup at me.
“And this one can be for you.” She gave another one to Ellis who suddenly looked more docile than I’d seen him.
Sipping cautiously, I watched as she opened the box. There seemed to be a giant slab of chocolate cake and what looked like mini hand pies, all golden brown on the edges and delicious.
“Those look good,” Ellis grunted over her shoulder, taking a sip of his coffee before making a face. “What is this?” He wrinkled his nose in what I wasn’t sure was disapproval.
“Rebellion Latte.” Phiny looked unconcerned, but I snorted at the look on his face. “It’s going to be on our book club menu. “There’s cardamom in there with a hint of honey. Do you like it?” She batted her eyelashes in an exaggerated fashion.
“Sure.” He took another cautious sip, and I could see how that pissed her off. “What’s that?” He poked a finger at one of the little pies.
“This one is a mushroom and herb Adventurer Hand Pie, and that,” she pointed at another one, “Is the beef and ale version.”
“Can I have one?” His eyes widened hopefully.
The guy was practically salivating, and he obviously didn’t know my sister well yet, because she loved feeding people or getting them to try her cooking.
It was her whole jam. Her toffee-colored eyes watched him as he moved closer into her space, crowding the box of treats.
She’d wrapped everything carefully, separating the cake (which was what I was after) from the little pies with a piece of dry wax paper.
“Of course. Take whatever you want. I can get more from across the street.” She practically glowed with pleasure at the idea that he wanted to try her food. It wasn’t that we weren’t good guinea pigs, and we were always flattering, but new customers were like crack to Phiny.
Ellis lifted out one of the little mushroom pies from the box. “You made these?”
“Yep.” She was watching him openly now as he took a bite. I looked away with near embarrassment at what was close to ecstasy on his face.
Yeah, awwkkkward. Diverting my attention away from the scene of Ellis’ orgasmic enjoyment, I sipped my weird drink and went in search of a fork so I could have a few bites of cake before it got gobbled up because it was clear that Ellis was going to eat all my snacks.
When I came back, they had their heads together, talking about herbs and spices as if they were long-lost friends. He was munching happily, licking the crumbs off his fingers, and looking friendlier than he had since we’d been introduced.
“Try the other one,” Phiny encouraged, but it was obvious she didn’t need to because he was already reaching for it. “That one turned out really nice.”
“Still going to shoot her?” I asked innocently.