19. A New Level
A NEW LEVEL
“Iwanted to talk to you last night,” Brenna said the next morning when she showed up at her apartment.
“Yeah, sorry. I saw your text later on and didn’t think to reply right away. I was busy.”
Busy getting her brains screwed out.
Holy cow.
Skye figured Ash had some moves on him. But his control. His smoothness. His restraint.
Her body was like heated wax just melting at his every touch.
She was damn lucky she could get out of bed this morning and only did it because her alarm went off.
Even Ash hadn’t wanted to move and she had to put her feet on his ass and give him a shove.
It was that or crawl over him and if she’d done that, she was positive they would have opened a third condom.
Brenna moved into Skye’s small kitchen, opened the cabinet, took down a coffee cup and put it under the one-cup maker after selecting her flavor.
“Not surprising since you had company,” Brenna said.
She spun from where she was standing over her desk and checking her email.
Not for an update from the anonymous asshole who started the chain of events yesterday, but from her full-time employer with wanting an update on her project.
The one that was due today and she’d planned on finishing last night.
It didn’t work out that way though.
And now Brenna’s appearance wasn’t helping either.
“What are you talking about?”
She turned back to compose her features after her younger sister smirked at her, replied to her boss that it’d be done by the end of business today and sent it off.
“I’m talking about the fact that I came over last night when you didn’t reply to my text. I wanted to see if you were okay and then I noticed a black truck out front.”
Skye closed her eyes, let out a breath, forced her shoulders not to be tense, then spun back to see her sister’s steady grin. “I’m sure there are a lot of black trucks in the parking lot.”
“Not ones with Glens Falls FD stickers on them. And since I know Ash was here when everything went down yesterday... and I know what vehicle my brother’s best friend drives, it was easy to put it together on what you might be busy doing.”
She groaned. There was no stopping it.
“Don’t tell anyone.”
Brenna pointed her finger. “You got laid. When was the last time you got laid?”
She marched over to her couch and flopped. Maybe there was a tiny part—nope, a big part—of her that wanted to talk to someone about this.
No way it could be her mother.
And she didn’t have a lot of friends that she was still in contact with.
Her brothers, off the short list for sure.
That left Brenna.
The one she was closest to, even if she never felt she was all that close to anyone in her life.
Not like biological sisters should be.
“Last night,” she said. “Twice.”
“I love that for you,” Brenna said and sat next to her on the couch with her coffee in her hand. “But prior to last night, how long has it been?”
“Years. More than three.”
“Ouch. I mean, was it ouchy last night? Do you get tight if you go that long? Or do you have a toy? I’ve got a toy, because being a nurse and all, I know things can shrink without usage. And right now, I’m not getting much use from a human, so rubber and plastic it is.”
She opened her mouth then closed it again.
Brenna had always been outspoken, but this was a new level.
One the two of them never talked about before.
Not this in depth.
“Who are you?”
Brenna nudged her elbow. “You know who I am. Come on, be a sport and share with me.”
“I’m not sharing details.”
“Not even if he’s really big and you were itty bitty?”
“I don’t know how you can keep a straight face asking that. I see it in your eyes that you want to roll on the floor laughing like you did as a kid.”
Brenna held her fingers up in a pinch. “I’m trying to cheer you up. That was my reason for coming over last night, but then I realized you were being cheered up another way. This morning was more about getting the deets. I’m sure everyone came down hard on you last night.”
She sighed. “They did. I guess I had it coming.”
“They are only worried.”
“Are you?” she asked, looking at Brenna, trying to get some kind of a read on her. Her younger sister had always been good about concealing her emotions if she wanted to. Maybe it came from her job and keeping patients calm.
“Maybe a little. I know you can handle yourself. I’ve always known that.”
“Could you remind the rest of them of that then?”
“They know. But they are still going to worry. Everyone is thrilled you’re back. Myself included. Now I won’t be the only one watched over. But man, when they all find out about you and Ash.” Brenna shivered. “You’ll need my support then.”
“Corbin knows. He doesn’t know about last night, but he always knew Ash had a thing for me.”
She and Ash did talk after the first explosion of emotions on her bed.
They were going to just let it play out now. She wasn’t volunteering any information to Corbin and neither was Ash, but she knew that one brother wasn’t an idiot either.
And the fact that Corbin threatened Ash to not hurt her? Yeah, he was the one on her shit list right now so he better stay back.
“I always thought he did too, but I was younger. I guess I didn’t pay much attention to him other than I thought he was cute.”
Her eyes got wide as she looked at her sister. “Did you have a crush on him? Or do you now?”
“I did back then, but I think most of the girls in the area did. I don’t know. Don’t worry about that.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but I have to because I can’t ask Corbin. Or anyone else. What do you know about him now? Like as an adult. He said he’s not how he was in high school.”
Brenna shrugged. “I don’t really know much other than through Corbin and you know he doesn’t talk much. Do I hear or think that Ash gets around? I haven’t heard anything in years. I don’t think he’s been in any relationships though. Or not lately. Did you ask him?”
“Not that,” she mumbled.
Why hadn’t she thought to do that?
Because there were just so many other things going through her mind. Like getting his clothes off.
Then forgetting about her life for just a fraction of time.
Losing herself in a guy that she’d secretly had the hots for even when she pushed him away.
Before she moved into the Lancaster home, it had more to do with not being part of his fun.
Not being used or taken advantage of.
There was also some embarrassment that anyone she got close to would know how she lived. What and where she came from.
But once her life changed, it was more about surviving.
Had she noticed that Ash’s actions and words changed toward her?
She had, but she couldn’t comprehend what any of it meant either.
“So what is the next step?”
“With what?”
“First Ash, then this crap you got yourself mixed up in.”
She sighed. There was no way her sister would forget the real reason she’d sought her out.
“The thing with Ash, it’s going to be a one day at a time thing. That’s how I operate and I’m not changing. I was clear there.”
“He’s not worried you’re going to leave again?”
Her lips pursed. “Are you worried about that? Is everyone else?”
Brenna shrugged like she didn’t care, but Skye knew that was a lie. “Yeah. We are all thrilled you’re home, but I pointed out to Mom that if everyone continues to get on your case about things you’re liable to take off again.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she’d keep everyone in line, but I’m not sure how well she thinks she can.”
Skye laughed. “She’ll try. I’m not going anywhere. I mean it. I signed a one-year lease anyway.”
“I guess that’s better than nothing,” Brenna said. “About the other thing. I’m kind of scared for you. Are you scared?”
“Not really. There is no reason to be. I’m just doing my job. Anyone could find me and reach out on any story.”
“But have they? Has anyone else?”
“I have had a few people just asking questions, but nothing major.” Which wasn’t a lie, but it was nothing like what happened yesterday.
“Don’t get too caught up in this. I want to say let it go, but you won’t now. You’ll sink your teeth in even deeper because you’ll want to catch the person.”
“I think that is the right thing to do,” she argued.
“It is.” Brenna hesitated. “I’m concerned this might open up your past. You know, bring back bad memories. You survived something horrible. You’ve moved on. It’s not always wise to revisit the past.”
“It’s not triggering anything if that is what you’re worried about. I promise you. It’s all good. I’m good. I really am.” There was no reason to bring her sister in on her thoughts of her past and this future issue. “Don’t worry.”
“It’s always easy to tell someone not to worry, but not so easy to follow it.”
“I know. And I hate to do this, but finish your coffee and get out. I’m behind and have to get a project done by five.”
“Well, if you weren’t chasing fires and boinking a sexy fireman, maybe your work would be done.”
She shoved at Brenna’s arm and then reached for the almost empty coffee cup. “Whether or not that is the reason, I still need to earn my paycheck. So out.”
“I’m going,” Brenna said, waited a beat, then reached in and gave her a hug.
She returned it even when everyone knew she wasn’t much of a tender touchy feely person.
Maybe there were more changes in her life than she was willing to admit.