Chapter 13
Stephanie felt Ries’ eyes on her. She tried not to blush when he explained his recent happiness.
Nicolai winked at her and then whispered, “Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. You’ve been good for him.”
Stephanie merely nodded as Nicolai bid his brother farewell and instructed Chris to do whatever was necessary to keep everyone safe. Moments later, she was once again alone with Ries and the way he was looking at her was unnerving. She gave him a smile and then moved out from under his arm.
“Let me go get you some breakfast, and I’m sure you’re ready for some more pain medication by now.”
“Don’t run off,” Ries reached for her but she eluded him.
“I’ll be right back. Would you rather eat up in your bedroom?”
“No, here is fine. Chris,” Ries called out, snagging Stephanie’s arm and keeping her from leaving the room.
“Yes?”
“Could you ask the housekeeper to fix us both some breakfast? And if you have my prescription, I wouldn’t refuse a pain med right about now.”
Chris reached into his pocket and withdrew a prescription bottle. He set it on the table and then left the room, saying, “I’ll have breakfast brought in to you shortly.”
“Thanks.”
“I could have done that,” she told him.
“But you don’t have to. My brother seemed to like you,” he murmured as he led her over to the couch and pulled her down next to him.
It had been odd to see someone looking so much like Ries, and yet who carried himself so differently.
Nicolai was a man in charge of his surroundings, and she’d only seen a glimpse of that character trait in Ries.
She chalked it up to Ries being the youngest and needing more time to grow into his responsibilities.
Meeting Nicolai and having him talk to her gave her the appearance that he was truly listening to her. When she woke up the second time in Ries’ arms, the light of day had brought about a new set of worries to her mind.
Ries came from a wealth she’d never even imagined and the thought of a future with him was overshadowed with doubts about acceptance and how she would ever fit into his lifestyle. A lifestyle that was as foreign to her as the language he spoke.
She had not decided if it was a risk she was willing to take or if she was going to play it safe and distance herself from Ries. The only man who had made her stop and think about the future.
“What are you thinking about?” Ries asked quietly.
“Your brothers. It didn’t sound like your oldest brother is very happy with you and I don’t understand why,” she told him, neglecting to share with him her worries over her place in his life.
“Damon is perpetually angry with me about something. He’s…” the ringing cellphone interrupted Ries.
Ries pulled it from his pocket and then grimaced, “Speak of the devil.”
Ries held her hand and said, “Stay with me. I might need your moral support.”
“Damon,” Ries greeted his brother on the video screen.
“What were you thinking, Ries?” Damon demanded. His expression was one of disarray.
“Well, I wasn’t intending to get shot, if that is what you are suggesting,” Ries answered with a trace of sarcasm and anger in his voice.
“You were asked to do a simple job - and involving yourself in a shootout at a public beach was not it.”
“I don’t suppose you care that I was trying to find out who painted targets on our backs?” Ries asked.
Stephanie listened to his voice and squeezed his hand, wishing his brother could show just a bit of compassion and thankfulness that he was still alive, instead of berating him over doing what Ries had thought was right at the time.
“Are you okay?” Damon asked, dropping his tyrant persona for a brief minute.
“I’ll live,” Ries answered shortly. He moved the phone and Stephanie watched Damon’s expression cloud when he saw she was there.
“What is one of your women doing there? I don’t suppose you could stop partying for even one night? I would have assumed getting shot would have put a damper on things.”
“First,” Ries answered, vibrating with anger over his brother’s words. “Stephanie is not ‘one of my women’ and it’s not really any of your business who I spend my time with.”
“When someone has targeted our company and our lives, everything is my business. You don’t know this woman. What makes you think you can trust her and she’s not the reason you got shot in the first place?”
Ries released Stephanie’s hand and stood up, pacing across the room with the phone and lowering his voice to a growl.
“You don’t know anything about her. She is the most trustworthy person I’ve ever met and if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here for you to lecture, so stuff your opinions. I don’t want to hear them. As far as I’m concerned, Stephanie is now part of this family, so you need to get used to it.”
Stephanie heard his words, indignant as they were, and hope sprung forth, banishing her earlier doubts and questions to the wayside. It seemed she didn’t have to wonder about her place in Ries’ future. He’d just laid it out in clear detail for his brother.
When he turned and looked at her, it just confirmed what he’d said. His expression was filled with love and Stephanie knew then that Ries was not only her present but her future too.
They needed to stay alive long enough for the authorities to catch the man trying to kill them and then they could start living their lives. Together.
Ries disconnected the call and then stalked toward her, his intent displayed across his face. He didn’t disappoint, sweeping her into his chest with his good arm and proceeding to kiss her until they were both gasping for breath.
Chris and the housekeeper entered the room, breaking Ries and Stephanie apart. Breakfast trays were set out on the table and they were left alone again.
Stephanie’s stomach growled at the smell of the food and Ries chuckled, “It looks like you need the food more than you need me right now. Let’s eat and then we’ll sit down with the security team and make sure everything is in place to keep you safe.”
“And you,” she reminded him, following him to the table.
“We’ll both stick together and that will make Chris and his team’s job easier. I trust staying close to me will not be a hardship for you?” he asked teasingly.
Stephanie sighed dramatically and then gave him a sad look, “I will endeavor to suffer in silence.”
Ries chuckled and they set about eating. Stephanie liked how easy he was to talk to as he told her stories from his childhood, doing his best to draw her mind away from the fact that someone was trying to kill them both.
She appreciated his efforts, and enjoyed learning about the man and his secret aspirations. Aspirations she hoped he would continue to bring out into the light of day and accomplish.
Ries was an amazing man, and she couldn’t wait to see him shine and show his brothers how capable he truly was.