Chapter Forty #2
I chuckle, shaking my head. “When you put it like that, it sounds like the plot of a ridiculous romance novel.”
“Maybe,” Mariah agrees, her eyes twinkling. “But it’s our ridiculous romance novel.”
As I pull her in for another kiss, I think about how right she is. Our relationship exists outside normal bounds because we can’t predict every surprising event. But it’s ours, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I savor the warmth of Mariah’s body against mine, our laughter filling the sunlit bedroom, when a sharp knock at the front door shatters our peaceful bubble. Both of us become rigid from the cold as we silently share stunned looks with each other.
“Are you expecting someone?” I ask, my brow furrowing.
Mariah twists her head from side to side while her eyes widen. “No, I’m not.”
The pounding on the door becomes more urgent, and the voice of someone I know sends chills down my spine. “Mariah? It’s Stefan. Open up. I know you’re in there.”
I turn to Maria, mouthing, “Stefan?”
Her face begins to turn white as she nods, her expression a mix of shock and fear.
We leap out of bed to quickly grab whatever clothing we can find. I pull at my rumpled shirt from yesterday while Mariah puts on a robe and runs her fingers through her messy hair.
“Just a minute!” Her voice reaches a higher pitch as she calls out.
I feel a surge of panic. Standing outside the door is Stefan, who protects Mariah like a guardian yet threatens me on the phone. The evidence is unmistakable that I spent the night with his sister here.
“Should I hide?” I whisper, only half-joking.
Although Mariah rolls her eyes, I notice how nervous she is. “Don’t be ridiculous,” she mutters. “We’re adults. We can handle this.”
I try to calm my racing heart as we approach the front door. My name is Reuben Crowley, and I lead a major corporation. My career requires me to face corporate espionage and multiple business conspiracies. Managing one brother who wants to protect his sister should be simple for me.
Before turning the door handle, Mariah pauses to take a deep breath. Stefan holds his hand up to knock once more. His eyes widen as he takes in the scene before him—Mariah in her robe and me standing awkwardly behind her in yesterday’s rumpled clothes.
“What the hell is going on here?” Stefan demands, his stare sharpening toward me.
“Stefan,” Mariah says, her voice steady despite the tension in her shoulders. “This is . . . unexpected.”
The apartment door opens as Stefan pushes by her without taking his gaze off me. “I came to check on you. You weren’t answering your phone. Now I see why.”
I walk toward him, presenting my hand for a handshake. “Stefan, I know we got off on the wrong foot, but—”
He turns away from my extended hand while his face reddens with rage. “Wrong foot? You manipulated my sister into a fake engagement, put her in danger, and now you’re, what, playing house?”
“It’s not like that,” Mariah interjects, moving to stand between us. “Stefan . . . Reuben and I . . . we’re together. For real this time.”
Stefan makes a derisive noise while his eyes narrow. “For real? And I’m supposed to believe that?”
I feel a surge of protectiveness as my arm instinctively wraps around Mariah’s waist. “It’s the truth,” I say, meeting Stefan’s glare head-on. “I love your sister. This isn’t a game or a business arrangement anymore.”
Everyone stops speaking, and serious tension fills the room. Stefan scans between Mariah and me, looking for any evidence of dishonesty.
Mariah touches her brother’s arm as she reaches toward him. “Stefan, please. I know you’re trying to protect me, but I don’t need protection from Reuben. He’s a good man. He’s proved that time and again.”
I watch as Stefan’s expression softens slightly at his sister’s words. He exhales heavily while running his hand through his hair. “Mariah, after everything that happened . . . can you blame me for being worried?”
Her head moves from side to side as she smiles slightly. “No, I can’t. But you need to trust me. I’m happy, Stefan. Truly happy.”
Stefan maintains his focus on his sister’s face while time seems to slow because he remains speechless. He glances at me, and his wary look shifts from hostility to something softer. “If you hurt her—”
“I won’t,” I interrupt, my voice firm. “I’d rather die than cause Mariah any pain.”
He slowly nods in understanding, showing signs that he accepts what I say. “Fine. But I’m watching you, Crowley.”
As the room relaxes a little, Mariah breathes relief into the space. “Now that we’ve got that settled, how about some coffee? I think we could all use it.”
Mariah walks toward the kitchen, leaving Stefan and me standing together in uncomfortable silence. I clear my throat in an attempt to break the silence between us. “So, Stefan, Mariah tells me you’re in law enforcement?”
Crowley nods his head, and his body posture starts to loosen. “Detective. Which means I’m very good at spotting liars.”
I meet his gaze steadily. “Then you should know I’m telling the truth about how I feel about your sister.”