by Winters, KB
“I can’t wait to see how this all plays out. I’m going to win a thousand bucks and enjoy watching you two fall.” Her grin was so smug that I forgot we weren’t old friends for just a moment.
“Don’t hold your breath, Layla.”
“Fine. If you insist on being a party pooper then let me offer you one piece of advice.”
“I’m listening,” I told her and tucked into the second half of my sandwich, grabbing a few salt & vinegar chips from the bowl between us.
“Listen to Shae. These guys don’t play around when it comes to protecting the people they care about. They are serious as a heart attack about it. The fact that you’re here, in Shae’s house, means that you are one of those people. Listen and he will keep you and your brother safe, I swear it.”
I nodded because I believed Shae would keep us safe until his trouble with the Milanos were over. “That’s the plan.”
Being around Layla was easy. She was funny and self-deprecating, which made it easy to be around her without resenting her beauty. Or her bubbly nature. You’d never know she’d been through everything she’d told me about because she didn’t wear it.
Not the way I did.
***
I’d barely said goodbye to Layla when my phone began to ring in the kitchen, and I ran to grab it. My heart dropped to my gut at the sight of my brother’s smiling face. I hoped nothing was wrong. Again. “Hello?”
“Hey, sis. Turn on the video so you can see my handsome face.”
I smiled and tapped the red camera. “Ian. How are you feeling?”
His face appeared, still bruised but looking much better than the immediate aftermath of the beating. The bruises had begun to fade to that ugly yellow-green color that meant good things but left a reminder of the pain he’d been through. In true Ian fashion, his smile was lopsided and engaging.
“I’m better. The pain’s not too bad, and I think Candace likes me.”
“That’s because you’re a shameless flirt, Ian Anders.” The sound of his laughter was music to my ears. It warmed my heart to see the past week hadn’t hardened him, even if sometimes I wished it would. Just a little.
“Me? Nah, I just appreciate the hard work of all the nurses around here.”
An older woman in purple scrubs ducked into the frame with a sassy smile. “Your brother is the biggest flirt I’ve ever met, honey.” She rolled her deep brown eyes, but her smile was pure affection. Ian had that effect on people. “Don’t you worry. He’s healing up just fine.”
“Yes, I am,” Ian said as he edged his way back into frame.
He was doing so well now but looking at him, healing and laughing, all I could see was him lying in bed. In a coma.
“I’m so sorry this happened, Ian. It’s all my fault. Oh, and a little yours, too. You know. For leaving the hospital, but they wouldn’t have come after you if I hadn’t … sorry.”
Ian and I were close but there was no way I could share the details of my sex life with him.
He stammered, trying hard to find a way to tell me what he thought he had to say. “It’s not your fault, Ivy. It’s the fault of the assholes who gave me the beatdown.”
“You don’t have to say that Ian. I know I messed up and I’m sorry.”
“Just stop, Ivy. Stop. I don’t need you to be sorry. Shit happens. What I need is my sister, the one who laughs so hard she snorts. The nerd who makes sure everyone eats broccoli by sneaking it into mac & cheese. I want you to stop living in fear, Ivy. Stop waiting for bad things to happen and start enjoying the good things. Remember the good things?”
I didn’t really remember any especially good times. I remember times that weren’t terrible, times where I didn’t feel like my life was a constant struggle, and yeah, even times when things felt like they were going to start getting good. Any day now. “I do, Ian. Sure I do.”
“You don’t, do you? You really don’t.” The look of disbelief on his face just about shredded my heart. The humiliation burned.
“I’m sorry, Ivy. I guess you did a better job than I realized of making things good for me. Now I feel like the asshole.”
“You’re not an asshole, Ian. And I’m fine, happy. All I ever wanted was for you to have a good life and now because of my bad decisions you were hurt.”
“Shae is a bad decision? Come on, sis, the guy sent that hulk outside my door around the clock. And I’m sure he’s paying a pretty penny for hulk to be there. How bad can he be?”
I bit my tongue rather than tell him that it was the least Shae could do, considering everything. He didn’t need to know all that.
“Yeah, he’s a nice guy. There are plenty of nice guys who might not make good boyfriends, Ian.”
“Still scared, huh?”
“I’m not scared, it’s called being smart. Shae prefers casual relationships, and I’m not good at those. We want different things.”
I didn’t blame Shae. It was a matter of personal preference, but I needed to get off this topic. Too much about me.
“So what has the doctor been saying about your hospital stay?”
“Another day and I should be out of here. Your boyfriend hinted that I might not be able to stay at home when I’m discharged.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I said automatically. “And I would listen to him when it comes to your safety, Ian. He’s pretty good about protection.”
Even though Layla was totally off on most of her advice, she was right about trusting Shae to keep us safe.
“You trust him with your life but not your heart?” His lips twitched the way they used to when he played a prank on me but couldn’t hold his laughter until the end. “Sounds pretty stupid to me.”
“He feels some responsibility for my life since I saved his. Can’t say the same about my heart.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot, would it?”
“I really don’t want to have this conversation with you, Ian.”
“Come on Ivy, it’s me. You can tell me anything.”
It wasn’t that big of a deal, and if I wanted to change the relationship dynamics with Ian, then I had to start somewhere.
“I was at home working when people my age were out having sex, one night stands and making bad decisions. I was paying bills and making sure my kid brother stayed out of trouble.”
“I remember,” he grumbled angrily.
“All I’m saying is my relationships have been just that, relationships. Not casual flings. I tried it once, and it didn’t work out because I developed feelings for him.”
“Okay. All right. Stop! I’m sorry I asked.”
“Gee thanks, Ian.”
“I’m kidding,” he laughed. “But I hear what you’re saying, and I won’t badger you. But I think you’re wrong about his feelings for you, for what it’s worth.”
“Thanks, Ian. I’m glad to see your ugly mug is looking a little less ugly today.”
He laughed and then coughed before wincing in pain. “Oh shit, don’t make me laugh so hard.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’ll see if one of these nurses can give me a hot sponge bath. Very hot. Super hot.”
“Okay, hanging up now! Love you, bye!”
The last thing I heard was the sound of Ian’s laughter and that sound made me smile. He was going to be okay. Things were going to be okay. And if they weren’t, that was okay too because I would find a way through it.
No matter what. Ian was right about one thing, I’d sacrificed a lot for him and I’d do it again, but I didn’t have to. Which meant it was time for me to start living.
To go after what I wanted. Who I wanted.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Shae
Waking up with my body wrapped around soft feminine curves was the dose of pleasure I needed, especially with the day I had planned. But I didn’t want to think of anything but my hand full of Ivy’s sweet breast and the other gripping her hip. She was warm, emanating heat as she snuggled her ass closer to me.
I breathed her in, getting a deep lungful of rose-scented hair.
“You feel so fucking good first thing in the mornin’, sweetheart,” I murmured into her ear.
My dick grew harder at the guttural purr she let out as she stretched, bringing her ass flush up against me. Then the temptress turned in my arm, nipples brushing against my chest, and she hitched a leg up on my hip, letting my cock feel the wet heat between her thighs. Ivy inhaled deeply and laughed.
“You smell too good this early in the morning, Shae.”
“Too good? Is that even a thing?”
Hands on my chest, Ivy pushed away from me, frowning. “It is when I’ve got morning breath.”
She tried to scramble off the bed but I pulled her close and held her there. “I’ve had my mouth all over you, Ivy. A little morning breath isn’t gonna scare me.”
“It might scare me,” she said, covering her mouth and muffling her words.
I pulled her hand away and kissed her palm.
“Fine,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Good morning, Shae.”
“Morning, Ivy.” By the time I slipped into bed it was well after midnight and she’d been asleep. Not too asleep to let me pull an orgasm from her, but too tired to talk.
“Sleep well?”
“Like the dead,” she purred and pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Did your night … go well?”
“Do you really want to know?”
So far Ivy hadn’t shown herself to be like any of my previous women. She didn’t seem too fascinated or disdainful by my family’s business. If anything, she seemed to ignore it altogether. And she wasn’t the kind of girl to ask for all the details.
“I asked, didn’t I? Did you accomplish your goals?”
My cock jumped at the prissy question. “What a teacherly way to put it, but yeah. It wasn’t the main goal but it was the first step.”
I didn’t know how much to share with Ivy, Strangely, it had nothing to do with trust, which scared the fuck out of me just a little.
“You busted a few kneecaps?”
“No,” I told her seriously, but my lips had a serious tremble to keep from laughing.
“Oh I know, you made some cement boots?” She kicked her feet behind her and twirled them at the ankles.
I rolled my eyes, and she laughed. “Nope.”
“Anybody sleeping with the fishes?”
“Ivy.”
She rolled her eyes as a slow, sexy smile spread across her face. “I’m glad you didn’t get hurt.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course. Did anyone get hurt?”
“No one I give a damn about.”
“Well that is good news, I suppose.”
The fire had been beautiful, and the ensuing chaos was satisfying as hell. In the end, Eamon and I compromised. We set the perimeter of the building on fire after we slashed all the tires on every car in the back lot. Then we sat back and watched those assholes scramble to protect themselves. Not their customers but their own sorry asses. But I wasn’t going to give her any details. She didn’t need to know.
Ivy pulled away, letting the sheet slide down her delectable curves. “As much as I’d like to stay pressed up against you, I need to take a shower and get to the hospital. I’m going to see Ian.”
“I’ll drive you.” After that stunt last night there was no way in hell I would let her out of my sight for even a second. If that meant spending an hour or two back at the hospital, it was worth the peace of mind.
She turned in the doorway between the bedroom and the master bath, giving me a fantastic view of her ass and her sweet smile.
“Careful Shae, I might start to think you care.”
The words were playful, but I heard the ring of truth in every syllable. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I also had no fucking clue what to say to her about it. Or what I even felt about her, if I even felt anything more than want. Need. Deep, dark desire.
“I care deeply about your pleasure, Ivy!” She laughed. As the sound of the shower started, I hopped to my feet. “I’m a real humanitarian. Just watch me coming to your aid.”
When she spoke again it was from inside the shower. “Yeah, how?”
I slid the door open and gave her naked body a long, slow perusal. “I’m going to help you with those hard to reach spots.”
Ivy looked up at me through thick lashes and laughed. It was the sweetest goddamn sound, the same husky sound she made as I drove into her tight pussy again and again as the hot shower rained down on us. She choked my cock as she came all over me, screaming my name in that sweet husky voice.
“Was that spot hard to reach, Shae?”
She laughed again as I pulsed inside her. “Not for me.” I kissed her before she laughed again and we spent the rest of the day inside the fucking shower.
Twenty minutes later we were both dressed and eating part of a big ass sandwich. Ivy looked comfortable in my kitchen, eating while she checked her email on one of her eight million devices. She looked up and licked her lips.
“You don’t have to watch over me, Shae. I’m used to taking care of myself.
“I do have to, and I want to. You’re nice to look at, better than most.”
She flashed a smile that was equal parts skepticism and pleasure and said, “Right back atcha, Irish.”
“Irish?”
“Not your mob name?” she asked innocently, trying hard not to laugh.
“Nope, but you can call me that whenever you’re naked.”
“Deal, but don’t you have something more important to be doing than chauffeuring me to the hospital?”
“I have a few things to take care of, and I will. I never let my business suffer, Ivy.”
No woman had the power to make me forget where my loyalty was and that would always be with my family.
“I understand and respect that sentiment.” She toasted me with her glass of soda before she took a long, slow swig. “My point is that I can go to my house and get my car. That way I can go wherever I want.”
“Ivy, we’ve been over this.”
She rolled her eyes and pushed away from the table. “Yeah, my safety. Fine. Drop me off so I can visit with Ian while you go cobble some cement shoes.”
She tried to run away. but I grabbed her and pulled her onto my lap, fitting her right against my cock until she moaned.
“I don’t cobble shoes, sweetheart. And I will drive you today. And tomorrow and the next day until the Milano threat has been eliminated.”
“Okay.” Her voice softened right along with her body, settling her right where I wanted her. “Be safe, okay?”
“I always am, babe.”
She kissed me hard, sucking my tongue as she ground against me. But then, as much as I enjoyed it, an unsettling feeling grew in my stomach. I didn’t know what it was, but the idea of having someone worry about me was scarier than anything I’d ever faced in the family business.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ivy
“You look different, Sis. Happy. Maybe even like you got laid.”
If snark was an indication of healing, Ian was well on his way to getting out of this place.
“Did you get laid, sis?” Ian persisted with his nosy comments, greeting me with a wide smile from his bed when I entered his hospital room. Fortunately, alone.
I was able to convince Shae that I didn’t need a personal escort into the building filled with doctors, patients and security guards. But he still promised to return later, giving me two hours alone with my brother.
“Maybe it’s because I’ve finally been able to get a full night’s sleep. With no calls from the emergency room telling me something else has gone wrong with my only living family.”
He rolled his blue eyes to the sky and let out the world’s most frustrated sigh. “Right? You get a few hours of sleep and stop worrying about the fate of the world and look what happens. The world is still spinning.”
It was kind of nice, and I didn’t have that overw
helming sense of guilt pressing down on my shoulders like I usually did. “Stranger things have happened, I suppose. How are you feeling?”
“Good enough to complain about shitty hospital food. But you seem to be doing a hell of a lot better than me, so I guess it’s safe to say you’ve reconsidered our conversation last night?”
“How did this conversation turn back to me and my nonexistent love life?” I pushed off the doorway and stepped inside the room littered with greasy paper plates, paper napkins and empty cans, sorta like Ian’s dorm room in college. “Did you have a party here last night?”
“No. Some of the guys from the office came by so I could help beta test some new software. Pizza and soda was involved.”
“Plenty of it, judging by the looks of things.” The place was a mess. “And I guess you expect the nursing staff to clean up after you?”
“Do you know how much they charge for things like aspirin and bed pans? It’s highway robbery, so yeah, they can throw in some housekeeping services.”
I bit my tongue to resist calling him an entitled little prick because he had a point. “Well don’t let the nurses hear you say that or else you might find rubbing alcohol in your next sponge bath.”
Ian laughed and clutched his side, wincing in pain. “Dammit Ivy, don’t make me laugh!”
I took a seat in the gray chair beside the bed. “Any more surgeries scheduled?”
“Nope. Everything is healing nicely and the doctor thinks it’s all thanks to my second round of injuries, twenty-four seven health care, and physical therapy, I’m healing better than anticipated.”
Arms spread wide, Ian was the very picture of a man leading a charmed life. No matter what he did or how risky it was, he came out smelling like roses. If he wasn’t my baby brother I might just hate him for his good luck.
“That’s good to hear. I’m so happy to know you’re going to be all right. Should make it easier for me to remember that I’m your sister and not your parent.”
We’d had parents, good ones who loved us and cared for us. All I could hope was that my mom and dad were proud of the job I’d done.
“You are my parent, Ivy. The best damn one a guy could ever have, but your job is done. It’s time to go back to being my sister. My friend.”