The Sterling Boys (The Sterling Shore Series #3)

by C. M. Owens

  "He didn't mean anything by it," she says in a rasp whisper. "He's just drunk."

  I sigh heavily, making a mental note to kick Kode's ass tomorrow. "What did he do?"

  She hesitates to answer, but she finally releases a ragged breath of concession.

  "He just kissed me. That's all. He's never done it like that before. It took me by surprise, but I was handling it. Maverick overreacted. I was fully prepared to start acting drunk."

  So she didn't want to kiss him? Question marks form. That makes no sense. And drunk? "What do you mean you were going to act drunk?"

  She leans back, and though my body protests the action, I let her slink down to the ground to stand on her own. She looks away, bashful or shameful—I don't know which. Seeing her hair damp from the pool, her dress saturated with water, and the wet trails dripping down to the swell of her breasts, I'm forced to shift to accommodate my growing erection.

  "If he thinks I'm drunk, he backs off. Always. If I'm sober, he's a little too touchy. It's really not a big deal. I need to go check on him. He took a hard hit from Maverick. I also need to check on Corbin and Maverick. Kode always goes down swinging."

  She's worried about them. She won't even look into my eyes right now. I'm going to kick all of their asses for this. How often does this shit happen?

  "Here," Tria says as she rushes in with some towels.

  I take one, but Rain turns away from her sister and me. She drips all over the floor, refusing to accept a towel as she walks out of the room. Stubborn ass. Some things never change, apparently. I mutter a few choice words before calling after her.

  "Rain, dry off. I'd rather not have someone break their neck on my—"

  A loud squeal followed by a thud rings out and interrupts me. I rush through the doorway to see my wet marble floor has just taken down the clumsy girl with too much pride. An array of unladylike words rattle out of her as she wobbles back to her feet and kicks out of her heels, taking a second to curse them as well.

  I bite back a grin, but Tria pouts beside me as Rain resumes her task of stalking away.

  "This was an absolute fail. She wouldn't even take a towel from me," Tria sighs, staring at Rain's back.

  I shrug as I walk toward the glass doors, watching Rain sit down on the edge of the chaise lounge where they've dumped Kode's unconscious ass. Maverick and she have a heated conversation, and he grips his head while glancing toward the pool. Corbin nods at whatever she says next, and then they put my drunk brother over Maverick's shoulder and head down through the beach access, apparently deciding they don't want to come through the house.

  Dale walks toward me, tensing his jaw in true frustration. When he opens the door, his eyes fall to Tria momentarily before coming back to me. "We're taking Rain and Kode home. He's going to crash at her place, since he might have a concussion. She wants to keep an eye on him."

  My hands fist at my sides. "You're kidding, right?" I growl. "Tell them to bring Kode's ass in here. I'll keep an eye on him."

  "Won't work," he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Rain feels like it's her fault that he was knocked out, so she wants to take care of him. It's always the same. One of them is a jerk, and she always takes care of them. They're never going to grow the hell up if she doesn't make them. It's the same with Maverick and Corbin. They treat women like shit, but she simply bats her eyes and gets them more, knowing they're just going to fuck the girl and then fuck her over. I'd stage an intervention, but it would be pointless."

  "He shouldn't be there." I'm pissed that he's even considering leaving my drunk and crazy brother alone with Rain after he apparently tried to force himself on her.

  "Don't look at me like that. Kode's a jerk—especially when drunk—but he wouldn't dare do anything like that. I'd go rip him out of their car right now if I thought he would. You know better than that. He thinks he's clever, but he's really not. It's so obvious what he's doing, but no one else seems to catch on."

  "What do you mean?" I ask, feeling just as oblivious as the others.

  Dale shrugs, seeming as though he's surprised that I don’t know. "He's always had a thing for Rain, and when he's drunk, he uses it as an excuse to try and spark something between them."

  Now that really strikes a chord in me. I shouldn't feel jealous. She didn't want me. Obviously she doesn't want Kode either. She loves fucking with our heads, though. I don't know what I feel toward Kode right now—pissed or empathetic.

  Dale runs a hand through his already disheveled hair, and then he glances around at the mess of water on the floor. "Couldn’t you have let her borrow some of Britt's clothes?"

  His accusatory glare insults me. Does he really think I’m such a jerk that I’d intentionally just send her back outside without a towel and dry clothes? I’d have given her one of my T-shirts if she had let me. I might be pissed at Rain, but I'm not a dick.

  "She ran out of here when I tried to hand her a towel," Tria says, distraught.

  I actually feel bad for her.

  Dale doesn't even acknowledge her. Instead, he turns toward the door. "I'm going to grab Fiona and go. I'll call you later."

  "Yeah," I grumble, frustrated for so many reasons.

  I guess I only thought I was over her. After touching her, feeling her so tightly wound around me... fuck.

  Chapter 4

  RAIN

  I flop down in my guest bed beside Kode as he groans in his sleep. His eye is swollen, his lip is split, and his face is a little bruised. It's fortunate he wasn't hurt worse.

  "I'm sorry, Rain," he mumbles while drawing his arm over his face. "I acted like a total jerk."

  I smile as I slide in closer, and his arms come to wrap around me and draw me against him. This is my Kode.

  "It's fine. I was handling you, but the guys got antsy. You didn't do anything too terrible."

  "Oh?" he muses, sliding his sober hand down to my ass and squeezing. "You saying you enjoyed it?"

  I roll my eyes and swat his hand away, but I'm caught off guard when his lips suddenly crush mine. What. The. Fuck?

  "Kode," I grumble against his lips, but my attempt to talk only allows him access to slip his tongue through my parted lips, and damn does he know how to use it.

  It becomes obvious that he's been awake already, because he has brushed his teeth. And... I can't believe that's what I'm focusing on. My best friend is groping and kissing me, but I'm focused on his breath.

  When he jerks my center to meet his arousal, that's when I snap out of my trance and push him back, feeling a little breathless.

  "Kode, what the hell?"

  He curses to himself while shaking his head. "Damn it, Rain. I'm sick of this. I've been trying since we were thirteen to get you to fucking see me the way I see you, but it's like... it's like you're incapable of viewing me as anything more than the kid I once was."

  Saying I'm taken aback would be laughable. Kode has always been extra sweet to me, but... this? How do I respond to this?

  "Kode, I—"

  "You what, Rain? You're sorry but you don't feel that way? You can't help but think of me as just a friend?"

  I swallow hard as he climbs out of bed. A few tears start to slip free, but I wipe them away as quickly as they're shed.

  "Please don't do this. We're friends, Kode. Best friends. I don't want to lose—"

  "I need to go," he interrupts, keeping his back to me.

  I pull my knees to my chest, too scared and shocked to say another word as he stalks through the bedroom doorway. Within seconds, I hear the hard slam of the front door. I'd offer him a ride, but I'm guessing that would be refused right now.

  I shouldn't have ever gone to that party. I shouldn't have ever moved back here.

  "Please come get us," Maverick whines through the phone.

  It's already three in the morning, and I have a doctor's appointment at eight. There's no way I'm driving two towns over to haul their asses out of jail... again.

  "Call Dane or Dale," I mumble.
/>
  I refuse to say Kode, considering no one has heard from him since he stormed out of my house almost three days ago. I can't think about that right now. Knowing I've lost my best friend is painful enough. At least now I understand Dane's side.

  He didn't feel the same about me. Albeit, he handled it even worse than I did. I still understand, though. I put him in a terrible situation where no one was a winner. His calls after that letter were just awkward, because neither of us knew what to say or do.

  "I think they must still be on their double-date, because neither one of them is answering. Please come, Rain."

  I roll my eyes. I almost forgot it was the big Friday night dinner. Of course Fiona prefers the rich, spoiled brat over me. Whoa. Wait. Dane on a date? I thought they were just friends.

  Ignoring the pang of jealously—okay, bit more than a mere pang—I focus on the two Sterlings at hand.

  "Fine," I mutter. "I need to get dressed. I'll be there as fast as I can."

  "Corbin, she's coming!"

  "The next time the two of you feel like golfing, wait until the course is open," I grumble while wearily climbing out of bed. "And you owe me. Again."

  Maverick chuckles as Corbin sings my praises from afar. "Cash in anytime, Rain. Now get your pretty little ass down here and get us out. I don't like the way this guy in the cell with us keeps checking out my pretty little ass."

  I giggle loudly while grabbing some clothes, and then I hang up. At least he managed to wake me up from a terrible dream. I just hope that dream doesn't come true later on.

  Maverick and Corbin were both still passed out on my couch when I left for my doctor's appointment. Coincidentally, I scheduled the appointment in the same town the two of them were arrested.

  My phone rings as I await my results, and I juggle it out of my purse, fumbling it around a few times before finally getting a good grip on it.

  "Hey," I answer, not bothering to look at who's calling.

  "Where're you at?" Maverick asks, seeming sober and happy.

  "Ridgewood. I had to fill out some more paperwork for you guys," I lie.

  I need to mix truth with lies in case he needs me to meet him somewhere. I can't say I'm close by and not be able to back it up. I also can't let them know why I'm here.

  "Shit. Sorry, Rain. Corbin and I will meet you there, and we'll grab something to eat. My treat."

  "No," I blurt out, feeling my body flush.

  "Yes," he rebuts. "We have to pick up Corbin’s car from the parking garage there anyhow. We're on our way. Chill out. We'll behave. Besides, the golf course is open now."

  I half laugh, but what if they get here before I'm done? A doctor's office is fickle on how long it takes them to finish.ba

  "Um... fine, but meet me at the restaurant."

  "You sound... edgy. You only sound edgy when you're doing something shady. You had so better not be flirting with that dickhead cop."

  I burst out laughing as I think back to Officer Charming who was more than obvious in his attraction to me. I was starting to worry Corbin and Maverick were going to end up back in jail if I didn't get them out of there.

  "I'm not—" The doctor walks in, and my eyes grow wide. "I have to go. Jupiter's restaurant. I'll meet you there. Send me a text when you're close."

  I hang up before he can say more and before the doctor can say anything in front of him. But apparently the doctor isn't in any hurry to say anything at all.

  I hate stoic people. They never give you any warning of what news is to come, and this doctor has the best poker face ever.

  "Well?" I ask, smiling and staying hopeful.

  The harsh breath he lets out says more to me than anything he can voice. My smile falls and tears threaten to slip out, but I restrain them.

  "There are two spots, Rain. We have to do the hysterectomy."

  I was wrong. Saying it aloud is worse than knowing it without words. The tears start to fall, and a nurse comes in carrying a box of tissues. I jerk several free and start wiping my face as they stare expectantly at me. When no words leave me, the doctor continues.

  "You knew this day might come. I know it doesn't make it any easier, but I'm sure you felt the same way when you had to have the double mastectomy. This won't be as bad as that. This is all internal. We'll do it laparoscopic and the small area most likely won't even scar."

  My world falls apart in front of me. All my dreams... they suddenly don't exist.

  "Having my breasts removed was easier because I could replace them. This... I could still have children without my breasts." My voice breaks, and I look up. The doctor's stoic face dissolves into a kind, pitying expression that I hate.

  It's like I can't catch a break.

  "Are you pissed at us or what?" Maverick asks as I push the food around on the plate, trying to make it look as though I've eaten something.

  "No. I'm just tired," I lie, forcing a smile, and amazingly I hold back the parade of tears that are beating against the backs of my eyes.

  "Rain, you've been acting... weird since we got here. Is this about Kode? He called today. He said he just needs some time to get his head straight."

  My lip trembles at the mention of Kode. I won't ever have the same relationship with him. Never again. I just pray it isn't as bad as Dane and me.

  "Like I said... just tired. Can we get out of here?" I ask while lifting my eyes to meet theirs.

  Corbin frowns with Maverick as they both study me. After five minutes of silent gawking, I start feeling like a defective science project. Then Maverick’s face splits into a grin while he ignores my last question.

  "Thanks for bailing us out."

  I shrug and look back down to my plate. "That's what friends are for."

  "I'll return the favor one day. The next time you get arrested, I'll come bail you out. Promise."

  His attempt to make me smile has worked. I snort while shaking my head. "I've never been arrested, so you can't say next time. And I'll never be arrested because I'm not some idiot willing to break into a closed facility."

  "Ouch," Corbin jokes, rubbing his hand over his heart. "Idiot?"

  I smile and nod, which makes both of them laugh. Maverick stands when he feels he's successfully made me happy again, though nothing could be further from the truth.

  "I'll go find our waitress and pay the tab. Make sure she eats at least a little more while I grab that one's number," he says to Corbin while pointing toward a redhead at the bar.

  "Got it," Corbin says, grinning while I roll my eyes.

  "Incorrigible mongrel," I mumble, earning a chuckle from Corbin.

  Just as Maverick gets entangled at the bar, I spot a familiar face in the arms of the wrong man. My eyes widen when her lips press to his, and before I know what I'm doing, I stand up, ready to tear Fiona's head off.

  Corbin follows my gaze and his eyes widen to match mine. "Not here, Rain," he says, standing and trying to tug at my hand, but I rip free, determined to call her every name in the book and humiliate her in the restaurant.

  "Rain," he cautions, but when I don't halt, he grabs me at the waist, and pulls me up just high enough to keep my feet from touching the floor.

  "Put me down," I hiss, but he shakes his head while carrying me away.

  I don't know if it's because my world ended this morning, or the fact I just lost my best friend, or if it has something to do with the guy I loved suddenly enjoying being with my devil-spawned sister, but I snap. No—it's more than a snap. I go bat-shit crazy.

  Corbin isn't as well-versed with handling me as Maverick, and he makes one major mistake. Holding me like this gives me so many access points. I grab a handful of sensitive flesh between his legs, catching him by surprise. A startled gasp and a painful cry rings out as I twist hard and bring him to his knees.

  The second he drops his grip on me, I charge through the restaurant like a bull seeing red. The fear on her face registers before the shock, and within seconds, I'm sliding across her table like it's home-plate; y
elling like Xena the warrior princess as she goes to battle; and taking her down like I'm Mike Tyson. Well, maybe not Tyson, but I'm pulling her hair and slinging her head around like a pro.

  She screams and gasps, still stunned by my sudden attack.

  "Fuck," spews out of Maverick's mouth, but I don't see him until he's punching Fiona's piece of shit date.

  Tables crash to the ground, glass shatters, and screams resound through the restaurant, but my attention stays focused on bitch-slapping the hell out of Dale's cheating fiancée. At least until I hear the first whoop of the siren. Damn it.

  Chapter 5

  DANE

  I'm going to fucking kill them if they don't stop texting me. I already told them I'd be in and out of meetings all day. That's why I ignored their sorry asses last night. I should have called and told Rain to ignore them, too. A night in jail would have served them right.

  I huff as I finally read one of the texts, and I can't help but burst out laughing.

  Maverick: Hey, Jerkoff! Rain is in here too, so come get us now!

  How the hell did they get Rain in trouble? Rain in jail? That's fucking hilarious. Little Miss Does No Wrong is stuck in a holding cell, praying for someone to come rescue her. Not me. I think it's about time the three of them grow up. My phone goes off again, and I glance down.

  Maverick: She's hurt. She has stitches on her forehead, and a jail cell isn't good for wounds. Too many germs.

  Fuck. What the hell did they do to her? My phone buzzes again as I excuse myself from the meeting.

  Maverick: Cop just found my phone. Fuck.

  Then I get another text from a Sterling I wasn’t expecting to hear from.

  Dale: Go get them. I'll fill you in later. This one is on me.

  He was the one saying the guys and Rain needed to stop being so fucking childish. I'll kick some asses for this. I swear. When the hell are they ever going to grow up, and when will Rain learn to simply say no? It's a simple, one-syllable word.