by Jenna Gunn
Fifteen minutes later, I use one hand to slide the keycard in the door, and the other to balance a coffee and juice on a cardboard tray that’s topped with a bag of fresh croissants from the French bakery.
Raven’s sitting up in the bed with a worried look on her face when I walk in. “Hey,” I say, feeling my brows creasing together. ‘What’s wrong?”
“Besides the fact that I’m worried for both of us, I feel rotten.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I place the breakfast on the nightstand. Her skin feels cool when I touch her forehead with the back of my hand. “Are you exhausted?”
She nods. “And I was super queasy just a minute ago, but I’m feeling a little better now.”
“Can I get you something?”
“Just you. Come here.” She hooks a hand around my arm and pulls me toward her. She pulls me down, wraps her arms around me, and rests her cheek on the top of my head. “Was anyone around when you got there?”
“A woman and a weird looking poodle. But they didn’t even look my way. Where is your car, by the way?”
“At home. I took an Uber. Thought I might have some drinks.”
“Did you? Are you hungover?”
“I didn’t feel like drinking, and once I got a glass of wine, I left it untouched. For some reason, it just didn’t appeal to me.”
Laughing, I add, “Well, I drank enough for both of us.”
“Are you hungover?”
“It takes a lot more than that to give me a hangover.”
Raven’s soft laugh rumbles beneath my cheek. “Maybe I have a sex hangover.”
Burrowing my hand under the sheet, I find her leg. “You were flying pretty high last night. Coming back to earth could hurt.”
She drags her fingers through my hair and laughs again. “No kidding.”
“Are you up for anything to eat or drink? I remembered you don’t like coffee.”
I feel her smile against the top of my head. “Maybe. I guess I’ll try.”
Suddenly, I feel very domestic as I set out breakfast. How long has it been since I’ve been in a domestic kind of thing?
Years.
Holly, the heart wrecking cheater, was my last real girlfriend.
“What are you thinking about? Your face looks like you just ate a lemon.”
Rolling my eyes, I grunt, “Pretty much.” Popping the lid off my coffee, I take a test sip. Maybe coffee can drown out the lemon. “I just remembered my very ex, ex, ex-girlfriend.”
“Ooo. That will do it. How long ago?”
Embarrassed, I murmur, “Seven years.”
Her eyes bulge. “Seven years since what?”
The coffee is still hot as fuck but easier to swallow than the fact that I haven’t gotten involved with anyone in seven years.
Raven’s dark blue eyes watch me, curious.
I finally cave. “Since I was serious with someone.”
Her teeth bite into her lip, and she reaches for a croissant. “No wonder you’re so pent up.”
Sputtering, I clarify, “Not since I got laid. Jeez.”
She laughs. “Ah. I thought those rumors really are off.”
Plucking a piece off her pastry, I level a heated look at her. “Did my performance make you think it had been that long?”
She grins. “So, back to this lemon-face-making ex-girlfriend. Care to spill? Earlier, in a fit of anger, you mentioned getting your heart stomped—the fact that you don’t get involved. Is she one and the same?”
Playing twenty questions about my ex—last thing I want to do.
I feel my face harden. “Yes. And it is not open for discussion.”
A spark of anger flares in her eyes, but she lets it go. “Okay, fair enough. We can talk about more current issues. How are we going to manage this secret boss with benefits thing?”
“Boss with benefits…” I mimic her, my jaw dropping.
“Sure, you know, like friends with benefits but with a lot more headaches.”
Popping up off the bed, I pace across the room. “You sure know how to make a man prickly.”
She nibbles the croissant then takes a sip off her orange juice. “It’s true, I know we’re not getting involved. We’re having sex.”
I dash my hand through my hair. Is that what’s happening?
“We…” I can’t think of a single thing to say.
Downing another drink of coffee, I pray for stable footing.
I finally manage. “At work, we’re all business. No signs of involvement.”
She tsks her tongue against her teeth. “Involvement. Such a clinical word.”
“Okay, no signs of fucking. Do you like that better?”
“It’s a more accurate word.”
Damn woman.
“Fine, we’ll be all business at work. No indication we’re fucking.” Grumbling, I walk over and snatch up the other pastry.
“I don’t have money to help. That makes me feel weird,” she states flatly.
“I already told you, I’ve got the money. My house is paid for, and I don’t have many expenses. It’s not a problem.”
“You’re lucky, you know. I wish I were in the position to have a house that’s paid for, much less a house.”
From across the room, I watch her. Her eyes are suddenly heavy and distant. The need to comfort her pushes me to say something. “I’m sure you will.”
Setting her food and drink down on the table, she rises from the bed. “That’s why this is the worst idea ever.” My eyes follow her naked curves as she walks away. The bathroom door closes just a little too hard to be accidental.
When Raven finishes her shower, I’m standing outside the door, leaning on the wall, waiting. Her eyes land on me as soon as she opens the wooden slab.
“You make me crazy,” I growl as I grab her.
She squeaks, holding onto the towel around her hair with one hand, and the one around her boobs with the other.
“I must be nuts too,” she grumbles.
‘Guess we’ll have to be crazy together.”
She tries to wiggle free. “We’ve already proven that.”
“Hold on now.”
“For what? You’re done. I’m sore. No more.”
Laughing, I wrap her up tighter in my arms. “So, I left my mark on you?”
“Men…always worrying about their mark.”
“Hey, it’s primitive. What can I say?”
“Back off, buster. I’m not letting you near my sensitive parts.”
I let her slide from my arms but make a final grab for the towel. It unravels from her body, leaving her naked as she runs off.
“Oh! You!” she growls. “Give that back.”
“I’ll trade you.”
“No deal. I know you don’t play fair.”
Stalking toward her, I dangle the towel.
With her hands on her hips, she tosses up her chin. “There’s more where they come from. I don’t have to play along.”
“Oh, come on. Where’s the fun in that? Just a kiss. That’s all I wanted.”
“Kiss? Why would you want that?”
“Because your lips are like candy.”
She rolls her eyes.
“Because your kiss is like a drug.”
“Pfft, that’s old hat. You got nothin’ better?” She sounds adorable with that little twang when she says “nothin’,” which comes out a lot like nahw-thin.
Back to the business of getting another go at that sassy mouth of hers. “Because kissing you reminds me of all the dirty things we do.”
Her mouth tips up in a grin. “Getting better.”
Frowning, I tease, “You’re a hard sell.”
“I thought I was, but your panty-melting voice sure got me on that train.”
Laughter bursts out of me. “Panty-melting voice. I’ve never heard that one before. That gets you some points. Okay, how about this one? Because your delicious mouth is the fantasy of my every waking moment.”
She takes a step towar
d me, then another. “Oh, alright. I guess.” Then before I can react, she plants a quick smack on my lips and yanks the towel out of my grasp.
Her laugh is loud as she scurries back to the bed. “You know what I think we should do?”
Oh dear. I can’t imagine what she’s going to say.
Patting the bed next to her, she says, “Take a nap. I’m going back to sleep. Are you?”
“I just drank coffee.”
She grins. “See why I don’t drink coffee?”
Peeling my shirt off, I drop it on the floor. My pants follow. Her eyes watch as they slide down.
“Maybe you should leave those on.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be a gentleman.”
She quirks a brow. “Really? Because nothing about you is gentle.”
Determined to prove her wrong, I crawl into the bed.
Checkout time comes far too soon, even with the hour extension.
But the upside is I feel almost light as I ride the elevator down.
I have no clue what will happen, but we’ve agreed to try to meet up again. Soon.
When the doors open to the lobby, I’m met with a throng of people in business clothes. Shit, the Hilton is busy for a Saturday afternoon.
“Captain Archer!”
Great. Just damned great. I can’t go anywhere in this town without seeing someone who knows my name. So, do I look, or do I ignore them and get my ass out of here?
“Captain Archer, hey.”
Councilman Ingram. Fuck.
I’d rather see a news mic in my face.
This is bad. Did he see Raven too?
No, she’s been gone too long. We were careful.
The man clasps my hand and narrows his beady eyes on me. “I didn’t get to talk to you at the banquet last night.”
“Yeah, there were a lot of people,” I glare right back.
“How’s it going with the new recruit?”
“Fine. As you saw last night, she’s an excellent candidate.”
The man studies me for a second. “So, what brings you here?”
Red lights start flashing in my brain: DANGER, DANGER.
“I’m doing some remodeling at my place right now.”
It’s not a complete lie. I’m always doing some work at my place. Right now, it’s painting the half-bath, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“I see, well, I should be going. The meeting starts soon.”
“Yeah, I’ve got to get on that project.”
Ingram backs up, looks over my probably rumpled suit for a second then pivots and falls into a stream of people flowing toward a ballroom.
I’ve never liked the jerk.
Always eyeing me when we are in meetings. I saw him last night but stayed far away. Not only is the dude strange, his wife always makes weird googly eyes at me when she’s at county functions.
When I walk out, Raven’s blue dress catches my eye instantly. My heart stutters to a standstill.
She’s off to the side of the driveway, standing by a set of palms.
Something must have happened with her ride.
Glancing up, she raises her hands in a shrug. I have to walk right by her as my truck is just on the other side of where she’s standing.
“They’re late,” she huffs as I walk up.
Before I can speak, a car whips up to the curb.
“Finally!”
She jumps into the back seat and waves at me from the rear window of the little Ford. I just nod as I watch them zip away, my gut filled with ice-cold worry.
23
Chapter 23
The little bell over the door in Beach Vibes jingles as I step inside on Sunday morning. Maddy is hustling around serving coffee and something super sweet. The smell hits me like a wall.
The mix of smells sends a queasy wave through me.
Taking a couple of breaths, I try to regroup.
As her last customer leaves, Maddy throws me one of her big smiles. “Hey! I’ve been thinking about you. I’ve been dying to know how your night went.”
I hold up the dry cleaning bag from the little same-day dry cleaner in town. “The dress was perfect. I think he loved it.”
“Oh, boy! I knew he would. So spill it, girl. I couldn’t find you when I left.”
“Uh, yeah. I took a walk. Needed some air.”
Maddy grins, a knowing glimmer in her eyes. “Bryce Archer stealing all the oxygen? I saw the way he was watching you. A man could burn down a house with that look.”
My face flashes with heat. “He’s intense sometimes.”
“He’s on fire for you.”
I fan myself. “I think you’re right. But everything about this is wrong.”
Maddy tosses a heart-shaped chocolate wrapped in red foil at me. “Mhmmm.”
Before I say something dumb, I shove the confection in my mouth.
“Brandon asked if I’d seen you guys near the end of the night.”
I wheeze and cough.
A hunk of chocolate almost chokes me to death.
Oh shit. Brandon, the twin, might already be onto us.
My eyes feel like saucers in front of my face. “What did you say to him?”
“I told him I’d just seen you a moment ago. Which was kinda the truth.”
“Thank you. I owe you.”
“I’ll collect big one day, don’t you worry. Hey, I wanted to tell you that you were great up there speaking to everyone. Super impressed.”
Leaning on the counter, I watch her straighten up the napkins and coffee stir sticks. “I don’t mind that kind of thing so much, I guess. How was your night?”
“Oh, the desserts were a hit. I had fun,” she chuckles. “Well, as much fun as one can at that kind of thing. I rather go to a party where there’s dancing.”
I can just picture her all wild and free on the dance floor, blonde hair flying about.
“Did you talk to Christian?”
Her face lights up. “Of course. I delivered a special box of cookies just for him and told him I didn’t want him to miss out in case everyone grabbed them first.”
“Wow, that’s the royal treatment.”
Maddy rolls her eyes and waves her hand in the air. “He’s oblivious.”
“He’s a fool then.”
“Well, aren’t they all?”
We share a laugh.
The door chime interrupts us, and we try to quell the giggles.
I nearly fall over in a dead faint amidst the racks of sunglasses and sunscreen. It’s Bryce and Christian Archer.
Damn.
As I grip the edge of the counter to keep myself upright, I watch Maddy make a quick pivot and fly toward the kitchen.
Gee, thanks!
I nod hello and try to make my voice steady when I say, “Good morning.” I’m pretty sure I sounded like a frog that’s just warming up for its song.
Christian looks me over. “Ms. Carson, nice work on Friday evening.” He glances at the dress folded over the counter in its clear plastic bag.
Answering the look on his face, I comment, “Returning the dress I borrowed.”
Christian raises a brow but looks totally unimpressed.
My paralyzing fear begins to ease a little. I’m pretty sure this man would not be making idle chit chat if he was furious at me.
From the other side of his brother, Bryce murmurs, “Morning, Carson.” He pointedly looks everywhere but me and even picks up a menu and pretends to study it.
Awkward much?
Maddy comes bursting through the beaded curtain, sending the bright colored bits of plastic clattering. Now I know why she ran. She looks all fresh, her stray curls are tamed, and her pink lips sparkle with fresh gloss.
With a smile like sunshine, she greets the guys, “Gentlemen, so nice of you to come in.”
“Here you go, Raven,” she pushes over a neatly folded brown bag containing something I didn’t order. “One breakfast sandwich and a brownie for later.”
Ah, her excuse f
or leaving a second ago. I play along.
“Great.” I start to pull out my debit card, but she stops me.
She winks and says, “This one’s on me. A celebration for your big speech on Friday.”
“Gosh, that’s awfully nice but not necessary. Thanks again for the loan on the dress.”
Christian watches the whole encounter, and I feel his gaze drilling into me. If Bryce’s eyes could burn down a house, I’m pretty sure his brother could freeze one to solid ice.
Grabbing up the bag, I scurry out the door.
The walk to the station house takes me no time, pretty much because I’m sprinting. The idea of Bryce and Christian catching up with me propels me forward at breakneck speed. When I get inside, my gut is still filled with cold dread. Why were they together?
They didn’t look too weird, though. No black eyes. No bulging neck veins. No angry stares.
Christian actually seemed about as neutral as I’ve ever seen him.
As I climb the stairs to the observation deck, I feel uncertain about the day ahead. The only thing I know is that my assignment is up top today, in the station penthouse, keeping an eye on the bigger view of the beach and ocean.
Kate, one of the only other women on the force, will be my companion, and Brandon will be there too. All I hope is that Bryce stays far, far away.
I find the observation room empty and sigh my relief. As I stash the sandwich in the fridge, I consider eating the brownie because I need some extra oomph.
Not exactly my style to kick off the day with a double hit of chocolate, but what the hey, nothing about life is normal right now.
My workday soon ramps up, and Kate and Brandon join me. Working in the observation room is interesting. The beachgoers and lifeguards below buzz about like bees. The morning sun is bright as we look toward the water, and there’s a sense of determined focus in the room. It’s a nice change from beach duty where you often engage with beach visitors.
I truthfully like it all.
As I sit down in the breakroom for lunch, I say a little thank you for having an uneventful morning. Nothing dramatic happening on the beach. Nothing dramatic happening with Bryce.
Brandon turned out to be quite a lot different from his twin. At least, at first glance, he’s less prickly, more relaxed, quieter, and philosophical in some ways.