Oh, wait, that’s right.I was close to my former crush who smells like fantasies and dreams, and my brain stopped functioning normally.Sillyme.
When Carver pulled up to my house’s fenced entrance moments later, he punched in the code.Rhett watched with interest as the gate slid open to reveal the well-lit colossus of ahouse.
Carver parked in the garage and opened the door for me to step out.Rhett opened his own door and followed us silently into thehouse.
“Do you require anything else this evening, Ms.Sampson?”
I shook my head.“No, thank you.Have a goodnight.”
Carver retreated to the garage where he stayed in one of the two apartments above the eight-stalled monstrosity.Heath exaggerated when he said this place had seventeen bedrooms.There were only twelve, including the two garageapartments.
“You have changed.Alot.”
Rhett’s voice came from behind me as I walked into the kitchen and dropped my purse on thecounter.
I wrestled with that comment.It was true to a certain extent, but I wasn’t about to get into a drunken introspectivediscussion.
“Maybe.Maybe not,” I answeredsimply.
“Ms.Sampson, is there anything else you require this evening?”Rhett’s attempt at mimicking Carver’s tone came off soundinghollow.
I spun on my heel.“At least I’m taking precautions and not being stupid.Because if I weren’t, I’m sure you’d be lecturing me about my personal safety right nowinstead.”
Surprisingly, a deep chuckle filled the room as Rhett’s whole body shook with laughter.“Fuck, you’re probably right.I’m sorry, Red.It’s been a shit day, topping off a shit week, a shit month, and a shit year.It’s not personal.I’m just beingadick.”
At the worddick, it took everything I had to keep my eyes from dropping to his crotch.Again.
Instead, I plastered a sincere smile on my face.“You get a pass, hotshot.I’msorry.I wish ...I wish none of it had ever happened.I wish I could turn back time and fix it all for you before it wentwrong.”
His chin dropped to his chest, hiding his eyes.He lifted it after a few beats.“I believe you.Out of every person I know, you’re one of the few who would move heaven and earth to save mefromthat.”
For long moments, we both stood frozen in my kitchen, staring at each other.I didn’t know how to respond, but Rhett saved me by turning to survey thehouse.
“So, which of the seventeen bedrooms doIget?”
I knew what I wantedtosay.
Mine.
But we both knew that would neverhappen.
9
Rhett
You’d thinkI would have learned my lesson by now when it came to drinking, but last night it was either tip too many back with my friends, or drown myself alone in shame, regret, and whiskey.There was plenty of time for that, though.I’d be carrying this with me for yearstocome.
I rolled over on crisp white sheets I didn’t recognize, my head pounding and my mouth dry.Where the hellamI?
I cracked open my eyes, hoping like hell there was no stranger beside me, but it was empty.Not even a wild red mane of hair on thepillow.
Where the hell did that thoughtcomefrom?
I knew better than to let myself think about things that would never happen.Ari was so high above me, she might as well be in a differentstratospherenow.
Wait a minute.For as long as I could remember, I’d told myself Ari was off-limits because she was my best friend’s little sister.When had my thinkingchanged?
Last night.When I finally saw her as more than Heath’ssister.