“I will take you over my knee, Kate,” he murmurs to her, and Rhys tenses up beside me, but Kate just laughs and leans her head on Eli’s shoulder.
“Right. Except you have this thing against spanking me, so I don’t think that’ll happen.”
Eli’s lips twitch as he buries them in Kate’s hair and kisses her head.
“I don’t mind being spanked,” I add and eat a chip loaded with cheese and beans, just as Eli’s eyes go cold again, pinned on Rhys, who simply laughs beside me.
“I don’t need to know this,” Eli growls.
“It’s not like he leaves marks. Well, they don’t stay for long.”
Kate is laughing like a loon into her hand, Rhys is smiling widely, and Eli looks like he’s about to spit nails.
Or spank me himself.
God, this is fun.
“Gabby,” he says, always in control, “you’re my baby sister. I don’t ever want to hear about any sexual encounter you ever have. In my head, you’re a virgin.”
Rhys snorts, earning a glare from Eli.
“She has a child, Eli. She’s clearly not a virgin.”
“And you should know,” I remind him with an evil smile.
“For the love of fuck,” Eli mutters, scrubbing his hand down his face.
“I’m full,” I report and sit back to pat my belly. “Let’s go handle the dishwasher at the office.”
“Good idea,” Eli says with a sigh. “Before I go to jail for murder.”
***
“I don’t have space for an industrial sized dishwasher,” I say and roll my eyes at my controlling brother. “And I don’t need it. I like the one I picked out.”
“Fine,” Eli replies and shoves his hands in his pockets, the way he always does when he’s agitated. Dad used to do the same thing.
Eli reminds me a lot of Dad.
“Do not send me that huge dishwasher that I don’t want.” I point my finger at my brother, looking up more than a foot. His lips twitch, and then he pulls me in for a big hug.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Love you,” I whisper to him.
“Love you more,” he says. Rhys is with Kate in her office, so I leave Eli and go in search of him.
“Well, hello, gorgeous.”
I glance up at the deep, sexy voice, and smile widely when I see Rich, an old friend from high school.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as he scoops me up into his arms and hugs me, turning a circle before he puts me back down on my feet. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“I’m Kate’s assistant,” he replies, gesturing to Kate’s office, which is only a few feet away. Her door is wide open. “And you look amazing.”
“Thanks. You’re looking good yourself. You haven’t changed a bit.”
And it’s not an empty compliment. Rich looks the same that he did in high school, aside from filling out a bit into his manhood. He always had a killer smile.
“So when are you going to take me up on my offer to take you out to dinner?” he asks with that charming smile of his firmly in place.
“I don’t remember you asking me,” I reply.
“I’m asking now.”
Movement in Kate’s doorway catches my eye. Rhys is leaning against the doorjamb, his arms crossed, listening unapologetically, his eyes hard.
There’s no humor in his face now.
“What do you say?” Rich asks, unaware that Rhys is behind him.
“You do look great, Rich, but I’m going to have to pass.”
“Married?” His face falls, which actually makes me laugh.
“No.”
“Oh.” His face brightens again, and he looks like he’s about to try again when Rhys steps forward.
“She’s not available,” he informs Rich as he slings his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against him.
“I see.” Rich offers us a fake smile. “It was good to see you again, Gabby.”
“You too, Rich.”
He leaves and I frown up at Rhys. “Was that necessary?”
“Yes. Are you ready?”
I nod and he leads me out of the building and to his car, all in silence. What in the hell is his issue? I didn’t say yes to Rich. I mean, I didn’t really have time to say no either, but I would have if Rhys hadn’t interrupted.
The ride home is full of thick, irritated silence. I don’t know who’s more irritated, me or him.
I think it could be me.
I’ve had men slinging testosterone around me my whole life. And this particular man seems to have more than most.
And it’s usually pretty hot.
He pulls into the driveway of the inn, throws the car in park and walks around to my side to help me out, then takes my hand and leads me inside, through the house, to my room.
I kick the door shut behind us and cross my arms over my chest.
“What in the hell was that all about?”
“Do you think that I don’t know what the other day with Cindy was all about?” he asks rather than answer me, and I’m instantly confused. “When she was coming on to me like a dog in heat, I knew you were just outside the room and could hear us. I was sure to tell her, in no uncertain terms, that I wasn’t interested, out of respect for you, and because that’s how I honestly felt.”
He’s advancing on me, moving slowly, but toward me, until my back is against the door and he’s caging me in. His eyes are on fire. His jaw tight.