Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
To the surprise of no one who knows the effect my mother has on her husband, he listens. He draws a deep breath and lets it out. There’s a reason we call her the Ian Whisperer.
“Good.” She looks at me and winks. “I’m sure Rainey has things under control. Right, Rainey?”
I nod. “Right. I told him Lucas and I are handling things.” If Dad knows about Lucas, I have no doubt he told Mom, who pretended she didn’t already know.
“See? They’re handling things,” Mom says. She glances at the table and narrows her gaze. “You’re drinking coffee, Ian? Is it regular or decaf?”
“I made it and it’s regular. Why would Dad need decaf?” I ask, suddenly worried about my father.
Dad shakes his head. “Riley, we agreed to keep that quiet!”
Mom winces. “Sorry. I slipped. Your father has high blood pressure, but he’s on medication and he’s fine. But he’s calmer without the caffeine.”
“Dad! We need to know these things. Do my brothers know?” I ask.
“No!” my parents say at the same time.
Well, that’s good. At least I’m not the only one in the dark. “Dad, no more caffeine for you.” I pick up his mug, walk to the sink, and dump out the contents, then rinse it with water.
Dad looks at me, a small smile on his face, then turns and gives Mom the same half grin. “You two. My head is spinning. And, Riley, you didn’t react to the news about Adam, which means… you knew.”
“I knew,” she admits. “But this is why we didn’t tell you. You’re upset and we didn’t want you to…”
“Get all protective,” I say. “I knew you’d be angry that I’m dealing with him, but the museum exhibit for the team is an amazing idea, so it was the right thing to do. It’s not my fault Adam is the curator. Besides, Lucas was the go-between. Everything’s fine. I might have gotten Adam fired for being a disrespectful, rude jerk, but other than that, it’s all good.” I spread my hands out in front of me. “See? Handled.”
Dad turns to my mother. “Why did we have so many children?”
“Because you like sex,” Mom says without flinching.
I cringe. “That’s it. I’m leaving!” My parents have always been overly affectionate and that hasn’t changed. Mom is in Dad’s arms right now. “I don’t want to hear about my parents having sex!” I step over to them, and Mom separates from Dad so I can give him a hug. “Thank you for what you said about Lucas,” I tell him.
“I never say what I don’t mean. I love you, princess. I only want the best for you. As for you and Lucas, I’m fine, but good luck with Jack.”
Dad winks at me and I let out an ARGH sound, throwing my hands up in the air. “Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! I love you both!” I say, rinsing out my own coffee mug before picking up my bag and walking out the kitchen door my mom entered through.
I pause, my hand on the doorknob. “Do you happen to know if Jack is back, and if so, where is he?”
“He called when he landed. And if I had to guess, he went straight to see Lucas.”
I groan and rush out of their house and over to my car. Next stop? Lucas’s apartment.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Lucas
I’m standing in my bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist when my phone buzzes. I glance down at the text from the front desk.
Jack Dare is here to see me.
“Fuck.” I message back to let him in. Then, I run a towel over my hair, change into a pair of track pants, and walk out to meet him.
I can’t say I’m surprised by the visit. Ever since Hudson caught Rainey and me kissing in the storage room, I’ve been expecting a text, a call, or for him to drop by after he arrived back in Miami. Apparently, he had an early flight.
A loud knock sounds on my door, and I open it to let him in.
Jack looks me over from my bare feet, up past my pants, to my exposed chest, and scowls. “Where is she?” Jack storms past me into my apartment.
“She’s not here.” No way will I play dumb with my best friend. “Sit down and we’ll talk.”
Next thing I know, he swings, his fist connecting with my jaw. “That’s for breaking bro code,” he mutters.
“And that’s the only free one you get.” I rub my throbbing jaw. “Now sit the fuck down and let’s discuss things like civilized people.”
Jack’s frown deepens. “My sister? Really? And you’re making out with her in a storage closet like she’s not worth—”
“Do not finish that sentence,” I warn him. Without another word, I turn my back to him and head into the great room off the kitchen. I take a seat in a club chair and wait for him to do the same. Hopefully across the room from me.