That earned me a weak laugh. I swung open the door. “What—” I demanded, stopping when I saw Sterling standing there, a bottle of wine in her hand.
She pushed the wine at me and headed straight for Daisy. “Daisy needs a glass of that. It's her favorite.”
I grabbed the opener from the mini-kitchenette Savannah had set up in the corner of my suite. It wasn't much, but it covered the basics—a tiny fridge, single-serve coffee maker, basket of snacks, and two wine glasses with an opener.
Sterling dropped onto the sofa beside Daisy and pulled her into an extravagant hug. “I heard what happened from Hope. I always thought your Grams was cool, but—” Sterling shook her head. “She must have lost her mind. And your dad sucks. And speaking of people who suck—”
Sterling looked to me. “I stole that bottle from Bryce's room after he stole it from the wine cellar. I told Savannah she's going to have to lock the wine cellar or the best bottles are going to end up on some auction site. Forrest is okay, by the way,” she added with a half-glare in my direction. “Not that you asked.”
“I didn't ask because I don't want to know why you care. Or why you were having lunch with him. Stay away from my CFO, Sterling.”
Sterling tossed her golden hair over her shoulder and gave Daisy a look that clearly said older brothers were annoying and not to be obeyed. I rolled my eyes and Daisy let out another weak laugh.
Just as I was wondering how to eject Sterling without being a dick, she rose after giving Daisy a long, tight hug. “Everything will be okay. Have a glass of wine. Or three. Eat those caramels Hope brought you, and get some sleep. Things will work out. I promise.”
Sterling was gone in a wave of sweet, floral perfume, closing the door quietly behind her. Daisy took the wine glass I handed her and sipped. “How did she know this is my favorite wine?”
“Sterling pays attention when she wants to. And she likes you.”
Daisy sniffed back a tear and sipped her wine again. “I'm so tired,” she said, the words slipping out on a sigh of exhaustion. “I want to go to sleep and find out tomorrow that this was all a dream.”
Another knock interrupted before I could answer. All this moral support was nice, but it wouldn't kill the rest of them to give us a few minutes of quiet. Savannah was at the door, a rolling cart in front of her laden with covered dishes.
“Did that cart come from The Inn?” I asked, stepping back to let her pass me.
Savannah looked over her shoulder. “Maybe. You'd have to ask Mom. It was in the storage rooms when I got here. But don't get used to room service. I don't have enough staff for that.”
Daisy glanced up, her eyes wet again. “Thanks, Savannah. I'm just feeling a little raw. I didn't want to see everyone else.”
Savannah gave her a brief hug before setting up the table. “Don't worry about it. Have a good dinner and get some sleep. Things will look better in the morning. No one else will bother you tonight.”
No one else did. Daisy ate every bite of her dinner, only wincing a little over the limp salad. At least dessert was good—to be expected considering it was one of hers. Savannah must have picked it up in town since I knew Daisy hadn't brought it herself.
Her stomach full, Daisy's eyes were drooping. It was still early, even for Daisy, but bed was the best place for both of us. I closed my fingers around hers and pulled her up, my hands going straight to the hem of her shirt.
“We can just go to sleep,” I murmured against her neck, meaning every word. I could live without sex if she just wasn't in the mood. And after the day she'd had, I wasn't expecting her to want anything but rest.
I was wrong.
Daisy's hands went to my shirt, pulling it free of my pants, her busy hands sliding over my back before going to work on the buttons.
“I want to go to sleep.” She licked across my collarbone, her mouth pausing against my neck to give a sharp little suck. “After.”
“After works for me,” I agreed. I had her naked in a blink, every inch of her soft skin bared for me to worship. I kissed, stroked, touched until she'd forgotten her miserable day and was writhing on the bed, begging me for more.
She could have more. Daisy could have everything I had to give and beyond. I'd do anything to make her happy. Anything. As Daisy came apart in my arms, I followed her, the brilliant flash of pleasure blanking out my mind.
I had no idea what was coming. No clue that while I thought I had everything under control, things were about to get a whole lot worse.