After the door closes, I cautiously peek at Willow. She’s staring at the door her brother just exited with a thoughtful look on her face.
“Penny for your thoughts,” I say with a nervous laugh.
She eyes the door for another long moment before shaking her head and sending me a vague smile. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say my brother was smitten with you.”
“It’s just sex,” I say dismissively, realizing it came out automatically and without thought. I’ve already steeled myself to think of this as casual and nothing more, initiating a protective mode over my heart.
“I don’t know,” Willow says slowly.
“Well, I do,” I counter, then reach out to touch her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay with that part of things? I didn’t mean for it to happen. He didn’t either. The first time, alcohol was involved and—”
Willow stops me by putting her hands on my shoulders. “It’s fine, Regan. You’re an adult, and well… Dax can act like one sometimes, so there’s that. It’s none of my business. I just don’t want either of you to get hurt.”
“We won’t,” I assure her. “We love each other. In a friendly way, I mean. Our bond is too tight to mess up, and we’re both aware there are boundaries, so it’s good. I promise.”
Willow’s smile conveys understanding and acceptance, but there’s no hiding the slight tinge of worry that’s still there.
The doorbell rings, and I immediately start for it. When I open the door, I’m blinking at a huge bouquet of white roses.
“Delivery for Miss Willow Monahan,” the man behind the large vase says.
“Oh, wow,” I say as I take them from him. “Thank you.”
I turn, cross the threshold, and kick the door closed since it takes two hands to carefully hold the huge arrangement. I can barely see where I’m walking, so I guess my way back to the kitchen and put them on the table.
Willow stares at them with wide eyes. “I didn’t think Dax had it in him.”
“He doesn’t,” I say with a grin. “They’re for you.”
“What?” she exclaims in disbelief as she strides to the table. She snatches the envelope tucked in among the blooms out and removes the card. While she scans the words, her lips curve slightly upward as she shakes her head.
“Who are they from?” I ask breathlessly. I’ve never seen that many roses. There has to be three, maybe four, dozen.
“Dominik Carlson,” she says flippantly. She hands me the card to read.
Last night was incredible. Please come to L.A. with me next weekend.
My mouth hanging open in shock, I say, “Last night was incredible? What did y’all do?”
“What didn’t we do is the question,” she says with a saucy smile. “God, that man has it going on between the sheets.”
“You slept with him?” I ask, aghast at her naughtiness. “But you only just met him.”
Willow shoots me a look that tells me to grow up. “Regan… love… you will one day learn that sex is awesome, and it’s totally okay to occasionally engage in casual affairs. I know you can’t see that right now, but I’m comfortable with the fact I met an incredibly handsome, charming man and took what I wanted from him.”
“Am I a prude?” I ask impishly.
“Little bit,” she replies, holding her thumb and forefinger up with just a small space between them.
“I’m sorry,” I say earnestly, but then curiosity strikes. “Soooo… how was he?”
“Girl,” she says, stepping in closer and lowering her voice even though no one is here to eavesdrop. “The man knows what he’s doing. Like… he’s a master at it. I’d venture to say he may even be the best I’ve ever had.”
“So you’re going to L.A. next weekend then?” I conclude.
“Um… no. I most certainly am not.”
“Why? Are you crazy? Why wouldn’t you?” I ask, peppering her with questions.
“Because there’s no sense. Nothing would ever come of it. Besides, I’m visiting my parents. I want to spend as much time with them as I can before I head back out on assignment.”
“But—”
“No buts,” she states with a firm tone and a hard gaze. “I’m not interested. That’s all there is to it.”
“Oh-kay…” I say slowly, taking the hint she wants me to back off.
But I have to wonder why she’s lying to me. Because she can deny it all she wants, but she is most definitely interested in Dominik Carlson.CHAPTER 19DaxI glance at Regan where she sits in a waiting room chair perpendicular to me. She’s flipping through a magazine as we wait to meet with the case manager from the pharmaceutical company. This is the person who greases the wheels with the insurance company for approval… as well as controls the purse strings for additional financial aid if needed.
It’s not, of course. I’m more than able to cover Regan’s out-of-pocket expenses, but since she’s being stubborn and insisting on paying me back for everything, we need to ask about it. But I think once they realize her husband has a lot of money at his disposal, they’re not going to offer her any additional help.