“I don’t know,” I voice coyly. “I enjoyed my cabin one days very much.”
Brecken’s smile is both sexy and endearing as his hands run over the curves of my ass. I’m pretty sure it’s not my imagination when I say he smiles more these days. Each time, my heart bursts with emotion. Bursts for him. “Oh, they weregood, believe me. But from my point of view, a mix of heaven and hell.”
“And now?”
A pause as he gathers his answer. “Now, it’s neither, because now, we’re set for the horizon. The long distance. And that horizon is a perfect blend of both worlds, equable and constant.”
I study him, working through his words. It sounds like he’s made peace with the difficulties that plagued him before. “Like a future?”
A nod. “A future with us, here. In your tower and in the executive office. We’ve got big plans for you, Winter Harris.”
An electric current runs over my skin, goosebumps following. I have a feeling that being pantyless tonight is part of the big plans, but there was a subtlety to his words, a shiver of insinuation that hinted at something else. Either way, I love the idea of a future with Brecken and his brothers. It’s a thought I’ve had more and more often as we enter February. And even though my heart is a battleground, torn and shredded and twisted with grief, I can’t ignore all the signs it’s giving me.
I’m falling in love.
Love.
Of course, I love this man—his brothers, too. They’ve become everything to me.
“Big plans huh?” I drawl, toying with the hair at his nape. “Good to know.”
Two hours later,we head to a club. Having already pre-gamed on a bottle or two of California’s finest red, my blood is humming.
Reuben drives. Wearing black jeans, brown shoes, and a charcoal shirt, he looks totally edible. Cleanly shaven, his cologne washes over me as I ride shotgun. Every now and then he slides a palm along my exposed thigh, my dress riding up high.
“I’ve gotta say it but you have great taste, Brecken,” Roo tells him, their eyes connecting in the rear-view mirror.
“Maybe I chose it,” I lead.
His amber-bright eyes slide into mine. “I think that’s unlikely,” he points out kindly.
I check my make-up in the internal mirror. Tonight, I’ve added lots of liquid eyeliner, the color a smoky, glittery silver. The dramatic effect is enhanced by the fake, black lashes I added, and some highlighter on my cheekbones.
I’m feeling good about myself. Work is going great, albeit a small, important legal hurdle to overcome. And my personal life is beyond my wildest dreams.
We park on a nearby street, Reuben grabbing my hand and pulling me along. Thankfully, I’m able to keep up with his long strides, the split in my dress, and my footwear making it easy on me.
The club is a popular spot, attracting a big crowd. The only reason I got an invite to Sienna’s celebrations is because it was an extension of Luca’s. A pre-party started earlier at her lodge, but the boys decided to meet her later.
To be honest, I’m pleased. This way, I’m not tempted to sneak off and search through her personal items, trying to locate the envelopes that fell at my feet, secrets hidden inside.
After giving our names at the door and securing a wristband, we’re allowed inside where it’s hot and dark. Music thumps, the place packed. After latching my hand to his, Luca tugs me along behind him, wriggling between grinding groups of dancers as we head for the VIP area. Every once in a while, strobe lights flash through the shadows, illuminating faces or sparkly garments. Glitter balls suspended over the dance floor cascade light intermittently onto the dancers, but all I get are glimpses of dark outlines. It gives the illusion that they’re body-popping.
Once we’re admitted into the VIP section, the lighting improves. People mingle by the neon-lit bar or are seated at the leather-backed booths set against a long wall. Four small round tables, laden with drinks seem to house Sienna’s friends, Trey identifiable in the middle of a group of five others.
Luca comes to a stop, his hand still wrapped around mine. I shove my free hand in the back pocket of his dark blue jeans, and peer over his shoulder at Sienna. She smiles warmly at him before wrapping her arms around his shoulders, hugging him for several seconds, her face nestled into his other shoulder. It’s weird with me so close, and Luca tries to disengage. But she hangs on for a little longer, her eyes lifting to Roo and Brecken.
She moves away to greet them, Brecken handing over a gift voucher for a high-end store from the three of them. It’s from me too, but I doubt she cares that I signed the card.
Sienna reminds me of a friend I had at school. Dakotahatedanyone who fancied her twin brother. She was eerily possessive about his time and how he spent it, especially with girls. A master manipulator, she would blatantly cock block him, or persuade him that a girl wasn’t good enough for him.
Now, Sienna kisses Brecken on the cheek, pressing up against his body as her eyes connect with mine in some kind of challenge. I occupy myself by checking out his body in dark jeans and a blue-gray shirt that highlights his eyes to perfection. It also molds to his chest, every muscle accentuated by the tight fit.
I smile back, trying to convey that I get to fuck that piece of delicious man meat whenever I fucking please.
We order drinks, Sienna’s voice lost as Travis Scott and HVME’sGoosebumpsplays. I don’t bother trying to listen in as she leans into Luca’s ear, chatting about this and that. It’s not like she has anything to say to me, nor me her. But one day, we’ll have to talk about her mother dying. About our connection which is apart from her brothers. Maybe she won’t see me as the enemy then.
So, I just drink, swaying my hips to the music as Reuben comes up behind me and nuzzles my ear and neck, his hot breath sending goosebumps everywhere.