The door pulls open and I’m met with a smiling Michael Riggs. “Why, G, what are you doing here?” he says condescendingly, like he’s not surprised in the least to see me.
“I should say the same about you. Last I checked, you didn’t live here, Mikey.” I shove through the door. I already know by the cackling happening inside that there are women here. Not what I was expecting to find, but I can improvise.
“Not my name, but by all means, come on in,” Michael says as he shuts the door.
When I turn the corner, I see a shirtless Henry Riggs chopping something next to the cooktop. With his back to me, he calls out over his shoulder, “Michael, who was it?”
I look into the oversized living room, its vaulted ceilings carrying the sound of laughter and a story that Law is overly animated while telling. They must have taken the last few standing from the bachelor party and came here for food.
“Gracie?”
“Hey, G!”
“What are you doing here?” I ask, surprised to see her here, of all places.
“The guys called for a Lyft, and I decided to help my mom out on a few shifts while I’m still in town. Henry told me he was making food, so I figured I’d come up.” She peeks over my shoulder to where Michael is standing.
I shrug off my parka and walk it over to the side door, where the rack for winter gear is set up. Henry’s gaze follows my movements as he whisks something in a bowl, and I don’t dare look away. I came here for him and I’m not going to let a few people get in the way of what I want right now. I drag my eyes from the floor, where I notice he’s barefoot, and up his body slowly, taking in the way his sweatpants hang carelessly low on his hips. I can’t for the life of me understand why he’s not wearing a shirt, but why question something if it’s doing something good. I lick my lips and remember what his skin felt like to hold on to and drag my nails across.
“Her clothing line is my absolute favorite. There’re a few of us that hunted down her boutique in New York on our last trip, and we must have bought out more than half of her inventory,” the blonde on the couch says. Obviously talking about my girl Everly’s clothing line. As soon as these women found out the last name of my boys, I guarantee they lit up like damn Christmas trees.
I watch as the blonde drapes her legs over Law’s lap and laughs at whatever he’s talking about. The woman on the other side of him, with short tight curls and bright blue eyes, leans on her elbow, listening intently, and doling out a hefty helping of “fuck me” eyes in Law’s direction. That’s when I notice she was the woman who had Henry’s attention at the bar tonight. One of the burlesque dancers. She is beautiful, now that I look a little more closely, and now that she seems less like a threat.
I take a quick peek around to where Gracie and Michael sit, cross-legged and barely saying anything to one another. But Gracie looks like she’s either getting annoyed or uncomfortable. Maybe both.
I walk closer to Henry. I haven’t said anything to him yet. Words weren’t something I was planning to deliver when I made up my mind to come over.
“What are you doing here, Pixie?” Henry growls out.
Ignoring him, I instead take another look around his body. His ass in sweatpants is a true gift. He watches me, and I know he’s still mad about our conversation earlier, but quite frankly, he can be mad all he wants. I’m here to fold.
“I think you should tell everyone to go home now,” I say as I round the island counter where he’s making food. I drag my finger into some kind of red sauce, sticking my entire finger in my mouth and licking it clean.Cranberries.
He smirks at me. “Oh yeah? Why would I do that, G?”
His eyes follow me as I sit up on the counter next to where he’s working on putting together a sandwich. He stares at my shirt, and I know instantly it was the right choice. An old band t-shirt I decided would do better if it showcased some of my assets.
“You here to tell me how much this can’t happen, or how we won’t work?” He lifts a knowing brow.
“Hanky, what happened to your shirt? Feeling left out, you needed to make sure the girls felt comfortable being practically topless in your home?”
He huffs a dark laugh and leans across my legs to grab the salt and pepper next to my hip on the counter. He uses proximity as warfare. But I can play dirty too. I mean, that was part of the plan.
“You didn’t answer me, Pixie. What are you doing here?”
I don’t answer, staring at the scar on his lip. I didn’t like the idea of someone else feeling it the way that I have. I sit up taller on the counter, pushing out my chest just enough that the shirt I’m wearing rides a little higher, giving him a peek of two of his favorite things.
Law yells from across the room, dragging his attention away from my chest. “Henry, I’m so fucking hungry. Are the sandwiches almost ready?”
He ignores his brother, and looking up at me, he says, “Nice shirt. Since when do you like heavy metal?”
I pick up his phone and pull up Spotify, finding the song I’m looking for now that he’s taken the bait. Before I press play, I make the suggestion one more time. “I think you should tell everyone to leave now.”
He smiles and just shakes his head. Then he turns around to put a few bowls into the sink.
Alright, big guy. Let’s see how fast you’re going to change your mind.
44