Page 43 of Forbidden Flame

“Thank you for an amazing time,” she said as she pulled back. Her lips were swollen, her hair a mess from my fingers.

“Drive safely. Text when you’re home.”

She smiled. “I will.”

I led the way to the front gate where I pulled to the side and opened it for her. It was closed at night so that we didn’t get off-hours trespassers.

I waved as she turned onto the main road and headed toward home.

The pressure in my chest only increased as I closed the gate and went home. My sheets were rumpled and smelled of her and sex. I loved and hated it. It was a reminder of her, how she’d always be just out of reach. She was off-limits, yet I couldn’t seem to help myself.

When I got her text saying she was home, I responded with a good night, then was finally able to sleep.

The next morning, I woke to a pounding on my door. I pulled on sweats, ran a hand through my hair, and made my way to the door. It could only be one of my cousins. No one else used such force this early in the morning.

“What do you want?” I opened the front door, not even looking to see who it was before I moved to the coffee maker.

“I came to see if you were up. We’re having brunch at the inn this morning,” Heath said.

I opened the top of the coffee maker and scooped the beans into the grinder. “I forgot about that.”

Heath leaned a hip against the counter. “Late night?”

I grabbed a glass to fill with water. “Something like that.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “You looked awfully cozy with Daphne at the reception.”

“Everyone was paired off. We were the only single members of the bridal party.” I kept my voice even.

Heath made a show of looking around the kitchen, then ducked his head into the family room. “I thought she might still be here.”

I chuckled nervously. “Why would you say that?”

Heath returned to the room. “I don’t know. It was just a feeling.”

“Is that why you knocked on your own door?” I sipped the water, hoping it would soothe my dry throat.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I was a little nervous about what I’d find.”

I lifted my hands. “You can see it’s just me.”

Heath nodded. “If you want to bring a woman home, you can. This is your place.”

“You won’t pop in unannounced?” I asked wryly as I hit the Start button for the coffeemaker. The sound of beans being ground filled the room for a few seconds before it dissipated.

He chuckled. “I knocked, didn’t I?”

“I don’t need you checking up on me. I’m fine.”

“You said you wanted more of a stake in the business. Messing around with a Calloway isn’t going to sit right with Emmett or my other brothers.”

“And you?”

“You can have any woman you want, but stay away from her.”

“Because the Monroes hate the Calloways?” I asked, my voice tight.

“Because they’re our competition. It doesn’t look good for you to be hanging around with her. Besides, we talk shop when we get together, marketing and business ideas. I don’t want the Calloways stealing them.”

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