Page 42 of Rhett Redeemed

I come while staring into his eyes. Before I can fall to the floor in bliss, he picks me up and takes me to the bedroom, where he proceeds to show me every way he does not want to be my friend anymore.

I remember going to sleep completely satiated but worried about what this means.

And in the morning he must be thinking the same thing, because he’s gone.

I get up for work and show up in my favorite pair of black slacks with a white blouse. I didn’t really own any appropriate clothes for this job, so I bought some professional outfits and I’ve grown to love them. Paired with some block heels and nude lipstick, I kind of look like I have my life together.

We all know how looks can be deceiving.

“You look nice today,” Atlas comments when I step into the garage, coffee in hand.

I pause and study him. “Okay, what do you want?”

“Nothing.” He smirks, blue eyes amused. “How are you?”

It takes me a moment, but then I realize what this is all about. “You heard about all the drama, didn’t you?”

“I hear a lot of things.” He nods. “But yes, I did hear about you and Rhett. Don’t you think it’s ironic? The Forgotten Children drove you off the road because they thought you were Cara, and they were trying to get her to hurt Rhett. And now you and Rhett are having a thing—”

I groan. I forgot about the Forgotten Children, no pun intended. A while back Cara was being threatened by a local gang because of her relationship with Rhett, I guess, and they thought I was her, so they followed me. Cara and I had just entered each other’s lives and I didn’t really know much; Cara wanted to keep me safe and I never asked any details. But the irony is real.

“We aren’t having a thing. We were, and now it’s all over,” I say, sitting down at my desk, thoughts of last night playing in my head.

He pulls out a chair and sits opposite me. “And how do you feel about that?”

“Who are you, my therapist?” I ask, pursing my lips.

“If that’s what you need,” he replies, the smart-ass, but then holds his hands up in retreat. “I’m just playing around. But I am here for you if you need to talk.”

My eyes narrow. “Thank you, Atlas, but I’m okay. Rhett and I are friends now.”

“Friends,” he scoffs under his breath. “Do you really believe that? Bikers aren’t friends with women they want. He’ll just pretend to be your friend until he gets what he wants from you.”

I pretend I didn’t hear that last part. “Yes, because I don’t want to hurt Cara. She and I are working on our relationship and I don’t need anything to ruin that. What else did you hear?”

“Just that you accidentally slept with your sister’s ex,” he says, just as Bronte walks up, her mouth dropping open.

“Okay, I’d like to pretend like I didn’t hear that comment, but I did. Say what now?” she asks, sitting down on the corner of my desk.

Sighing, I rest my head on my desk and then sit back up. “I met a biker, I liked the biker, so I slept with him. And then he took me to a party, and Cara was there, and it just so happens that said biker is her ex-boyfriend. And not just any ex, he’s the ex. They grew up together, and were in love with each other for half of their lives.”

Bronte’s eyes widen. “Rhett? Are you talking about Rhett? So now what? How does one come back from this?”

“Well, I was pretending it didn’t happen until Atlas over here brought it up,” I reply in a dry tone.

Bronte slaps at his arm. “You’re such a gossip.”

“I just wanted to make sure she was okay,” he says, shrugging. “The best way to deal with shit is to talk about it.”

“Okay, let’s talk about you then. Who are you fucking right now?” I ask him.

Bronte makes a choking noise, but Atlas simply smiles slowly, flashing me his straight white teeth. “The question is, who am I not fucking right now?” he replies with a straight face.

I roll my eyes. “No one here, that’s for sure.”

Bronte laughs under her breath. “Come to think of it, I’ve never seen you with a woman, Atlas. Where are you keeping them?”

“I’m a private man and I won’t be showing any woman off until I’ve found the one I want to be my old lady,” he declares sincerely. “So when the time comes that you do see me with a woman, know that she’s going to be mine.”

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