Page 55 of Holy Sinner

The she is Dottie Bee. That one mark on my past. The one I’m not surprised to know Rafe also carries. If we’d met her now she wouldn’t have stood a chance but she got her hooks into us when we were young and powerless. If we’d made a move on her then everyone would have noticed.

Surprise hits his dark eyes and the corner of his mouth lifts in a smile. “You for real?”

“How do you think she ended up where she is?” I ask.

“Fucking A.” He claps me on the shoulder and laughs. “I owe you a blowjob for that.”

“No teeth.”

He scoffs and flips me off. “Quit making shit up. I don’t give you teeth.”

I know enough to leave it alone. I just tuck my hands into my pockets and nod along like he’s right. “Sure, sure.” Someone passes us by and I smile and say good morning while Rafe stews.

“You’re full of it,” he mutters but I’m not watching him. I’m watching Kit. She’s a step away with Alana in tow. She looks tense, shoulders drawn in and holding her cup of coffee in a death grip but the second our eyes meet she smiles at me.

That smile is a life preserver. I grab onto it and reel her into safety.

I smile and reach out to bring her in for a hug. “Morning, beautiful.”

“Morning.” Kit buries her face in my shoulder and wraps an arm around my waist while Alana fake swoons behind her.

“So romantic. I’m not jealous at all.”

I feel Kit laugh and that’s enough to make me smile. Jane might be dead with her blood all over her walls and Holly’s dumb ass accusing Kit of murder so now my girlfriend is trying to turn herself into the cops for something she didn’t do, but as long as my girl is laughing, I can deal with it.

Kit turns to face Alana and leans her back against my chest. “How long are you staying?”

“I’m staying until this bullshit blows over,” Alana says and flicks a hand at the crew in the lodge. “They’re pretending they’re not staring but I can feel it and I am not letting you go through this shit alone.”

“Alana, you can’t stay for that long. Filming is going to go on for at least another two months, maybe three at this rate and now with Jane…” Kit’s voice trails off when a couple of stylists get too close. Alexia is one of them and I don’t miss the way she looks at Kit. She looks like she wants to say something but she doesn’t get close. Just sidles on past with the other two stylists and gets in line at the coffee shop.

Alana tracks Alexia’s movements and narrows her eyes. “I don’t give a shit if this movie takes ten years like those elf movies, I’m not going anywhere. You don’t think Holly and the rest of them are lawyering up? You need me here.”

“She’s right,” Rafe says softly.

Kit frowns. “She has a life, she can’t just-”

“She can and she is,” I remind her and nod at Alana in appreciation, “thank you for doing this. They’ve got us staggered mostly for filming but not everyday is going to be like that. It’ll be good to have someone we can trust with her.”

“Of course. She’s family.”

Kit crosses her arms and tries to shy away from me but I keep my arm around her waist and keep her right where she is. I lean close to her. “You’re not going anywhere, so keep pouting and see where that gets you.” She goes still but I don’t miss the way she grinds back into me. She’s playing with fire. I’m going to have to break her soon if she keeps this up. “I mean it,” I growl into her ear.

“Fine.”

“I’ve got to get to set. I’ll be back by three.” Rafe kisses Kit and then grabs my chin and pulls me to him. I have half a mind to turn my head with the way everyone is watching us but I don’t. I let him take my mouth. If they want to watch us so fucking close, they may as well get a show.

“Stay out of trouble,” Rafe orders but from the way his eyes go from me to Kit it’s anyone’s guess who he’s talking to. Kit and I both grumble we will before he’s satisfied enough to turn to Alana. “Let me know if these two do anything stupid.”

Alana gives him a mock salute. “Aye, aye.”

The crew and cast in the lobby part like magic when Rafe stalks towards the door. It’s a good thing they get the fuck out of his way because I don’t think he would stop if they didn’t.

Alana flicks a finger after Rafe’s departing figure. “Is he always so intense?”

“I don’t think he’s intense,” Kit replies and Alana rolls her eyes.

“You wouldn’t, now would you?” her friend teases before she claps her hands and motions for us to follow her. “Alright, lovebirds. Let’s get a move on. I know you’re not filming so what are the three of us getting into today.”

---