Page 90 of Nothing to Do

“It is. Roxie spends a lot of time in California, and when they’re not in LA, they’re usually in my house.”

“When you’re not there, but if you were there—”

“We can invite them or not. Rourke’s is on the other side of the lake with plenty of bedrooms, and we have employee apartments on the compound. They won’t be short of somewhere to stay.”

Crooking the knee of her uninjured leg, she stroked her instep across his thigh. “Think maybe I can come and see your house in California one day?”

“Any time, baby,” he said, kissing her palm this time. “I’ll be spending more time there now.”

“Why now?”

He snickered. “Because the closer I can get to you, the better,” he said. “Ever considered working remotely as a permanent option?”

“I don’t think my boss would like me constantly off the radar and—”

“From California, baby. Trust me, we have the tech to put you right there in her office. And if it doesn’t exist already, I’ll create it.”

“Show-off,” she said, maybe feeling a little smug herself. That was her guy there, threatening to use his skills to keep her close. What woman wouldn’t be flattered? “I might be persuaded.” She sighed because reality was sometimes so inconvenient. “I have to get through this project first. I’m already behind and it’s a big deal for the company. The whole idea is to impress our newest client and bring in new custom under the…”

“What?” he asked when she trailed off. “Tell me.”

“Will there be sex after we find out what this is at the hospital?”

Another laugh. “Maybe, baby. I might be persuaded.”

“Tripp and Roxie are a lot of fun.”

“I’m happy you like them. Tripp’s in LA a lot too.”

“But can I tell you a secret?”

Though she teased, he was polite enough to lean in. “Yeah.”

“I prefer being alone with you.”

Alone or with people, anywhere with him. The club was fun, the company entertaining, but it felt so much better to know she wouldn’t sleep alone that night. Just one night without him had seemed insurmountable. How would she cope when they had to become part-time lovers and live in different states? Would it work out between them? Could it?

TWENTY-EIGHT

NO ONE COMPLAINED or argued when the SUV drove to a secluded service entrance of the hospital. In fact, there was a nurse and a porter waiting for them with a wheelchair. Someone had called ahead, had money exchanged hands? Did she want to know?

They were led to a private room in a quiet corner of the hospital. Her x-rays were done, she’d been given pain meds, and at that moment, they waited for a doctor.

“Are you tired?” she asked, propped up on the only slightly reclined bed.

“No.”

“If you’re tired, you should go back to the hotel.”

His hand hadn’t left hers since they got there, not for anything other than the actual x-ray.

He kissed her fingers, though his lips rested against her knuckles anyway. “I’m not going back to the hotel.”

“It’s so stupid.” She felt stupid. Her head dropped as her eyes closed. “All this nonsense because I—”

“What did we miss?”

Lifting her head to Roxie’s interruption, Roxie, right there in the room with them, with Zairn, with Tripp, Struan, and Logan. When did the brothers become part of the equation?

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