Page 44 of Broken

It was Archer that let me in the next day, and he looked up at me, his eyes narrowing as if he was considering what to say. It was like I was staring at a little Patrick, the expression so similar. It didn’t hurt that he’d gotten his dad’s nose and blonde hair, too.

“So, this thing with you and my sister,” he started, and I had to work to school my features, realizing he was giving me the brother talk. I cleared my throat.

“Yeah?”

“You’re not gonna hurt her like that Zane guy did, right?”

Oh, shit. “You know about that?”

He shrugged. “I hear stuff. Andareyou?” He sent me a warning glare, and I made a cross motion over my heart.

“I swear. She’s always safe with me.”

I held eyes with the little man for a few more seconds before he finally stepped back and opened the door enough for me to come in.

“Izzy! Tucker’s here!” he bellowed up the stairs, flopping down on the couch to grab a discarded video game controller. I smirked, and the next thing I knew, Annie came downstairs.

“Might as well sit.” She tossed a hand at the armchair. “She’s been getting ready for hours and still isn’t ready.”

My brow rose. “Hours?”

Annie nodded. “Welcome to my nightmare.” She nudged her brother over and took a seat at the end of the sofa while I took the chair, both of us sitting back to watch Archer demolish some ancient Roman guys. It was another twenty minutes before Izzy came down the stairs, and I stood up, speechless as always to see her. But damn, did she look good tonight.

Her hair was done in an over the shoulder braid, some wisps loose and framing her face. She wore gold strappy heels and a deep purple dress that hugged her curves, showing just the right amount of cleavage. She looked like an angel that I’d somehow been granted the chance to worship.

I scraped a hand over my mouth, dying to throw her in my truck, spread her legs, and eat her, she looked so good.

She held up a bag at her side. “I packed leggings, jeans, and a crop top, too. Just in case this is too formal.”

“You look amazing. It’s perfect for dinner. But yeah, the other clothes may come in handy for what I planned next.”

She shot Annie a triumphant look that made her twin roll her eyes. I took her bag when she reached me, leaning down to press a soft kiss to her lips. She smelled like candy. Or honeysuckle. Some kind of mixture of both. My eyes closed, lingering in her scent. “You ready?”

She nodded, and I pressed my fingers to the small of her back, guiding her out the door.

“Have fun!” Annie called out. “And don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

“Well, that’s not much of a warning label, is it?” Izzy teased, and I smirked, loving her playfulness.

We headed across the street to my truck, and I opened her door for her, holding her hand to help her steady as she climbed in, a part of my brain wondering if there was more of that black lace she liked to wear under her dress.

She smoothed out the shimmery material as I shut the door, and I ran around, climbing up behind the wheel. We held hands on the seat between us as I drove, the two of us taking turns staring at each other. She’d dressed to the nines while I was in jeans and a button-up shirt with a tie. Though I had my gym bag in the back for later.

Either way, the night had barely started yet, and the tension between us was crazy. Like a magnet was pulling us together. I couldn’t stop staring.

I drove us to a new Italian place out in Summer Ridge that my grandpa recommended for its three Michelin stars. Not that I knew that much about the culinary world, but I knew that was good. I let him use his connections to get us a reservation, which wasn’t something I liked to do all the time, but if it was for Izzy…I could make an exception.

A valet took my truck when we arrived, and I guided Izzy in. The ambiance was rustic, with stones along the walls and vines and a working waterfall on one side of the room. We were given a table not too far away. I took Izzy’s hands after we’d ordered, holding them across the white tablecloth, a candle burning between us.

“You really do look beautiful tonight.”

She blushed, shifting in her seat. “Thank you. You look amazing, too. I love seeing you dressed up. Especially when you roll up your sleeves.” She bit her bottom lip.

“Oh, yeah? That can be fixed.” I unbuttoned the cuffs, rolling them up my forearms, and Izzy’s eyes darkened.

“You’re making it hard to be patient,” she teased, though I could see the sincerity behind her words. She was just as hungry for me as I was for her. And that dress did amazing things for her chest and ass.

“Oh, yeah? Maybe I should be the main course.” I waggled my brows, making her laugh.

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