Page 47 of Chasing Sunsets

He sat forward. “Yes, you do.”

“How do you feel about the doctor’s suggestion of taking traditional sex off the table for the near future and just spending time together?”

“Sounds great to me.”

She crossed the short distance to sit on his lap. Her arms encircled his neck.

“I told you from our wedding night, sex doesn’t matter.” He reached out and rubbed her bottom lip. “All I need are your hands and lips on me, sweetheart.”

“You can’t deny it’s unfair.” Her voice quaked. “I want to be normal.”

“You are normal, honey.” He hugged her and buried his head in her neck.

“I’m going to believe what you tell me from now on, Brett. But you must be honest about everything.”

“If you do the same,” he whispered. His warm breath against her skin sent tingles through her.

“I will.”

“We’ll get through this.” A vulnerability he rarely showed echoed in his hoarse, muffled voice. “You have to believe we’ll get through this.”

She scratched his scalp with her nails, knowing how much he loved the sensation. “I do now. I truly do.”

~

Sadie waited on a luxuriouscouch in the elegant lobby of their hotel. Fresh flowers in oversized planters displayed around the foyer emitted the loveliest floral scent. Gold and white marble flooring sparkled beneath couches, chairs, and classy tables. Many people were checking in at the carved, wooden counter that ran the length of one wall.

The sliding glass front doors swooshed open, and Rhianna entered. You could almost hear the air in the room gasp. Men’s heads turned her way. Beautiful didn’t begin to describe her. Her brunette hair glistened with blonde highlights. She was dressed in a skin-tight t-shirt, designer cut-off jean shorts, and four-inch heels. As Rhianna took off her designer sunglasses, Sadie stood. She spotted Sadie and rushed toward her, arms wide.

An invisible cloud of cotton candy perfume engulfed Sadie as they hugged. An incredible sense of belonging, of family love, wrapped around her.

Rhianna grabbed her by the arms and pulled away from the hug. Their gazes locked. They hadn’t seen each other since—

“Hi, Rhianna,” Zack said from behind Sadie.

Her cousin glanced toward him and her eyes lit up. “Hi, handsome.” She hugged Zack and then looked at them both. “How’s the race going?”

“Wish we knew?” Sadie replied. When she talked to Rhianna earlier, Sadie confided that she and Zack had not shared the reason for their separation with anyone on the reality show and asked her cousin to keep it a secret just in case one of the camera crew workers or someone from the show asked if she knew anything about their relationship. Rhianna vowed she wouldn’t say anything about it to anyone.

Zack smiled. “I came to help. Where’s your stuff?”

“I’m parked next to the door.” Rhianna turned her back toward the check-in counter and quietly said, “I told the valet I was checking in so I could leave my car close.”

The three of them unloaded her vehicle. An hour later, Doreen and Karen’s room looked like a cross between a salon and a makeup set for a movie. In front of a sizable mirror on the wall over a dresser in the living area, they laid out a plastic mat, set up a director’s chair, and positioned four studio lights. Rhianna brought cutting and shaving supplies, tools, and even a broom and dustpan to clean up.

“Thanks so much.” Doreen slipped a smock Rhianna brought over her head.

“You bet. I’ll send someone from the salon to pick everything up later tonight. I’ll text you their name.” She turned toward Sadie and Zack, her expression filled with hope. “I wish you luck.”

Sadie knew Rhianna’s wishes were not only for the race.

A knock sounded. Zack opened the door to a camera in his face.

“Heard a rumor Doreen would be cutting hair in here tonight,” Truman said.

Rhianna checked her phone and headed across the room. “I gotta get back to the salon.”

Truman had just taken a few steps into the room when he spotted Rhianna. He filmed her every move. “Please don’t leave on my account.”

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