Page 95 of Stone Promises

“Oh, there’s something under it, all right,” I say, peeling it away from her body like layers of an onion. “And I plan to explore every exquisite inch.”

As soon as my hands touch her skin, she moans. God, I’m going to miss this when she leaves tomorrow. I plan on spending every waking minute until then touching her body. Kissing those lips. Feeling her writhe beneath me. I am a composer and she is my muse. And we’re about to make beautiful fucking music together.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Mallory

“Thank you so much, Kyle. You really didn’t need to go through all the trouble,” I say.

He brings my last suitcase into his guest room. “You’re family now, Mallory. It’s what we do for each other.”

I laugh. “I almost forgot. You are ever the philanthropist. I bet you don’t stop until you’ve cured the world of homelessness. And cancer.”

“And hunger,” he adds.

“You and your brother,” I say. “Do you know he feeds almost every homeless person he sees?”

“Really?” he asks, narrowing his eyes at me in surprise.

I nod. “He does,” I say. “But he doesn’t think it’s very tough-guy of him so he keeps it on the down low.”

He laughs, shaking his head over what I’ve revealed about Chad. “And what about you, Mallory? I’ve heard you do good work at Hope For Life.”

“I try,” I say with a frown. “But I haven’t been very good at it lately, traveling the country with the movie star.”

“Didn’t Charlie tell you?” he says, looking confused. “She not only took over your Tuesday-night shifts, but now she has Piper Mitchell volunteering there as well.”

My jaw drops.

“Don’t look so surprised,” he says. “You have this way about you that makes everyone want to be a part of your world. Most of all, my brother. He’s a lucky guy, Mallory.”

“I’m the lucky one, Kyle.”

He hands me a key. “Stay as long as you like. Just don’t scream my brother’s name in bed when he visits. That might be more than I can handle.”

I feel my cheeks heat up. “Duly noted,” I say. “And, um, when you want to bring women home, I can go crash at Melissa’s or Julian’s.”

“Ha!” he says. “Who the hell has time for that? Being an intern is kicking my ass. Hey, did you know your dad came by over the summer to congratulate me for getting an internship at his hospital? I always liked him, you know. His new girlfriend seems nice. Young, too.”

“She is, on both counts. She’s not quite forty yet while he’s pushing fifty. I think they’re afraid to say anything to me, but I saw some of Denise’s things at the house when I was packing up today. I wonder if she’s been staying there. Oh, my God, maybe she’s going to move in now that I’m pretty much gone.”

“Would you be okay with that?” he asks.

I think about how happy my dad has been these past months. Then I think of all those miserable years he spent after my mom died. He deserves this. He deserves it more than anyone. I nod. “I think I would.”

“Then you should tell him, Mallory. He’s probably scared shitless to say anything. I’m sure you giving him your blessing would mean the world to him.”

I smile, thinking of all the happiness my dad and I have been lucky enough to experience this year. “I will. Thanks, Kyle.”

“I’m off to work now. I won’t be home for forty-eight hours, so don’t worry.”

“That must be awful,” I say. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it.” He leans in to kiss my cheek and then picks up his keys off the entry table.

I get his attention before he walks out the door. “What’s your favorite meal?” I ask.

“Lasagna. Why?”

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