Page 43 of Savage Ruin
I grip my shirt. “I’ll practice until I can get it right. I’m sure Mateo can help me figure out where I’m getting hung up. Just don’t give up. This is too important.”
He lets go of my chin and turns his back to me.
My heart sinks. Maybe I can ask one of the others. Or even Zane.
“The reason I stopped coming to your room is because I was becoming too attached to our late-night movie sessions. To holding you while you slept. It’s not because you were a nuisance,” he says gruffly. “Mateo thought I was confusing you, and you were becoming attracted to me.”
Shock, embarrassment, and anger collide with each other. “He assured me it was okay to be attracted to you—that it wasn’t wrong. I don’t understand.” I shake my head back and forth to clear the fog. Only one thing is important right now. “You don’t have to worry. I know you’re not attracted to me. The lack of response to the kiss I gave you put that to rest.”
I contemplate the man in front of me, then step around to see his face. Maybe logic will put us back on track. “We’ve been working out for days now, and neither of us has become overwhelmed with lust.” There have been a few close calls, but he doesn’t need to know about them. “So, if you’re good to continue teaching me self-defense, I promise to keep giving it my all. Okay?”
He sighs heavily. “I’m angry because you think I’d give up on you. This is important to me. You’re important to… us.”
“Grayson told me you three learned martial arts together,” I murmur.
He lifts a shoulder. “Everyone needs to know how to defend themselves. Life can be damn ugly. You know this better than most. I made sure they would always have a fighting chance, and I’ll make sure you have one, too. I promise. I won’t give up on you, Henley. Ever.”
“I wish I’d had a big brother like you growing up,” I say wistfully. “Or I guess you’re Mateo’s cousin, even though you three act like brothers. Do you consider each other brothers?”
He looks pained. “I can’t be your big brother, Henley,” he croaks. “I… it’s just that I… never mind. I’m going to be late for work. Tomorrow, we’ll walk through this maneuver again, and if we need to, we’ll move on to a different hold. Have a good day with Peyton. I’ll see you tonight.”
* * *
Mateo,Peyton, and I collapse on the floor of my bedroom. The once tidy interior is overflowing with fabric, shoes, dresses, and accessories galore. Something pokes me in the back, and I arch up to pull it out from under me. A strappy black heel with rhinestones winks back at me.
Scooting backward until I’m halfway propped up by the bedframe, I fold my arms and raise an eyebrow at Peyton. “This is a lot more than a few dresses, Peyton. Did you bring all your creations?”
He eyes me between the feathers of the boa wrapped around his neck. “I might have gone a little overboard. You did say you needed outfits. Plural. And if you’re going to represent my brand, every aspect of your wardrobe must be perfect.”
Mateo chuckles. He rolls to his feet, then holds out a hand to help Peyton and me up.
I glare at his hand, still mad at him for the whole Thiago thing this morning. Ignoring his offer, I push myself to my feet.
He sighs and leans over to give me a hard kiss on the lips. “I’ll see you later.” His hand shoves his hair back. “Nice seeing you again, Peyton. We’ll catch up later.” He strolls out.
Peyton flashes a look that promises pain if I don’t spill the dirt.
“Yes, we’re dating, and it’s serious, but like all things, it’s complicated. We’ve got a lot going on right now, and we’re figuring it out day by day,” I end my announcement and point to the closet. “Why don’t you look in the closet? We can add any clothes you feel are necessary.”
His eyes widen. “Anything? Nobody ever gives me carte blanche. Maybe you’re crazier than I thought.” He laughs but heads straight to the closet before I change my mind.
I lean against the doorway and watch him sort through the beautiful clothes. He separates most of the clothes into four separate areas of the closet and organizes them within their sections. A small pile of clothes lies at his feet. Once the last item is placed, he turns to me and explains what he’s done.
“I’ve separated your closet into four sections. Casual, business, informal, and formal.” He points to each section as he lists them out. “Your gorgeous peacock dress is formal, but you can’t wear it again. It’s too remarkable. We’ll keep it there for now, but it should be cleaned and stored in a bag.” He waits while I pull out my phone and take notes. “You need several formal gowns of varying lengths. I have three or four with me, but we can work on getting you more.”
“What if I donated the peacock dress to a charity for prom?”
His eyes light up at the thought of the dress being worn again. “If you do, I want to participate. Not only would it be good for my brand, but it will be fun. Plus, I’d love to help them style their look.”
“Deal,” I reply. “Once this launch business is done, I’ll work on contacting an organization. I should be able to reach out in a couple of weeks; plenty of time for prom.”
He nods his head absently. “You only have one informal event outfit,” he tells me, pointing to the silky black jumpsuit in the corner. “Don’t worry, I have a lot of those with me. Most should fit you, but I can take measurements and finish them up while you’re on your trip.”
I’d told him I was leaving on a business trip for a couple of days. “Fantastic. The only event I know of right now is the yacht party. If you have something that works, we should focus on finding an outfit for it first.”
He pulls three or four outfits from the rack in the middle of my bedroom. “I think one of these will work, but we’ll try them on and see.”
Going back into the closet, he points to the business and casual sections. “Most of these can be mixed and matched. For example, this black blazer could easily pair with a pair of jeans for a casual look, with a dress or pants for dinner, or with a button-up for a business meeting. It’s an extremely versatile piece, and I’m impressed with the quality. Did you buy these clothes?”
