Page 42 of Unhinged Cravings
“It means she’s fearless and captivating. Maybe he’s falling in love with her just like I did.”
This time, my laugh cascaded through the room. “Do I need to worry that you just confessed your love for Ava?”
She smacked my chest, and I pulled her in for a kiss. “A move like that has repercussions, baby girl.”
Her blush was glorious.
“I think a few handprints on that delicate ass of yours are in order.”
And it turned a violent crimson.
“Shush. I love her as a friend. You can’t help but adore her and maybe he got into more than he expected by kidnapping her.”
“He did because he thought it was you.” The thought turned my mood, and my jaw ticked.
Riley rubbed her thumb over it.
“You forget who you’re talking about, Riley. My brother doesn’t have emotions. He’s a heartless bastard who wants me for a stupid vendetta he has against me from when we were young.”
Her sly grin had me scowling at her. “Sounds like someone else I know,” she teased, her hand rubbing over my chest.
“I’m adding another smack to that punishment,” I said, hating that she was doing what she did best and seeing things outside of my sphere of thinking. I was inclined to think she had been reading too many of the dark romance books I bought her. I’d had to convert my spare room into a library for her after she’d moved the collection I’d bought from her apartment and the one she had in Treemont. Not what I’d ever expected, but I would convert every room in my house if it meant I was on the receiving end of her reaction when I’d shown her the room as an engagement present. Priceless and embedded in my memory for life.
But that inclination to write off her thoughts warred with the two weeks my brother had given me and the feral tone in his voice when he’d asked about Ava’s stepfather. That tone he usually directed at me the few times we’d spoken, but this time he hadn't. Throw in the fact that he insisted I wait two weeks beforestepping foot in his territory and that he wanted to discuss an agreement with me, and I couldn’t help but think something was off with my brother.
I picked Riley up and set her on her feet, rising to retrieve my phone from where it had hit the floor. The shattered screen was a reminder of my temper, but I could still dial Mason’s number.
“Yeah,” he answered, voices in the background.
“Are you with Raines?”
“Yeah. He and Angie are having a drink with us.”
“Are you someplace we can talk business?”
“I can be. Want Tyson with me?”
“Yes.” I thought about how keen Casey had been when we’d talked before. “And bring your girl.”
“Then you’re getting Tyson’s, too. They come as a package deal now…much to my frustration.”
“Just like you and Raines,” I mumbled, responding to Riley’s frown with a wink.
“Asshole,” he grouched. I heard him yell to Raines, then the muffled sounds of them moving to another room.
Riley came over and looked up at me. “What’s going on?”
“Just a hunch.” I kissed her nose. “You’re too observant to ignore.”
“So you think he might be falling for her?”
Grimacing at the thought, I said, “Doubtful, but something’s going on.”
“We’re all ears, Tides,” Tyson said, on speakerphone.
“Give me the rundown again on your suspicions about the Omens.”
“That was Casey,” Mason said, giving credit to her as if it were a natural thing.
