Page 59 of South of The Skyway

“Would you like some company?”

How would I not? The man either didn’t know or feigned innocence to his influence over me. “Don’t you have things you have to take care of?”

Rhyett shrugged. “Of course, but it was a scary morning. I’m sure the house will be fine without me for a day. I wouldn’t have offered it if I wasn’t in the position to.”

Somehow, I highly doubted that. Rhyett seemed like the kind of man who would do whatever he had to in pursuit of taking care of the people around him. Perhaps I was reading too much into what he’d done for me, though I didn’t think so. “I’ve got it handled.”

“I know, but that wasn’t my question.”

“Are you always this forward?”

That panty-melting smile broadened. “Are you always this evasive?”

“Answering my question with a question. I see how it is.”

“I’m happy to help if I can. Would it behelpfulfor me to run Noel her bag?”

I shook my head, taking a long sip as I read the sincerity in his eyes. “No, thank you, Rhyett, but I’ve got it. If they’re keeping her overnight, she’ll be livid cooped up in that room. And I’d like to talk to her without Eric running interference. She didn’t tell me much about what happened.”

“Alright. Let’s make sure your car starts up again, and then I’ll get out of your hair.”

Out of my hair.Like I wanted any part of this man away from any part of me. If Noel wasn’t sitting in a stiff bed with broken bones, there was no way in hell I’d be going anywhere. I had enough faith in Wren and Holland to hold down the fort until we were back. It was only Royal that would still require my attention.

Rather than vocalizing any of that, I said, “Okay, yeah, thank you.”Idiot. I was an idiot. What sane woman told a six-two, tattooed supermodel that she didn’t need their assistance? Why yes, sir, actually could you kindly help me dust the cornices, and can you reach the shoe I threw onto the top shelf of my closet in a fit of temper? How about the air filters? You wanna check those, too? Help me vacuum my ceiling fans, preferably shirtless and covered in baby oil. Seriously, any other answer under God’s blue sky would have been better.

Instead, I watched that smile vanish into his mug of coffee, laughing when he grimaced.

“Would you prefer a cup of tea?”

“At this rate, you’ll convert me to the dark side.” He palmed his blonde waves before checking his watch and sighing. “Well, I’m happy to reschedule if you think of anything, although I could catch this meeting at four-thirty in the meantime. This time of day—”

“You’ve got to get going,” I supplied, already knowing the answer. “It’s always rush hour up here.”

“I’m only twenty minutes from the hospital. If either of you needs anything, please let me know.”

“Thank you, Rhyett.”

“One last thing,” he said with a grin, snatching my keys off the counter and jingling them pointedly as he slid his coffee over with a pained looking expression. “I’ll trade you.”

“Really,” I said, shaking my head, just determined to dig myself a grave deep enough that not even the coyotes could reach me. “You’ve done more than enough, I can do that.”

“What kind of a gentleman would I be if I didn’t ensure my handiwork?”

The man returned a few minutes later and happily slid my keys back to me before palming my hip and drawing me forward, everything in my body halting and redirecting to the place where his fingers slipped beneath the hem of my shirt. Sparks danced across my skin. His lips were tender this time, sweet with an unspoken farewell.

“See you soon, Ace.”

I nodded, unable to suppress the smile from my face. When the door clicked behind Rhyett Rhodes, my heart twisted into a strange little knot as I pressed my back into the wood, hand still lingering on the cold metal handle.

Friends with benefits?Who was I kidding? I wanted to drag his perfect ass right back to Noel with me. Wanted to follow him home to his meetings so I could see what else that spectacular man could do.

Instead, I packed my belongings, as well as Noel’s, and headed out the door to retrieve Royal. I’d just plugged my phone into my car when Rhyett’s text buzzed through with an address. The next one a beat later.

Rhyett

In case you need anything south of the Skyway.

TWENTY-SIX

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