Held by Marlee Wray

Author:Marlee Wray [Wray, Marlee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
Published: 2020-01-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Zoe

When I wake, I feel amazing. I slide my robe on and walk out, expecting to find only Connor, but the three of them are around the table. C, Trick, and Anvil are drinking and playing cards. There is a stack of cash in the center of the table.

“Sorry,” I say, backing up.

“Nothing to be sorry about. Come here, Zoe,” C says.

I’m naked under the robe and my hair is wildly curly. I do not belong in a room full of dangerous men and their drinks.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” I say.

“Last hand for me,” C says.

Cards are flipped. Anvil grins and drags the money to him.

C stands and stretches, then he picks up a leather bag and leads me into the bedroom. His sleeves are rolled up, revealing his strong forearms.

“Should I dress for dinner?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “We’ve got some things to talk about first.”

“About this morning,” I say, launching into my apology. “I’m sorry for not getting up right away. You could have warned me though that we had the drive and everyone waiting.”

He studies me.

“But I am sorry,” I say.

“Done?”

I hesitate. “Yes?” After a beat, I add, “I mean, yes.”

“You wanted us to make an appointment to talk about us. Let’s do that now. What do you want to say?”

“I guess just that I’m uneasy with how fast things are moving, considering how complicated they are. This is changing my life completely. I need to be able to maintain my friendship with Rachel, and I don’t know how I can do that if everyone knows I’m dating you.”

“I’ve got no problem with Rachel. Does she have one with me?”

“No, you know that’s not the problem.”

“Do I? She and Frank are close now. That makes me the enemy.”

“That’s not it.”

“If you say so. You know her better than I do. So what’s the truth? I guess, like you, she’s worried how Frank will react to you and me being together?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a valid concern. Frank is powerful and spiteful. A bad combination. If she’s willing, she should move away from here. I’ll take you to visit her.”

On one hand, the way he promises to protect my friendship with Rachel by taking me to see her warms me, and, deep down, I love the implication that C and I will be together long enough for that to happen. On the other hand, I’m just not sure how much control I want him, or any guy, to have over my friendship with Rach. “That’s part of the problem,” I say. “She and I don’t want to have to have our visits curated.”

“Well, that’s how it has to be until the war’s over.” He walks to the clock and turns the radio on. “It’s time to deal with the consequences of this morning.” He sits on the end of the bed and pulls me to stand between his knees. He slide a hand under my robe and rests it on my thigh a few inches below my ass. His thumb caresses my skin, sending tingles into my flesh and causing my heart to beat faster.

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