THE SCENT of leather and cedar wraps around me. I bury my face in my pillow, humming in the back of my throat as my body relaxes deeper into the comfy mattress…River.
I shift, grazing my fingers over the blanket, and freeze. Where my bedding is made of cheap box-store sheets, the thread count so low the fabric’s just shy of abrasive, the ones wrapped around me are smooth as silk.
Memories of River leading me into his room last night filter through my grogginess. He’d insisted on me taking his bed until they’d arranged everything with his friend’s apartment that I’ll be staying in. Whose apartment? I know they said there’s no rent, but I have to pay something.
Last night, they made perfect sense, and this morning, it’s like a whirlwind in my head. I told them about Jason showing up and how I suspect he’d framed me for his own theft. If they weren’t so eager to get me on that plane, I’m pretty sure they’d have hunted him down.
This has all happened so fast my mind can’t keep up with it.
I sigh out a breath, giving up trying. I peel my eyes open and blink against the soft light filtering through the shades.
River’s room is exactly how I’d expect. It’s cast in muted tones of silvery gray and deep navy blue silk bedding. It’s all smooth lines, no clutter, but with luxurious fabrics warming up the space. It’s somehow both minimal enough to feel standoffish while simultaneously being comfy enough, cocooned in layers of satin, to feel like I belong here. Total River vibes.
I roll over and kick my feet off the side of the bed. There’s a tall mirror propped against the wall that reflects my image back at me. Jesus. My hand flies to my hair, piled messily on top of my head, so greasy it could be mistaken as wet. The fact that I can’t remember the last time I washed it is not a good sign.
At least I’m wearing one of my cuter sleep sets with a lavender button-up long-sleeve shirt and matching shorts. Alex searching through my suitcase and choosing my outfit was quite the experience. I definitely thought he’d go for one of my thin strap mid-thigh sleep dresses and was pleasantly surprised when he’d held out this monochrome set.
A soft knock raps on the door.
“Come in,” I croak and take a sip of the water that someone left on the nightstand. It’s cool on my tongue, so it’s been placed there recently. I’m not sure how I feel about them being here while I’m asleep, but I can’t say I hate it.
“Hey, Kitten. I thought I heard you moving around in here.” Alex leans against the doorframe, resting his head on the hardwood as his gaze travels over me. He has legit reasons to think I’m gross right now, but his eyes soften, and his lips tilt in a smile. “You’re cute, all ruffled like that.”
Meanwhile, there’s nothing cute about the man standing in front of me. He’s already dressed in a pair of straight-leg jeans that hug his thighs and a white T-shirt that’s stretched slightly over his chest. Fuck, he looks good.
I swallow hard, and his eyes darken on mine. For a second, we’re back in Napa, me crying out his name while he makes me come apart.
River stops at the doorway. “Good morning, Mia. Breakfast is almost ready. Why don’t you take a shower, and we can eat together.”
I stiffen at River’s stilted, almost formal tone. None of the low, soothing bass from the night before.
I can practically feel the boundary he’s setting between us, and I’m suddenly not sure of anything.
Alex raises a brow at him, no doubt clueing in to the same vibe I am.
I stand, swallowing down my questions. “Okay. Just need to find my stuff.”
“We put your toiletries in the bathroom, and your suitcase is on the chair by the window.” River gestures to them, then walks out of the room.
My chest squeezes. It’s not that I thought things would be like they were in Napa. Did I even want that? I’d be kidding myself if I said there isn’t a part of me that desperately wanted to lose myself in how they make me feel. But after Jason, the pressure to get more funding for the charity, compounded by losing my job…maybe River’s right to keep a little distance between us. That doesn’t stop my chest from aching.
I need time to sort through everything, to figure out what I want, and that’s if they even want to continue. After all, the deal was one weekend only.
Like his bedroom, River’s condo is all sleek lines, but the deeper color palette gives the entire space a moodier feeling that fights off the space feeling too cold.
Light pours through the floor-to-ceiling windows on my right, highlighting the two men working in the kitchen with their backs to me.
I take a second to admire River in his crisp, fitted oxford that pulls along his back. My throat tightens as his muscles shift under the thin fabric when he flips something in the frying pan.
“You didn’t drown, I see. Feel better?” Alex says, giving me a knowing grin.
Heat floods my cheeks at being caught practically salivating over his friend. “Ah…yeah…good.”
Alex’s gaze travels over my tight black leggings, and he bites the corner of his lips when he recognizes the hoodie he lent me. This would be the perfect time to give it back, but I have no plans to. From the way his eyes darken and how he leans over, gripping the counter, I’d say he’s happy to let me keep it.
“Your breakfast is ready.” River slides a plate across the island, and I sit on one of the stools. My mouth waters. The scent of basil and melted feta fills my nose, mixed with the salt from crisp bacon.
My gaze darts between the guys. “You just had this in your fridge?”
“Riv went to the market this morning. Figured we’d pick you up a few things for your new place.”
Warmth floods my chest, and I take my first bite before I can overthink how thoughtful that is. I moan the second the food hits my tongue, and River leans back and props his elbows on the counter, facing me with dark eyes.
Alex grins. “You keep making sounds like that, I’ll cook every meal for you.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Come to think of it, what are you doing here?”
Alex places a hand to his chest. “You wound me, woman. I’m helping move us.”
Okay, that makes sense…
“Wait? What do you mean us?”
“Well, I’m moving in here, and you’ll be taking my place across the hall.”
My fork clatters on my plate. “I thought you said you had a friend.”
Alex points his thumb at his chest. “Friend.”
“You can’t do that. I can’t force you to live together. I’ll figure something else out,” I say as I go to stand, but River moves fast and places both hands on the island counter.
“We can, and we are. After the shit that went down last night with that asshole, do you really think we’d put you up just anywhere?”
“He won’t follow me here.”
River’s face grows serious. “Are you sure about that? Did you know three women are killed every single day by their intimate partners? Every. Single. Day. He may be a regular asshole and not a complete psycho, but do you really want to risk it? Because I don’t.”
Fear lances my veins, and my eyes burn because I never thought I’d be in this position, and I fucking hate how helpless I feel.
“We can still report him,” Alex adds.
I shake my head, knowing just how pointless that would be. Even without his father’s influence, this kind of thing is never taken seriously until it’s already too late. “So you’re really okay with moving in here and me taking your place?”
“Kitten, I’m more than okay with it. Not going to lie, my initial thought was for you just to move in with one of us, but we thought you’d be more comfortable with your own space. Were we right?”
A tiny part of me is disappointed, but the more rational part knows I need a clear head to get my feet under me. “So you say it’s next door?”
River eyes my near full plate. “Finish your breakfast, and we’ll take you over there.”
I take another delicious bite but quickly spot something out of place. “You’re not eating?”
“We ate a few hours ago. Thought you’d like to sleep in.”
I try not to let the idea of them cooking breakfast together for me go straight to my head. After all, River still hasn’t warmed up, even after his display of protectiveness.
I take a deep drink of my coffee before addressing the elephant in the room. “So what happens between us?” My voice shakes. I’m not sure how I want them to answer; either way scares the crap out of me.
Alex rubs a hand against my spine, and I relax into it. “Nothing has to happen. We can figure whatever this is or isn’t out slowly. There’s no rush. We aren’t going anywhere.”
It’s like the pressure I’ve been holding inside me releases, and I take a deep breath. I had no idea how much I needed to hear that.
Alex kisses the top of my head. “Come see your new place. We’ve been working on it all morning.”
