Page 770 of One More Kiss

William walks over to the kitchen area to make a pot of coffee.

“We just came to check on you. You disappeared from the party last night very suddenly, especially while we had a room full of clients. We had no idea where you were, so we came over here to check on you.” They are being nosy, but don’t want to come out and say it.

“Okay, all right. Well, I’m fine. Doors over there. I’m going back to sleep.”

“Well, where is she?” Thomas asks.

“Who?” I act like I do not know what he’s talking about.

“What are you, an owl now? The girl that you watched all night. Riley?”

“She disappeared the same time that you did, so you must have sneaked off with her. Is she here?” William interjects.

“Fucking Christ!” I growl. “Yes, okay, she’s here, so lower your voice and be quiet.”

“I knew it—I knew it!”

“You knew what, William?”

“I knew something was going on with you two from the first board meeting.”

I place my hands on my hips. “Well, that’s where you’re wrong. It’s nothing like that. Now, I need you two to leave before she wakes up. I don’t want her to wake up and find herself alone with three men in the house.”

“Fine, we’ll go. But you will call me later to give me all the juicy details.”

“There are no juicy details, you idiot. Now get out, before I throw you out.”

William laughs. “Yeah, right. Come on, Thomas, let’s blow this popsicle stand.”

I walk them out and the banter carries on. Then Thomas realizes he left his shades in the house. We all walk back into the house, and when we open the door, Riley is standing in my kitchen, wrapped in the bedsheet.

The door swinging open startles her, and when she sees all three of us standing in the entrance, she drops the cup of coffee that she was pouring, and the sheet falls to the floor. Her skin becomes flushed, and her eyes fill with fear, like a rabbit caught in a trap.

My brothers and I freeze mid-step. We didn’t expect to see Riley standing naked in the kitchen. Instinctively, she grabs the sheet from the floor, runs back into the bedroom, and slams the door.

Thomas went first. “Well, this was fun. She’s fine as hell. This day keeps getting better by the minute.”

“Shut up, alright. Come and get your shades, and then you two can scram.”

William decides that leaving is not a smart decision.

“No, we are not leaving after what I just saw. Come on, Thomas. We are staying right here with you to make sure she doesn’t concoct some bizarre storyline for a payday.”

Thomas walks into the kitchen and pours himself a cup of coffee, while William takes a seat on my makeshift bed.

“Hey, shithead, make me one too,” William yells at Thomas, who flips him off. Jesus, fuck, when did this turn into me babysitting them.

“You aren’t really staying, are you?”

“Of course, we are,” they both turn and say at nearly the same time.

I scratch at the back of my head, ignoring my asshole brothers, while wondering what the hell I’m supposed to do now. I walk over to the bedroom door and let out a long breath. Grabbing the brass knob, I turn it, only to realize it’s locked.

“Riley, open up.” No answer. “Open the door, Riley. You have nothing to worry about.” Again, no answer. Anger burns through my veins but knowing how humiliated she must feel right now cools me enough to take a step back and retreat to the living room.

She’ll come out when she’s ready, and when she does, I’ll be here.

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