Page 116 of Beneath The Truth
The smile that twisted his lips fell into the category of ruthless.“I don’t require aninvitation.”
“It might be your house, but I’m the one with a valid lease, and therefore I sayyoudo.”
His eyes narrowed on me before shifting his attention to Hennessy.“Good luck with this one.You’re going to need it.”And then he turned andstrodeaway.
As soon as the door shut behind him, I spun to faceRhett.
“You sure you want this house?”heasked.
I gave him my most mulish expression.“I’m not going to let him scareusaway.”
“Then I guess we better make him an offer.He did have one good idea, though.”Rhett winked at me, and my heart stuttered in mychest.
Is he talkingabout...
Before I could finish that thought, Rhett’s fingers tangled into my hair and his lipsmetmine.
Everything else fell away as I lost myself inhiskiss.
Whatever else happened, as long as I could end every day like this, I would bejustfine.
Epilogue
Rhett
“Acouples baby shower.Really?”
Ariel sounded like she couldn’t quite get the concept through her brain.Probably because in the few months since she’d permanently moved her company to New Orleans, she’d met the rest of the guys and their women.Like I’d hoped, Valentina, Elle, Vanessa, Charlie, Yve, Delilah, and Eden had taken her into their fold and become the girl crew Ariel had never hadbefore.
After everything that had gone down with Heath, she needed the support system.Ariel had hoped that Esme would move to New Orleans if for no other reason than to stay close, but she’d decided to stay in Vail and make herownmark.
The one silver lining was that Skip Sampson had regained all his normal cognitive function, and Ari spent as much time with him as possible.It had surprised us both when he’d invited us to dinner to meet his girlfriend.After being a devout bachelor for Ari’s entire life, he’d met someone at the retirementcommunity.
Ari wasthrilled.
Every day, we all felt the hole Heath had left in our lives.The shock of betrayal hadn’t faded completely, and I doubted it ever would.Instead of drawing into her shell because of it, or taking refuge in that big brain of hers and shutting me out, Ari had leaned on me more, and being there to support her had helpedusboth.
We’d never forget.I wasn’t sure I’d ever forgive Heath—or myself for not seeing the signs.No one walked away from that mess without dragging some of the blame with them, including Ari.We were workingonit.
But today wasn’t for regrets and recriminations.Today was for something completelydifferent.
I turned to look at Ari from where I sat in the driver’s seat of her fancy Fisker electric car.“You’ve been to a baby shower,right?”
Her expression turned contemplative, and a couple of moments of silence followed.Considering.Processing.That’s how Ariworked.
“I actually don’t think so.”Her chin jerked toward me.“Oh God, how terrible is that?Does that make me a freak?The company held baby showers for employees, but Erik and Esme alwayshandledit...”
When she trailed off, I reached over to grip her shoulder.Our losses stayed with us, no matter wherewewent.
“You’re not a freak.”I squeezed harder so she’d lookatme.
“I’m not normal,” shecountered.
“And thank God for that, because I wouldn’t want you any other way than exactly howyouare.”
A quietawwwleft her lips, and I rubbed my thumb across the engagement ring on herlefthand.
Ari was going to be my wife.In less than two months, we were heading to a beach on a tropical island to start fresh.Rome was picking the most secure place, and I didn’t want to know what criteria he was using.Sometimes, I had to just trust my youngerbrother.
