Page 27 of Never and Always
Tessa ignored us. She was used to our teasing bickering. “We’re planning a cocktail night.”
“Sounds good.” I could do with a drink. “Your men are letting you out, then?”
Allie grinned. “Yep. Mine’s even taking care of my kid while I do.” Allie was raising her nephew, and he and Caden got on like a house on fire.
“There are some benefits to staying at home with your guy,” Tessa said, a smile on her face.
I went to lift up my hand, then reassessed and kept it in my lap. “Don’t rub your sickly bliss and frequent orgasms in my face, please. Especially not when they come from two men I consider friends and work with every day. TMI.”
Tessa laughed. “Okay, I need to check in with the team.”
Allie rose. “Same. See you later.”
“Pencil cocktails in that busy schedule of yours,” Tessa added.
“Bye.” I focused back on my laptop, feeling a little better.
But it wasn’t long before an all-too-familiar scent hit me. I spun and saw Everett enter. He closed the conference room door behind him with a sharp click.
I swallowed. He wore a green flannel shirt today and it made the green in his eyes brighter.
“You okay?” he asked.
I sighed. “I’m fine. Look, Everett?—”
He reached out and brushed under my eyes. “Looks like you slept like shit.”
I grabbed his hand. “I was rude last night. I’m sorry. I was shaken up. I just wanted to say thank you, again. For everything.”
He eyed me, then turned his hand, threading his fingers through mine. My heart leaped. I tried to pull my hand away, but he held on tight. “Never heard you apologize before.”
I huffed out a breath. “Don’t make me mad again. Can you just accept my apology gracefully?”
He nodded. “All right, big city. I want to check the cut.”
“It’s fine. You know it’s shallow.”
He lifted my hands, gently checking them. My stupid heart rapped against my ribs. It had been a really long time since anyone had worried about my booboos.
His gaze met mine. “Humor me.”
I rolled my eyes to ceiling. “Fine.”
His fingers brushed my neck and he peeled the Band-Aid off my skin. I heard him grunt before he pressed it back on.
“See,” I said.
He leaned a hip against the conference room table, far too close to me for my liking. The man seemed to fill up the entire room with his presence. “Now, you’re going to tell me the truth about what that asshole said to you last night, and what he wanted.”
I froze. “Murray?—”
“Oh no. You called me Everett before, let’s stick with that.” He gestured with his hand. “Now, out with it.”
I looked away. My brother was my problem, my mess to deal with. I’d been dealing with him for years and hiding most of his fuck-ups from my mom and Gram. It’s what I did.
I didn’t want to drag Everett or anyone else into that.
“Piper…”
