Casanova(103)

Camille was still at the hospital with Connie. Mom was overlooking the removal of the things Connie had stated needed to go from what was now their house—things that included the sofa—and Dad had finally given in to my pleas and was taking Aunt Bel home.

I didn’t know what Lani was planning, but obviously it was some kind of article. I didn’t know how many she’d agreed to with my father, and truth be told, I hadn’t ever cared to ask. A part of me still thought it was all ridiculous. Articles weren’t going to change the way people thought about me.

That didn’t change the fact that I was torn between looking at what she was writing or waiting until she was done.

This was the first one I’d cared about. Would she pin the blame solely on me? Would she keep my family out of it? Protect them? Defend them?

I didn’t care what she wrote about me. I never had. It was all in my family.

My phone buzzed next to her laptop and I picked it up.



Lani: I’m awake.

Me: Good morning.

Lani: I slept forever.



Six hours, to be exact.



Lani: Is Connie home yet?

Me: No. I need to text Camille. I spoke to her an hour ago and they said they wanted her to keep another meal down before they’d be happy to discharge her.

Lani: I bet she’s a fucking delight. Can you bring me my laptop so I can finish what I was doing?

Me: Only if I can read it.

Lani: When it’s done. PS: I’m in my underwear.



It was like fucking magic those words. I grabbed her laptop and charge cord and carried it upstairs. I didn’t even intend to fuck her, but I’d had a glimpse of her black bra and, well. I wasn’t gonna pass up a damn opportunity to see that, was I?

I reached the top of the stairs and opened my bedroom door. She was lying on her side looking at her phone and she glanced up when I quietly said, “Hey.”

“Hey.” She smiled, put her phone down, and stretched out. “Thanks. I feel like I can focus on this now.”

“Why? Because I was right?” I had a smug grin on my face and I knew it. I didn’t give a shit either.

“You know full well I’m not going to answer that question, Brett Walker.” She sat up. “If I say yes, I’m never going to live it down.”

“You not answering tells me I was right.”

“Shut up and give me my laptop.” She reached forward for it and in the process, the covers fell away from her chest.

The black lace bra hugged her round, firm tits perfectly. Desire tingled across my skin, and my gaze hovered on her cleavage when I handed her the laptop.

“Can you shut your bedroom door? I’m comfortable around your family, but not working in your bed in my bra comfortable.”

I laughed and did as she asked. “When can I read it?”

“When I’m done,” she huffed. “Now please be quiet.”

I held up my hands and sat on the other side of the bed. I grabbed the TV remote from the nightstand and turned on the TV, but I couldn’t help but flick my attention over to her laptop.

And her tits. I couldn’t help it.

“Stop staring.” She gave me the order without looking up from her screen. “Jesus Christ, don’t let me write tired again.”

“Why? What did you write?” I leaned over and craned my neck.

She elbowed me. “Get lost.”

“At least kiss me if you’re going to beat me.”

“I never realized how needy you are.”

“You mixed ‘needy’ up with ‘greedy.’“

She side-eyed me. “No, no. I meant needy.” Her lips curved up and I knew she was teasing me.

“Can I read it now?”

“No. Is this going to be like road-tripping with kids?” She hit two keys on her keyboard and looked right at me. “Are you going to ask me every two seconds if you can read it yet?”

“Yes,” I answered honestly.

“Ugh.” She groaned and leaned her head back. “Fine. Let me finish reading it. Ten minutes. Can you survive that long?”

“Just about. It might be torture though.”

Lani held up a finger. “If you keep bugging me, I’m going to put my shirt back on.”

I mimed zipping my lips. She was playing dirty with that, but hey. She won. Well... “Can you at least lie on your front so I can stare at your ass?”

“I’m putting my shirt on.” She moved the laptop to the end of the bed and bent over.

“No!” I grabbed her and pulled her back against me. “Come on, that’s mean.”

She leaned back into me, shifting so she could tilt her head back and meet my eyes. “You’re annoying me, Brett.”

“You’re the one wearing your underwear in my bed. I warned you what would happen if you did that.”

“Yes, you did. Except you told me you’d fuck me and not let me sleep, not annoy the shit out of me when I’m trying to work.”

“Right. But if you lie on your stomach and let me stare at your ass while you work, I’ll let you work.”

She wrinkled her face up. “I’m dating a pig.”

“Even worse? You’re in love with me.”

She sighed. “You’re right. I must have done something terrible in a past life.”