Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(87)

I tie a towel around my waist before walking to my room to dress. Hers is empty, the door open, just the smell of perfume left behind. It’s simple and sweet and airy like her.

Entering my room, I walk straight to the dresser to check the expiration date on the stash of condoms I keep.

They’re still good. I even toss a couple extras in my wallet, knowing the need might hit to have Bella anywhere. An envelope catches my eye as I close the drawer.

What’s this? I pick it up and pull out the scrap of paper inside.

A sympathy card? I flip over the envelope and see it’s addressed to the family of Jonah Reed. The hair on the nape of my neck quivers at the familiar handwriting.

It can’t be Angie’s.

I open the card, and my stomach drops. No mistaking who it’s from.



My sincere condolences to your entire family. Having lost my father a few years ago, I know the pain you’re experiencing, and want to say that it gets easier. Time heals all wounds.

I didn’t know Mr. Reed. I just read about his passing online. The survivor list in his obituary mentioned Drake Larkin, a close companion.

I’m Drake’s sister, and I hope you’ll ask him to contact me at your convenience. My children and I would love to hear from him. It’s been too long.

Sincerely,

Angie Larkin



Shit. I’ve never read Jonah’s obituary, and sure as hell didn’t know it mentioned my name. Roger Jones handled the public side of his death notices, probably using material Jonah himself came up with.

I can’t contact Angie either. Not right now.

Not till Dragon is behind bars for good.

He’s still in Wallace’s jail, which doesn’t make any sense.

Avery should’ve already bailed him out over a week ago. I can’t believe he’d let him get arrested in the first place.

The asshole always disappeared before he could be stung with any evidence. He always had an alibi.

And like clockwork, his old man moved him to another job site. Dragon usually just hangs around when the drilling starts, new prospecting. Briar must’ve thought he’d snag North Earhart as soon as Jonah died and planned on putting his son on one of the new sites the company recently opened.

I set the card on the dresser. Angie was furious I’d been searching for Dragon back then, and she’d be just as mad now.

When it’s all over, I’ll go home. See them all. Mend fences.

But till that day comes, I can’t give my sister a half-assed apology. And I can’t blow off the focus I need to finish this mission – not even for a wild, all too tempting distraction downstairs.

Once dressed, I head downstairs.

She’s in the living room, waiting. My body reacts before my mind even registers what I’m looking at.

'Fucking hot' doesn’t have enough punch to do her justice. Bella’s dress is the same emerald green as her eyes, and short as sin.

It cuts off just above the knees, and the high-heeled sandals make her slender, perfect, legs look even sexier.

“You look nice,” she says.

Me? Bull.

I’d put on a button-down shirt, black jeans, and a clean pair of boots. I shake my head. “You’re the showstopper, darlin’,” I say. “You’re so gorgeous, the town’s gonna wonder what the hell you’re doing on my arm.”

No exaggeration. Her hair hangs loose, calling to my fist, flashing chestnut waves rolled over her shoulders and down the sides of her arms. Christ.

She laughs. “My wardrobe can be a bit limited. I borrowed this from my friend, along with the black dress I’d worn for Gramps’ funeral.”

The neckline is cut low, and I’m instantly reminded of the hayloft. I give my head a clearing shake, but it doesn’t help much. “Hope she doesn’t want it back anytime soon.”

“No. She gave it to me, actually. It’s a bridesmaid dress she wore at a wedding, but she hated the color, said it looks better on me because it matches my eyes.”

“Damn right, it does.” So much for reining in that hard-on.

Grinning, she gives me a flirty look as she walks past. “Ready?”

I turn around to follow in her wake and nearly drop to my knees. Her ass deserves worship in that dress. And later, after dinner, I’m gonna haul her straight to the bedroom and find out how sweet it’ll bounce when I’m mounted, driving at her full force.

We take my truck and I fight to keep my greedy eyes on the road. They keep floating to her bare legs, giving back vivid flashes of everything I want to do later.

“Did you see the envelope I put in your bedroom?” she asks.

Finally, something less than sexy falls out of her mouth.

My jaw goes tight and I hold my eyes on the highway. “Yeah.”

“Did you call her? Angie?”

“No.”

Bella blinks, studying me. “Uh, are you going to?”

“No. Not now.”

“Why not?”

I feel like a belly-up snake she’s poking with a stick. “I’ll call her when the time’s right, darlin’. Let’s leave it at that.” Sensing she’s ready to fire another question, I quickly add, “We’ve got enough on our plate right now. No sense in piling up more with my old family matters.”