Third Time's a Charm (Holland Springs #3)(55)

Skye and Blackbeard? Rose’s reference to sleeping with someone, actually going to sleep, included her sister and that damn cat? Even as he still rested inside of her, he had to know. “What would your former lovers have to say about that?”

The room was silent as he listened to the rapid beat of her heart. “Nothing.”

“Picked the quiet types, did you?”

“He, they usually drove me back to my store after our…dates.”

Sasha would bet his life she’d meant lover in the singular sense. As in Jason Everett. He turned and placed his elbows on each side of her shoulders. “And the other times?”

Her impossibly blue eyes widened before she looked away. “I walked.”

That asshole had made her walk? “Rose, that’s not…” He let his head drop to her chest and he concentrated on breathing. Slowly. Picturing ways to castrate the son of a bitch helped.

“It was spring, and I like walking. The trees were really pretty, too.”

Oh, good God, she was rambling. Castration was too good for his former lawyer. He would go all out and get rid of everything. “Jason doesn’t deserve your defense.”

“I wasn’t defending him.” Her gaze swung back to his and her mouth formed a perfect O when she realized what she’d said. “Or any other of my many, many lovers.”

He snorted and rolled to sit on the edge of the bed. “It doesn’t matter to me how many lovers you’ve had—one or a hundred and one. But every woman, especially you, deserves to be treated with decency. Dropping you off like the evening post or making you walk isn’t it. That’s what matters to me.”

“You’ve never done that?” she said and he glanced over his shoulder as her chin tilted.

“No, I was taught to treat a woman better than that.” Really? an insidious voice whispered, Did your father teach you to seduce the woman you were ordered to destroy? He grimaced and rose from the bed. “I’ll be back and I expect you to be waiting for me,” he called out as he started for the door.

“Sasha?”

He turned slightly and relief filled him when he saw her climbing under the covers. “Yes?”

Luminous eyes regarded him thoughtfully as she settled against the pillows, her curly black hair a stark contrast to the white pillowcases. “You’re doing it again.”

“It?”

Her smile filled the room and his heart. “Being a very good man.”





Chapter Sixteen





Sasha leaned against the door frame, watching as Rose lay sleeping in his bed. The sheets rose and fell with her steady breathing. He’d taken his time in the bathroom, rehearsing his lines and then striking them from his brain. She deserved better and there was no way in hell he would go another day without telling her the truth. No matter what it cost him.

Crossing the room, he gently nudged her bare shoulder and whispered, “Rosebud, wake up.”

Her forehead wrinkled and her lips puckered, reminding him of Ivy when she was displeased. “I’m sleeping.”

The mattress dipped under his weight as he crawled in beside her, gathering her in his arms. She was deliciously warm, her body pliant as she burrowed into him. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “It can’t wait ‘til morning, sweetheart,” he said against her curls. “Open those beautiful eyes and look at me.”

Black lashes slowly lifted, revealing slumberous blue eyes. At the center he could see his reflection and he swallowed. “I haven’t been entirely honest with you.”

Slumberous gave way to wary as her body began to tense against his and her hands came between them. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t push me away, love,” he said, but she moved to a sitting position and hiked the sheets over her breasts. “It’s not what you think—”

“I should’ve known.” She grabbed the cross pendant and looked away.

Sharp runners of pain unfurled in his chest, cutting into his heart. “Will you give me the chance to explain?”

“Sure, why not? At least I don’t have an audience this time,” she said, her voice flat.

He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked. “I’m not breaking up with—”

“We’re not in a relationship to begin with, so you don’t have to.”

Closing his eyes, he counted to fifty. This was going so horribly wrong. No matter what he said, she would take it the wrong way. Not that there was a right way. He exhaled and opened his eyes. “This isn’t a one-night-stand. It’s…we’re more than that.” When she didn’t respond, he leaned over the side of the bed, dug through his trouser pocket and found his cell phone. Quickly searching through his text messages, he found the one from his uncle and held out his phone. “Look at this.”

The slightest shake of her head had what was left of his heart in his throat. “I’ve changed my mind. I’m not interested in more of your lies.”

“Here me out, Rosebud.”

“Don’t call me that, Alexander,” she said sharply.

Swallowing his pride, he tried pleading with her. “Please. One look and then I’ll leave. Or stay. Whatever you want.”

Turning slowly, her black curls slid over her shoulders and swung against his chest, cool silk against his overheated skin. Lashes lowered, she took the phone from him. After a moment, the tight lines around her mouth relaxed and she met his gaze, her eyes glittering with unshed tears.