Third Time's a Charm (Holland Springs #3)(72)

“Skye’s too?”

“I don’t know.”

“What about Summer?”

Black lashes flickered. “Summer is my cousin, not my sister. But she—we—let everyone think she’s the oldest.”

Summer’s warning rang in his ear. “To protect you.”

Rose covered her mouth with her hand and then let it fall to her throat. “Oh, God, Sasha—I have to go. I don’t care what Harrison does to me. I need to see Ivy before Summer leaves with her.”

Why would her sister leave? It didn’t matter. In this he could help. He pulled her to her feet. “Need my car?”

“Yes.”

He handed her the keys. “Need help out of that dress?”

“What?”

“You can’t drive in that.”

“But I don’t have anything else to wear.” She looked down at her costume and then back at him, panic filling her eyes.

He unbuttoned his jacket and slung it over the sofa. “I have an idea.”

“We can’t make love right now.”

He fingers hovered above the third button. “Later?” Danger gleamed in her eyes and he quickly added, “I’m giving you my shirt and jacket to wear. They should be long enough to cover your very luscious derrière. ”

Rose’s cheeks flushed bright pink.

His cuff links were next to go. “The sight of my glorious chest shouldn’t cause too many women to swoon.”

She rolled her eyes. “Just the women?”

“Quite right—the men, too.” The shirt joined his jacket and he caught Rose staring at him. More specifically at his chest. After having his nipples pierced for over six years, he usually wasn’t aware of them, but at this moment he was conscious of everything. The way his nipples tightened around the metal rings. His cock stirring to life as she moved closer.

“When I first saw you tonight, all I could think about was getting my necklace back.” She blinked twice and he suppressed a grin.

That was not the first thing she thought. He could feel the connection between them as soon as their eyes locked. He’d been sure she felt it, too. But it wasn’t enough. He’d betrayed Rose by withholding information from her. And he had nothing to offer her.

With a heavy sigh, he reached for the clasp at the back of his neck. Even if was the right thing to do, it was the last thing he wanted. Last night, as he counted cracks in the ceiling of the room he’d rented from the local bed and breakfast, his fingers wouldn’t leave the damn thing alone. It was as if she were in bed with him, comforting and making him ache for her at the same time.

“It doesn’t belong to me anymore.” She pushed a stray curl behind her ear. “I thought it did, but it’s yours.”

“Turn around, love,” he said, his voice hoarse as he tucked the pendant under his collar. Thankfully she did as he asked and he set to work on the tiny buttons running down the back. The dress slid off of her shoulders and fell to the floor. After catching sight of what it had revealed, he nearly did the same. She was wearing a corset—laced up the sides—that constricted her waist into waspish proportions and a garter belt.

He flexed his fingers and stepped back. Shapely legs encased in nude stockings with silver threads weaving up the sides caught the firelight. His mouth went dry and a cross between a moan and a groan left his throat.

“Consequences,” Rose said as she bent over to grab his shirt.

To hell with consequences. He cupped her elbow, turning her face him and tilted her chin up. He bent his head, already tasting her kiss.

The door burst open and they jumped apart.

David Turner poked his head in, disgust filling his face. But Sasha knew it wasn’t directed at Rose. Only him. Always him. Not that he could blame the bloke.

“This isn’t what it looks like.” Rose jerked his shirt around her, a guilty flush creeping up her neck.

It was exactly what it looked like, Sasha wanted to say. Or it would’ve been. He cast a critical eye on the Sheriff’s costume. Of course the man was in uniform. “Originality not your strong point either?” Sasha asked, silently daring the man to say something.

“I need to speak with Rose. Alone.”

“Give me a minute.” Turning Rose to face him, Sasha helped her with the buttons, then draped his jacket around her slender shoulders. “I’ll go wait in the hall.”

“It’s okay, David.” She gave Sasha a tremulous smile. “Sasha can stay.”

“What time did you get here?” David asked, ruining Sasha’s moment of sweet victory.

“Eight. My date was very punctual,” she said with a raise of her brows.

Sasha rolled his eyes and mumbled, “Of course he was.”

“Romanov come with you?” The sheriff gave him a pointed look.

“No.”

“What’s with this line of questioning?” Sasha asked, annoyed and mildly panicked.

“I really need to go to Jemma Leigh’s and get Ivy. Summer’s back.”

David cursed. “You really don’t know about the explosion, do you?”

Her eyes widened until the blue was a thin line around the black. “What explosion?”

“I kinda hoped you’d been the one to do it,” the sheriff muttered.