Beautiful Broken Promises(74)

“We are close.”

“Close like two people who are very familiar with one another…” she trailed off.

“We are very familiar with one another.” She let out a sigh and I knew I was torturing her, but I wanted this to stick. “I love Audrey like a sister. It’s never been anything more or anything less. If we were going to get together, it would have already happened.”

“That’s all I needed. You won’t hear any more from me about it.” She’d conceded a little too easily for me.

“That easy?” I asked.

“Would you lie to me?”

“Never.” The word slipped out of my mouth before I had time to evaluate it, but it was the absolute truth.

“Then it’s that easy, because I believe you.”

I moved to set our bags down by the closet, and we both turned to inspect the bedroom. My bed had the same navy blue comforter and the same white pillows, but I noticed a few new little additions.

“More of those damned throw pillows,” I grumbled, while fumbling with the small, colorful pillows. “What the hell would we do with all these?”

“They’re supposed to be for decoration,” she muttered from behind me. I started tossing them off the bed, but then Rae added, “But I’m sure we could get into some pretty good sex positions with them.”

I quickly scooped those things back up and tossed them right back on. Well, okay then. The tiny pillows could stay.

Yet another potted plant sat in the corner by the vast window, which looked out to the backyard patio. Two wingback chairs were placed on an opposite wall with a small table in between them.

“I’m pretty damn sure I told her not to go overboard.”

“It’s nice.” She shrugged casually, though it was obvious she was still stressing. Over what I didn’t know, but I was about to find out.

I softly nudged the door shut and walked up behind her. My lips found the area below her ear that always gave her goose bumps up her arms. My hands grazed across her hips underneath her t-shirt. Slowly, her body eased back into mine and I pulled her in tighter.

“What’s going on, love?” I whispered in between kisses along her jaw.

She shivered and I liked to assume it was from my new term of endearment. “It’s a lot to take in.”

“Tell me about it, my house is definitely not how I left it. I have f*cking throw pillows on my bed. Trust me, I would have never have made that purchase, and I can’t keep a plant alive to save my life.”

“No, I mean just being here. And you told Kate that Braden and I would be living here. Now that they have a real bedroom with their own beds and belongings, it’ll be even harder to pry Braden away from that.”

My body locked up, and I spun her around and tossed her onto the bed. Her eyes were saucers as she glared at me for my actions. I ignored it.

“What are you talking about? Pry him away? Why?” I growled while hovering over her prone body.

“We don't live here.”

“Of course you do, Rae.”

“You and Kate live here.”

“Along with you and Braden,” I quickly added.

“We can’t live together.”

“I don’t see why not. You like me, and I sure as hell like you. We get along great. Kate needs you. Braden and Kate need each other. Hell, Braden could use a guy like me. Why rock the boat?”

“It’s moving a little fast, don’t you think? I mean, a little over two weeks ago, you hated me,” she said, looking up at my face.

I flinched from her words and explained, “You know that I never hated you. We’ve been through this.”

“You know what I meant. Regardless, it’s only been a few weeks.”

“I never hated you,” I whispered back. I needed her to understand that right now.

“Okay.” She stared into my eyes, but I just didn't understand that word.

“I needed someone to blame. I was a dick. I’ve told you this, babe. Please, I need you to understand how sorry I am for accusing you like that. ”

“I’m not trying to rehash that, I promise. I’m just telling you that while Braden and I do need a place to stay right now and we need to be gentle with the two of them, I will eventually find my own place.”

“No,” I responded quickly.

“No?” She arched an eyebrow above those beautiful, green eyes.