“Why her? And where’s your game?”
“Cleo doesn’t respond to my usual game, and I’m not playing for one night, or even one week. That woman is marriage material. She’s going to wear my ring and have my babies one day.”Fuck. That.His hands drop to his sides. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed. I know you, Fox.”
“She’s not my type.”
“She’s everyone’s type.”
I shrug. “Fair enough.”
“Maybe you can put a good word in for me.”
“No.”
“What, why?”
“Because you are either who she wants and needs, or not. I’m not feeding her a lie, you’ll need to figure it out for yourself. But I will give you one piece of advice.”
“What?”
“Be yourself. Don’t lie to her, and don’t put on an act of who you think she wants you to be. She will cut through that bullshit and leave you weeping on the floor. A woman like Cleo is marriage material—endgame—but only for the right man.”
“And you think that isn’t me?”
“Not what I said.”
“You are talking in riddles.”
I chuckle and grab the parcel from the counter. It’s time my friend learned to stop wearing a mask for what he thinks everyone wants him to be and learn to be himself. Cleo is about to school him in being genuine, and I’m glad to have a ringside seat.
CHAPTER 26
HONOR
Red isn’t the color of sin, it’s the color of fire.
How is this my life? I was minding my own business, helping a lovely older woman battle her everyday tasks, and in sweeps her grandson with his stupid warm whisky eyes, steel muscles, and soft lips. My hand ghosts over my tingling lips. Damn kiss is playing on repeat in my mind. No one kiss should have the power to consume your every thought and spin a web of desire in your body that needs to be satisfied by the orchestrator of that kiss.
The main door opens, and I spin around to find Fox stalking toward me with the parcel in his hands. I eyeball it like a snake. “What’s in it?” I mutter.
He smirks as he starts unwrapping it. “Don’t panic, it’s just a phone. If you are looking after my grandmother and her mystery ailment, then you need to be contactable. Unless you want to explain to me what is going on with her?”
I narrow my gaze, fully aware I’m being manipulated. “That’s not for me to disclose.”
He bobs his head as he slides the top off the box. “I admire your integrity. But that leads us to you being contactable.”
I fold my arms. “But you are here.”
“And I’m unaware of her needs because neither of you are forthcoming. Half a cup of tea? Really?”
“You need to discuss this with Helen, because you won’t get anything from me.”
He pulls out a pale green cell phone and pops it on the wireless charger on the kitchen counter. “There. It should be done by the time we get back.”
I rub two fingers across my forehead, hoping to stave off the impending headache. “I can’t have a phone.”
“It’s registered in my name, and only myself and my grandmother will have the number, unless you want to add Samuel too.”
“Fine.”
