Page 71 of Hard to Hold

He makes an unintelligible noise that makes me laugh. “It’s not funny.” He jabs a finger at me. “It is not. I’m going back inside.”

“Good choice,” I say with a nod, enjoying the scent of Lennox still on my face.

“I’m sending you the bill to disinfect that damn sauna. Every pretty penny of it.”

“It was money well spent.” My laughter echoes through the night especially when he raises his middle finger and disappears into the house.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

LENNOX

HOW DOES A WOMAN RECOVER from something like that? A dominant man. Some incredible sex. Laughter to end it with.

I snuggle deeper beneath my covers as Rush’s laugh echoes from somewhere in the house where he and Johnny are playing pool.

But I’m here, in bed, alone.

I needed space. Time to distance myself. Time to reiterate to myself that this is what I needed.

Some mind-blowing sex to erase the confusing emotions I felt earlier after kissing him.

Not Rush, and the tender kissing from earlier tonight.

Just the Rush who demanded I hold my hands against the wall as he owned my thoughts as much as my body. The man who gave me the physicality I needed to set me right.

Because I don’t get close to men. We have fun, we have sex, I move on.

That’s why I went to bed without a second glance Rush’s way. There was no invitation to my bed, no inkling that I want more.

And oh, how I want more.

Just a quiet exit so it’s clear I’m not the girl who needs to be held and coddled afterward. Sex is sex. Love is love.

And only one of those I subscribe to.

Then why am I staring at my ceiling, wishing Rush was warming the spot beside me?

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

RUSH

5 Weeks Earlier

THE DOOR OPENS AND RORY’S shocked eyes meet mine. He steps back immediately, hiding behind the panel of the door in case there are paparazzi who have followed me.

“Are you out of your mind?” he asks, all but pulling me inside and slamming the door at my back.

I take a few steps and turn to face him. “I could ask the same of you.”

Tension thickens the air between us, as I’m sure he wonders what he could possibly say to make this better.

Nothing.

There’s nothing he can say for fucking up, no, complicating my life like he just has. I think of the two decoy cars I had to deploy from my house so the press followed.

I want to clobber him.

I want to find the truth.