Page 26 of Ruin Me Sweetly

I couldn’t prove it, but it was entirely his fault.

“You’re changing the sheets,” I croaked.

“Worth it.”

I smiled into the quilt.

It really was.

Chapter 14

Luke

Zach seemed reluctant to leave. Bella and Amber looked as if they were about to cry. I couldn’t really see the appeal myself. Though he’d grown a little less obnoxious than when he first arrived, I knew for a fact he’d done something to make Amber cry not so long ago. Real men knew how to take care of family, not upset it.

I took another sip of tea, sighing at the perfect strength. My eyes rested on Isabella, wiping a pretend mark off Zach’s face while he tried, and failed, to duck out of reach.

That woman. She had no idea how perfect she was.

My eyes lingered on her ass.

The best ass in the world. Firm under normal circumstances, but the way it jiggled when I fucked her was phenomenal. Excellent cushioning, and the mere memory of that particular night had me licking my lips.

“I’ll just see him to his car,” Amber said, as the front door finally opened.

Hmm. They were getting along then.

I swiftly moved into the front room to watch through the window, hearing Bella close the front door behind them.

They stood beside his car. A fairly decent car for his age. I gasped and my cup froze halfway to my lips.

Zach had his fingers beneath Amber’s chin, and he wasn’t looking at her like a brother, adoptive or not. I’d only suspected it before. This was proof.

He suddenly crushed her against his chest, and I raised my cup, sipping my tea hard enough that I cringed at my own slurping.

Amber buried her face in his chest.

And then he kissed the top of her head.

My mind began to recalculate as I swallowed. If they stayed together—unlikely, given how highly strung the boy was—it would mean he was tied to my family in more ways than one.

His head lifted.

Our eyes met.

I smiled and took another sip of my tea.

Amber turned to glance back at me, and I was glad the cup covered half my face. She was a sweet, respectful girl. She didn’t need to get tangled up in our feud. Women and children should always be protected—my grandfather had drummed that into me decades ago, and it had never once stopped mattering.

Bella didn’t need to know. She had a wedding to plan.

I finished my tea, mentally listing everything she’d need to purchase, and the AMEX card I needed to have arranged for her. After the wedding, there’d be a nursery to decorate.

Yes. Isabella didn’t need any distractions right now.

The thought of Sadie flashed through my mind. It might help if people witnessed exactly how out of control she really was. The wedding could be the perfect bait to finally have her locked up. She’d pushed me too far when she approached Bella.

I settled my cup on its saucer.