Page 45 of Property of Player

She’s wearing a sparkly cocktail dress that barely covers her ass and spiky heeled shoes to match.

My eyes skate over her from head to foot. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

She doesn’t answer. “Does Dad know I’m here?”

“Not yet, he doesn’t.”

“Please don’t tell him, Josh.”

“Give me one reason I shouldn’t.”

“Because it’ll kill him. I don’t want to see that look of disappointment on his face, and he’ll blame himself.”

That last part gets me, because it's true. I know her prime motivation is to save her own skin, but our father will blame himself and think he’s failed her since our mother died. Maybe he has. Maybe we all have.

Raking a hand through my hair, I grit my teeth and look at Drae. “She’s gonna freeze to death. You got anything?”

He digs in his saddlebag and comes up with a hoodie.

She stands still while he pulls it over her head and straightens the neckline, being sweeter to her than she deserves. It’s not the first time I’ve thought he was sweet on her. Gage would kill him if he dared try anything, so if he does have feelings for my sister, he’s screwed.

Just another damn problem I don’t need to deal with tonight. I dig her out Taylor’s helmet.

Drae takes it from me and puts it on her, and I see the way their eyes connect as he buckles the strap under her chin.

“This was really stupid, princess,” he mutters to her, and her eyes glaze.

I throw my leg over the bike. “Get the fuck on.” There’s no way I’m letting her ride home on the back of Drae’s bike. She climbs behind me and holds on tight.

We’ve ridden about thirty minutes south when Drae motions to an exit in Milford.

I follow him into a gas station, and Sissy runs inside to pee while he fills his tank.

He looks over at me. “Let me go on and take her over to your dad’s place. Slaughter Beach is out of your way.”

It gets me home to Taylor that much quicker, but I’m not sure I should let her go with him.

He tilts his head and gives me a look. “Come on, Player. You can trust me with her. You know that, right?”

“Can I? Can you look me straight in the eye and tell me there’s nothing between you?”

“She doesn’t know I’m alive, VP.”

I shake my head. “That wasn’t an answer, and if you believe that, you’re blind.”

His jaw clenches. “I’m just takin’ her home. She’s had a hard time with this whole move. It broke her, VP. In a way I’ve never seen. Even when your mother died. It’s like this was the final straw.”

A part of me knew it would hit her hard, but maybe it’s worse than I thought. “So how do we fix it?”

“We don’t. We give her space and make sure she’s safe.”

I blow out a breath. “All right.” Then I step into his face. “I’m trusting you. Do not let me down. Understand?”

“Absolutely.”

I throw my leg over my bike and ride off, leaving Drae to get Sissy home. I hope I’m not being a selfish asshole. I hope to God it's the right thing. I’ve yet to hear the explanation of how and with whom she went up there, but that’s a problem for tomorrow.

Right now, I have a naked woman keeping my bed warm, and I need to get back to her.