I’d intended for this night to be very different. Instead, I got roped into not only forgiving Rebel and throwing out my plans to make him miserable, but now I’m headed to Maine in the morning. I have no idea how I let that one happen, except to say that sex is my kryptonite. It makes me stupid. At least I put Florence on notice. If that bitch knows what’s good for her, she’ll keep her distance.
But for as sideways as tonight went, I’m coming to find that I kind of enjoy the unexpected. Like Rebel said, he keeps me on my toes, and a man who can keep me on my toes is definitely one to watch out for.
SEVENTEEN
Rebel stands shirtless in my kitchen, leaning against the counter with a cup of hot coffee in his hand and a growing smile on his face.
“You look like hell,” he tells me as I stumble into the room and reach past him to pour myself a mug of the nectar-of-the-gods.
“Once again, you flatter me,” I remark flatly. The sun is barely up, so the fact that I am is mind-boggling. I’ve never been awake this early in my life, unless I failed to make it to bed the night before.
“I didn’t say it was a bad thing.”
“If you say that I wear hell well, I’m going to slap you. Fair warning,” I grumble, taking a sip of my coffee. I don’t have to look in a mirror to know that my hair is everywhere. After a night of endless sex, I’m sure I look a hot mess. It’s amazing how far we’ve come. Just a few short months ago, we’d be doing this in a hotel room, and instead of having coffee, Rebel’d be showing me the door. My how quickly times change.
Rebel chuckles as he turns to refill his mug. “The plane takes off at noon. After you shower, pack a bag, and then we’ll head over to my place so I can gather a few things.”
My face scrunches as I consider this. “I’ve never been out of the city before,” I tell him. “What does a girl pack when she’s going to Maine?”
Setting his cup aside, Rebel takes ahold of my wrists and pulls me over. “She packs light. Dresses. No panties. Bras are optional.”
“Why don’t I just go naked and save us the trouble.” Tilting his head, he purses his lips thoughtfully. Slapping my hand against his chest, I laugh. “I was joking!”
His mouth splits into a wide grin and he drops a kiss to my lips. Turning me away from him, he gives my shoulder a gentle push and slaps me on the ass. “Grab that shower. The car will be around to pick us up in twenty.”
As I’m showering, it dawns on me that I never got around to calling Kota last night. I was so wrapped up in the events of the evening that it completely slipped my mind. Once I’m dressed and ready, I locate my purse.
Digging through it, my fingers touch on four shades of lip gloss, a half-empty tube of lotion, a pair of tweezers, a comb, a handful of loose change and the mints I stole from the conference bathroom, but no phone. Instant panic sets in. Where the hell is my damn phone?
Couch cushions go flying as I jamb my hands into the sides of the sofa. I crawl around on my hands and knees, flattening my cheek to the floor to peer beneath the furniture, but I can’t find it anywhere. Muttering a slew of foul curses that would make a sailor blush, I fail to notice that I’m no longer alone.
“It’s as if you read my mind.” Rebel’s voice is gruff and trimmed with amusement. “You look good on your knees, pussycat.”
Throwing a look over my shoulder, I snipe, “Did you take my damn phone again?”
“No,” he says, his brows pulling together. “I gave it back to you before dinner, remember? What need would I have to take it back?”
“Since when do you need a reason to do the things you do?” I’m bitchy because it’s way too early in the morning and now I have to deal with a missing phone. If my boss was going to be pissed with me before, he’s seriously going to lose his shit now that I’ll be canceling this late in the day. Filling gaps in the schedule isn’t as easy as Rebel assumes. Even strippers have personal lives.
“I resent that implication,” he informs me as he moves through the living room and out of sight. Minutes later he returns, carrying my large overnight bag. “Forget the phone. You won’t need it anyway, and I’ll help you find it when we return. Right now, it’s time to move.”
Flattening my hands on the coffee table, I push myself up from the floor and plant my fists on my hips. “You packed my bag?”
“Well, it wasn’t going to pack itself.” Retrieving his wallet and suit jacket Rebel motions for me to join him at the front door.
“You don’t even know what I want to wear in Maine. And I still have to call my boss, drop the rent in the mailbox, and…and…”
“And it will get handled,” Rebel says patiently. “I’ll see to it myself.”
“How? You don’t have the numbers or anything!”
“Please, give me some credit, Josephine.” Taking out his phone, I watch as he dials out and gives instructions to someone on the other end of the line. When he’s done, he gives me a flat look and says, “See, all taken care of. Now let’s get out of here.”
“But how will they know...”
“Just shut your mouth and move your feet...please.”
I’m making excuses. I know it, and so does he. It’s a wonder Rebel’s being so calm right now, when normally I would expect him to turn snappy and condescending. He isn’t known for his patience, that’s for sure.
“Wow, did you wake up on the right side of the bed this morning or what?” I remark as I walk toward him. “You haven’t bitten my head off once today.”
His lips curl up and he meets me halfway as I rise up on my toes to kiss him. “There’re a few hours left in the day. Give it time.”
Mock growling, I reach past him to open the door. My smile fades as my attention latches onto the figure standing on the other side.
Brody’s smile is one of relief when he sees me. “J, where the hell have you been? I must’ve called you a hundred times last night.”
My mouth flaps open and closed a few times before I can string together a coherent sentence. “Uh, I lost my phone. What are you doing here?”
A tawny brow arches up. “I called. Many, many times. You didn’t answer. You’ve never failed to call me back before. I thought something happened to you.”
I’m acutely aware of Rebel lurking just behind the door. His dark gaze is fixed on me, and I can practically hear the admonishment hovering on his tongue. He’s a very territorial man, and I have no doubt he’s growing more agitated by the moment. That fluke of patience is wearing thin. The longer it takes for me to get rid of Brody the worse his temper is going to get.
“Well, here I am. Still breathing, talking. All my fingers and toes are still attached.”
Hurt flashes in Brody’s big brown eyes at my snappish reply and I want to kick myself. But it’s for his own good. The last thing I want this morning is to perform CPR on one of my best friends. “Damn, J, what’s with the attitude? I can’t check up on you now?”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I close my eyes and sigh deeply. “Yes, you can. I don’t mean to be a bitch, but I was just heading out. I have a…thing I have to get to and I can’t be late.”
“What kind of thing?”
That’s when Rebel decides to make his presence known. I groan as he takes the door from my hand and pries it open, leveling Brody with the full weight of his intense stare.
Shock registers in Brody’s eyes when he looks up to see him. He banks it fast, burying it behind a cool exterior I’ve seen him use numerous times out on the football field when he’s facing down his opponents.
“What’s going on here, J?” he asks, sizing Rebel up with an equally hard and suspicious look.
I know what he’s thinking, and he’s not that far off, but he’s still not entirely right. “It’s not what you think, Brody.”