Page 17 of Briar

Beside me, Kai is frowning too.I’ll look into it.

River almost vibrates. “Good. Are we ready?”

I wave a hand, not hiding my smirk. “After you, Captain Obvious.”

He doesn’t even bite. Just ducks inside the store, Kai and I behind him. A small, tinkling bell announces our arrival, but Inearly walk into River’s back. He throws out his hand. “Shhh, both of you.”

He sounds distracted. Amusement is written across Kai’s face when I turn.Did he just tell me to shut up?

He has a point, you noisy little shit.My own lips twitch as I duck around a motionless River. “What—,”

My voice trails off.

“Well, fuck.” River whispers, echoing my own thoughts. “Think it’s a sign?”

I don’t say anything.

“Told you.” The fucker sounds smug, now. “Didn’t I tell you?”

“River,” I mutter. “Shut up.”

He wisely snaps his mouth closed as I take another step, my head tilting to the side.

A sign indeed. Because Briar Rose is…sleeping. Curled up in a hideous excuse for a pink armchair that almost swallows her completely, her cheek pillowed on her arm and masses of dark hair scattered fucking everywhere. A pair of sleek nude heels lay abandoned on the floor, toes delicately painted pink poking out from the edges of her long black dress.

Blinking, I sweep my gaze over her again.

My mouth dries. That fuckinghair.

It looks like the softest liquid silk, a waterfall of darkness tumbling down. It must reach her waist at least, and a whole new image enters my head—

Swallowing, I yank my gaze away and turn to Kai. “Are you fuckingblushing?”

Heis. His cheeks darken further as he shakes his head, lifting his hands and dropping them again before he shrugs, still watching her.

“So,” River murmurs. When I glance to him, he’s leaning back against the wall, his expression smug as fuck, but his eyes soft as he stares at her. “You can see it, right?”

Phantom hands threaten to cut off my oxygen at his words. Yes, I can see it. See her, in the middle of the three of us. Underneath me, legs spread, those perfect fucking lips parted—

Fuck – I couldn’t have imagined anyone better. If I had a pen and paper and the skill of Michael-fucking-angelo himself, I couldn’t have come up withher.

Which makes her… dangerous. It’s like a bucket of ice-cold water thrown over my head.

“River.” My whisper is hoarse.

He straightens at my voice. “I hate it when you use that tone.”

I could become obsessed with this girl. Easily.

She could ruin me.

Already I’m cataloguing this room, the lack of security, the way the door was left unbolted while she fuckingsleeps,as if anyone couldn’t just walk in off the street. Hell knows that she looks like she has the defensive capabilities of a newborn kitten.

I know that when I walk out of here, the first thing I’m going to do is find out who owns this building so I can rip into them, or fucking buy it off them to make it better.

If I get any closer – if she saidyes– I wouldn’t let her go.

I step back. “You were right.”