Page 25

Jade

I balance the paper bag of sandwiches in one arm, nudging Rhys’s office door open. He’s just wrapping up a video conference call, his face illuminated by the glow of the laptop screen. I catch his eye and blow him a kiss, which he returns with a smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes.

“Give me just a minute,” he mouths, and I nod before backing out and heading to the kitchen.

The aroma of fresh basil and tomato wafts from the bag as I pull out my caprese sandwich. This sandwich is something special, a little piece of culinary heaven I stumbled upon here during a previous stay. I always miss this when I’m back in San Francisco because I can’t find anything half as good there.

“Mind if I join you?” Rhys appears in the kitchen just a few minutes later.

I smile. “Of course not. That was my plan. Sit down.” I gesture to the chair across from me, even as I feel a little guilty for indulging in a leisurely lunch. I haven’t even touched clay today. Those mugs won’t trim and fire themselves. I’m kicking myself for making them so ornate. I love them, but they’re very time consuming.

Rhys settles in, unwrapping his own sandwich, and we eat in companionable silence for a moment. I close my eyes to savor the perfect blend of creamy mozzarella, peppery basil, tangy-sweet balsamic vinegar, and rich olive oil. Yum.

Rhys asks about my morning, which I spent working on bills and other admin stuff for my business, and then he tells me about some strange emails and a photo he found when he went into the office this morning. He seems a little shell shocked, and I don’t blame him. Someone accessed his laptop! Thankfully, Jim has already declared the photo a fake, but it’s still unsettling. There’s definitely something crazy going on with his missing partner.

“How has your morning gone?” he asks.

“Productive, but not very creative. I got most of my bills paid, though, and I did speak with another prospective client,” I say between bites. “Are you still interested in joining me for a trip to Aspen to see my friend’s gallery opening?”

He nods. “I need to get out and do something. Plus, the guys at Clear need to access my laptop when I’m not on. So the timing is actually perfect.”

I push a strand of hair behind my ear and look out the window. Rhys’s sandwich pauses mid-air as we watch a group of mountain bikers navigate the steep trails that zigzag down the mountain’s face behind the house. Helmets glinting in the sun, they seem fearless as they jump more than twenty feet in the air and keep going, each turn more daring than the last.

My breath catches as the last one launches, body and bike momentarily weightless. He lands with a jolt that I feel in my bones, and I shudder, unable to fathom the rush that propels them to risk so much for a thrill. “I don’t know how they can do that,” I murmur.

“Neither do I,” Rhys says, though his tone is distant. He’s here but not entirely present. Clearly the morning’s events are still weighing on his mind.

“Why would someone go to the trouble to fake a photo?” I ask.

He shakes his head, lips pressed into a thin line. “That’s what we need to figure out. But it’s probably not going to happen today.” His hand brushes mine. “Sorry I’m distracted.”

I squeeze his hand. “We’re a team. Whatever this is about, we’ll get through it.”

He nods, and I think for a minute. “Do you think there’s truth in any of it? If the photo is fake, probably the emails too, right?”

Rhys’s gaze is pensive. “I don’t know,” he admits. “It’s not the first time I’ve been warned not to trust the guys, but I trust Austin, Theo, and Mason implicitly.”

“Maybe that’s exactly why this person is trying to bring doubt.” The pieces start falling into place as I speak. “Someone with something to gain is trying to sow discord among you. My father plays those games all the time.” I shake my head, remembering painful lessons from the past. “Growing up, he knew that divided we were vulnerable. It took me ages to realize that together, we’re so much stronger.”

“I think you just figured it out,” Rhys says, his eyes wide. “Whoever sent those messages wants us looking inward, questioning each other instead of finding Justin. Divide and distract—it’s a classic strategy.” He reaches across the table, taking my hand in his.

Then, with a sudden shift from contemplative to playful, he leans forward and plants a kiss on my lips. “And for being so brilliantly insightful,” he whispers, “I promise you an evening filled with orgasms.”

I grin in response. “Promises, promises,” I tease.

Rhys stands, crumples the paper from his sandwich, and throws it in the trash. “That was delicious. Thank you. I need to do a few things before we go. What time do you want to leave?”

I shrug. “The opening doesn’t start until six. It will take us about forty minutes to drive into Aspen.”

Rhys leans down to kiss me again, this time dipping his tongue into my mouth. I run my finger over his pierced nipple. “You’re trying to distract me,” he murmurs.

I lift my brows in challenge. I’d much rather play this afternoon than work.

He shakes his head. “Tonight. Let’s get out of here about five thirty.”

I nod. “Fine. After our excursion,” I say as a sudden thought catches hold, “I’ll make a dinner reservation. That gives me just enough time to do my work and take a shower to look presentable.”

“You could wear a potato sack and you’d be beautiful,” Rhys says, with a smile.

I feel myself blushing, and just like that, our plans are set.

Rhys turns to leave but then looks back.

“One other thing… Mason needs me in Montana for a board meeting in two weeks. Probably just for a couple of days.”

“Oh, okay…” My mind leaps immediately to what it will be like here alone. But then Rhys surprises me.

“I want you to come with me,” he says. “Would you be able to take a few days off? I know being here has already impacted your commission, so I understand if you need to stay. No pressure.”

“I can work around it,” I reply, feeling a rush of excitement. “I’ll get the mugs finished before we leave. That will just leave glazing them when we get back.”

“Wonderful. Thanks, Jade.” He heads back down the hall to his office, and I move toward my studio, feeling newly motivated. On the way I spot a missed call from my sister, so I call her as I get to work.

“Hey, Alexis,” I say when she answers, cradling the phone between my shoulder and ear.

“Hey, Jade. How are things with Rhys?” she asks.

I pause, a mug halfway to the kiln. “We’re doing really well. I like him more than I should,” I confess.

“More than you should?” Alexis echoes, a smile audible in her voice.

“Way more,” I admit, setting the mug in place. It feels good to acknowledge it, even if only to Alexis.

“Have you told him?”

“No way,” I reply. “I don’t want to freak him out. He’s got a lot going on. Maybe when we get back to San Francisco we can have that conversation.”

“He seems like a really good guy. I’m glad you found him.”

“Thanks. How are things on your end?” I ask.

There’s a pause, then her voice comes through, softer but laced with excitement. “I’m pregnant, Jade—eight weeks.”

My heart swells with joy. She’s wanted this for so long. “Oh, Alexis, that’s amazing!” I gush. But my happiness is quickly tempered by her next words.

“Thanks. I haven’t told Mom yet. You know she’ll just run straight to Dad, and I can’t have him using this against me at work.”

“Are you showing at all?” I ask, the mugs temporarily forgotten.

“No. Just morning sickness starting to kick in,” she says.

“Maybe wait until after the first trimester,” I suggest.

“That’s what Bryant and I were thinking,” she agrees. “Do you think you and Rhys could come back for Sunday dinner sometime? It would be good to have you there.”

“Sunday dinner? With Dad?” I ask, incredulous.

“Exactly. JP’s been on edge, and it might just push him to break. Plus, before he gets in too deep, Rhys should see firsthand the kind of crazy we grew up with.” Her laughter is dark.

The thought of bringing Rhys into the lion’s den—my father’s world—sends a ripple of anxiety through me. He’s said he’d go, and he’s strong, sure, but it’s certainly no fun, navigating a meal where every word is a weapon and every glance a calculated move.

But maybe that’s exactly why I need him there. If anyone can hold his own against my father, it’s Rhys. And maybe having him by my side will make it easier to face the inevitable and constant pressure to return to working at Allerton Mining.

“Okay, we’ll see. We’re supposed to stay out of San Francisco, so it’s not that simple. Let me see what the security firm thinks, and I’ll do my best to make it happen.”

“Thank you for at least considering it,” Alexis says. “And thank you for always being here for me. Bryant and I—we’re really happy, despite everything.”

“Of course. But there is no despite everything. This is fantastic news. You both deserve all the happiness in the world,” I say. “It’s going to be great. To hell with Dad’s shit. Bryant’s solid in his career, and let’s face it. If Dad does something drastic, there are plenty of companies that would snap him up in a heartbeat.”

“Thanks, Jade.”

“I’ll talk to Rhys about flying in for a Sunday dinner, and let you know what he says,” I tell her as the call winds down. “But I don’t think it will be this week.”

We say our goodbyes, and I finish the batch of mugs I’d started loading into the kiln. It takes a little while to get them right, and as I reach for the next group, I glance at the clock and realize time has slipped away from me.

Putting that project back on hold, I rush upstairs to shower. I quickly blow out my hair and apply a little makeup. In the closet, I reach for white linen pants, the fabric cool against my fingers. I pair them with a pink floral wrap shirt that clings and drapes in all the right places—the kind that makes me feel effortlessly elegant. Lastly, I step into nude stiletto sandals.

Satisfied with my transformation, I take one last look in the mirror, adjusting the shirt to sit just so. Now, I’m ready to face the rest of the day, which could be more challenging than I’ve yet to acknowledge. This friend I’m going to see is one from my old life. We haven’t spoken since I went to Malibu for rehab. But it feels right to go support her since I can. I have nothing to be afraid of.

I go downstairs and stride into Rhys’s office. He’s hunched over his phone, brows furrowed in concentration. His dedication is one of the things I admire about him, yet sometimes, I wish I could steal him away from his relentless work.

As I approach, he looks up, and his expression shifts to awestruck. “Jade,” he breathes, and I swear the air around us sparks with electricity.

“Rhys?” I prompt, noting the way his eyes trace the contours of my body, lingering on the knot of my shirt.

His voice drops to a husky whisper, laden with desire. “All I’m going to be able to think about is unwrapping that shirt, tying you up, and sucking your clit until you come.”

His words are an arrow, striking straight at my core, igniting a warmth that spreads rapidly. “You’re very naughty. You had your chance earlier. Are you ready to go?”

He nods. “Let me just tell them the laptop is free.” He makes a quick call to someone named Gage, and they set up a link to his computer. “I’m sure they’ll have everything sorted out by the time we return,” he says with an eye roll.

I laugh, and as we head out, he takes my hand, a simple gesture that steadies me. Goose bumps erupt over my arms, and I bite my lip. “Maybe we should stay in,” I muse aloud.

“Don’t tempt me,” he teases as we reach the front door. “You want to see your friend’s show, so let’s go see it. We’ll be back here in the end.”