Page 21 of Nothing to Beat (Nothing to… #13)

IF PORTER WANTED to show up at Roxie’s on his own, so be it. They wouldn’t be showing up together. Confident, she had nothing to hide, entering Roxie’s apartment, she didn’t shrink. And sure enough, there were two women in the kitchen holding coffee cups. Roxie and the woman from yesterday. Rainie?

No big deal. “Morning,” she said.

Neither woman set any expectation on her.

“Morning,” Roxie replied. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” She scanned the room. “Tripp around?”

“Still in bed,” Roxie said. “We think. Who knows with him? He could be chasing tail in China by now.”

Porter had suggested Roxie may disappear into the night, but Roxie was right in her assertion too. Tripp could find a party anywhere, any city, any state, any country. And he got offers every minute. His life moved with the wind, he went wherever appealed most in any given moment.

Only one way to find out whether he was still in the building. Not that it was him she was really looking for. She left the women to head into the hallway and the bedroom designated Tripp’s.

Yep, there he was. Lying on his chest, face buried in the pillow, back bare with the sheet draped across his hips. The sexy, snuggly picture would tempt many women.

Women who weren’t her.

And he was just a distraction. Going for her real prize, she snagged the cellphone from its dock and sat on the bed, crossing her legs in front of her before dialing.

Rearranging Tripp’s hair, she tucked one section under another.

Wow, his eyelashes were ridiculously long.

How come guys got perks like that? Because they didn’t slather them with cosmetics, that was why.

Come on. How long would she wait for the phone to stop ringing?

When it did, she spoke before he could. “That was at least ten rings, Stat. Are you mad at me?”

“I was in the shower.”

“Huh, you’re the second man I’ve dragged from the shower today.”

How did Tripp get his hair so soft? And that dark brown laced through the honey and caramel hues. Had to be a professional job, didn’t it? Maybe, but she couldn’t see him sitting in one place long enough for anyone to color his hair.

“Why were you in the shower with Tripp?”

“He isn’t the man I was talking about, but I am in bed with him right now.”

“At this time of day, that means nothing. He’s still unconscious.”

Probably not quite, but he definitely hadn’t stirred.

“How many women sneak in and out of bed with him all the time? He should install a turnstile. Nothing to worry about. The boy wouldn’t know what to do with me even if he tried.”

“No, he would not. Are you coming home today?”

Oh, her man, so predictable. “No foreplay? Straight to the climax?”

“Never had a problem with me taking you there before.”

“Your brother’s in the room, baby. I don’t think he’d appreciate waking up to us having phone sex.”

“Better your side than his,” the guy lying beside her mumbled from the corner of his mouth without moving.

Pushing his head into the pillow, she silenced him and lay down on her side, back to the slumberer.

“Do you have interviews today?”

“That why you called me, Coy?” Breck asked. “To ask about interviews? Worried I’m just lying around watching TV?”

“You deserve some time just laying around.” Though nothing would be more foreign to him. “I called because…” She couldn’t be forthcoming with certain details, that didn’t mean she should hide everything. “You’ve been with me. I couldn’t sleep last night.”

“Which only happens when you feel you’ve left something undone.”

“I don’t like to leave things undone.”

“No, you do not.” Neither did he. “So you got up and did it.”

“I did.”

The reassurance of their familiarity was exactly what she needed. Drawing her knees up, she closed her eyes to bask in the comfort of his voice.

“And with me not there to drag you back, you never returned to bed.”

“This is why I love you. You always know what I need.”

“You need me, and you left. You left our family.”

For then, it might be just them, would it always be that way?

“I’m doing it again,” she murmured on a sigh. Falling into him, them, wasn’t fair with so much uncertainty hovering. “When will I learn to distance myself?”

“Never. You never have to learn and we ’re doing it again. We talk to each other like this, rely on each other, because we’re in love and building a future.”

“We’re not supposed to be doing that.”

“Stop fighting it, baby. You see any other man in your future?”

Of course she didn’t, or this wouldn’t be so hard. “I told you, without you, it’s blank.”

“It will never be blank. You’re out there doing what you need to do, I trust you. I’ll keep the homestead safe. Whenever you’re ready, I’m waiting for you.”

“Oh, God,” she groaned and rolled onto her back, pressing a fist against her forehead. “Why do you have to say things like that? Stop being romantic. I’m too far away to rip your clothes off.”

“My clothes are staying on,” came another mumble from Sleeping Beauty beside her.

Damn right they were.

She rolled onto her back, the guy still hadn’t even opened his eyes. “No one’s talking to you.” All she could see was skin anyway, which led to the question… “Are you wearing anything right now?”

“Never wear anything in bed.”

“Okay…” she said and sat up, legs dangling from the side. “Your brother is a cretin.”

Breck laughed. “You crashed his morning.” Good point. “I’m surprised he’s alone.”

“Not from a lack of desire,” she explained. “He was told he could go looking for it. Neither of us were giving it to him.”

“Thank God,” Tripp’s voice may be a little more awake, marginally. “A guy wouldn’t make it out alive from that tag team.”

“You were told there’s a single woman in the building.”

“Gwennie? Not so single, she’s sleeping with her boss.”

Incredulous, his knowing that was both impressive and horrifying. “How do you know that?”

“Ah, too messy for my taste at this time in the morning.”

Just as he rolled onto his back to stretch, the bedroom door opened to reveal Roxie.

“Good, you’re awake,” the hostess said, then pointed at her. “Who’s on the phone?”

“Her boyfriend,” Tripp answered for her, letting out a bear call in his next stretch. “It’s never fun when I wake up to you, Rox Out.”

“Because I have the original and you’re a cheap imitation.”

Tripp opened his arms, flashing a dazzling smile. “New and improved.”

“Yeah, in your dreams. You can’t improve on perfection.”

He laughed. “I’m telling Zairn you said he was perfect.”

“He’ll never believe you. Besides, I molded him into what he is today.”

“Faithful?”

“Among other things. His perfection is Roxie-induced. And you’re welcome.”

Zairn had never been the type to screw around. Keep his options open in his younger days? Sure. But he was honest about it. That was a long time ago. Relatively speaking. And he’d always been a decent, honorable man, some things were engrained.

Breck hadn’t said anything for a while.

“You still there, Stat?”

“Still here.”

“I should go and figure out what’s next with these guys.”

“Always here if you need me.” Yes, he was. “I love you.”

“I know you do,” she teased and hung up.

“Ah, young love,” Roxie said.

Instead of staring at the phone, she should get moving, time was running short.

“I have to be back at work on Monday,” she said. “Can I get a ride to the airport?”

“You know it’s only Saturday,” Roxie said, climbing onto the end of the bed to sit with them as she drew her bent knees back up. “You don’t have to rush back to Manhattan.”

“I’m not rushing back. I have another stop to make.”

“Oh, another stop…” Roxie drew nearer. “Let me guess, it begins with L and ends in A.” When she tilted her head, Roxie just shrugged. “Might not seem like it, but I do pay attention.” She poked Tripp’s leg, still concealed under the sheet. “Want to join us in the sun, Priest?”

“Crimson Isle?” He was right there, no way he hadn’t heard their previous exchange. “I never say no to California.”

“Because there are so many babes in micro-mini skirts flashing their boobs?”

“No, just love the hot dogs.”

“Okay, but we can’t stay at Lilya’s. The house is being renovated before they bring the baby back.”

“We have options,” Tripp said. “But, so we’re clear, if you get arrested, Rox Out, I’m not bailing you out. My mom doesn’t need to see that picture on the internet.”

“All the crazy pictures of you out there, and this is where you draw the line?”

Tripp drew a line on the bed with a fingertip. “Right there…” But when he licked his lips, his smile reigned. “‘Cause I’ve got to say, you leaving Z at the altar because you’re locked up… there’s poetry in that.”

Rather than be offended, Roxie laughed. “Oh, the things you don’t know, little one.”

“Now I’m intrigued.”

“Be intrigued,” she said and leaped to her feet. “But do it on the way to the airport.”