Page 53 of Nothing to Beat

“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.”