Page 111 of The Bronze Garza

Oh.Phew.“You have a place in Laguna Beach?”

“I have access to one.”

Glancing to the bags on the bed, I ask, “Is that what those are about?”

“Yes.”

There’s no way he picked all those out himself. He had help. From awoman. Jealousy snaps at me.

“Who helped you?” I ask, then wince because the words came out harsher than I intended.

His eyes glint with something indiscernible. “Jules.”

“Reuben’s wife?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“Oh,” he echoes me as he disappears through the door.

With a mortified groan, I bury my face in my hands.

I should’ve just said thanks.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

“What do you want?”

Lyra

The house is perched on arock on the ocean front. A glassy, triple-balcony, contemporary beauty.

Night has fallen, but the house glows all on its own.

As Torin takes our bags upstairs, I wander around, admiring the white-gold and powder-blue decor. There’s even an infinity pool.

Dad owns a beach house in Long Beach, but it’s not nearly this grand and isn’t quite on the ocean front.

When Torin returns downstairs, I ask him, “Do you have a job here or something?”

He gives me an ‘huh?’’ expression. “I’m on vacation.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. People on vacation don’t have morning meetings and spend hours in their home office on business calls.

“If you aren’t here for a job, then...” I do a three-sixty spin with my hands out. “Why are we here?”

“Because I’d really like for you to stop sitting on my kitchen island,” he replies, advancing toward me. “And as long as I’m home, Red Cage will continue to disregard my commands to get shit done without me and leave me the fuck alone. And...” He stops in front of me. “…you deserve my undivided attention if I’m gonna fuck you seven times. To completion.”

My pulse quickens. My nipples tighten. I swallow. “I—uh—Oh.”

“Oh,” he mocks me again.

“When do we—”

My words fall short when he dips two fingers in the front of my strapless maxi dress and tugs downward. Deliberate and forceful. The lightweight material falls right off me, pooling at my feet. Leaving me in nothing but lace, French cut panties.

Cool air licks my skin, but the searing heat emanating from him quickly swallows it up. My breasts feel heavy on my chest, nipples aching for just a lick, a suck, a touch.