Page 21 of Wild Rose (Blue River Springs #1)
Wilder
There’s a hard knock on the door and I jolt back, tearing myself away from the girl I’ve been struggling not to crave for the past week. “Who the hell?”
Rose’s eyes are wide and confused, like it’s not her door being banged on. “How should I know?”
“Rose, open up.”
At the sound of my best friend’s voice on the other side, I’m both terrified—and enraged.
Because how dare he waltz onto my property banging on doors of my residents like he owns them?
I’m sitting up on my knees on the sofa, with Rose still under me, her blouse shifted, her skirt—damn her skirt—pulled up high enough for me to see her inner thigh.
I adjust in my jeans, then stand. “He usually come by this late?”
She pushes up off the couch, glancing at the clock over the oven—as if we both don’t know it’s after one.
“No.” Her voice is shaky and now I’m even more outraged. Hell, if I could open this door myself right now—
With that thought, I run a hand through my hair, pacing the small living room. “He can’t see me here. Not at this hour.”
She looks up at me, almost apologetically—as if she’d done something wrong here. “The bedroom,” she whispers. “I’ll get rid of him.”
I want to bend down to kiss her.
To tell her to get rid of him fast so I can have my hands on her again.
But I hesitate a little too long, and there’s another bang. With a single nod, I disappear down the hall, slipping into the bedroom. The lights are off in the hallway, so he shouldn’t see me lurking back here.
I hear a sharp intake of breath before the door is pulled open. “Wh—”
Heavy, unrelenting footsteps enter the foyer. “Want to tell me where you were tonight?”
I frown.
Does he know I was with her? Did he see us in town?
“Last I checked, I’m not sixteen and you’re not Dad.”
She makes a good point, Wes. Back off.
“Cut the shit, Rose. I ran into Jeff at Bones tonight. Said he had to leave to go pick up the golf cart you left outside Starlight. Said it’s the second time he’s had to do it this week.”
Knew I should’ve gone back for it myself in the morning.
“The hell were you doing at a strip club, Rose?”
I can’t help my smile, wondering how she’s going to handle this one.
But at the same time, I want to stomp out there and tell him to back off. Because I don’t remember her inviting him in.
“It’s not a—well, it wasn’t tonight. There was this event, and I wanted to go.”
This isn’t going to end well.
I’ve been on the other end of this two-way conversation before and it always gets pretty heated.
“What’s the event?”
Here we go .
“None of your business,” Rose snaps back.
There’s silence for a moment and I wonder what’s going on.
I hear his footsteps move deeper into the house. Then his voice, as if he’s reading from something. My guess is his phone. “Starlight, closed for a private event.” There’s a pause. “Speed-dating? Really, Rose?”
I hear her laugh, instant relief washing over me. “You should try it sometime, maybe you won’t be so cranky if you got laid.”
“I’m not cranky. I’m worried about you. And is that what you were doing? Trying to get laid?”
I still. Half wondering the answer, the other half wanting to level him.
“Wesley. It’s late. I’m tired. Please go.”
I hear movement and it sounds like he’s landed on the sofa where I was just about to do God-knows-what to his little sister.
He sighs. “Fine, you’re right. You’re an adult, it’s a weekend and you’re single. So tell me then, how’d it go?”
“Wesley, enough. Please go.”
My heart pounds in my chest because I know if she asks again and he doesn’t, then I’m going to have to make my presence known.
“What? I’m curious. Did you meet anyone? Heck, if it worked for you, I might sign up for the next one.”
“For God’s sake, I wasn’t planning on going out with any of them. I just wanted to have fun, explore, get to know people around here.”
Another sigh. His voice softening. “Rose, you can’t just go out meeting strangers, especially in a strange town.”
“Didn’t realize I was a prisoner. And if that was your intention here, I’m on the next plane back to New York, Wes.”
“I meant I don’t want you out at night here by yourself.”
“Wesley, I don’t show up at your door at one in the morning. Please pay me the same respect.”
“I’m trying to make sense of what you want so maybe I can help. You wanted to be a doctor, a therapist . It’s all you ever talked about. Then you pick up a paintbrush—your senior year, no less—and decide to live every day like it’s your last? What’s going on with you?”
I hang on to every word like it’s the key to her puzzle.
But only she holds the missing pieces and something tells me she’s not giving them up.
“I asked you to leave.” When her voice cracks, I step out into the hallway, about to throw him out—I’m clearly not thinking about the consequences.
But Rose is.
Her gaze meets mine and she shakes her head slightly. There’s no fear in her eyes. Just a look that tells me it wouldn’t do any good.
I’ve heard versions of these arguments in the background over the years. I’ve always been on Wesley’s side, commending him for being so responsible and protective of his sister.
But seeing it from the other side now, it feels different. Like he’s not taking the time to listen to her. To try to understand.
Wes is still on the couch facing the other way.
In response to her pleading gaze, I tighten my jaw, letting her know I’m not holding off much longer.
Then I retreat, letting her handle her brother her own way.
“How’d you get home?”
No answer.
“Well?”
“I .?.?. couldn’t find my keys. Jeff had a spare, so I called him.”
There’s silence for a long moment, my stomach twisting at that half-story she told him.
“Fine,” he finally says, and I hear movement. “Don’t tell me. At least you’re back safe. Until the next stupid thing you do.”
Heat flares in my chest.
Is that why she called herself stupid the other day? Because of him?
I hear the door opening and there’s a pause in movement. Then a deep sigh. “Wilder treatin’ you all right?”
“Just fine, thanks.” Her response is flat. She’s hurt.
“I’m off tomorrow. Maybe I can take you around town?”
“No, thanks. I’m busy making stupid life choices, so I don’t see myself making time for my brother anytime soon.”
“Rose.”
I hear the door close without another word, and I’m torn between following him outside for a heart to heart .?.?. or just being here for her .
I don’t get the choice because as I’m stepping out of the dark hallway, Rose slams herself into me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.
I stroke the back of her head. “Now that was definitely on purpose.”
She chuckles into my chest.
“You all right?” I rasp against her hair.
I don’t bother asking if it’s always like this. I know it is. Wesley is exceptionally protective of his sister. One of the qualities I’d always admired about him.
From the living-room window, I watch him drive away, feeling like a traitor. He’s always had my back when it comes to family matters. Stood by my side, even when he knew I was wrong.
Is this wrong?
Am I risking ten years of friendship for a momentary lapse of self-control?
“The moment’s gone, isn’t it?” She pulls back slowly, looking up at me. “And after everything you just heard, probably for good.”
Hell, how I want to prove her wrong.
“There’s nothing wrong with you, Rose.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “He’s just not paying attention.”
But there is something wrong with me risking everything for a night with her.
Because that’s all it could ever be.
I drop my hand. “I think we got carried away. No—I got carried away.”
When she drops her head, I catch her chin, lifting it. “It’s not because of those things he said.”
She pushes my hand down and steps back a few feet. “Of course it is. And I understand.”
My legs carry me toward her and I grip her face this time. Lifting it to mine.
I swear, if I could read those pretty green eyes right now, they’re screaming Get carried away with me again .
And fuck, I wish I could.
But I know better than to want this. I know better than to let good looks and charm drive me away from everyone I care about.
“If you’re going to leave, you should probably do it now.”
I nod because she’s right. There’s no point in dragging this out. I walk out of the house, circle around the back, and hop in my truck.