Easy Charm by Kristen Proby
He sits back in his hair and tilts his handsome head, watching me. “Okay. You handle it.”
“I will.” I nod once and sip my Coke. “I wonder if I should specify in the ad that felons aren’t welcome to apply.”
“Gabby, let me handle this!” Eli exclaims, and I can’t help but dissolve in a fit of giggles.
“I’m teasing. It sure is fun to get you all riled up.”
“Most wouldn’t dare,” Kate says good-naturedly. “I wonder what people would say if they knew that he’s nothing but a big softie.”
“I will take you over my knee, Kate,” he murmurs to her, and Rhys tenses up beside me, but Kate just laughs and leans her head on Eli’s shoulder.
“Right. Except you have this thing against spanking me, so I don’t think that’ll happen.”
Eli’s lips twitch as he buries them in Kate’s hair and kisses her head.
“I don’t mind being spanked,” I add and eat a chip loaded with cheese and beans, just as Eli’s eyes go cold again, pinned on Rhys, who simply laughs beside me.
“I don’t need to know this,” Eli growls.
“It’s not like he leaves marks. Well, they don’t stay for long.”
Kate is laughing like a loon into her hand, Rhys is smiling widely, and Eli looks like he’s about to spit nails.
Or spank me himself.
God, this is fun.
“Gabby,” he says, always in control, “you’re my baby sister. I don’t ever want to hear about any sexual encounter you ever have. In my head, you’re a virgin.”
Rhys snorts, earning a glare from Eli.
“She has a child, Eli. She’s clearly not a virgin.”
“And you should know,” I remind him with an evil smile.
“For the love of fuck,” Eli mutters, scrubbing his hand down his face.
“I’m full,” I report and sit back to pat my belly. “Let’s go handle the dishwasher at the office.”
“Good idea,” Eli says with a sigh. “Before I go to jail for murder.”
***
“I don’t have space for an industrial sized dishwasher,” I say and roll my eyes at my controlling brother. “And I don’t need it. I like the one I picked out.”
“Fine,” Eli replies and shoves his hands in his pockets, the way he always does when he’s agitated. Dad used to do the same thing.
Eli reminds me a lot of Dad.
“Do not send me that huge dishwasher that I don’t want.” I point my finger at my brother, looking up more than a foot. His lips twitch, and then he pulls me in for a big hug.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Love you,” I whisper to him.
“Love you more,” he says. Rhys is with Kate in her office, so I leave Eli and go in search of him.
“Well, hello, gorgeous.”
I glance up at the deep, sexy voice, and smile widely when I see Rich, an old friend from high school.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as he scoops me up into his arms and hugs me, turning a circle before he puts me back down on my feet. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“I’m Kate’s assistant,” he replies, gesturing to Kate’s office, which is only a few feet away. Her door is wide open. “And you look amazing.”
“Thanks. You’re looking good yourself. You haven’t changed a bit.”
And it’s not an empty compliment. Rich looks the same that he did in high school, aside from filling out a bit into his manhood. He always had a killer smile.
“So when are you going to take me up on my offer to take you out to dinner?” he asks with that charming smile of his firmly in place.
“I don’t remember you asking me,” I reply.
“I’m asking now.”
Movement in Kate’s doorway catches my eye. Rhys is leaning against the doorjamb, his arms crossed, listening unapologetically, his eyes hard.
There’s no humor in his face now.
“What do you say?” Rich asks, unaware that Rhys is behind him.
“You do look great, Rich, but I’m going to have to pass.”
“Married?” His face falls, which actually makes me laugh.
“No.”
“Oh.” His face brightens again, and he looks like he’s about to try again when Rhys steps forward.
“She’s not available,” he informs Rich as he slings his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against him.
“I see.” Rich offers us a fake smile. “It was good to see you again, Gabby.”
“You too, Rich.”
He leaves and I frown up at Rhys. “Was that necessary?”
“Yes. Are you ready?”
I nod and he leads me out of the building and to his car, all in silence. What in the hell is his issue? I didn’t say yes to Rich. I mean, I didn’t really have time to say no either, but I would have if Rhys hadn’t interrupted.
The ride home is full of thick, irritated silence. I don’t know who’s more irritated, me or him.
I think it could be me.
I’ve had men slinging testosterone around me my whole life. And this particular man seems to have more than most.
And it’s usually pretty hot.
He pulls into the driveway of the inn, throws the car in park and walks around to my side to help me out, then takes my hand and leads me inside, through the house, to my room.
I kick the door shut behind us and cross my arms over my chest.
“What in the hell was that all about?”
“Do you think that I don’t know what the other day with Cindy was all about?” he asks rather than answer me, and I’m instantly confused. “When she was coming on to me like a dog in heat, I knew you were just outside the room and could hear us. I was sure to tell her, in no uncertain terms, that I wasn’t interested, out of respect for you, and because that’s how I honestly felt.”
He’s advancing on me, moving slowly, but toward me, until my back is against the door and he’s caging me in. His eyes are on fire. His jaw tight.
In fact, every muscle in his body is pulled tight.
“I would have expected the same from you today.” His voice is hard.
“You didn’t give me the chance to. You interrupted before I could say anything.” His fingers are inching my shirt up over my head, then he throws it on the ground and nimbly unfastens my shorts, letting them fall around my ankles.
“You said he looked good—”
“And he did.” Now my panties are gone.
“When what you should have said was no thank you.”
“I was getting there.”
“Not fucking fast enough.” He unzips his pants and rolls a condom over his cock, lifts me effortlessly, wraps my legs around his waist and props me against the door. We’re at eye-level now, and it kills me to see that in addition to the fire in his eyes, there is hurt too.
“Rhys, I don’t want Rich.”
“When you’re naked with me, I don’t want you to even remember another man’s name.” He slides inside me with one fast thrust, making me gasp. How am I already so wet when he’s doing nothing but pissing me off?
“You’re being unreasonable.”
His eyes narrow. “No, Gabby, I’m not.” He begins to move, making me moan. “This right here? This is mine. You are mine.”
What?
“Rhys.”
“That’s right, me. Just me. Do you understand, Gabby? What we have is ours, and I’ll be fucking goddamned if I’ll share you with anyone else.”
Jesus, the things this man does to my body are insane. But even more than that, what he does to my heart is out of control.
How can I be mad when he just wants me?
“I want you too, Rhys.”
“I want you, yes, but I fucking need you. Do you have any idea how damn terrifying that is?” He tips his forehead to rest on mine. “Seeing another man come on to you, and you not shoot him down right away was a knife to my chest.”
“I’m sorry. I was about to shoot him down.”
He shakes his head, unable to speak any more as he thrusts in and out of me, harder than he ever has. His fingers are gripping my ass so hard he’s sure to leave marks. Not pink ones: bruises.
I’ve never seen him this intense. This…needy.
And it’s all because of me.
“Mine,” he mutters again, and reaches between us to press his thumb on my clit. “Come. Now.”
My whole body clenches as I come, caught between him and the door, my entire world breaking apart and coming back together again, all centered around this amazing man holding me up.
“Did you just mark me?” I ask breathlessly.
“Literally or figuratively?”
“Both.”
“Yes.”
Chapter Fifteen
~Gabby~
“Gabby, I heard you hired some help,” Mama says as she stirs the red beans and rice on her stovetop. We’re all at her house for a Sunday dinner, as usual.
“About six weeks ago, yes,” I reply and smile as Rhys leans down to kiss me on his way to help set the table. He’s been very affectionate with me in front of my family. My brothers are all a little twitchy because of it, but Van, Charly and Kate just wink and smile.
Mama simply pats my shoulder.
He makes me happy.
“And how is that working out?” Declan asks and picks a carrot out of the salad bowl. “You’re such a control freak.”
“It’s my business,” I reply with a shrug. “I should be a control freak. But it’s working out great. Eva comes in for me in the mornings and takes care of breakfast, and helps check guests out. She leaves by about noon each day.”
“I’m glad you took Rhys’s advice and hired Eva,” Kate says, ignoring Eli’s glare. “You were taking on too much.”
“It was beginning to be a lot to handle,” I admit softly. “But I love it. It’s not work for me, you know?”
“But it is work,” Rhys says and plants his lips on my head. “You work your ass off, sugar.”
“She comes by that honestly,” Mama says with a smile. “Every one of my children are hard workers.”
“Just like our parents,” Van says.
“There’s nothing wrong with hard work,” Beau adds. “But there is also a time to admit that you need help, and I’m glad you did.”
“It is nice to have some flexibility in the morning,” I reply with a nod. “And Eva seems to love it. She caught on quickly, doesn’t piss me off, and is happy to have the job.”
“Perfect,” Charly says with a grin and pulls the pork chops out of the oven. “There is nothing worse than an employee who pisses you off.”
“Of course she’s happy to be there,” Mama says as she pulls me in for a big hug. “You’re very easy to love.”
“You’re my mom. You’re supposed to say that.”
I glance up at Rhys, who winks at me then resumes a conversation with Kate and Beau, and I can’t help but remember an evening in bed with him not long ago, when after we’d made love, he smiled and said, “You’re so easy to fall for.”
Yet, he’s never said he loves me. But he shows me he does in so many little ways. The easy affection he shows me, the way he jumps in to help me whenever he thinks I need it.
And I’m beginning to hope that maybe, just maybe, he’s not going to disappear from my life. He seems so content here. Maybe he’ll stay.
I wish I wasn’t so fucking scared to just ask him what he wants. But Daddy always said don’t ask a question that you don’t want the answer to.
And if the answer is that he’s having fun with me for now, but he’ll be returning to Chicago soon, well…I don’t want to hear that.
So, I’m basically a coward.
“Earth to Gabby,” Declan says, waving his hand in front of my face. “Where did you go there, baby-doll?”
“Sorry.” I smile and shake my head. “Daydreaming.”
“About what?”
“Dessert.” I glance longingly at the pecan pie Mama made for dessert.
“Can we have pie now?” Sam asks, just as he does every Sunday. And every Sunday he gets the same response.
“I know you’re not gonna try to eat my pie before dinner,” Mama says, shaking her finger at him. Sam’s shoulders droop and he lets out a long sigh.
“No, ma’am.”
“Dinner is just about ready,” Charly says, plating all the dishes, and passing them to me to put on the long table in the dining room. Charly and Mama are the best cooks in the family.
“Why doesn’t Gabby ever help cook?” Beau asks. “You’re a great cook.”
“I do well enough at the inn, but I don’t love it the way Mama and Charly do.” I shrug and set a bowl of salad on the table. “And I helped chop the salad.”
“I like your cooking,” Beau says.
“Does that mean you’d like to join us for more dinners?” I prop my hands on my hips as a smile slips over my eldest brother’s lips.
“Well, since you invited me so nicely, sure.”
“Uncle Beau wants mac n’ cheese,” Sam says as he sits in his chair. “Every night.”
“I think that’s what Sam wants,” I reply dryly. “And you already get it at least twice a week.”
“That’s hardly ever.”
“Yes, you’re incredibly abused,” Charly says with a roll of the eyes. “I’m so very sorry for you.”
“Well, maybe not abused,” Sam says, thinking it over. “Maybe mac n’ cheese abuse!”
I ruffle my son’s hair and help him dish up his plate before I dish up my own. But when I turn to do so, Rhys has already loaded it up, dropping scoops of everything when he scoops his own.
“Thank you.” I lean over and kiss his bicep, then look up to see Declan’s eyes on me. Of all three of my brothers, Declan is the most laid back. He’s the typical artist; very sensitive and easy going, but he can be just as fiercely protective as Beau or Eli, in his way.
But right now, his eyes are smiling, and his lips are quirking, and I know that I’m in for a conversation outside with him before we leave Mama’s house today.
And that’s okay because sometimes Declan gives the best advice.
“Mom, I don’t feel great,” Sam says softly. When I lay my lips on his forehead, it feels warm to the touch, but he’s not burning up.
“Do you think you got too much sunshine today?”
“Maybe.”
He’s picking at his food, and that’s not like him.
“Does your belly hurt?”
“No.”
“Have you felt like this for very long?”
“No, ma’am.” He takes a bite of rice and swallows, and he looks okay to me.
“I’ll give you some medicine when we get home,” I murmur and kiss his head. “Just eat what you want. You don’t have to clean your plate.”
“Do I still get dessert?”
“Yes, baby, you can still have dessert.”
“I think it’s just because you didn’t hug your Nannan when you came in,” Mama says and kisses Sam’s head as she passes him to her seat. “You don’t feel warm.”
“He might have overdone it today,” I say, a little worried. But my boy plays hard, and sometimes he just wears himself out.
“Charly,” Kate says, “I need some new shoes for fall.”
“Oh, sugar, I have you covered.” Charly tucks her hair behind her ear and rubs her hands together. “I have a whole slew of new shoes coming in later this week, and they are to die for.”
“Perfect,” Kate says with a grin.
“We’ll be there,” Van agrees.
“You should come with us,” Kate says to me. “You hardly ever come into the city.”
“Well, now that I have an employee, I might be able to do that,” I reply happily. “I’ll let you know.”
Suddenly, Rhys leans down and whispers in my ear, “Snag a pair of new fuck-me shoes.”
I grin over at him and feel my cheeks flush. “Yeah?”
“Y
“Done.”
***
“So talk to me about Rhys,” Declan says as he leads me into Mama’s back yard. We’re wandering through her gardens, on brick paths. As summer is coming to an end, the evenings are cooling off a bit.
Not cool by most people’s standards, but it’s not stifling.
“What would you like to know?”
“Everything.” He sighs and drags his hand through his longer hair. “How are you? How does he make you feel? Is he good to you?”
“Being the big brother.”
“And your friend.” He takes my hand in his and squeezes it lightly. “Always your friend, baby-doll.”
And that just brings tears to my eyes. I love that all of my brothers and sisters are also my dear friends. My best friends.
I don’t know what I would do without them.
“I’m doing very well,” I assure him immediately. “I’m happy. He makes me feel happy.”
“You look happy,” he says. “You look like you’re in love.”
“And I suppose I am.”
He nods, then frowns, as though he’s trying to find the words.
“Just say it.”
“It’s not that easy, Gabs.” He sits on a bench and leans his elbows on his jean-covered knees. He’s in a blue T-shirt, showing off the muscles in his arms.
Despite them being my brothers, I’m not stupid. I know they’re all good looking men. And I tend to be a bit protective of my Declan because his heart is softer than the others, and I’ll be damned if anyone is going to hurt him and live to tell about it.
“I love you, Dec.”
His head whips up, surprised.
“Where did that come from?”
“I just don’t get to see you often enough, and I miss you. I love you.”
“I love you too.” He rubs his fingers over his mouth, studying me. “Okay, so this is how I see it, as an outsider looking in. And keep in mind that I’m your brother too, so there’s that.”
“Oh boy.”
“You’re clearly in love with each other. The way he looks at you is how Daddy used to look at Mama.”
Oh. My heart goes all gooey and I bite my lip.
But then he keeps talking.
“And frankly, it worries me.”
I blink at him. “Wait. What?”