Page 56 of Tethered

“Well shiver me timbers.”

Chapter Sixteen

I’ve been busy in the workshop for an hour when Riggs pokes his head around to tell me Dawn and Hannah are spending the night in a lavish hotel where they can get some pampering, courtesy of Jen. They won’t be back until later tomorrow, which is fine. Until I realize it is going to leave me alone with three drop-dead gorgeous men. The answer to that is to hide out for another hour before reluctantly cleaning myself up and getting dressed in something more appropriate than threadbare shorts and a faded tank top.

I keep it simple with a short white sundress that shows off my tan. I rub scented moisturizer into my skin, adding a subtle shimmer of gold to brighten the occasion. I don’t need a bra with this dress—it has a fitted corset-style top that takes some fiddling to get into as it laces up with ribbons at the back. Since I have time and a bunch of nervous energy to work through, I curl my hair, using a large barrel to make big, bouncy waves. When I’m done, I swipe on a touch of red lipstick with a dash of gloss for shine.

Happy with the overall effect, I stand back and admire myself in the mirror for a moment before I eye the door and decide to do something daring. I slip my hands under my dress and hook my fingers in the edge of my panties before sliding them down my legs and stepping out of them. I ball them up and toss them in the hamper before I straighten the bed and walk down the stairs, straining to hear if anyone is here yet.

The answer to that question is an awareness washing over me. I head straight for the door, knowing it’s Shepard. I open it as he parks and smile when I see he’s driving a Jeep Wrangler instead of his cruiser. My eyes move over the man himself. He’s wearing a pair of dark blue jeans with a white button-up, the arms rolled up to the elbow, the look screaming cool and casual.

He spots me and grins before dipping back into the car and pulling out a bunch of—“No way. Is that a book bouquet?” I hurry down the steps as he chuckles to himself, but I don’t care. The man has books. I like to think I’m a wise woman, but I swear all it would take to kidnap me is a mobile library. “Are those for me?”

“No, they’re for Riggs,” he deadpans, earning a glare from me until he hands it over.

I stare down at the pretty wrapped bouquet of romance books interwoven with candles and candy. “This is awesome, Shepard, thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Poppy.”

“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I tell him reverently.

“You don’t own a mirror?”

I shake my head. “Alright, Mr. Suave, let’s get this show inside before Riggs thinks I’ve run away.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that. That man would hunt you down and drag you back.”

“What makes you say that?”

He nods toward the door, where Riggs leans against the frame, his ankles crossed, watching us. “Intuition.” He winks. He dips his head and kisses me gently before pulling back.

I head up the steps to Riggs, feeling a little giddy. “Look what I got.”

“Ah, I see he figured out the way to my woman’s heart.”

“Maybe she’s gotta little space in there for both of us,” Shepard offers.

Riggs eyes him before his gaze comes back to me and softens. “Maybe. Come on, food’s almost done. If…” His voice drifts off at the sound of the approaching car.

“Who’s that?” Shepard asks.

I look at Riggs with wide eyes, remembering that Shepard has no idea Austin is coming. “Eh…”

“Have fun with that, Opie. Here, let me take your bouquet inside while you explain to your cop who else is coming for dinner.” The asshole dares to grin at me, a full-on dimpled grin at that.

“I miss something?” Shepard asks, but by then the car is close enough for him to recognize. “Fuck.”

“Yeah, so about that…”

He turns to look at me, crossing his arms over his chest. “You know what he does for a living?”

“I know, but it’s not like he’s going to do some arms deal or drug trade over the lasagna Riggs baked.”

He tips his head back and looks at the sky as if seeking patience.

“It’s worth pointing out that Riggs and I are both ex-cons. You’re kind of already diving in at the deep end. As far as I know, Austin has never been convicted of anything.”

“Mostly because the guy is too slick to get caught,” he mutters, and I can’t really argue with that.