Page 6 of Hot Blooded

“Do you own it?”

“No. My brother does.”

“Where is he?”

“Well, oddly enough, since the guy likes to run from his problems, he took off after the place burned down. Went on a fucking vacation and left me to clean up the mess just like he usually does.”

My mouth drops open and I glare at him. “Wait, what? What happened to all the paperwork?”

“What paperwork?”

“We were supposedly married here last night. We need to find out if our paperwork was registered and if we’re indeed married. If there was a fire, maybe it wasn’t.”

The man shakes his head, his eyes narrowing. “I doubt if that paperwork was here. My doofus brother tends to carry everything with him. He is a horrible pain in the ass but he’s very cautious with stuff like that. He’s also very conscientious at getting paperwork filed.” He glances around moodily. “Which is weird considering how immature he is with everything else.”

I sigh and Reva glances down, her slim shoulders sinking until she looks like a wilting flower. I want to pull her in for a hug and tell her it’s all going to be alright, that I will fix everything.

But I’m not sure what the truth is so I can’t make a promise like that.

So instead, I ask if there’s a phone number for his brother and he groans. “My brother decided to go to a resort where they lock up your phone and don’t let you have it for your entire vacation. That’s why I have to take care of the insurance and everything else for him. Selfish bastard,” he mutters under his breath.

I groan. “Can you get ahold of him and let him know that we need that information?”

“Sure. But it might take a couple of days. Can you guys stick around until then?”

I turn and my eyes laser in on Reva’s little white teeth digging into her full lower lip. Immediately, I feel that ache building in my jeans where my zipper is pressed against my suddenly-burgeoning, hard dick. Her darkened gaze lifts, her dark lashes fluttering and I feel like the earth shifts under my feet. Fuck, she’s beautiful! Why does she have to be so beautiful?

“I guess. My dad’s already asking me why I haven’t come home yet. I’m not sure how long I can stall him.”

Patting her arm sympathetically, I feel a spark of electricity zipping along my fingers and darting up into my chest where it feels like a warm fire builds and I rub at my chest absently, seeking to gain access to that warmth, that fire that I feel only around her.

“I can stay.” I turn to look at the man and hand over a business card that includes my profession, carpenter, and social media and contact information.

The other man nods at me, his eyes on the card. “Got it. I’ll give you a call as soon as I hear something. Hell, maybe I can get some information from you on this mess.” He stares at the smoldering remains. He turns to face us, holding out his hand. “I’m Luca by the way. And don’t worry…I’m sure your marriage went through fine.”

With that, we both have to be satisfied and I lead Reva away, inching her until she’s alongside me, wrapping my arms around her waist. She stares up at me and for just a moment, something seems to well up between us, anchoring us together.

For just a moment in time. And then we both hurry away, our bodies separated and my own aching at losing her sweet touch.

It’s for the best. I can’t have her and if I have to wean myself away from touching her, well, then that’s what I will do.

No matter how much I don’t want to.

REVA

“Hello?” I say when someone finally answers my call.

“Reva? Where are you? We went to your room to go out to eat for breakfast and you weren’t there!”

I sigh deeply and Harper groans. “Oh no, that sounds like there’s a really long story. We lost track of you last night after you went to say hello to that brutally gorgeous man at the roulette table.”

I flush and sag against the pillows on the bed, holding the phone up to my ear. “I’m so sorry. I actually can’t really remember. It’s all a huge blur.”

“Oh my god!” she shrieks, making me pull the phone from my ear with a grimace, my ears ringing. “Did someone drug you? I told you to keep an eye on your drinks! Was it that gorgeous guy?”

“It is a long story. And I need you to keep it to yourself. Don’t even tell the other girls!” Harper is my bestie so I’m hoping that she’ll agree to disagree on this.

“Of course. You know I’ll keep all your secrets, girl! But are you alright?”