reception dinner, not considering murder. It was hot as hell.
I bit my lip and groaned. "That's actually one of the most romantic things you've ever said to me," I muttered, heat rising into my cheeks. It was one thing to tell a person you loved them, it was another to play a long game and keep an adversary alive at significant financial loss just to let the woman you love seek closure in the form of patricide.
Be still my heart.
Archer shot me a grin. "Anyway, I should get back into the gym. Kody left me strict instructions this morning about what to work on." He leaned forward and kissed me, then hopped off his stool.
I frowned. "So why'd you come in here if you're supposed to be training still?"
He quirked a lopsided smile as he walked backward out of the kitchen. "'Cause I missed you."
My jaw hit the floor, but he was already gone. Hot and cold motherfucker was constantly throwing me for a loop.
I picked up my phone, unlocked it, and found some new messages from Bree. Instead of answering them, I hit the video chat button. It only rang a couple of times before she answered, because she was stuck in a hospital bed and constantly had her phone in hand.
"Hey girl," she greeted me when the call connected. "Oh, you have your freshly-fucked face on. Did you just have a quickie?"
I gaped. "What? No! Jesus Bree, I just messaged you like ten minutes ago."
She shrugged. "I did say quickie. What's up?"
"I was thinking about stopping by the hospital today. Are you up for a visitor?" I was hopeful but wouldn't be surprised if she said no. She'd been going through a lot with the aftermath of the crash and coming to terms with her totally unexpected pregnancy.
Her smile beamed, though. "Yes, hell yes! Come and save me from my downward slide into insanity at the hands of Gilmore Girls."
I laughed. "What season are you up to now?"
"Five," she replied with a pained groan. "Girl, you don't understand. Logan is so... ugh, so freaking hot. Rory needs to ride that pony."
Thank fuck she was team Logan. "I'll check which of my shadows is free and head over soon."
"Awesome, I'll kick Dallas out when you get here." She blew me kisses, then ended the call. It made me smile to think of Dallas sitting there in the hospital with her while she binged chick-flick TV.
My phone went back into my jeans pocket beside my butterfly knife as I wandered upstairs to find Steele. I already knew Kody wasn't home, and Archer was in the gym. If Steele was out or sleeping, I could ask one of the security guards to go with me, but I'd rather hang with one of my guys.
As I reached the second floor, the soft sound of piano music drifted out of Steele's bedroom, and I paused a moment to listen. He played with so much soul I could hardly understand how he’d gone so long without it.
"Hey," I said softly, pushing his door open when the tune ended. "That was beautiful. What's it called?"
Steele looked over at me from his seat in front of his instrument and quirked a grin. "It doesn't have a name. What's up?" He was shirtless, his jeans not even buttoned up and no underwear in sight. Fuck, he was gorgeous.
"I want to go see Bree at the hospital. Would you come with me?" I leaned on the door frame, keeping a safe distance between us. That early morning ménage à trois had only set my mood for the day, and I was panting for more. But I guess I couldn't deal with stalkers and assassins with my legs in the air twenty-four-seven, so I was practicing some self-control. It sucked.
Steele nodded. "You bet. Let me just find a shirt." He stood up, showing off that drool-worthy V at his waist and confirming the fact that he was commando under his jeans. My pussy clenched, and I bit the inside of my cheek.
Down, girl. You've had plenty of vitamin D to last the day.
"I'll... wait downstairs," I said reluctantly, letting my eyes run all over his toned, tattoo-covered body as he bent to grab a T-shirt from his floor.
He smirked when he stood up and caught me looking. "You sure? I doubt Bree would mind if you were a bit late."
I let out a pained groan and retreated into the hallway. "Meet you downstairs!" I called back before I could