Meadow’s POV:
The crash of the ceramic tes against the marble floor made me flinch, and I cursed as the pieces scattered around me. I froze like a deer caught in headlights.
Mel gasped, nearly dropping the pan she was holding. “Stay still!” she barked, already rushing toward a door in the corner of the kitchen. “You’re barefoot, Meadow. Don’t take another step.”
I nodded quickly as my muscles tensed. And when I remembered that ric was only a few feet away, <b>I </b>turned around to look at him.
But that was a bad idea.
God, I was full of bad ideastely.
As I shifted, I stepped on a slick piece of porcin, and I slipped.
I gasped, my arms iling as they tried to reach for something–anything–that would ground me, but there was nothing. However, I didn’t hit the floor.
ric’s strong hands caught me before gravity did.
“Fucking hell, Meadow,” he cursed as he took me into his arms, lifting me off my feet and stepping away
from the mess I’d just made.
“What part of ‘stay still‘ did you not understand?” His voice was low and sharp andced with something
that sounded dangerously close to concern.
My mouth popped open but no words coulde out. How could they<b>? </b>I’d nearly fallen hard onto ceramic pieces and I could’ve hurt myself. Badly.
My heart thudded hard against my ribcage, but I wasn’t sure whether it was from the near–fall… or from
the fact that ric was carrying me bridal–style.
And he still hadn’t dropped me.
“What are you doing here, Meadow?” ric muttered, looking down at me. “You’re supposed to be in bed.”
I swallowed as he let me down gently onto my feet, but his hand still didn’t leave my waist, almost like he was still trying to keep me steady in case my clumsy ass decided to do something stupid.
“I was.” My voice came out airy and I looked away from ric, clearing my throat. “And then I got tired and decided toe help Mel.”
He smirked darkly. “And how did that work out for you?” he asked. “Being stubborn.”
My jaw twitched as I shot him a re, folding my arms across my chest. Behind me, I could hear Mel sweeping up the broken pieces, but I didn’t turn to watch.
Neither of us did.
“I was only trying to be helpful,” I said stiffly, even though my cheeks were warming at how close we still
were and how intensely ric was watching me. “It’s not illegal.”
ric’s
gaze swept over my face, down my body, and his eyes lingered on my chest for a second too long. I unfolded my arms.
<b>“</b>No,” he replied. “But it is inconvenient when you end up needing stitches because you think you’re
indestructible.”
I scowled. “I don’t need stitches.”
ric’s mouth twitched as he stared pointedly at my head. “How’s your forehead?”
The fucking bastard!
My hand reached for the bandage that my hair covered–the reminder of what my sister did to me. And as I touched it, something dark shed in his eyes and his jaw clenched.
I see he hadn’t gotten over it yet.
Mel cleared her throat loudly behind us, and ric’s grip tightened on my waist for just a second before he let me go, stepping away from me.
‘No,‘ something inside me yelled. ‘Don’t go.‘
“Got it<i>,</i><i>” </i>she announced, standing upright with the dustpan now full. “But I’m going to mop, just to be safe. Don’t want to take any chances.”
ric slowly peeled off his suit jacket, leaving him in a ck button–down shirt.
Did this man own anything other than ck?
“Thank you<b>, </b>Mel,” he said firmly. “But I’ve got it. It’s alreadyte and you should be getting home.”
Mel hesitated. “Are you sure? I can finish up-”
“Mel,” he cut her off, carefully folding his jacket in half. “Go home to your family, and I’ll see you
tomorrow.<i>” </i>
Mel looked between <b>us</b><b>, </b>gave me a small smile, and then poured the contents of the dustpan into the bin.” Okay then,” she said. “I’ll be on my way. Goodnight, Meadow. Try to stay off your feet.”
“I’ll do my best,” I said, trying not to sound embarrassed and failing terribly at it.
A momentter, the soft click of the side door let us know she was gone.
And that we were alone. My heartbeat began to ring loudly in my ears.
ric rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, exposing the skin of his forearms<b>–</b>one toned, and the other<b>… </b>
inked. I swallowed. How on earth could someone ever be this <b>sexy</b><b>? </b>
He made me feel things I’d never felt in my entire life.
ric didn’t speak as he moved around the kitchen with controlled efficiency, he set out new tes,
uncorked a bottle of wine and served the food from the still–warm pot on the stove. I didn’t dare move
this time. Instead, I sat back slowly on the stool.
He poured two sses of wine and ced one in front of me. And then he slid onto the stool right beside <ol><li>me. </li></ol>
A shiver ran down my spine and I tried to hide my nervousness by holding the ss by the stem and swirling the red liquid inside. “You’re really good at this,” I muttered, not meeting his eyes.
“Good at what?”
“This.” I gestured vaguely around the kitchen. “Serving dinner. Cleaning up messes,” I paused, tilting my head to look at him as I lowered my voice. “Acting like you didn’t just have someonemitted to a
psych ward this morning.”
ric finally turned to look at me but I couldn’t decipher the look on his face.
“I’m not acting,” he said.
I blinked.
“I did what had to be done,” ric continued. “And believe me, I could’ve done much worse, but I had a feeling you wouldn’t appreciate that.”
He cut into his chicken with a knife, taking the piece up to his mouth and chewing gently.
God, even the way he chewed was sexy.
I cleared my throat, looking away<b>. </b>“I never asked you tomit my sister,” I said, softer now.
“No,” ric said simply. “But unless you’re telling me you want me to get her out, I don’t see why we should be talking about this.”
Something tugged at my chest. Why did I keep feeling bad that Juniper was locked away? I knew it was only temporary, but I also knew it wouldn’t take much for ric to make it permanent.
“She’s my sister, ric<i>.</i>”
He paused, setting his cutlery down gently. “Again, Meadow, unless you’re telling me you want me to get
her out, we shouldn’t be talking about this. Not after what she did to you.” He tilted his head slightly. “Eat.”
The silence that came after the words he said was long and heavy. I opened my mouth to speak. To maybe tell him that I wanted him to get her out, but something deep inside me warned me not to. At least not now.
And eventually, I did as ric said, and I ate.
And only when my te was nearly cleared did I speak.
“I thought about what <b>you </b>said.”
ric stood up, clearing the tes from the counter, and I did nothing but watch him.
“I’ve said a lot of things, Meadow.” His voice was a low mutter. “What exactly are you referring to?<b>” </b>
His voice did a number on me, making my core ache with need. And as my gaze dropped to his hand, his fingers…all I could think about was how deep inside of me they’d been yesterday.
And how badly I wanted more.
“I’ll marry you,” I finally said when ric leaned forward across from me, his elbows on the counter. “I’ll sign whatever you want me to sign so you can help me get revenge against Tyler and… Juniper<b>.</b><b>” </b>
His mouth twitched. “I expected nothing less.” He seemed pleased at what I’d just said.
I wondered how he’d feel after the next thing I was nning to say.
<b>“</b>But…” I trailed off and ric arched his brow.
“But what?<b>” </b>
I <b>got </b>down from the stool, not sure where my bravery was sprouting from, and then I turned around the <b>counter</b><b>, </b>walking over slowly to where he stood.
ric stood upright, turning around so his back was now leaning against the counter as I stood in front of him.
“Before I sign anything…” I said, meeting his gaze head–on as my hand reached for his shirt. “<b>I </b>want you to let me touch <b>you </b>again.” <b>My </b>voice lowered to a whisper as I stared at his mouth. “Everywhere<b>.</b>”