Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

RIFTAN

“Touch her and die.” That’s the warning Sean gave me last night when we went for our weekly beers down at Cavanaugh’s, a local pub in Little Horn. It took every ounce of self-control I had not to pop him one. The warnings are getting redundant.

Even when I told him I would be window dressing, he didn’t believe me. He only said, “I know how you look at her. Like you want to devour her whole, that’s my baby sister.”

As if calling her his baby sister would make her off-limits. She’s seven years younger than us, and she's not still a girl in her teens.

Now, I’m driving to her apartment in town— her one defiance against her family, to be completely independent— in my Tahoe after picking us both up a drink from the ‘Bucks— a black coffee for me and her favorite, the Strawberry Acai refresher with a chocolate croissant.

I pull in next to her little Trax and kill the engine before making my way up to her door. A part of me hopes she’s as excited for this as I am. Sean could give me all the warnings he wants, and I won’t do anything unless she starts it, but if she does, I’m not backing down. She’ll learn I’ve never thought of her as a sister. Someone to protect? Fuck yes. I’d die for her. That’s how much she means to me, but she’s not my sister, and I’ve never thought of her like that. My best friend's little sister? Yes, but to me, as kids, she was Sean’s little sister who always tagged along until Sean got a car and we drove everywhere.

I didn’t see her much when she was a teen because when Sean and I graduated, we both went into the Marines. I only came back when she graduated high school. While Sean only did one tour, I did two. When I came back, she was twenty, and it was like my eyes finally opened to see the woman she was becoming.

A fiery temptress meant to drive men down to their knees. She wasn’t a big girl, but she had curves men of old painted on canvases.

I pocket my keys and walk up to her door, knocking.

I wait patiently, and then I hear her mutter, “Oh, my God. He’s here. He really came. Breathe. Just. Freaking. Breathe.”

I wonder if she knows I could hear her. The doors to these apartments are thin. However, I can’t stop the smirk from lifting on my face as her words settle in.

She’s attracted to me. My chest tightens with the knowledge, and I feel my dick throb with need. I won’t initiate anything, but like I said, if she wants me, she’ll be the one who takes it for herself. Then all bets are off.

I hear her unlocking the bolt and the chain before unlocking the regular door lock. I push my sunglasses to my head when she opens the door. Her long auburn hair curls in waves down her shoulders and back with half pulled into a ponytail. Her gorgeous green eyes pull me in as they travel over my body, lingering in some spots, most likely my dick, if that dark blush staining her cheeks has anything to do with it, until she swallows a gulp over my chest and then a sigh leaves her lips when her gaze catches mine.

“Hey, Riftan.” Her voice is breathless, and that soft sound goes right to my dick, making the semi-erection I was sporting jerk against the zipper of my jeans. I can’t get a boner right here, dumb-nuts. She might feel attracted to me, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to see how her inquisitive eyes affect my physical body.

“Morning, Harriet. Are you all packed and ready?”

She nods nimbly, pointing to the few suitcases lined up by her small couch. When she reaches for them, I grab her wrist, stopping her.

“I got them. Make sure you got everything you need and lock up.”

A blush rushes to her cheeks as she nods. “Okay, thank you, Rif.”

With a nod, I grab her suitcases and roll them out as she turns off the lights and locks up behind her. I follow behind her as she walks to the Tahoe. Clicking the locking mechanism, I set her things down before walking to the passenger-side door to open it for her.

“A true gentleman. Thank you, Riftan.” Her sweet praise goes straight to my heart as I shut the door behind her and load up her luggage. I get behind the wheel and start the truck when she whispers, “Is this for me?” Pointing to the refresher drink, she glances up at me, and I nod. “And sweetly thoughtful, too. You remembered my favorite.”

“I remember all your favorites.”

Her intake of breath has me shifting my gaze to her wide-eyed expression. “All my favorites?”

Maybe I shouldn’t have said that aloud, but I wouldn’t lie to her either. “Yes.” I picked up the Starbucks bag and handed it to her. “There’s a chocolate croissant in there for you as well.”

She bites her lip, pleasure twinkling in her eyes as I backed out and started driving. “You sure will make some lucky woman a very happy wife if you do things like this.”

She takes out the croissant, and while she’s smiling, there’s sadness in her expression that I don’t like. I’ve always hated seeing her upset. “What’s making you look so sad, Harriet?”

As if me catching her like that was something she didn’t want caught, she quickly turns her smile up and gives me a wistful, dreamlike glance. “I’m not upset. Just… thinking.”

“You know you can tell me anything if you want. However, I’d never put you on the spot like that, so instead, tell me the itinerary.”

The way she relaxes tells me I did the right thing. I have no problem pushing our attraction, but she’ll be the one who takes the lead at first.

“Well, we’re supposed to meet at the plantation by one, so we’ll be a little early?—

“The way you like it,” I smirk, knowing this girl more than anything else. Her cheeks stain pink as she looks at me, and her return smile is beautiful.

“That’s right. I always hate being late. That’s why I’m always the first one to the office.”

“I know, Harriet. You always make sure everyone has everything they need on their desks to start the day. There’s a fresh pot of coffee and snacks already lined up for us in the break room, and keeping up with our schedules. You know you don’t have to do that. We’re all adults.”

“I know, but I like serving the people I love. What’s wrong with that?”

“You love Jimmy, Brad, Conner, and the others?”

A red hue stains her cheeks even more as this awkward giggle leaves her lips. “No, I don’t love them that way. They’re all nice guys to me, but I know they appreciate me having them ready and rearing to go whenever they come back from an assignment. Now, let’s move on from that. I only love those closest to me.”

I can’t help but tease, “Including me?”

I give her a smirk, and in my peripheral, I see her nod. “We’re not best friends like you and Sean are, but I’ve known you all my life, Riftan. Anyway, tonight is dinner, and gambling, then we’re back at the plantation for Cards Against Humanity. Friday night is rehearsal in the afternoon;. However, we’re not a part of the bridal party; none of the sisters are since there are seven of us, and the groom only has a best man, so her closest friend is her bridesmaid. Bride/groom games before another dinner, and then we’ll go to a club for drinks and whatever. The wedding is Saturday afternoon at four, and the reception lasts until nine. We’re staying the last night and leaving by noon Sunday.”

I nod, adding all that to my head, however, “So, how is this going to work out, Harriet? When we get there, and they see me?”

Nervously, she brushes her hair behind her ear. “Well, as you heard the other day, I told Judy it would be a surprise. My sisters know that I… well, date a lot. To be honest, I’ve only ever had one boyfriend, and well, that was crappy, but otherwise, I’ve only really dated, and I broke it off with Tom after well, things not working out?—

“You still didn’t say if he was bad to you the other day.”

I’m glad she mentioned that because I wanted to know. Sean’s been a bear since Harriet announced I was going to go with her, and although all his touch-her-and-die threats went in one ear and out the other, he said to find out if her latest breakup was something the guy did. That I said I’d find out. I blatantly ignored the rest.