A Redo (The Sterling Shore Series #6) (31 page)

My eyebrows lift, and I grin. Bella is the world’s worst at texting.

ME: Who is Trial? And why are they brushing my things?

BELLA: Damn autocorrect. TRIA’S house. And they’re BRINGING your things.

ME: You didn’t… with one of them did you?

BELLA: Seriously? It’s Corbin Freaking Sterling. No I did not touch him, besides, he didn’t seem in crested. And Maverick might be hot, but I’m over the bad boys who love one-night stands. So… no.

I laugh when I read her text, but before I can send another, she beats me to it.

BELLA: INTERESTED not IN CRESTED!! I hate autocorrect.

Wren doesn’t seem too
interested
in me right now, considering he’s avoided me like the plague since we got here. He carried me in, but put me down and put distance between us. It has me worried.

ME: I may just come there with you.

BELLA: NO! Wren wants you there, and I think you should stay. Bow chica wow wow.
(
No idea if that is spelled right, but it’s code for get your freak on.)

“Yeah,” Wren says over the phone, his voice drawing closer as Angel finishes her math work, “that sounds great. Just send me the bill… Thanks.”

I put my new phone in my lap as he makes his way toward us. He hangs up, putting his phone away for the first time since we’ve been here—for over an hour—and drops down beside Angel who quickly goes to his lap.

“I’m done with all my homework,” she says proudly, and he smiles down at her before kissing her head.

“Good. Want to go check out all the changes to your room? It’s been a while since you’ve been here, and Grandma has made some drastic improvements.”

Her eyes widen, and she jumps off his lap, racing down the long hallway. Wren tenses the second we’re alone. I’ve brushed my teeth, taken a shower, put on some stretchy pants and a sweatshirt, but I don’t feel comfortable at all because of how tense he seems.

“If you’re uncomfortable with me being here, I can go to Tria’s. It’s just for a few days, anyway.”

He frowns while looking over at me, finally making eye contact.

“We need to talk,” he says, confusing me.

“Yeah… I guess so. I mean, a lot has happened.” I’m rambling. Great.

He starts to speak, but suddenly the door swings open, and Corbin and Maverick come traipsing through the house, both of them carrying tons of bags. Why so much stuff?

“Got it all, I think,” Maverick says through a labored breath. “Bella packed it, so I have no idea what is where. We were just the muscle. Any furniture needed over here?”

Wren shakes his head. “I’ll let you know,” he says, avoiding my gaze.

“Your room?” Corbin asks.

“Yeah. Did you leave Angel’s clothes there?” Wren asks them.

“Yeah. Bella said she’d need some because she’s still getting Angel as much as possible,” Maverick answers, and my stomach tightens. What the…

“Wren?” I prompt, watching his shoulders stiffen at the sound of his name.

“I guess you haven’t told her yet, judging by the look on her face,” Corbin says with a taunting grin that is directed at Wren.

“I’ve been… busy. It’s been hectic getting everything sorted out, and my lawyers served the slander suit on the paper this morning. I’ll fill you in later.”

Maverick and Corbin disappear with my bags, and Wren turns to face me.

“Wren?” I prompt again. “Why did they bring that many bags? And what did any of that mean?”

He looks… worried. Ah, hell. What now?

“Good luck!” Maverick calls out, chuckling with Corbin as they escape through the door once again.

Wren doesn’t acknowledge them as he stands up.

“I’m moving you in with me. Permanently. Angel, too. But she has more clothes than she can wear, so her other stuff is staying there—per Bella’s request.”

He turns and walks away as though this conversation is finished, while I’m left reeling and feeling dizzy.

“Wren, I can’t move in with you,” I hiss while standing up, but he’s suddenly spinning and lifting me, keeping me off my feet like I’m broken instead of bruised.

He cradles me to him, and I wrap my arms around his neck to help support my weight. His lips tilt on one side in a cocky sort of grin.

“It’s too late. You’re already moved in. I’ll tie you to the bed if that’s what I have to do to keep you here.” His grin broadens. “In fact, that sounds like a damn good idea.”

I fight hard not to smile, but it’s impossible not to give in when he’s grinning like that.

“You know what I mean.”

His smile falls. “Did you see the video?”

I nod, unable to speak as the video replays in my mind. Wren told the world he loves me, but he hasn’t told me. Maybe… Maybe that was to shut everyone up and make them feel guilty for what they said.

“Then you know everything. You know that lunch with Erica was a ruse. You know why I didn’t answer your call. And you know… how I feel. Now I’m kidnapping you until you feel the same way. It’s that simple.”

I laugh even though he’s trying to look serious. But he doesn’t crack a smile. Oh shit. He is serious.

“You can’t seriously expect me to live here. We just started dating.”

“We’ve spent weeks dating, and even longer wanting to date. I can’t sleep without you anymore. If you’re at home, I’m right beside you. This will just make it easier on me.”

His grin spreads again. “Besides,” he goes on, “Angel knows we’re together, and she really loves it.”

My stomach flutters when it sinks in that he’s definitely serious. This isn’t a joke, and I can’t believe I’m actually considering it. It’s too reckless with Angel—

“Before you start worrying about how this will affect Angel, also think of how this could be good for her,” he says, reading my damn mind. “I’ll help you make a pro/con list.”

His lips twitch when my face turns red, and I roll my eyes as he carries me through the house. I’ve only been here a couple of times, and that was just so we could be alone for a little while before joining Bella and Angel. Well, I’d been here to pick her up before, but I’m not counting those times.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, still holding me.

“Inner ramble,” I grumble, which elicits a laugh from him.

“Are you adding up the
pro
list? Because I’m not listening to the
con
list.”

He grins down at me, and I can’t stifle the stupid smile that comes across my face. “You’re serious about this? This is a big deal, Wren. I can’t move Angel into your house, then turn around and move her out. We moved here to be closer to Bella and to give her a chance to get to know you. Then we moved into a house because it took a while to find something we liked. Now we’ll be moving here. It’s the least stability she’s ever had, and I don’t want to hurt her with this.”

His expression sobers, and he bends his head to brush his lips against mine. He doesn’t deepen the kiss the way I suddenly crave, but he lets his lips linger there for a moment.

“I spent years with Erica and never felt anything like this, Allie. I’m more than sure that I want you here—both of you. And I really will tie you to the bed until you say yes. So don’t make me resort to a felony, please.”

He smirks at me as my eyes water, and I lean up, pushing my lips against his as he carries me toward the bedroom.

“Angel will—”

“Will be fine. I’ll take care of her today. You need to rest. And for the record, I had someone buy some bananas just for you.”

My face turns red, and his laughter gently rumbles as he finally takes me into the massive bedroom that belongs in a palace. Everything matches as though an interior decorator came in and did everything for him.

When he puts me on the enormous bed, his lips brush mine again, and he sits on the edge, hovering over me as his eyes hold mine.

“Rest. We’ll talk about this later. I’ll take care of Angel, and we’ll talk when you feel up to it.”

I can’t help myself when I finally break. He said that video was true, so that means he loves me. My lips move, and the words try to come out.

“Wren, this isn’t the best time to say this, but I—”

“Don’t,” he says softly, brushing his lips over mine. “Think on it for a little while. Let me prove this is a good idea before you
try
to say no.”

He grins down at me, and my chest tightens. That’s not what I was going to say.

“But I—”

“Later,” he interrupts, standing. He walks out, and I let my eyes search around the room. My bags are piled up at the side, and my mind runs wild.

He loves Angel. He loves me. Stupid as it is, I’m moving in with Wren Prize.

***

WREN

All of Allie’s stuff is hanging in the closet or resting in the drawers. No way am I letting her leave no matter how hard she tries. If she tries packing anything back up, I’ll just unpack it as she goes.

She stayed in the room for a couple of hours, but finally got up to hang out with Angel and me as we made everything she owns even more girly with some weird jewel thing my mother bought her. There’s also a glitter and glue kit we should have
never
opened—lesson learned. I’ve got glitter all over me, I swear there are little jewels everywhere on my body—how? I don’t know—and somehow I also managed to glue my fingers together… twice.

Allie had to help out with that. She got my fingers undone both times, and that’s about as much as we’ve touched. Her eyes have been on me, though. Studying me, perhaps?

Allie was quiet, possibly pensive, at dinner. Our eyes met several times, but Angel monopolized the conversation. I was grateful for that. I don’t get nervous very often, but I feel like a teenager that just got caught having sex with a General’s daughter right now.

Night descends, and Angel yawns. I watch as Allie stands, ushering her to go to bed.

“Are you tucking me in or is Daddy?” Angel asks, looking over at me.

“Both,” I say, a small smile playing on my lips when Allie stops breathing for a second. Her eyes close briefly, but she opens them and smiles down at Angel as I stand.

If nothing else, I’ll just keep her here until I prove I can be good for the both of them. I’d never hurt either one.

Angel has become someone I can’t live without, and I want her with me as much as possible. Allie is an entirely different sort of love, but I’m equally lost without her. And I’m smart enough to realize that I don’t want to fuck this up.

“Come on, then,” Angel says around a yawn, and I smile over at Allie who is trying not to smile.

She leads the way, and Allie leans over after tucking her in, kissing her on the forehead. I don’t wait for her to back up as I go to lean in, putting my arm around Allie as I lean down and kiss Angel’s cheek.

She giggles for some reason, and I pull Allie to me as I straighten up, keeping my arm around her as I guide her to my room—
our
room.

“You’ve been quiet,” I tell her once the door is shut.

She slowly walks toward the bed, eyeing it as though she’s thinking. Shit.

“You wouldn’t let me talk earlier,” she says with her back turned.

Because you keep overthinking everything.
Obviously I don’t say that aloud. I’m not stupid. Allie is cautious, but it’s not necessary with me.

“Well, when you’re ready to say what I want to hear, I’ll gladly let you talk,” I say instead, shrugging when she looks over her shoulder at me.

She laughs, which surprises me. I pull off my shirt, deciding to distract her before she starts listing all the reasons this would be a bad idea, and I smile when I hear her quiet intake of air.

I turn my back when I undo my jeans, and I say over my shoulder, “Your stuff is in the closet and the dressers, if you want to find something to sleep in.”

As I tug my jeans down, I take my time, mentally preparing myself for whatever she says. She surprises me again by not saying anything. I can’t feel her eyes on me, but I’m sure she’s watching since she’s not saying—

The hell?

I turn around to see Allie crawling across the bed in nothing but a pair of lacy underwear and no bra. Her clothes are nowhere to be found, and I’m wondering how she stripped so quickly. However, my brain shuts off when she peers over her shoulder, still on all fours, and looks at me with an arched eyebrow.

Her round, perky ass is barely covered by the lace, and peeks of flesh show through the material. Did she put that shit on just to torture me? We can’t have sex. She just got out of the hospital.

Her skin is lightly tanned, and her blonde hair falls over her shoulder, exposing more of her back. Her waist curves in, spreading at her hips, giving her that hourglass figure that has me biting my knuckle to keep from… Shit—did I just growl?