“Rhys arrived?”
“Yes, he saved my ass.”
“Well, he is partial to watching your ass.”
“Gia.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay.” Gia squeezed Haven’s fingers.
“I went with Rhys to help track down a lead…”
Gia watched her with deep-brown eyes so like Rhys’.
“God, Gia, he kissed me. I kissed him. More than once.” Haven dropped her head into her hands.
“It was a long time coming,” Gia said.
“G, he’s your brother—”
“Like I’ve told you before, I’m well aware that all my brothers are hot. It’s my cross to bear.” She grabbed Haven’s hands and pulled them away from her face. “Rhys is gorgeous, yes. All of his life he’s never had to put much effort in with women. They drop at his feet like flies.”
Haven made an unhappy noise at that thought. “That’s kind of a gross analogy.”
“Except you. You’ve kept him on his toes. He’s like a starving wolf that spotted a pretty doe when he looks at you.”
“I’m not sure that’s a very good analogy either,” Haven said. “Anyway, it’s just the thrill of the chase. He’ll lose interest—”
Gia shook her head. “I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
That made Haven’s throat go tight. “I was a bitch to him. I said nasty things.” She pulled in a shuddering breath. “He won’t be looking at me like that again.”
Gia opened the wine and grabbed two glasses from the cupboard. She poured generously. “So, your finely tuned survival instincts kicked in.”
Haven took a sip of wine. “I…I can’t risk myself again. I was falling for Leo, or at least I thought I was, and he betrayed my trust. More than once.”
He’d turned from charming boyfriend to edgy, anxious, short-tempered man who yelled, and refused to tell her anything. And when she’d caught him getting a blow job from a waitress in his office at the club, they’d fought, and he’d hit her.
“Rhys is not Leo,” Gia said.
“I know that, but Rhys can have anyone he wants, and I don’t… I can’t watch someone else catch his eye.”
“Haven—”
“No. I don’t want to talk about it anymore, Gia.”
“Then just listen. Easton was always the bossy Norcross brother, running some scheme to make money. Vander… Well, even in high school, I suspected my brother was plotting to invade some small nation. Rhys was always the easygoing, charming brother. He was smart, sporty, everyone’s friend.”
Haven took another sip of wine. Maybe she’d have a bottle or two.
“Then he enlisted, and followed Easton and Vander as soon as he could.” Gia smiled. “He hated being left out.” Her smile faded. “It changed him, Haven. He believed in what he was doing with the military, but they never, ever talk details, even to Mom and Dad. But it changed him. Whatever he had to do, it left scars. On all three of them.”
Haven swallowed and set her glass down, a horrible feeling sweeping through her. She hadn’t gotten to know him well enough to see under the good looks. Hell, she’d been too busy thinking about herself, protecting herself, that she hadn’t thought much about Rhys’ feelings. Guilt stabbed at her.
“It’s like he has this need to go fast and keep moving,” Gia said.
Haven bit her bottom lip. She understood that need. The need to outrun your demons.
“I want to see him slow down,” Gia said. “Breathe and appreciate the small things.”
“I… We fought, Gia. It was ugly.”
There was a knock at the door and Haven stiffened again. “Now who is it?”
“Let me check.” Gia stood, going into mother-hen mode. She was a Norcross as well, and clearly, they were born to protect.
She heard Gia talking and demanding to see ID.
A moment later, her friend was back holding a huge bouquet of blood-red roses.
Haven sucked in a breath and her heart thumped. “Oh, wow.”
“They smell delicious.” Gia set them down on the island and snatched up the card from among the greenery. Then she frowned. “No name.”
Haven took the card. I’ll keep you safe, Haven.
A cold shiver ran through her. For some reason, that message made her feel the opposite. “These aren’t from Rhys.”
“I doubt it. I don’t think Rhys has ever sent flowers. Easton, yes, but this is not Rhys’ style.”
A bad taste filled Haven’s mouth. “Leo used to apologize with flowers. Big, glossy, expensive flowers.”
“You think these are from him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want them. Can you—?”
“I’ll take care of it.” Gia slid her phone out and snapped a picture of the flowers, then she picked the vase up. “I bet old Mrs. Girard down the hall will like them.”
The widow lived alone and often invited Haven in for a cup of tea. She was sweet and friendly. “She’ll love them.”
Gia hustled out the front door and Haven wrapped an arm around her middle. Her belly churned. She couldn’t think about Leo right now. God, her life was a mess. Dragging in a deep breath, she tried to empty her mind. She didn’t want to think about Leo, or the Monet, or the mess she’d made with Rhys.
When her stomach did another sickening roll, she dropped onto her couch.
As soon as Gia had regifted the flowers, she was back. She took one look at Haven, sat beside her, and tossed an arm around Haven’s shoulders.
“Now, let’s eat Chinese, have more wine, and not talk about anyone with high levels of testosterone.” She gave Haven a squeeze.
Haven managed a smile. “Or stolen paintings.”
“Deal.” They clinked their glasses together. “Let’s talk about the party I’m throwing this weekend.”
“Gia, my face—”
“Will be healed enough that with my deft hand with makeup, no one will see anything other than your gorgeousness.”
Thank God for her friend.
Tonight, Haven wasn’t going to think about exes, or thieves, or men who kissed like sexy dreams.
She was just going to drink and hang with her friend.
Chapter Seven
God, it was so nice to be at work. It made her feel normal.
Haven carefully moved some jewelry around on the black velvet. She was working on a new display of jewelry from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
She nudged a necklace into the right position. Perfect. Next, she grabbed the description card and set it in place.
Then she turned, carefully lifting a set of dangly, pearl earrings once worn by actress Rita Hayworth and set them in the case.
She glanced around the exhibit room. It was a smaller, more intimate space than the main hall. Her stomach was still churning at the thought that someone might break in and steal these.
She dragged in a deep breath, then blew it out. Security had been beefed up at the Hutton since the theft. They had more guards, more cameras, and new protocols for deliveries. She tucked a strand of her hair that escaped her twist back behind her ear. The museum’s treasures were safe, she was safe.