Is this payback for the time I walked in on her and my brother after they had sex in Étienne’s office? Perhaps.
“Uhh …” Serene says.
With one hand firmly around Rainey, I continue to look at my sister-in-law. “We were just—”
“No explanation needed,” Serene cuts in. She holds her hand out for Alex to take and immediately turns back toward the doors. “We saw nothing.”
As they leave, I hear her say to my niece in a sweet voice, “Alex, honey, this is what I like to call bad timing.”
With my heart fiercely pounding, I watch my sister-in-law walk my niece out of the room. Serene gives me a knowing smirk before she shuts the door. Turning back to Rainey, I close my eyes and sigh.
When the two of us separate, my body becomes cold. The way you feel when something warm has abruptly been ripped away from you. My fingers clench and stretch as I fight the urge to reach for her. Immediately, Rainey sets to work on her clothes. I follow her lead, buttoning up my shirt and tucking the hem back into my pants. Rainey makes a point not to look at me. I can’t say the same for myself. I can’t remember the last time I kissed a woman and responded in that way. I’m still in a daze and watch as she attempts to fix her hair. Both hands lift to her hair as she adjusts the pins, and her blouse stretches against her breasts.
Dear God, what’s wrong with me? I want her again.
Clearing my throat, I take a step back. “I’m late …” Blindly, I point toward the windows facing the driveway. “For a meetin’.”
Slowly, Rainey lowers her hands. And for once, she nods. “Of course, of course.”
“All right, then.” I dip my head in her direction and blindly point toward the doors. “I should be goin’.”
“All right.”
My head tilts to the side as I inspect her. Has her lower lip always been so soft and plump? I swear I would’ve recognized that before.
“Uh, Livingston?” Rainey says, interrupting my thoughts. “You said you had a meetin’?”
“Right, right.” I start to walk backward toward the double doors. Once I’m in the hallway, I take a deep breath, and hurry toward the stairs.
What happened between the two of us?
Better yet, who is Rainey Pleasonton? Her aim with kisses is unparalleled and strikes harder than any bullet. I’m beginning to recognize just how dangerous Rainey truly is.
Rather than leaving, I head to the east wing toward Étienne’s office. When I go to knock on the door, it swings opens. I jump, slamming my back against the wall as though I’ve been caught kissing Rainey all over again. Étienne’s head jerks up from the paper in his hand, and he looks at me with confusion. “Oh. Hello.”
“Hi,” I say with a hint of guilt.
My brother frowns at me. “Is there anything I can do for you?”
I pass by him, heading directly to the sideboard. I need a drink. Right away. “Can’t a brother visit his brother?”
“I suppose so. But normally you aren’t in the business of bein’ up at”—Étienne pulls his pocket watch out to look at the time— “eleven in the morning.”
I pour myself a generous drink of scotch. “I was with Rainey.”
“Ah, yes, your ward.”
“Can we not call her that? Why must people continue to call her that?” I say, my words flowing together in one giant rush before I tip back the scotch. It burns going down, but the adrenaline coursing through me is causing my hands to shake. All because of a kiss.
Étienne arches a brow. “For the very reaction you gave me?”
I swallow loudly and place the empty glass on the sideboard. I want another drink, but I need to pace myself. I drop heavily into one of the seats across from his desks, resting my elbows on my knees, and drag my hands down my face.
My brother walks pasts me and chuckles. “You seem distraught. I would ask why, but I’ve been in your position many times.”
Lifting my head, I watch as he leans against his desk. “My situation is not similar to you and Serene.”
“Of course it isn’t. But it’s interestin’… I was in denial when I first met Serene, the very same way you are now.”
“I don’t deny a thing. Because there’s no attraction between Rainey and me.”
Lie.
All I can think about right now is whether she’s still in the ballroom and how quickly I could run up the stairs and kiss her again. Groaning, I run my hands through my hair.
Christ. What have I done?
“Are you certain nothin’ else is amiss?” Étienne asks after a few seconds of silence.
I lift my head and look him in the eye. “Absolutely.”
Lie, lie, lie, lie … LIE!
Étienne stares at me for a moment longer. “Very well. I was goin’ to take a much-needed break and go to the stables. Would you like to come?”
“You’re takin’ a break?”
Étienne pushes away from his desk, looking unamused. “I take breaks. Only when they’re needed. Now come with me. Whatever you went through with Rainey...” My brother looks at me carefully. “You need a break.”
I stand and pat him on the back. “I couldn’t agree more.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Rainey
I gave my first kiss to Herman Findley when I was thirteen. Even though we were the same age, I wasn’t particularly close to him. But Herman didn’t mercilessly tease me about my thin frame and ungainly limbs. He was kind and courteous and made me smile. One night after a gathering at his family’s home, we kissed in the garden.
Our lips mashed together in a sudden rush, and it was far too wet. My teeth knocked against my lip so hard I was convinced it broke skin and bled. It didn’t help that I was taller than him. However, I was taller than most boys my age. My eyes were squeezed shut, trying to emulate the woman I once caught in the embrace of a man at a party. Although, as the seconds ticked by, and nothing of importance happened, I opened my eyes. I couldn’t understand why people found this so appealing. Six years later, I found myself in the same position but with a different boy. The kiss wasn’t as inelegant as my first, but I felt nothing. My heart didn’t beat wildly in my chest. There were no butterflies in my stomach.
Women speak more about marriage, family, embroidery, clothing, and parties. When we gather, there’s an infinite amount of topics we speak about, and it’s not limited to the opposite sex. When men are the subject of conversation, I listen carefully because while I do not consider myself a wilting wallflower, I still don’t know so much about men.
Through conversations, I’ve discovered that the woman I saw in the embrace at the party was the expectation, and the desire to want to be her wasn’t disproportionate but truly possible.
Since then, I’ve been seeking the heart-stopping sensation that accompanies the perfect kiss. I knew someday I would find it. I just never expected that kiss would be delivered by Livingston Lacroix.
He left the ballroom minutes ago, but my lips continue to tingle. It’s a visceral reminder of what happened. Softly, I brush my lower lip with my thumb and walk toward the table, intent on resuming the tedious task of finishing the invitations, but it’s futile. My focus is elsewhere.