Free Sunk by Renea Porter Page B

is served, Sly’s phone buzzes and he excuses himself.
    Asher gives me a coy look. “If you were mine, I’d never leave your side.”
    “Oh, you are just as charming as your brother.” I laugh. With his looks, I’m sure he has no issues getting a girl. He reminds me of Ed Sheeran, with his boyish charm, colorful sleeve tattoos, and his ginger-colored hair.
    “Cut it out, Asher,” Anne tells him sternly.
    Sly comes back to the table and continues with his dessert.
    “Is everything okay?” I ask.
    “Yes, everything’s fine,” he says curtly.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Eleven
     
     
    RAINE
     
    “Will you gentlemen join me out on the patio with a cigar?” Mr. Wilkes asks.
    Asher and Sly stand to join him. Before he leaves, Sly bends down and kisses the top of my head. “We’ll leave in a little bit,” he states softly.
    He leaves the room, out to the back porch that is conveniently situated outside the dining room’s sliding glass doors. I can see him, and he’s watching me. He lights up a cigar and winks at me as he exhales the smoke. God, is he hot or what? I’d really like for him to rip my clothes off and take me. My seductive thoughts cause me to shift in my chair.
    “So, now that you’ve eaten can you answer my question?” Anne asks, snapping me out of my Sly filled daze.
    “Yes, I can. I’m recently divorced. It wasn’t by choice, but my husband cheated on me, and that is unforgivable to me. And I had a daughter. Ava died almost seven months ago now. She was playing tag, slipped and hit her head on the concrete, and she never recovered.” I swallow a hard lump.
    Anne and Carina both gasp in shock. “You are one strong woman, Raine. I see why Sly is drawn to you. I know losing someone is the worst possible thing that can happen. But you have shown your strength, and that’s amazing.” Anne reaches over and places her hand on mine, comforting me.
    I inhale a deep breath. “Trust me, some days I didn’t get out of bed.”
    “I’m really sorry you went through that. Losing a child is a mother’s or a father’s worst fear,” Anne says.
    “I think time is helping. I’m just afraid I’ll forget the little things about her, you know?”
    “And now you have Sly occupying your time,” Anne coos.
    I giggle.
    “Sly can be…what’s the word?” Carina says, thinking.
    “Intense?” I say.
    She snaps her fingers. “Yes, he can be intense. But he means well. It’s been a long time, and I mean a long time, since he brought a woman here. You must be doing something right for him to want you to meet us.”
    Oh, so Sly has brought a girl home. Interesting. Very interesting. Unfortunately, Sly interrupts us. “Ready to go?”
    No, the conversation was just getting interesting. “Sure,” I say, smiling up at him.
    He holds his hand out, and I take it as I stand. He pulls a little hard, enough to pull me flush against him, our faces inches from each other.
    “Hi,” he says, smirking.
    “Hi,” I say, inhaling the cigar fumes emanating from him. He smells divine.
    Anne clears her throat, which in turn causes me to blush crimson. I forget we’re standing in the family dining room. I forget we aren’t alone. Sly has one hell of an effect on me.
    “Mom, we’ll be going now,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine.
    “Geez, get a room, you two,” Carina fans herself.
    My insides twist and I break the trance between us. “Well, it was lovely meeting you, and I’m sorry if he just sprung me on you,” I tell Anne as she stands from the table. “Lunch was wonderful, thank you.”
    She squeezes me into an embrace. “Don’t be a stranger,” she tells me. “Sly, stop being so secretive,” she retorts.
    He hugs her while I hug Carina, and wave to Asher, Carter, and James. The day is passing faster than I hoped. I’ll be going home later; my heart sinks a little. Anne has shoved the box of goodies we brought back into Sly’s hand. Maybe she thinks we’ll need them more