Free Restless (Relentless Series Book 2) by Alyson Reynolds Page A

deserved.
    Slowly, I sat up and took the medicine he had left for me. My gaze fell to the large t-shirt I had on and I blanched. I pulled back the covers and tried not to freak out when the only other thing I had on was a pair of black panties. Even my bra was gone. This wasn't what I had been wearing the night before. Holy fuck, had I slept with Gage? The last thing I needed was to add another guy to my drama.
    Before I could panic the guy in question walked back into his room with only a towel wrapped around his waist. His muscled chest was impressive, a woman would have to be dead not to appreciate it, but I didn’t need that particular mess.
    “Hey, kid. How are you feeling this morning?”
    “Confused," I said rubbing my head.
    He chuckled. “Why are you confused?”
    “I woke up in your bed, dressed like this.” I indicated my lack of clothing. “And you come back in the room dressed like that. What the hell happened last night?”
    He laughed harder, and I frowned at him. He grabbed a pair of jeans out of the dresser and dropped the towel. I yelped and covered my eyes.
    “Gage! Holy shit!”
    “What do you think happened, kid?”
    “I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking.”
    “You threw up all over your clothes, so I changed you and put you to bed.” I stared at him. “If you don’t believe me you can go ask my maid. She’s the one washing everything this morning.”
    “Oh god.” I covered my face and turned crimson. “I’m so sorry, Gage.”
    “We’ve all been there. I rescued you before you did anything stupid at the bar. I’m sure things would have ended differently if your friend Rhys took you home.”
    I groaned. “How bad was I last night?”
    “Not horrible, but after Stephen left you drank so much whiskey that an Irishman would be proud. You were quiet, and that’s what made it scary. I'm not used to quiet Taylor.”
    “Thank you for taking care of me.”
    “No problem. Just a word of caution though, your buddy Rhys wants more. He’s not going to be happy with just being friends.”
    He was right, but I didn’t want to admit it, even to myself. There was no way I could think about a relationship, but Rhys sat back patiently waiting for the time I would be ready. He wasn’t a bad guy, in fact he’s great, but my heart hurt and it would take some time for it to heal. Gage gave me a knowing look.
    “This goes back to what you told me last night doesn’t it?”
    “You remember that?” His infuriating grin was back.
    “You told me Stephen was fighting for me even if I didn’t realize it yet. I need to start moving on, it’s been three months since this nightmare began, Gage. I can’t figure out how to keep going through this over and over again.”
    “Have you actually sat down and had a conversation with Stephen?”
    “No, he’s avoiding me. The last time I went to the house, things were said. Sex was had. Vases were broken. Conversations avoided. I don’t really want a repeat.” I shuddered as I remembered the harsh words from our first encounter.
    “Okay, I’m not supposed to say anything, but you guys need a push in the right direction. He misses you hardcore, like cry in his beer at night misses you. And you admitted you aren’t over him and you want to be with him. What in the hell is holding you back?”
    “He told me I was looking for a reason to run away from him.” That was the least hurtful of what he had said, but Gage didn't need to know any details of the shit Stephen had said.
    “You were.”
    “No, I—” I trailed off. Fuck, I had been looking for a reason to leave. When I found that stupid, beautiful ring, it gave me the excuse I needed. “I don’t know how to be in a relationship. For the past eight years I’ve been all over the world, never staying in one place long enough to get attached.”
    “Have you figured out what you’re running from yet?”
    I shook my head. “I need to talk to Violet.”
    Gage threw a pair of basketball shorts