Page 49 of Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck
Rachael reached out and brushed her fingers over the redhead’s arm lightly. “You can stand down, Sherri. For now. Thank you.”
Sherri actually looked upset that she wasn’t going to be allowed to maim Drest.
He was a warrior. He didn’t back down from a fight. But there was something about the redhead that left him thinking twice about staying within arm’s reach of her.
With a frown, Sherri took a step back, standing tall next to Rachael. She then lifted her hand, used two fingers to point at her eyes before using the same two fingers to point at Drest. Her meaning was clear. She had her eyes on him.
He gave a slight nod and lifted his hands. “I come in peace. I swear.”
LeAnne narrowed her gaze on him, staring at him in a way that made him feel like the woman was looking into his very soul. “Maybe you should hear him out.”
“LeAnne?” asked Sherri, her voice sharp. “Are you being serious?”
LeAnne shrugged. “I don’t know. My gut says she should maybe listen to what he has to say. If she doesn’t like it, she can always have you beat the tar out of him.”
Sherri tipped her head back and forth, as if weighing her options. “Okay. That works. I hope she picks letting me beat the tar out of him.”
Drest nearly laughed, but the desperate need for Rachael to talk to him left him remaining quiet.
Rachael drew in a deep breath before biting her lower lip, sending need slamming through him.
Drest lowered his arms and wiped his palms on his slacks, trying to fight the need to touch her. As much as he didn’t want an audience for his groveling, he did it all the same. “I’m so sorry,” he stressed. “The way I handled things… It was wrong. I get that. I do. And I don’t know how to fix this. How to make it right. I screwed up. Part of me thought I was protecting you. The rest of me was scared of how I feel about you, Rachael, erm, Ms. Frankenstein.”
LeAnne watched him closely, a slight smile touching her lips as if she’d been waiting for him to admit as much.
Sherri’s well-defined dark red brows rose, her attention going to Rachael. “Is there a reason you neglected to mention a detective on your uncle’s case has the hots for you?”
“He doesn’t,” Rachael said fast.
“I don’t?” questioned Drest. “Pretty sure I do.”
Rachael scowled.
LeAnne’s grinned widened.
Sherri stared between Drest and Rachael. “Uh, this just got interesting and complicated. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.”
Rachael shook her head. “There is nothing to play out. He’s going to go on about his day and I’m going on about mine. He has nothing to say to me that I want to hear. His apology means nothing.”
ChapterSeventeen
Drest
Drest flinched.A piece of him had hoped she’d accept his apology and all would be well. Clearly, that wasn’t the case. He glanced at her friends, hoping they’d give him a private moment with her.
Neither of the women budged.
Drest lifted his hands. “Rach, please. Give me a chance. Let me fix this. Let me fix us.”
She lifted her chin. “Us? Nothing is between us, Drest. You made that very clear. I moved on. You should too.”
“Moved on?” he asked, feeling as if he’d been punched in the solar plexus. “With whom? When? Rhys didn’t tell me you were dating anyone.”
“Rhys?” asked Sherri. “The guy you mentioned having to meet with monthly?”
Rachael nodded, her gaze never leaving Drest. “I’m not required to discuss my dating life with him. You know that. I’m only required to check in. I do. The rest of what I do in my free time is my business. Not his and certainly not yours, Detective Bright.”
A ringing began in Drest’s ears, and he felt faint. She’d really moved on? It shouldn’t have shocked him. She had every right to. For some reason, he’d assumed that, like him, she wouldn’t want to.
