The Sterling Boys(31)

Maverick's brow arches, and he hides his smile behind his wine glass.

"Fiona had that ass whooping coming for a while," Corbin says, his eyes on a blonde walking by us. He looks back to me as she finishes passing. "Even though Fiona wasn't the only one to suffer Rain's wrath that day. My balls are still aching."

Everyone bursts out laughing, but I'm forced to clutch my stomach when the pain sears through me. Damn, that still hurts.

"Sorry," Corbin says through a grimace, looking truly regretful.

I force a smile while shaking my head.

"I'm fine."

"Dane hasn't been letting us come over," Maverick pouts, and I have to work really hard not to laugh again.

Over the past three days, I've heard Dane arguing with all of them over the phone. A few times he's argued with them at my front door. Only Dale has been allowed to come over, but I was asleep while he was there. Pain meds knock me on my ass, which is why I haven't taken any today.

"Yeah, Dane, what the hell? You haven't seen or spoken to her in six years. Why do you get to stay?" Corbin whines. "We should be taking care of her."

I love my boys.

"Because I'm making up for lost time. Seriously though, you roughnecks wouldn't ever let her heal."

Maverick shrugs in agreement, while Corbin tilts his head from side to side, weighing that answer for merit. Dale just smiles, not looking at either of us as he pretends to study his wine.

"Is Kode coming?" I ask, killing the lightness with that question.

Dane gets stiff beside me, and his arm slides off my shoulders. The others just look away.

"Haven't really been able to get him to talk in a few days. He's been in New York for a while," Corbin says at last.

I frown as I glance toward the oversized cabin-like vineyard office. Raya is standing outside with her arms crossed over her chest as Kade instructs several waiters. He walks off after giving her a stilted smile, and heads away like he can't move fast enough.

"I really need to go speak to Raya," I murmur as I walk away, ignoring the weird veil of uncomfortable silence.

I have to talk to Kode. I just wish he'd answer my calls.



"I'm fine, Rain. Really," Raya lies.

Of course I only know she's lying because I saw her when no one was looking. To your face, Raya has the masterful ability to disguise her every emotion.

"Kade may be under a lot of stress or something."

Her beautiful smile could fool multitudes. How does she do that?

"Enough about me," she sighs. "What's going on with you and Dane? He seems pretty intent on staying close to you. I've known him for a while now, and until today, I've never seen him so determined to touch someone."

That makes me grin foolishly. I feel guilty about it, because it's obvious she's having problems with Kade, but I also know she wants to stop discussing them. So I go along with it. I hate it when people probe me. I'm sure Raya is the same way.

"It's fine. It's just... I wish I knew what to do next."

"You mean romantically?" she asks with a smile I'm almost certain is real.

From this room, you can see the entire vineyard. It's quiet up here, which is why we came here to talk, but my eyes can't peel themselves away from the dark-haired masterpiece on the front lawn.

"Yeah. I'm confused about how to proceed."

"Does he like you that way?"

That's a loaded question. Does he like me that way? After the past six years of being exiled from Sterling Shore—well, feeling exiled—you'd think I'd be smart enough not to attempt Dane Sterling again. But we're older now, and it's rather obvious the man feels something for me.

"Of course I'm sure. I'm not one of those oblivious girls who can't realize when a guy has feelings for her."

I cringe as soon as the words leave my mouth. I never realized Kode had feelings for me.

When I look up at Raya, she's pouting. And she's a really cute pouter. But then she gives me a look I can't really decipher, one that makes me feel the need to be defensive.

"What?" I ask, sounding a little harsher than necessary. I'm sure she's going to point out the fact that I missed Kode's affections.

"I was one of those girls," she growls, and I'm forced to stifle a laugh. How'd I forget about that? "And I wasn't oblivious," she adds, her pout still fully intact. "I was just... well, Kade is hard to read. Still is, apparently."

My amusement falls as sadness coats her last words.

"I'm sorry, Raya. I didn't mean to offend you. I really had no right to talk. As far as Dane goes, I'm certain that he's physically attracted to me, and he cares enough to stay with me in my house after a surgery, but I don't know how deep those feelings run. I just got him back. I don't want to lose him again. Last time... I thought he was ready, but he wasn't."