Page 36 of Irresistibly Wicked

“You calling me hot, darlin’? Because I’m not sleeping with you no matter how much you compliment me. That’s not what this arrangement is about.”

“Oh, darn,” she said sarcastically.

“I knew you’d regret it.”

“Shut up.” She nudged him with her arm. “Do you have coffee out here every morning?”

“I never did until after the accident. I used to take a lot of shit for granted.”

She sipped the coffee. “Mm. Your taste buds must be broken. This is perfect.”

“Good. Let me know when you’ve had enough caffeine to talk about Brian.”

She went rigid against him. “Did something happen?”

“No. I talked to Zeke a little while ago, and Brian was still out cold.”

“Good. I feel horrible about bringing your brothers and cousins into this. I’d better get ready. I should be there when Brian wakes up.”

“I don’t think you should. It’s best if we let the guys handle him while we take care of all the things we need to do. Like finding him a rehab center. If we can find one that’ll take him, then we’ll need to talk him into going.”

“I’ve been thinking about that.” She gazed out at the water, then down at the mug in her hands, worry riddling her features. “What if he won’t go? I mean, I hope he will. He was so happy when he got out from under his addiction before, and I know in my heart he’ll want that again. But he may not hear what’s in his heart when he’s this lost. What if he’s pissed, like you were worried about? Or if he takes off and we can’t find him?”

“He can’t take off with the guys there, and there’s nothing my brothers can’t handle. Blaine can be a bulldozer, but in this circumstance, that’s not a bad thing, and Zeke will keep him in line. If anyone can find a way to calm Brian down, it’ll be Zeke. He’s the most intuitive person I know. He was one of the best special ed teachers on the Cape.”

“If he was such a good teacher, why did he stop?”

“Because some asshole made derogatory comments about the kids and took it too far. Zeke put him in his place, and lost his job because of it.”

Her eyes widened. “He beat the guy up?”

“Zeke gave him what he deserved. He has the patience of a saint, which should tell you how far that guy pushed him. But Zeke still helps kids. In addition to working with us, he tutors middle schoolers and volunteers at the community center. Like I said, you won’t find better guys to watch over Brian.”

“They won’t hurt him, will they?”

“No. Even if he comes at them, they know how to handle it without hurting him. Through the club, we’re pretty well versed in handling the complexities of addiction, and they’ll keep us up to date throughout the day while we look for a rehab center for Brian.”

“Okay. I’m still worried about convincing him to go.”

“I know he has to want it for himself, but he was in bad shape last night. I don’t think you’re wrong to worry that he’ll end up hurting himself or someone else. You’ll need to use all the tools in your toolbox. If he won’t do it for himself, maybe he’ll do it for you, which isn’t the best tactic, but if it gets him in the door, it might be enough to save him.”

“That’s what I was thinking, too. He doesn’t know about the letter from the attorney, so please don’t tell him.”

“That’s not my story to tell. Do you want me to keep it from my family?”

“As much as I’d like to say yes because it’s embarrassing and makes me look like a taker, I’d never ask you to do that. Plus, I just saw your back. You have a huge tattoo that says Family with intricate roots snaking through the letters. That tells me how important they are to you.”

“They absolutely are, and I appreciate you not asking me to lie to them. That said, it shouldn’t be embarrassing that you’ll go to any length to help a friend, and a taker would’ve taken the money the first time I offered. I’ll deal with my family when the time is right. But first, let’s get things in order. Do you have a copy of your birth certificate?”

“I have the original. It’s at my house. Brian made me take it when we ran away. Why?”

Brian really had watched out for her. “You need it to get married.”

“Okay,” she said a little shakily. “I hate to be pushy, but like I said, we should do it fast so I can pay you back as quickly as possible.”

“I’ve already checked into it. Once we apply for the marriage license, it takes a few days for it to come through. I figured we’d apply today and schedule a date for the wedding with the justice of the peace. If you tell me where your birth certificate is, I’ll have Blaine meet us at the end of the road with it on our way out.”

“And you’re sure I shouldn’t see Brian first?”