Flawless (Chestnut Springs, #1)

by Elsie Silver

“So, he needs to be seen as the charming, wholesome country boy next door?” My dad barks out a loud laugh, his hands coming to brace against the boardroom table across from us as he leans down. Geoff flinches, and I roll my eyes. Pussy. “That right there is the issue. Rhett Eaton is not the wholesome country boy next door. He’s a cocky cowboy that parties too hard and has hordes of women throwing themselves at him every weekend. And he’s not mad about it.

“What does he need? A babysitter?” The room is quiet for several beats while my dad stares at the tabletop between his hands. Eventually, his fingers tap the surface of it—something he does when he’s deep in thought. A habit I’ve picked up from him over the years. His almost black eyes lift, and a wolfish grin takes over his entire face. “Yeah, Summer. That’s exactly what he needs. And I know the perfect person for the job.” And based on the way he’s looking at me right now, I think Rhett Eaton’s new babysitter just might be me.

Kip: Pick up your phone, you pretty motherfucker. Rhett: You think I’m pretty? Kip: I think you picking that one specific detail out of my text means you’re an idiot. Rhett: But a pretty one?

When my vintage truck comes into view in the covered parking garage, I breathe out a sigh of relief. Is it a practical vehicle? Maybe not. But my mom gave it to my dad as a gift, and I love it for that alone. Even though it’s currently got rust spots and is painted with mismatched grays. I have big plans for having it restored. A treat to myself. I want to paint it blue. I don’t remember my mom, but in pictures her eyes were a steely color, and that’s what I want. A little nod to the woman I never really got to know.

“So, I’ll have to leave my husband and kids to hop on a plane and sit at a hospital with you?” Now that takes me back. Every time I got hurt as a teenager or young adult, it was Violet who took care of me. “You’re just so good at it. But fair point. I think Cole might kill me if I take you away from him.” I’m poking fun. I like her husband a lot, which is saying something because I never thought she’d meet someone good enough for her. But Cole is. He’s also ex-military and kind of terrifying. I wouldn’t want to piss him off. My sister just giggles now. Still fucking giddy over the guy, and I couldn’t be happier for her. “He would be fine. I could send him out your way if you need a bodyguard?” “And leave his girls behind? He would never.”

“And Eaton, that girl is my daughter. My princess. So, mind your goddamn manners, keep your hands to yourself, and stay the hell out of trouble, yeah?”

“When are you going to grow out the ‘stache and go full Old Man Eaton?” He glares at me before he drops the post and lines up the pointed end with the spot he wants. “Dunno. When you cutting your hair, Rapunzel?”

This feels good. This feels familiar. Pissing Cade off is one of my favorite past-times. And he’s so fucking grumbly that it never stops being satisfying. He’s all bark and no bite, one of the nicest dudes I know.

With a few sure strides, my brother closes the space between himself and Summer, stretching one long, muscled arm out in her direction. “Cade Eaton.” His voice is brusque, but I know he’s not shaking her hand as hard as he usually does. She has a delicate air about her, and Cade may be a grumpy asshole, but he’s also a gentleman.

Beau barks out a laugh and looks over at me, hands held up in prayer position. “Please, Summer. Make my day. Tell me he’s in time out. Tell me he’s a thirty-two-year-old man with a full-time nanny.”

Then my door is wrenched open. “Are you having a stroke?” Rhett peers down at me, lips curving toward the ground. “What are you doing?” I ask, brows knitting in confusion. I thought he’d stormed into the bar. “Opening your door for you. Now get out.”

We don’t look at each other as we walk, but he touches my shoulder gently and gestures me across his body. He moves me to the opposite side of him before taking up position by the road.

My heels clack against the wooden floor as I head in Beau’s direction. When I reach the couches, I see the shape of his friend sitting with him on the couch, facing away from the main floor of the bar. It isn’t until I get closer to the low-slung table between them that I get a good look at the other man. And even with a beard and cap pulled down over his face, I recognize him. Everyone in this country probably does. Jasper Gervais, professional hockey player. Goaltender extraordinaire. Canadian Olympic sensation.

There’s something about a man who is damn good at what he does that holds an appeal for me. Every step is sure. Practiced. Full of confidence.

The crowd cheers, but it’s not nearly as loud it was for Theo. In fact, it’s borderline quiet. Rhett stands in the middle of the ring, his shoulders drooping and his chin tipping down to his chest. His hand held protectively against his torso. He stares down at the toes of his boots, an almost-smile touching his lips, and I swear my heart breaks for him in that moment. Over a decade of putting his life on the line to entertain these people, and this is what he gets? So, I guess that’s why I put two fingers in my mouth and pull out the most useless skill I’ve ever learned. One I’ve mastered. I whistle so loud that you can hear it over everything. I whistle so loud that Rhett’s head snaps up in my direction. And when he sees me in the crowd, grinning back at him, the sad look on his face washes away.

One of the best rides of my life, and the crowd gave me a fucking golf clap. I swear I could feel their disdain for me. Except for Summer.

“Rhett!” I start at the voice, and wince when pain shoots down from my shoulder. I said I wouldn’t stop, but I’ll stop for Summer.

I’m not opening that fucking door for anyone. “Yes!” Summer barks back, banging again. “Open up.” Except maybe Summer.

“Careful. Your dad told me to keep my hands off you.” “Yeah, well, he didn’t tell me to keep my hands off you.”

Beau: How’s Summer? Rhett: Seriously? Beau: Yeah. Are you being nice to her? Rhett: Why is everyone so worried about Summer? Beau: Because you’re a dick and she’s really nice. Rhett: Oh, yeah. I’m sure it’s her personality you’re after. Beau: It doesn’t hurt that she seems really smart too. Rhett: You done here? Beau: I also really enjoy looking at her, so there’s that. She’s like the total package, ya know?

Rhett: Can you fuck off now? Beau: Sadly, no. You’re stuck with me forever. Don’t die out there tonight! Rhett: What if that was the last thing you ever said to me? Beau: Then I’d think to myself: if only Rhett had listened to my good advice.

Safely on the sidelines, the first place my eyes go is to where Summer was sitting. For the second night in a row, she’s on her feet, whistling like a grizzled, old sports fan. It makes me laugh. When she sees me laughing, she gives me a timid thumbs up, followed by a shy smile. And fuck, it feels good. Because that—right there—is not part of her job description.

“I don’t even know what your score was,” I blurt out stupidly. “But you were amazing.” His whiskey eyes go from pinched in the other guy’s direction to warm and bright. At me.

Theo Silva comes up from beside us, grinning. Handsome, but so damn baby-faced next to Rhett.

I squeeze Rhett’s hand back and turn toward him, feet crossing over to his side of the bed. Seeking warmth. “Jesus, Summer.” He startles but doesn’t move away. “Your feet are freezing.” I pull them back instantly, grateful that he can’t see me blushing in the dark. “Sorry!” I wince, sorrier that I took the freedom of touching him like that when things are already so tenuous between us tonight. “The only thing you should be sorry for is not telling me you were an ice cube. I should have knocked on your door earlier,” he grumps, right as his long legs stretch across the bed and he tangles them with mine, capturing my frozen feet between his calves.

I’m so fucked. I’m super fucked. I’m so super-mega fucked. Summer was also right. I’m a massive prick. Because I’ve been awake for the better part of an hour, letting her cuddle me. Staring at her, trying to memorize every little freckle. Watching her sleep like a lovesick Ted Bundy or something.

I also want her to warm her cold feet up on me again. Anytime she wants. The thought of her being cold and uncomfortable infuriates me. I want to take care of her, even though she doesn’t need taking care of.

“You’ll be pleased to hear that while I was using the restroom on the flight back, Summer ordered me a glass of milk.” Summer snorts and takes another bite of the scone in her hand. From the opposite side of the breakfast table, Beau cackles over the rim of his coffee mug. “Summer, will you marry me?” My brother asks in jest. But my caveman brain misses the joke. Instead, it sounds like my big brother is hitting on her, and I want to scoop her up and hide her away.

“You okay?” “No,” she wheezes. “Are you hiding because your sister is a grade A bitch or because I now know that I’m your teenaged spank bank fodder?” I’m pretty sure I hear her mumble a choked, “Oh, my God.”

“Maybe we should give him something to creep on. Do you think he’s in that car?” The rugged man in front of me smirks in a way that has my entire body humming. “Rather than kissing your magazine pages, you can try out the real thing.”

“What if someone sees? What if this gets out?” Rhett’s thigh presses against mine while the hand on my lower back slides down to the waistline of my jeans, his fingers tightening in a way that has the spot just behind my hip bones aching. He moves in close, his scent surrounding me as his wild hair fans down around us. The air between us hums and I stare at his mouth, wondering what the roughness of his beard might feel like on my lips, on my body. I’ve never kissed a man like Rhett.

“I’m finding I don’t really care what people think where you’re concerned.”

something about Rhett’s impulsive ways and rugged good looks makes me want to embrace it for one wild moment. I deserve a moment like that. I swallow hard and nod once, getting lost in his glowing amber eyes. The hand on my elbow slides up, sending goosebumps out over my skin. The cool metal of his ring on my skin as that same hand glides over my shoulder, traces my collarbone, and slides up my throat. And I’m on fire. For all the times I imagined his hands on me, I never imagined my body reacting like this. It’s when his lips come down, only a hairsbreadth apart, and his knuckles graze my cheekbone that I notice the driver’s side door of Rob’s car shoot open from the corner of my eye. And it’s then that I murmur, “Okay. But this means nothing.” In response, Rhett growls and dusts his lips across mine. Tingles shoot out like electricity, like every bristled point that touches me sends a spark dancing, twirling across my skin. Singeing every nerve ending. His hands are possessive on my body. Pulling me tight against him almost aggressively, while cradling my skull so delicately, and kissing me so carefully. He lights me up. He burns me down. And I bask in his heat.

“Did you plan our wedding while you were cooped up in the hospital? What about our wedding night? I’d love to hear about that.” I glance down at his crotch with a smirk. Secretly getting off on seeing the bulge there. “Bet you would.”

His pinky finger wraps around mine tenderly before he moves his hand to the small of my back, guiding me safely across the road and making my chest flutter.

“You deserve so much better, Summer. It’s like you’re so busy forcing yourself to smile and be happy all the time that you don’t even realize when you’re entitled to be pissed off.”

Summer: Please don’t do anything stupid while I’m at the staff meeting. I trust you to hold it together for one afternoon. Rhett: Shit, Princess. I don’t know. I might go crazy without you. Summer: For ducks’ sake. Summer: Duck Summer: *Duck Summer: FUCK. Ugh. Why can’t my phone learn that word? I’ll be back around dinnertime. Rhett: Quack.

“Bailey isn’t so bad,” Beau interjects. “Yeah, I feel bad for Bailey,” I agree. Bailey is quiet. She works her shifts at the pub at night and keeps her head down. I don’t think being the baby sister of the criminal enterprise in a small town has been easy for her. Cade grunts. I know he has a soft spot for Bailey. There’s something about a baby sister that gets all three of us right in the chest.

I can’t help myself. I take the reins in one hand and slide the other across her front. Splaying my fingers out over her ribs.

“Rhett. You can’t look at me like that,” she says breathily. “You really, really can’t.” Her eyes press shut, like she might be able to erase me from her mind. “Why not?” My voice is all gravel as I soak up the pained expression on her face. “Because it’s confusing.” Like hell. I reach down and hitch her leg up, wrapping it around my waist. Right where it belongs. “I was so wrong about you. And now? Now I’m not confused at all.”

I let my hand trail up her torso, feeling her tremble slightly beneath my touch. I stroke the column of her throat with my thumb, her pulse beating beneath my fingers. The way it jumps wildly. “Tell me what you want, Summer.” Our lips are so close, facing off in some sort of game without even touching. “If this were your last moment on earth, what would you want me to do?”

I’m a seriously weak son of a bitch where Summer Hamilton is concerned.

“You wear the hat, you ride the cowboy.”

“Rhett, I⁠—” “Go to bed, Summer.” I snap back, surprised by what he’s saying. “Go to bed?” “Yes. Before I do something distinctly ungentlemanlike to you.”

With one step forward, my hand darts out and I yank the saddle-brown cowboy hat off his head and place it on mine.

“You know what I’m sick of, Summer?” His hand comes to my throat, fluttering over the skin so gently that I arch toward him to increase the pressure. “What’s that?” “Having you think I’m out fucking everything that moves when I’ve looked at nothing and no one since the first day I laid eyes on you. I stepped into that godforsaken boardroom, and you practically demanded I become obsessed with you.”

“Now, tell me honestly, Summer. If this were your last moment on earth, what would you want me to do?” I don’t even need to think about it. I know what I want from him. “Ruin me.” “Good. I’m about fucking done being a gentleman with you. And the only thing I’m ruining you for is anyone else.”

And then he does something he’s never done. He peeks up at me from beneath the brim of his hat, like he knew exactly where I was sitting. He winks at me. And then he nods, and the gates fly open.

The rippling of water sounds as Rhett swipes a facecloth over my back. This shitty hotel bathtub is too small for the two of us, but we’re packed into it anyway. He told me if I’m going to continue to force him to take Epsom salt baths that I have to come in with him. So here I am, seated between his legs in the hottest, smallest bath known to man. While Rhett Eaton washes me. And kisses me.

“I’ll burn more bridges to take a kick at the can with you, Summer. Give me a shot.”