A thumping on the door causes us both to jump slightly apart, but it doesn’t prevent me from stealing one more kiss.
The thump increases to a rapid banging, each thump louder and harder than the last.
Where the fuck is the fire?
“God damn. You break that door you’re paying to get it fixed,” I yell over the racket as I dash over to unlock it.
“Stay back.” I look at Dahlia and take the chain off.
The door swings open and a furious Reece confronts us.
This isn’t good.
Raising his fist to obviously strike out at me, Dahlia gets in his way and narrowly misses having a broken jaw.
No way is she getting in his way when he wants me. I’ll be damned if I let anyone hurt my girl.
Reaching out, I grab Dahlia’s arm and put her behind me, and face Reece.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I spit out at him, anger coursing through me as my muscles react to combat. No one hurts my girl . . . even if it’s unintentional.
“My problem is you, stringing her along.” Reece steps into my apartment and slams the door shut behind him. “No one treats my sister like . . . like . . . a whore.”
Hearing Dahlia gasp at his words pisses me the fuck off.
I step forward into his space. “Don’t you dare come into our home insulting Dahlia! You won’t be welcome here anymore.” I jab him in the chest.
“You’ve been sleeping with her, and she had no idea about your wife,” he sneers.
“You can stop right now.” Dahlia shoves her way in front of me. “I’m still a virgin. And don’t expect me to announce to you when I’m not because it really isn’t any of your business. You have no right bursting in here without getting your facts straight.”
“My facts . . .” he fumes. “Are you crazy? He’s married, or did you already know that?”
“Oh, for God’s sake. We spoke last night and I know everything, so leave it.”
Reece stands with his hands on his hips. “You’re cool with him being married.”
Before my eyes, Dahlia seems to pale. All I want to do is hold her close and tell her everything will be all right in the end, but I’m not sure she’ll appreciate that right now.
“I’m not all right with him being married.” She offers me a wry smile and wraps her arms around my waist.
My knees nearly give way with relief that she’s still on my side, not that a side should be taken. But knowing she still supports me causes my heart to fill with love for her—I didn’t even realize I could love her more than I already do . . . until this moment.
“Ryder needs to head out before he’s late.” She looks to me before turning her attention back to Reece, “Once he’s gone, you are going to calm down, then drink some coffee with me, and providing Ryder’s okay with it, I’ll tell you what’s going on.” She turns her gaze to me.
“Okay. Although I’m not sure I want to leave you two alone.” I throw Reece a threatening glare.
“It isn’t me she should be worrying about.”
She kisses me on the cheek, and turns to glare at Reece. “He’s your friend. Please don’t let anyone come between that friendship, because he really could do with support from you instead of your antagonism.”
Wow. I never thought I’d see it but Reece deflates in front of me, all the anger flowing out of him to be replaced with chagrin.
“I’ll wait until I know what’s really going on before I decide whether he has my support. You’re my sister, Dal.” Reece spears me with his gaze and I understand completely, family before friendships. He continues, “How the hell am I supposed to react when I hear what I heard?”
“Like an adult who knows there are two sides to every story.” She grins at him.
Reece rolls his eyes and drops to the sofa.