Recluse (Wolfes of Manhattan 2)

Was there, though? Or was I making that up? He seemed to be hiding something. Perhaps I was stereotyping an artist’s soul as vulnerable.

Maybe Roy Wolfe was just as strong as his brothers.

Maybe he was stronger.16Roy“I was being selfish,” I said. “You look so beautiful, and I’m hard as a rock. I just wanted to have you once more before we left.”

“You didn’t have to get so demanding about it.”

“You don’t like to be bossed around in the bedroom?”

She appeared to think for a moment. Then, “Not when I’m running late.”

A-ha. When we had more time, I’d try again.

Not that I was any kind of Dominant in the bedroom, but something about Charlie Waters made me want to have all of her on my terms. I wasn’t sure why. I’d never had a lot of luck with women, and even when I did get lucky, I performed well but never did I get overly dominant.

My experience was horribly lacking compared to my little brother’s. Reid lived up to our last name with a vengeance, and while I knew little of my older brother’s antics in the last decade, something told me he’d had his share of bed warmers as well.

I was shy.

Not shy so much as a classic introvert who enjoyed his own company. Especially when I was painting. The colors and brushes became an extension of me—in effect, became me as I created. Art was a solitary endeavor.

I never went looking for anything more than a fuck because I figured I’d always be a solitary. Never have a long-term relationship.

Charlie Waters made me think about a long-term relationship.

And that scared the shit out of me.

I had to keep this casual, for both our sakes.

I had to.

The secret ate me up inside, even though I never let myself see those images that were embedded deep in my mind. Hear those words of so long ago.

My father had deserved his fate, no doubt.

But the others… How many were there? Were they still out there? Did they still have the leverage they once had?

And why was I such a fucking coward?

Didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except proving the innocence of my family. We weren’t going down for the murder of that bastard. Not on my watch.

Charlie was frantically grabbing her clothes. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Want to join me?”

“If I join you, it won’t be quick.” I smiled.

“True. Then stay out of the bathroom until I’m done. Give me ten minutes or so. I’ll be fresh-faced today. The only makeup I have in my purse is some lipstick and mascara.

“You don’t need it. Those silver eyes don’t need any other adornment than their natural sparkle.”

She giggled and headed into the bathroom.

And I took care of my stubborn hard-on.Charlie’s eyes were big as saucers when we boarded the Wolfe Jet. I hadn’t used the jet nearly as much as Reid had, but I’d been on board enough times not to be completely entranced by its luxury.

Hell, I’d grown up in luxury. It was nothing new to me. Who needed parental love and devotion when you had luxury like this?

Apparently not the Wolfe kids.

When we reached our cruising altitude, two attendants offered us breakfast, complete with mimosas.

“I couldn’t.” Charlie shook her head. “It’s a work day.”

My first instinct was to argue with her, as I had this morning about being on time. But she was right, and I did respect her work ethic.

“No alcohol for me either,” I said. “Just coffee.”

“Perfect,” Charlie agreed.

We noshed on bacon, eggs, and whole wheat English muffins with raspberry jam, hardly conversing at all.

Yet it wasn’t awkward, the silence.

It seemed normal.

It seemed…natural.

Being with Charlie Waters seemed very natural to me.

“You’re cute when you eat.” I wiped a tiny smudge of jam from the corner of her mouth.

She swallowed the bite of English muffin. “Cute? Can’t say I’ve ever heard that before.”

“You just seem to enjoy food.”

“I do. Don’t you?”

“Yeah. Always have. We Wolfes have good taste in food. Except Riley. She eats like a bird. She’s too thin, I think.”

“She’s gorgeous,” Charlie said. “I’d give my left arm to have her body.”

“Haven’t you ever noticed how skinny her arms are?”

Charlie cocked her head. “I’ve never interacted with her, actually. She always looks great to me.”

“She’s too thin,” I said. “Reid and I agree on that. Her agent keeps her on a forced starvation diet. No fat. Pretty much all brown rice and vegetables and the occasional lean piece of fish.”

“That’s not healthy.”

“Damn right it’s not.” I sighed. “I worry about her.”

“Have you tried looking for her?”

I shook my head. “We gave up the last time. When she takes off, she doesn’t want to be found.”

“You don’t think she—”

“Murdered him? No way. She was his little angel. He kicked the shit out of the rest of us.”

Charlie jerked in surprise.