“You okay?” a female voice asked.

  I turned my head toward her, quickly dropping my wrist back to my side. A beautiful brunette with a kind smile and a tray of food in her hands was walking toward me. This must be Trinity.

  I nodded and forced a smile. “Yes. Fine. Just taking a minute. I was going to find one of the other men to help Gage move a little and use the urinal. He doesn’t, uh, want me to help … or touch him at all,” I explained.

  She set the tray down on a table beside the door, then turned back to me and held out her hand. “I’m Trinity. You met my fiancé already, Huck,” she said.

  I slipped my hand in hers. “Shiloh. It’s nice to meet you and to see a face that isn’t glaring at me like I’m the spawn of Satan.”

  She let out a small laugh, and her brown eyes danced with amusement. “This bunch would likely welcome the spawn of Satan.”

  I glanced back at the door and thought she might have a point.

  “I’m sorry he’s being difficult. Huck explained things to me. This has to be uncomfortable for you.”

  I shrugged. “Only because he hates me and I have no idea why. I won’t be here long though, so hopefully, the next nurse makes him happy.”

  Trinity grinned again and shook her head. “Honestly, even with what I’ve been told, I’m struggling to believe Gage is still angry with you, but then he’s a hard one to understand. I don’t think anyone truly knows what goes on in his head.”

  That didn’t ease my mind. “The sooner I’m gone, the better. I think the sight of me makes him ill. Which doesn’t speed up his recovery at all. Getting me out of here will help. Not sure I’ll return tomorrow. I’m going to suggest that my uncle take a day off from the office and stay here.”

  After he saw my wrist, he would probably do that anyway.

  Trinity looked disappointed. “I understand. Gage can be scary. I’ve been on his shit list once. Never want to experience it again.”

  I frowned. I wanted to ask her how she had been on his shit list, but I didn’t. Gage must have a death wish himself if he’d done something to scare Huck’s fiancée. Uncle Neil had told me not to make friends with her or ask questions. So, I kept my curiosity in check.

  “If you don’t mind, I think he’d prefer you stay in there while he eats. I can wait out here,” I told her.

  She pressed her lips together and nodded. Relieved I had some time away from him, I wanted to thank her but figured I’d better just leave it at that.

  “Go downstairs and get something to eat,” she told me. “I made chicken salad and set out some croissants. There is also a bowl of fresh berries and some whipped topping for them.”

  There was no way I was going down there. Not with those two angry men in this house. I was hungry, but I could wait until I got home. “I’m fine, but thanks.”

  The concerned look in her eyes made me think she was going to argue, but she didn’t. Instead, she picked up the tray, and I opened the door for her. She went inside, and I quickly started to close it behind her.

  “What did my favorite girl bring me to eat?”

  Gage’s voice made me pause. It was … pleasant. My stomach did a little flip. That was the only time I’d heard that version of him. I closed the door softly, feeling slightly envious of her. I wondered what it felt like to see him look at you with something other than hate and disgust.

  One more thing I would never know.

  Six

  Gage

  Trinity scowled as she entered the room, taking me off guard. “I saw her wrist,” she bit out after she set the tray of food down on the table beside my bed.

  “Fuck, I don’t want to talk about her. Let me enjoy my meal,” I grumbled.

  Had I grabbed her arm that hard? I didn’t think so. What the fuck was wrong with her wrist? Not that I gave a fuck. I should have broken the damn thing. Then, she’d have to leave.

  “You’re being an asshole. That girl looks ready to burst into tears.”

  Good. I hoped I had her sobbing before the day was over.

  “You don’t know the past,” I told Trinity.

  “Neither does she.” Trinity had her hands on her hips, looking like she might slap me at any moment.

  “Don’t fucking care. Doesn’t change the past, now does it?” I replied, looking at the food she’d brought up.

  “Gage, seriously. The girl has amnesia. You can’t be angry with her if she can’t remember anything.”

  I sighed, wishing I could reach my food. “Not anger, sweetheart. That was a long time ago. I moved on. I just don’t want to be reminded of my past mistake.”

  Nor did I want to be reminded of how fucking hard it was not to look at her. She had taken all the shit I said to her and not reacted. She hadn’t even fucking flinched. The Shiloh I knew would have slapped me and told me to go fuck myself. Then strutted her sexy ass out of here and not looked back. The way she was acting now screwed with my head. Another reason she needed to leave.

  Eight Years Ago

  How had I gone from never laying eyes on this girl to her being every-fucking-where I went? It was as if the universe was screwing with me on purpose. Taunting me. I couldn’t even go get a damn meal without running into her.

  I grabbed the burger on my plate and took a bite, trying not to look back over at Shiloh fucking Ellis.

  After Talia had sucked my dick at the party, Shiloh had kept her distance. She’d stayed close to Jackson’s side, but whenever she got too far from him, he’d chase her around like a fucking puppy. I’d usually blame that shit on a magic pussy, but I got it. Hell, if I could bang that cunt, I’d chase it around too.

  Picking up my drink, I fought the urge to look over at her again. She hadn’t noticed me, and I needed to keep it that way. I didn’t have a Talia buffer today, and she wasn’t with Jackson. She was alone.

  “Hello, Gage Presley.”

  Her fucking addictive voice still reminded me of honey. Maybe honeyed bourbon.

  I looked up as Shiloh slid into the seat across from me. Blue eyes danced with delight, as if she were fucking thrilled to find me here. That damn dimple, which I wanted to lick, flashed at me. If I didn’t get my food and go, I was fucked. A man was only so strong, and God had decided to create kryptonite in the form of Shiloh Ellis to destroy me.

  “Aren’t you out past your bedtime?” I asked, trying to sound annoyed.

  She raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips. The things I wanted to do to those lips.

  “No, Daddy, I’m not,” she purred, and my cock was instantly hard as a motherfucking rock.

  I chuckled. “I’m a man. That shit might work with the boys, but I’ve had my share of hot ass.” But not her level of hot ass.

  I’d stung her again, but she barely let me see it. She held the smug smile in place well. The girl knew she looked like an angel. She owned mirrors.

  “I’ve heard all about the hot ass you’ve had. Didn’t take much asking around to find out about you. Seems you’ve got a reputation. You and your friends are rather well known,” she said, then leaned against the table in my direction.

  My eyes immediately dropped to her chest and the cleavage that was now clearly in view. Damn, those tits were incredible. I could see the suntan line from her bikini top.

  Lifting my eyes back to hers, I didn’t try and hide the lust. “Stop asking about me. You’ve got a great body and a pretty face, but you’re just a little girl.”

  She leaned even further. “Not all females want to fuck you, Gage Presley. That’s presumptuous, don’t you think? I have a boyfriend, and he takes care of my needs.”

  My grip on the glass in my hand tightened. I did not want a fucking mental picture of Jackson taking care of her needs. I didn’t want to think about her needs. “Good. Now, go home. It’s getting late,” I told her.

  She tilted her head to the side and smirked at me. “I heard you were bossy in bed too,” she said.

  “Then, whoever you’re getting your information from doesn’t know me because that’s not accurate,” I drawled, leaning back in the booth and crossing my hands over my chest.

  She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. I knew she was doing that shit on purpose, but my dick did not care. It was throbbing.

  “So, you’re not bossy and controlling in bed?”

  I shook my head. “I’m controlling and demanding when I fuck,” I told her. “And I don’t fuck in bed.”

  Her lips made a small O, only making my cock jerk in response.

  I had to get away from her.

  Sliding out of the booth, I stood up, then glanced down at her. “I’m five years older than you, Shiloh. Keep your distance next time.”

  I headed for the door when I heard her slide out of the seat. I didn’t look back, but shoved the door open and walked out.

  When I saw her again two days later, I had Gina, Blaise’s stepsister, on her knees with her lips around my dick. Blaise was outside at the pool with a few friends he had over. I hadn’t been in the mood for a party tonight, but then I hadn’t known Shiloh would be there.

  “I thought you didn’t fuck on beds,” she said, giving me a challenging look.

  Gina stopped and turned to look at her. “Is she joining us?”

  Fuck. Didn’t need that mental image with Shiloh standing right there.

  “No. She’s a kid,” I said, “who needs to go away.”

  Shiloh gave Gina an annoyed look, and then her eyes lifted to meet mine. “You could do better,” she told me.

  This baby and her teeth. Fuck if it didn’t turn me on when she got nasty.

  “You don’t have to pay for it,” she added.

  Damn, she was brutal.

  Gina started to get up as she glared at Shiloh. I pushed her back down, pressing my hand to the top of her head.

  “She’s a baby. You can’t go claw her face off,” I told her while grinning at Shiloh.

  “She called me a prostitute.”

  “I know,” I said, shaking my head. “She’s just jealous.”

  Shiloh’s eyes widened, and I knew I’d hit a nerve.

  “You gonna watch and get some pointers or leave?” I taunted her, although the idea of her watching was gonna make me come a hell of a lot faster.

  She slung her long, dark hair over her shoulder and glared at me. “No thanks. That’s something I don’t need a lesson in.”

  She didn’t wait on a response before closing the door with more force than necessary.

  I was going to come so fucking hard.

  Seven

  Shiloh

  Present Day

  Mentally and emotionally exhausted after dealing with a man who hated the sight of me all day, I did not want to cook anything when I got back to my apartment. I changed into a pair of jeans and a fitted black sweater before turning to leave. I didn’t have a car because driving wasn’t considered safe for me, due to the seizures. Even though it had been a long time since I’d had one. It still made me nervous to even take driving lessons. So, I’d chosen an apartment within walking distance to restaurants and a grocery store.

  When I stepped back into the hallway, the door across from me opened, and I smiled, happy to see a friendly face. Wilder Jones had become my first friend when I moved back here. He’d helped me grocery shop the first time, taught me how to order the perfect burger, and showed me how to get streaming television, all within the first week of my meeting him. Wilder was in his early thirties and divorced. He had a six-year-old daughter, Sarah, who I always baked cookies or cupcakes with at least once every weekend she spent with her dad.

  “Where are you headed?” he asked, leaning against his doorframe.

  “To eat. Wanna come?”

  “Pizza?” he asked.

  “Half buffalo chicken and half cheeseburger,” I said, as if I even needed to tempt him with his favorite.

  He’d go eat pizza any time of the day.

  He winked, then reached inside and grabbed a coat before closing his door and coming to walk with me. “You worked later than usual,” he said. “Long day at the office?”

  Wilder worked from home most of the time. He owned a media marketing company that dealt with the web. He knew my schedule better than me.

  “Not exactly. I had to go take care of one of my uncle’s private patients. The ones he makes house calls to. Anyway, the patient doesn’t like me for reasons I do not know, and he doesn’t care that I don’t remember my former self. Uncle Neil is going to take over the job until he can get another nurse to go do it.”

  Wilder opened the door to the outside for me. “Sounds like an ass.”

  I nodded. “From what I have learned, former me wasn’t always a nice person.”

  Wilder glanced down at me. “Is he a past boyfriend?”

  I shrugged. “He’s older than me, and the age gap back then makes that unlikely. But to despise someone as much as this man does me, there had to be another emotion involved once, I think. Either that or I robbed his house, ran over his favorite pet, or shot him in the balls,” I replied.

  Wilder chuckled. “Ouch.”

  “I was going for reasons to loathe because this man loathes me.”

  “I find it hard to believe a heterosexual male can loathe you,” he said as we crossed the street.

  Wilder made no attempt to hide that he thought I was attractive. However, he didn’t push me for more than friendship. He seemed to get that I wasn’t there yet in my new life.

  “Trust me, this one does,” I told him.

  “Even after you flashed him that dimple?” he asked as he stepped in front of me and opened the door to our favorite Italian restaurant, then moved back for me to enter.

  I walked past him and inhaled deeply. I was starving, and it smelled like heaven.

  Luca, the owner’s oldest son, saw us and nodded his head in greeting. “Pick a seat,” he called to us, and we headed toward the tables near the windows.

  “Did you ask the guy what you did to make him hate you?” Wilder asked as he pulled out my chair for me.

  I sat down. “No. I’m not allowed to ask questions. Uncle Neil’s rule.”

  Wilder was frowning when he took the seat across from me. “Strange rule.”

  I didn’t elaborate. It wasn’t like I could explain it anyway. The rules were in place for a reason. Don’t talk about them was one of the rules.

  “Sarah is coming this weekend, right?” I wanted to change the subject.

  He nodded. “Yep. We need to go by the store on the way back and get your baking supplies. It’s cupcakes this weekend. She wanted me to tell you so you’d be prepared.”

  I smiled. “Perfect. Icing is my favorite.”

  Luca arrived with both of our waters and Wilder’s favorite beer. “Are we doing pizza?” he asked.

  “Yes, please,” Wilder replied.

  “The usual?”

  Wilder nodded.

  When Luca left again, he turned back to me. “I have a thing next week. Dinner with a new client and his wife. They told me to bring a date, and, well, you know I’m not currently dating anyone,” Wilder began. “Any chance you’d go with me? It’s Tuesday night at seven.”

  This wouldn’t be the first time I’d done this for him. He rarely dated. The last woman he had gone out with more than once was Kelly, the redhead. They had lasted almost two months. He didn’t have a reason for their breakup other than it just hadn’t worked for them.

  “Of course,” I agreed.

  We talked about his work, and he told me a funny story about one of his employees. I was finally able to relax again after today. The pizza arrived, and I took my piece from the buffalo chicken side. Wilder preferred the cheeseburger, but he would eat both. Which was why this had become our go-to order here.

  I was on my second bite when I looked out the window and saw Huck standing outside my apartment building, scowling with his arms crossed over his chest. Why was he there? I put the pizza down, feeling my stomach knot up. I couldn’t think of one reason he’d have come to find me. I hadn’t done anything wrong today. I wasn’t even coming back. They had made it clear I wasn’t welcome, and I’d accepted it.

  I glanced at Wilder. I couldn’t tell him or explain this to him, but I also didn’t want him in danger, if there was danger. Uncle Neil had said to me more than once that the people living in the house with Gage were not to be crossed. I hadn’t crossed them. At least not in the last two years.

  I set my slice down and turned to look at Huck again, thinking I should call my uncle. The door to the building opened, and the sight of Trinity gave me a little relief. He wouldn’t have brought her if I was in trouble. At least, I didn’t think he would.

  She was saying something to him, and he placed his hand on her lower back in a possessive way. They began walking toward a black SUV that was on the side of the road. It wasn’t until he opened the door for her that he lifted his gaze, and it locked with mine.

  I froze, unsure if this was bad or not. He looked directly at me, then swung his eyes to Wilder. I needed to call Uncle Neil. Wilder didn’t need to be in the middle of this. I didn’t know these people or what they were after.

  Huck finally climbed inside the vehicle, and it pulled back onto the road. I let out a sigh of relief and turned my attention back to Wilder. He was texting with a smile I recognized on his face.

  “Tell her I’ll get the pink sprinkles,” I told him.

  He glanced up and grinned, then began texting again.

  Eight

  Gage