Club Ties Read Online Free PDF Page A

her hair and whispered,
    “You’re safe here. Sleep well.”        
     
    Eva woke with a scream. Struggling against the dead weight pinning her to the bed, she panicked. Her feet bound, she kicked franticly. Someone leaned over her and she lashed out blindly. There was a muffled curse as her fist connected.
    “What the fuck!”
    The words came out more an exclamation than a question. Strong hands seized her wrists, effectively subduing her. A worried face appeared in her field of vision. Her terrified mind latched onto the presence of the gentle giant like a life preserver.
    “Shhh. It’s okay. Everything’s okay. No one’s going to hurt you,” Mox whispered. His low baritone was soothing.
    Slowly she floated back to reality.
    “Please,” she whispered.
    Mox released her. Concern and confusion lined his broad face. A movement to her right drew a flinch. The handsome blond was gently probing around his eye and blinking at the pain. Horror flooded her.
    “I’m s-so sorry,” she stuttered.
    Rhys waved her apologies off, still assessing the damage to his classic features.
    “It was my fault. I should’ve had Mox share the hide-a-bed with me, but he reacts just as violently to my cuddling.”
    “It’s the prodding that got you punched,” Mox reminded him dryly.
    Eva barely smothered a surprised giggle at that mental image.
    A dark blush colored Rhys’ face. “I was dreaming.”
    “Yeah, well, you’re not my type, pretty boy.”
    “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.”
    “No worry of that. I have plenty of other reasons.”
    “I’m wounded.”
    “You’ll survive.”
    “Seriously, I am sorry,” Rhys said, standing to straighten the wadded sleeping bag.
    Eva shrugged, shyly tucking her hair behind her ears. “I’m sorry. I was having a nightmare and I just panicked.”
    “Why don’t we trade places,” Mox offered, picking up his blanket and pillow.
    “You sure you want to risk that?” she asked, a smile playing around the corner of her lips.
    “Unless he wants it chopped off, he’ll keep his morning wood to himself,” Mox said with a grin.
    Untangling her legs, Eva scrambled to the couch. It took a couple minutes for everyone to get settled. She lay in the dark, listening to the squeak of springs and hiss of breath. It took effort to force her muscles to relax. Exhausted, she focused in on the soft hum from the space heater until it blocked out everything else. She drifted off to sleep, wondering what the morning would bring.
     
    Morning brought more brotherly bickering, this time over who was going in search of food and coffee. Eva lay still, loath to crawl out of her warm cocoon. Her eyes must have drifted closed because a touch to her hair startled her. Mox smiled down at her.
    “Did you sleep okay?”
    She nodded, burrowing her nose in the soft blanket she’d been cuddling.
    “I’m going to go get sandwiches and coffee. Do you drink coffee?”
    “If it’s doctored up with enough cream and sugar,” Eva whispered.
    “Would cappuccino or hot chocolate be better?”
    Eva blinked at him. Why would he care what she wanted? “I don’t want to be any trouble…”
    “It’s no trouble.”
    “I can’t wait for The Lantern to reopen,” Rhys grumbled, standing up to stretch.
    Mox must’ve seen her confusion.
    “The Lantern is Ginny’s pub downstairs. This building was torched this summer. The restaurant is almost ready. When it opens, it will almost be like living at home. We can just go down for breakfast.”
    “Shit. Grab me some cigarettes while you’re out, would you?”
    Mox caught the empty cigarette pack his brother threw at him, unfazed. 
    “Okay, do you want cappuccino or hot chocolate and bacon or sausage on your croissants?”
    It took a moment for Eva to realize he was talking to her again. “Oh! Either is fine.”
    “You’re too easy.”
    “That’s yet to be determined.”
    Mox rolled his eyes at Rhys’ flirtatious remark and pulled his coat on.