A Brother's Love

Ghost of a Kiss

Waking up in silk sheets was something else. It felt like sleeping on a cloud or I imagined it would feel like this if you could sleep on a cloud. Grabbing my phone I checked the time. It was seven in the morning, I woke up early. I didn’t think I’d wake up on time after the drama from last night. Let’s just say the bed was that great! Serena, the traitor left me tons of messages and I felt like a bad person ignoring her so I texted her back.

I’m fine, busy with work.

- Poppy Miller

I knew that text didn’t explain a lot, it was actually a shitty text but I didn’t want to talk to Serena at the moment. It wasn’t mature of me. I should face the woman I considered a friend for years. I was just taken back by Serena thinking a pretty face made it okay for someone to behave like a d**k. It wasn’t okay. The fact that Serena didn’t believe me made things worse. I thought friends were supposed to have each other’s back. So I wasn’t ready to do the mature thing. Rolling out of bed I wanted to get ready for work, it was then that I realized I didn’t have my stuff with me. I’d freshen up and worry about my clothes and makeup after I was all clean. After brushing my teeth and taking a shower I wore last night’s underwear. It didn’t feel right but I had no other option. I then slipped on the fluffy white robe and tightened it securely around my waist. I walked out of the guest room like a woman on a mission. I needed to talk to Easton about my clothing problem. While I was strolling around the hallway one of the staff members stopped what they were doing and approached me.

“Can I help you, Miss Miller?” He asked.

“I’m looking for Easton.”

“Mr. Dehn’s bedroom is at the end of the hall. He is about ready to join you for breakfast.”

The man wanted to lead me to the dining room, but I wouldn’t have a formal conversation with Easton at the dining table. I left the flustered looking man and marched up to Easton’s bedroom. I didn’t think he had a woman in there, he took me home with him after all. Not wanting to be too rude I knocked on the door before heading inside.

“Ah, Miss Miller.”

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, “I think we’re way past that, aren’t we?”

He smirked, “Right, Poppy.”

He was wearing a navy pinstriped suit today. He finished up his look by putting on his cufflinks which were shining brightly in the lighting of the room. He looked so put together. Suits looked amazing on him. I couldn’t get distracted by Easton looking sinisterly handsome in his perfectly fitting suits. I always found myself admiring him. I needed to stop.

“I need my clothes.” I leaned my head back against the door, watching him straighten his tie and then his jacket, “I can’t go to the flower shop looking like this.” I gestured to the robe I was wearing.

His eyes trailed to me, he was taking me in from head to toe, “You look fine to me.”

He was joking but I knew what he was trying to say. He didn't want me to head out. I wanted him to say it out loud but he worked in the shadows for years, of course, he kept his criminal activities to himself.

“I need to make money to pay the bills for the apartment I no longer live in.” I reminded him.

He pointed at me, “You have a great sense of humor.”

“I know, right.”

He grabbed his phone and stepped to me, the confidence in his stride made me push completely against the door. There was nowhere to go though. All I could do was stare at the man who towered over me with a serious look in his eyes. All humor left his eyes. We were going to talk business.

“I’d rather have you stay in the mansion where you are safe.” When he noticed the displeasure in my eyes he sighed, “But I can respect someone wanting to work to make money. So if Jake can stay beside you in the flower shop I won’t stop you.”

“It’s for my safety?” I asked, making clear he wasn’t just keeping an eye on me.

“Yes. I owe it to you to keep you safe. I put you in this mess after all.”

It caught me off guard that he was taking responsibility for what he has done to me. I didn't know how to form words, my brain just shuts off.

He brushed his fingers over my arm, I barely felt it but he did it.

“I asked one of my staff members to get you some clothes. They’ll head out once the stores open. It might not be in your style, but your apartment is still being watched so for the time being please just make whatever she bought you work.”

“I will. I want to stay safe too.”

His hand gripped my wrist and without a warning, he leaned in and kissed me. It was a gentle kiss, ghosting over my lips the same way his fingers had ghosted on my arm. If I hadn't seen it happening I wouldn't have believed it.

“Was it better than the kiss you shared with my brother?”

My head bumped against the door because of me overreacting. There was no way he saw the kiss, Alex kissed me behind closed doors. I didn’t see his people bug my shop or do anything weird to it. So I could only assume Alex said something to his brother. That was unlike the man without a backbone.

“Alex?” I asked.

Easton didn’t respond. He grabbed my shoulders and gently pulled me away from the door.

“I need to head out, you have to open shop a little later but please deal with that today.”

Before I could respond he left the room, not giving me time to let his words sink in and question him. There were so many things I wanted to know but deep down I knew he wouldn’t answer any of them. I had to wait for my clothes to arrive so I decided to head to the dining room to have breakfast and come up with a normal response to Serena. If Easton could do the responsible thing I could do it too.