“I’m sleeping in your bed tonight.”
Her eyes widened. “What about the house rules?”
“You make me want to break the rules.” He drew her closer and kissed her. “I’ll be out before anyone gets up. But there’s no way I’m letting you spend the rest of the night alone in your bed.”
Anticipation boiled her blood.
“I’m taking my Aunt Iris and grandmother to Savannah tomorrow morning. When I get back, you and I need to talk, and then we’re going to have a talk with Derrick. Agreed?”
Celeste nodded. “Agreed.”
Chapter Eleven
Celeste swung her legs off the side of the bed.
Although she and Roarke had agreed they would talk to Derrick together, she decided it would be better if she spoke to him alone. Once she explained the situation to Derrick, he would have to understand. Her feelings for Roarke weren’t going away. If anything, they deepened after he held her in his arms all night. No lovemaking. Just the repose of two people comfortable enough to lie in bed together and enjoy a fitful sleep.
The drive to Savannah would take Roarke approximately three hours round trip. In the meantime, she would swallow her pride, tell Derrick everything, and make sure he didn’t take out his anger on Roarke.
Roarke ran up the steps of the front porch. He’d broken every speed limit on his way back. If a cop had pulled him over, he would have been slapped with a reckless driving ticket for sure.
Up the stairs he went to the second floor and knocked on Celeste’s bedroom door. No response. He knocked again.
When she still didn’t answer, he went in. The bed was unmade, but with a cursory glance, he noted none of her personal belongings were in the room. Last night her toiletry bag sat on the antique dresser, but it was gone. Her suitcase had rested in the corner. Gone.
He strode over to the window and looked down at the beach. Uncle Reese, Lorena, Matthew, other family members and guests were down on the beach with umbrellas and chairs, enjoying the nice weather. No sign of Celeste.
Unease settled over him.
He rushed out the door and almost slammed into Derrick. The minute he saw his brother’s face, he knew.
“Where is she?”
The sly smile grated on his nerves. “Who?”
“You know who.” Roarke advanced on him. “Where is she?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Derrick laughed. He actually had the nerve to laugh and then turned his back to walk down the hall.
Roarke grabbed him from behind and shoved him against the wall. His fingers clenched around Derrick’s lapels. “What did you say to her? Tell me where she is!”
Derrick looked pointedly down at his hands. “Are you going to beat me up?”
Roarke stepped back immediately, shocked at his own behavior. He took a calming breath. “Fine, don’t tell me,” he said. “I’ll find her myself. If I have to call every Celeste Burton in Decatur, then I will.” Hardening his jaw, he swung away from his brother.
“Did you get a good laugh at my expense?” Derrick’s words halted him at the top of the staircase. “Did you enjoy keeping your little secret from me, knowing I’d brought her here and asked her to pretend to be my girlfriend?”
“Pretend? What are you talking about?”
Derrick’s haughty smile faltered. His eyes narrowed. “You mean she didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“This gets even better. You slept with her thinking she was my girlfriend. Wow. You really are your father’s son.”
The words had been meant to cause pain, and they did. Roarke’s conscience had already taken a beating, and this last lash only served to deepen the guilt.
“I’m not proud of what I did, but we had no intention of sneaking around behind your back. But now you’re telling me you two weren’t even involved?”