House Rules by Rebecca Brooke Read Free Book Online Page B

and ran downstairs, all without bothering to get dressed.
    Everything was gone. Her dress, her purse, even the shoes she’d kicked off her feet while we’d sat on the couch talking. She’d snuck out of my bed in the middle of the night. What the hell was wrong with this woman?
    For years, women had thrown themselves at my feet, begging for one night, hoping I’d let them stay through into the morning. Finally, I let a woman sleep in my bed, and she snuck out before I even woke up.
    Whether it was anger, frustration, or something else I didn’t want to recognize, I ran back up the stairs to look for my phone. Maybe she’d left me a message.
    But there was nothing, not even one missed call. I almost threw my phone across the room. That was the moment I realized I was acting like a moody adolescent. That shit had to stop. Tess, no matter how intriguing, was just another girl.
    I dropped the phone on the counter and jumped in the shower, hoping to wash away all of the bullshit with a little soap and some hot water.
    Once I finished drying off, I walked out to the bedroom to grab some clothes. I saw the flashing screen from the phone. Hoping to see a message from Tess, I snatched the phone up and unlocked the screen.
     
    Dad: Breakfast?
    Me: Sure. One hour?
    Dad: Good.
     
    I tossed the keys at my favorite valet the moment I stepped out of the car at my dad’s place. For some reason, he’d asked both Ashton and I to stop by on our way into work that morning. A meeting in his home office usually meant he wanted to talk business. The kind we only discussed where we knew there could be no way for anyone else to hear our conversation.
    “Thanks, Garrett. I won’t be long.”
    “No problem, Mr. Hawes. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
    At least it gave me something else to focus on besides the sexy as fuck brunette who snuck out of my bed. The thought of it alone pissed me off. Not a great way to go into a meeting with Dad.
    I nodded and went up to my parents’ place. The elevator ride gave me a chance to get my shit together before anyone noticed my mood, otherwise they would have a million questions, especially Mom. A whizz in the kitchen, it wasn’t a surprise to find her already making breakfast.
    “Hey, Mom.” I stepped into the room and placed a kiss on her cheek.
    She smiled. “Dad said you and your brother were coming, so I figured I’d make you something to eat. I know your brother will get a decent meal, but I worry about you.”
    I laughed. She wasn’t kidding about that. My brother inherited all my mother’s culinary talents. Me on the other hand, not so much. “Thanks. It smells delicious.”
    “Dad’s in his office. Go see what he wants and when you guys are done everything will be ready.”
    “Ashton here yet?”
    “He got here about ten minutes ago.”
    “Then I better get in there. I’ll be back.” I winked and turned in the direction of my dad’s office.
    Ashton sat on the couch, a steaming cup of coffee already in his hands. He gave me a smirk. “About time.”
    “Yeah, yeah. Long night. Besides, I’m on time.” I took the seat next to him.
    “Long night? How many did you fuck last night?” A mischievous smiled lifted the corners of his mouth. He knew exactly who I’d taken home last night, so what was he up to? And why did it matter to him if I slept with her?
    Bastard. He had a sexy piece of ass in his bed every night, one he didn’t have to worry about kicking out before he went to bed. Annoyance that my bed was empty this morning flashed through me. “Very funny, asshole. You don’t have to kick your piece of ass out of your bed at night.”
    His shoulders tensed. “Don’t fucking talk about Elena like that.”
    Direct hit. Ashton always seemed to forget that I planned on getting the last word, no matter what he said. It had been that way since we were kids. You’d think he’d have learned not to bite by now.
    “Knock it off, you two. I have more important shit to