She couldn’t be anymore off-limits if I tried. First, my ex was living with us. Second, and more importantly, Teddi was Taylor’s long-time best friend. If she and I did something, and it went haywire, and I had to face the fact my relationships had the danger of taking that turn, I wouldn’t be able to look my sister in the eye. Taylor had to feel comfortable coming to our place. Especially after seeing her house. She needed the escape of the Burathon family manor. It made sense now. I wondered if my parents knew about Taylor’s home life. I got the sense that there was a lot of love there, just something else that had to be dealt with. She was neat as a pin to live with. Always wiping things down and setting them back in their place.

I pulled into the garage for the Gardens and grabbed a ticket. I had a card in my wallet that I waved to allow free parking. The garage was almost empty, so I parked right by the elevator.

Taylor got to work on securing Axel and seemed to be making an effort to keep him away from her white outfit. He was doing his damnedest to body slam her. I heaved my two bags and raced around the car so I could take him from her.

Taylor hopped back just as he lunged. She was frustrated by him, but still soft for him. I let my gaze fall. I had to stop finding things about her that called to me. I was a doomed case. Look at Endgame. I literally had to pull him in off of ledges. I could not try to charm my way into her pants. She was different and very, very special. Now I was off to stare at her through my lens for an hour or so. I was sure that would be fine.

17

TAYLOR

Austin used his key card to open the elevator and hit the top floor button. Axel sat waiting like he had all the manners in the world. It was weird.

I met Austin’s gaze.

“What’s gotten into him?” He noticed the same thing I had.

“I don’t know. Calm before the storm? Hold tight to that leash.” I pointed to the leather strap.

When the elevator opened, I gasped.

“Gorgeous, right?” He stepped off the elevator. The whole roof was another world. There were trees, gorgeous ferns, and flowers. “We’ll have to come back in the spring. Are you cold?”

I shook my head. I wasn’t cold yet, but there was a nip in the air. Austin put his bags down and Axel tugged to be allowed to go on a sniffing spree. I took the leash. Axel took me on a forced, high speed tour of the garden, zooming us through the cobblestone printed path.