Ethan Roscente immediately sobered when he saw Jenna Roland's suddenly serious expression.
He met her gaze directly and solemnly raised his right hand. "I, Ethan Roscente, swear that if I ever fail you, may heaven strike me down."
Jenna snorted and pulled his hand down. "Enough already. I'm going to shower."
"What about me?" Ethan asked seriously. "Want to shower together?"
"Dream on!" Jenna's ears turned pink. "I'll get a wet towel. You can clean yourself."
She quickly slipped into her nightgown and fled the room.
Ethan threw back the covers. The stark red stain on the sheets made his breath catch.
So she really had been a virgin.
No wonder she'd resisted so fiercely, so terrified, crying from the pain.
The memory of that night at the hotel flashed through his mind—how close Oliver Macmillan had come to taking her.
His fists clenched involuntarily, knuckles turning white.
That bastard had almost ruined her.
And he would pay for it. Soon.
Ethan pulled on his pajama pants and walked bare-chested into the living room.
As he lit a cigarette, Milo Roland peeked out from his room.
"Mr. Roscente..." The teenager hesitated. "Can we talk?"
Ethan exhaled a smoke ring. "Come here."
Milo adjusted his collar and approached.
"There's a class gathering this Saturday. Ryan Watson and I are both going." Milo rubbed his hands together. "I'm worried about Jenna working the stall alone—"
"I'll go." Ethan stubbed out the cigarette. "And call me brother-in-law from now on."
Milo's eyes widened.
He knew exactly what that title meant.
"Brother-in-law." The boy's voice was clear.
"Did she get hit?" Ethan asked abruptly.
Milo nodded. "A slap."
Ethan's gaze turned icy. Milo wisely retreated to his room.
Jenna emerged drying her hair, frowning at the cigarette butt in the ashtray. "Post-sex smoke? How indulgent."
"You know a lot." Ethan pulled her into his arms.
"Let go!" Jenna struggled free and hurried into the bedroom, her face flushing when she saw the sheets.
She turned and shoved Ethan. "Out. I need to change these."