I was having a nightmare? And they stayed? Why would they stay? She questioned herself over and over again.
Getting up, she decided to let it go. Well shit, getting out of bed with two huge-ass men wrapped around you is not easy. She sighed, struggling to get up because neither of them felt inclined to let go of her. After rustling around for a few minutes, she was finally free and went to jump off the bed only to get tangled in the sheet. She damn near did a face plant if it wasn’t for the hands that grabbed her so quickly, stopping her just millimeters from hitting the carpeted floor.
Letting out a very un-ladylike squeak as she was flipped to her feet, she came face to chest with a sleepy looking Dane. Smiling sheepishly, she mumbled out a thanks, grabbed her bag, and ran for the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind her and leaning against it.
Hurrying through a shower and getting dressed, she put her hair in a side braid. Opening the door a crack, she peeked out to see the room empty and the smell of fresh coffee in the air. Walking out in a puff of steam, she started making her way to the kitchen but placed her bag by the front door first.
Entering the kitchen, she stopped short when she saw that Keeley was the only one in there. “Morning,” she said happily. “Kenny went home, something about grumbling men having PMS, and Dane and Coop just went to have another look around the house and tree line to see if there was anything amiss. Would you like some coffee?” She babbled on without missing a beat.
Coming to sit at the breakfast bar, Emily nodded her head. She was confused about how disappointed she was that the guys weren’t here waiting for her. Did you really want them to, Em? She thought long and hard. Realizing she, in fact, did want to see them had her baffled. She didn’t have much experience with men, but these two attracted her like no other. On the heel of that thought, though, was the way Coop and Kenny had flirted the night before.
Clearing her throat, she decided to ask Keeley when she sat next to her with their coffees. “Can I ask you something, Keels?” Looking to her friend, she saw her nod yes. “Is there something going on with Kenny and Cooper?”
Laughter was not what she expected.
“Oh, gawd. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh at you, but no, there’s nothing between them. They treat her like a little sister. I promise. They do everything they can to annoy her because she does it right back, but no there’s nothing. I asked her once and she was grossed out.”
Letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, Emily was relieved.
“Do you like them, Em?” Keeley surprised her by asking.
Shrugging her shoulders, she really wasn’t sure. “I don’t know. I mean it wouldn’t matter anyway; they’re protecting me. Nothing more. I doubt they’d be interested,” she said into her coffee, taking a sip of the warm brew.
“Emily,” Keeley said seriously, grabbing her hand. “It doesn’t matter that they’re protecting you. Well, I mean it does, obviously, but not for the reason you think. I know for a fact that it would not stop them from pursuing you. Don’t hide from your feelings because you think they won’t reciprocate, ‘cause I’ll tell ya, the way they look at you…” Fanning her face, she smiled. “If I didn’t have Nathaniel and Tyler looking at me like that then I’d be jealous.”
Hearing the front door open they stopped talking, waiting for the guys to come in. “Alright girls, the coast is clear. I think it was just a deer or coyote. There’s nothing to indicate you had anyone here that shouldn’t be.” Coop told Keeley but had his eyes on Emily the entire time.
Fuck, she’s gorgeous, glowing from her warm shower and still slightly sleep ruffled, Coop thought, staring at Emily without trying to freak her the fuck out. He was drawn to her like the setting of a tropical sun. If she was in the room, his eyes immediately sought her out. She had an innocence to her that he wanted to corrupt. “You ready to head home, baby girl?” he asked her.
Nodding her head at him, she kissed Keeley on the cheek and thanked her for including her in their girls’ night before following Coop out of the house and into his waiting truck. Helping her up to the front bench seat, he pushed her to the middle and buckled her in. Seeing the almost sad look on her face, he cupped her cheek asking, “What are you thinking about, Em?”
“Nothing, Cooper.”
Searching her face for any clues as to where her thoughts had taken her, he slid in the driver’s seat, facing her. Wrapping his other hand around the back of her neck, he put his forehead against hers and watched her eyes. They were so expressive, he could practically make out her thoughts…
Was it my stalker out there last night?
How long before I’m safe again?
Do they like me, too?
He planned on answering every single one of those questions just as soon as Dane was done talking to Keeley. They might not be the exact things she was wanting answers to, but he felt like they were close enough.
The opening of the truck door had him pulling away slightly, but not before he kissed her lips gently, making her gasp in shock. Smirking at the astonished look on her face, he started up the truck and they made their way back to Emily’s house in silence. Everyone lost in their own thoughts.
After spending the night sleeping next to Emily and holding her so close, Dane was ready to explode with arousal. He’d never wanted a woman so much in his life. Sitting next to her in an enclosed space was not helping his libido any either. His cock was so hard he could pound nails with it.
Walking out of Keeley’s house after telling her to call them if she needed anything before Nate and Ty got home the next day, to see Coop and Em so close they were practically kissing; he was ready to explode by the smallest touch alone.
When she shifted in her seat he got a whiff of her scent, it was fruity, almost like melons? With a hint of mint. It enticed the senses and had him almost drooling over her like a lovesick puppy.
Resting his arm on the seat behind her, he started playing with the little hairs falling out of her braid. She stiffened, at first, but after a few minutes she relaxed and when he started trailing his fingers gently up the back of her neck and around to under her jaw he felt her shiver. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her biting her lip, too. Pretending not to notice her reaction, he continued gently touching her.
Pulling up out front of her little house, he felt the shift in Coop’s mood and immediately began scanning the area for any threats. Not seeing anything surrounding the house, his gaze zeroed in on the broken front window and destroyed flowers strewn across her front walk. Looking to Coop, he nodded and followed him out of the truck telling Emily, “Stay here and don’t move.”
Standing in her living room in shock at the destruction around her, Emily was overwhelmed, pissed off, and scared. With so many emotions fighting for dominance in her body, her tears started falling in a steady stream. Fisting her hands by her side, she walked around the room taking inventory of the destruction in her life. Her home wasn’t large, in fact, it was tiny. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen and living room is all it consisted of, but she’d loved it.
Everything was decorated for comfort. Her now tattered, torn, and broken couch used to be an attractive light beige and the cushions were so deep they enveloped you when you sat down. It might have been used, but