Me: Oh my god.
Harley: Breathe, baby. I’m just messing with ya. I’m sorry, that was mean, but you’re so cute when you get flustered like that. Could’ve used my phone as a vibrator right then.
Oh goddd! My cheeks were scarlet, I could literally feel the heat emanating from them, but suddenly I was giggling too. Harley was such a tease. He knew I’d be blushing, because he knew exactly how I reacted to things like this.
Me: OMG stop!
Harley: How much are you blushing right now, baby? So sweet when you blush. It makes me want to kiss you, but then most things do.
He was making me feel squirmy and aroused, right here on my mum’s sofa! Maybe he was a ‘bad man’ after all. I giggled as I typed a response.
Me: Even when I come out with ridiculous things I didn’t mean to say? Even then?
Harley: Especially then. It’s when you blush the sweetest.
Me: I miss you, that’s weird, right?
Harley: Nope. Missing you too. If you were home, I’d be right beside you, keeping you safe while you sleep.
I wanted that so much. He made me want things I’d never wanted before. A man in my bed? Me?
Harley: You’re coming back tomorrow, right? To finish the job for Rocket?
Me: Yes. I may be a little late if V’s too hung over, but I’ll be there.
Harley: Aw have you been drinking too? I bet you’re adorable when you’re tipsy.
That definitely wasn’t the word I’d use.
Me: I don’t drink, Harley, I’m bad enough sober.
I pictured him chuckling as he read my message. I felt like I could almost hear him. I was reaching a level of obsession at this point, I think.
Harley: I’ll have coffee waiting for you, baby. I’ll miss sleeping beside you, but I’m going to let you get some rest. You’ll need it.
He dropped a few devil faces after his message, and set me off giggling again.
Chapter Twenty-Five
GREASE AND JAY WENT to meet those assholes last night, and they were pissed as hell, because they were expecting them, and by extension,us, to provide security for a fucking hen night.
That’s right. A bunch of women out getting pissed, and they wanted us watching out for them. Apparently they were the women who actually ‘belonged’ to the men in their organisation, and they didn’t want their men near them for their night out, so they wanted ‘trusted’ security consultants instead.
Not that they’d be far away. They’d be outside in a damn van, but it was still a bullshit assignment, but one Micro felt we couldn’t say no to, because our connection to Rossi meant that we were technically responsible for a shootout at their club. Yeah, right.
By the time Caroline appeared at the shop, I was pissed off, and Rocket was annoying the hell out of me, just by breathing, and I fucking needed her.
She walked through the door, and I marched over, lifted her backpack off her shoulders, and set it on the floor, and dragged her into my arms. Fuck. The instant I was holding her, and her sweet flowery scent was tickling my nose, I knew she was the balm my frustrated soul needed. I felt the tension ebbing away as she nuzzled her face against my chest.
“Are you okay?” She whispered, and I kissed the top of her head as I tightened my arms, because I wasn’t ready to let go of her yet.
“I am now.”
She released a soft sigh that sounded like sheer fucking happiness to me, and maybe that’s what I needed. Her sunny warmth. Her easy smile. The fact that she struggled with so much in life, but not me. She accepted me, baggage and all, and that made me feel comforted too.
“You guys wanna get a room?”
I shot a glare at Rocket, and went right back to smelling her hair and kissing the top of her head.
