He kissed me again, shorter this time, sweeter, but no less intense.Like reassurance wrapped in heat.
He pulled back just enough to look at me.“Better?”
“For now,” I said.“Might need more kisses later if it happens again.”
A corner of his mouth lifted.“I’m here to serve.”
I laughed and pushed at his chest, just enough to make him take a step back.“Finish putting the groceries away before the ice cream melts, handsome.”
He shook his head, smiling, and turned back to the groceries.
I stayed where I was for a second longer and thought this might not at all be how I thought my summer was going to be, but damn if it wasn’t better.
Chapter Fourteen
Cole
A week could change a lot.
Or nothing at all.
I sat on the front porch with a mug of coffee warming my hands, watching the quiet street like it might tell me something if I stared long enough.Morning had settled in easy, the sun already up, air cool but promising heat later.One of those days that made you forget trouble existed if you let it.
The club still hadn’t found the guys.
That was the part that didn’t sit right.
We’d expected movement.A mistake.Someone getting sloppy.Instead, nothing.Wrecker thought they’d caught wind that the Fallen Lords were sniffing around and gone to ground.Hiding.Waiting it out.
That kind of patience usually meant trouble.
Behind me, the screen door creaked softly.I didn’t turn right away.I already knew who it was.
Star.
She was doing better.Hell of a lot better.The bruising on her face was almost gone now, just faint shadows if you knew where to look.She stayed awake longer and laughed more easily.Only needed one nap during the day, and even that was more stubbornness on my part than necessity on hers.
We’d filled the last week with stolen kisses, quiet mornings, afternoons stretched out on the couch, legs tangled.No pressure.No labels spoken out loud, but no pretending either.
It felt like we’d built something small and contained.A bubble.
I just wasn’t sure how long it would last once the world remembered we were in it.
She came to the railing and didn’t even hesitate before climbing into my lap sideways, like she’d always belonged there.Took my coffee cup right out of my hand and sipped it.
I lifted a brow.“Just make yourself at home.”
She smiled, unapologetic, and handed it back.I set the cup on the table beside us and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close.
“Have I mentioned I like the little world we built?”she said.
“I like it too,” I said honestly.
“It would be better if my mom weren’t here,” she laughed.
I brushed her hair back from her face and pressed a kiss to her lips.“Good thing she’s busy with the TV show most of the time.”Mac left early in the morning, and most of the time she wasn’t home until after dinner.She was working her butt off, but it was good for me and Star.
She relaxed against me with her head on my shoulder.
