“Who’s embarrassed?” he asked. His eyes landed on Chloe. “Are you embarrassed?”
“Er… Yes?”
“Why?” He honestly looked like he didn’t understand and wanted her to explain, so for once, Chloe was happy to hear the buzzer announcing someone at the building entrance.
“Pizza!” Kong called out, jumping to his feet. “I’ll get it!”
As he went to move past them to get to the door, he suddenly stopped, grabbed both Chloe and Erik in a tight group hug, and kissed the top of Chloe’s head. “Chloe Powell. You, incredible woman. I love you already.”
Releasing them just as suddenly, Chloe would have stumbled if it weren’t for Erik’s hand at her back, and she watched in stunned amazement as Kong left to get dinner. What wasthatabout?
A few minutes later, Erik let him back in. Ten large pizza boxes were stacked in Kong’s arms and topped with paper plates and napkins. The amount of food seemed excessive considering there were only eight of them, but as she watched those four big men put away the food, she was forced to reevaluate her opinion.
While they ate, they were discussing people Chloe didn’t know, so she was only listening with half an ear when Leo suddenly said, “Oh, hey, Erik. I have an idea for a new tattoo.”
“Yeah?” Erik wiped his mouth with a napkin. “What are you thinking?”
Leo turned and yanked the back of his T-shirt up to display the tattoo of the lion she’d admired on Erik’s website.
“A full pride of females and cubs underneath the big guy.”
“I can do that.” Erik’s eyes flicked to hers, and suddenly, his lips quirked up into an amused smile. “Chloe’s thinking about getting a tattoo.”
“Oh, yeah?” Kong asked, leaning forward. “What?”
All eyes were back on her again, as everyone waited with open curiosity.
“Er…”
“A giant rattlesnake,” Erik supplied. “Riding a motorcycle made of bones with flames shooting out the exhaust. Full-color back piece. I’m already working on the sketch.”
Chloe nearly choked. He was? That was a joke! “Um… Erik?”
“Yes, Chloe?”
“Ah… I didn’t… I mean…”
He suddenly smiled. A big, bright, gorgeous smile that took her breath away and left her so distracted she almost missed him say, “I’m just joking.”
“That would be pretty cool though,” Leo suddenly said, reminding her that she and Erik weren’t alone. She couldn’t crawl into his lap and kiss him senseless.Yet, she mentally corrected. She couldn’t crawl into his lap and kiss him senselessyet. But later…
Erik was having a great night. Arguably one of the best he could remember. There’d been a tense moment there, when Leo had come on to Chloe, and Erik had been eaten up with jealousy, wondering if Chloe would prefer the other man. After all, Leo was handsome, outgoing, and had a great sense of humor – all things Erik wasn’t. But then she’d kissed him in front of everyone, making her preference clear. She’d staked a claim, and Erik couldn’t have been happier, and that happiness shone through. He talked more than he thought he’d ever had. He laughed and even cracked some jokes. His family couldn’t stop smiling at him as they split into teams to play Chloe’s choice of Charades.
When the game was over and the night was wrapping up, several of them remarked on how good it had been to see him. Erik could read between the lines. What they really meant was, it was good to see him happy. No longer hiding himself away in his apartment or skulking around base like a ghost. He liked it too. This assignment – Chloe – had given him back his confidence, and with it, opened doors he thought were permanently locked to him.
Kong hugged him again as he left. Hugged him so hard he lifted Erik off his feet. “This is good, man,” Kong told him as he delivered a couple of sharp claps to Erik’s back. Then, quietly, so Chloe didn’t hear, he added, “You get the chance, you kill that motherfucker stalking her. You get me? Don’t let that piece of shit keep haunting her.”
“That’s the plan.”
Kong’s big palm landed on Erik’s shoulder. “Good man.” Then he turned to Chloe and bowed slightly. “Chloe Powell. Thank you for having us. It’s been an honor.”
“Thankyou,” Chloe returned with a bright smile. “Tonight was fun.”
Kong shot her one of his big grins. “We’ll do this again soon.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
As the door shut behind the last of his family, Jayla announced, “You know, I think I’ll walk them out, then I have laundry to do. It’ll probably take me, oh, about two hours.” She looked pointedly at Erik. “You got things covered?”
