I wait until I know she’s sleeping before I close my eyes, but even then, I don’t fall asleep. I can’t. The sun will rise like it always does, and I know when that happens, I will have a whole new fight on my hands.

“Is this your new plan?” I ask, leaning against the counter across from Hadley. I hide my smile with my cup of coffee when she doesn’t say anything, doesn’t even acknowledge me. She’s been ignoring me all morning. As soon as she woke up, she rolled out of my arms and out of bed without a backward glance. Since then, she’s pretended I don’t even exist. “I’m going to be working tonight, but I’ll make sure you get settled in at my place before I have to take off.” That gets a reaction; her head swings my way and her eyes narrow. “I’m not letting you stay here alone.” I shrug. “At least not until I find out if your dad was the one who broke in.” I finish my cup of coffee and dump my mug in the sink. She’s still staring at me, and I can see the wheels in her head spinning, trying to figure out what she should do. “I gotta go.”

When I see the relieved look in her eyes, I almost smile. I go around the counter to where she’s sitting and lift her ass right out of her chair, listening to her squeak as I set her on top of the island. With my hands behind her knees, I spread her legs then grab her ass and pull her flush against me. Her breath catches and my cock aches. When her hands move to my chest, I bury my fingers in her hair, tip her head back, and kiss her.

She doesn’t fight the kiss, doesn’t even attempt to deny me entry. She opens her mouth under mine and moans when our tongues touch. Fuck, I love the way she tastes, love the sounds she makes and the way she can’t seem to get close enough to me when we’re like this. Not wanting to but knowing I have to, I drag my mouth from hers. “Sorry, baby, I gotta go.”

“Okay,” she pants against my lips.

“In order for me to do that, I’m gonna need you to let me go,” I say, and she drops her head forward, unhooks her legs from around my hips, and releases the hold she has on my shirt. When she keeps her head down, I force her to look at me and grin. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Cobi.”

“I know you have dinner plans with Brie this evening, so call me when you’re on your way home from that. I’ll meet you here before you follow me to my place and we get you settled there.”

“I’m not staying at your place.”

“You’re not staying here. This place is no longer safe. I need to focus when I’m working tonight and I won’t be able to do that if I’m thinking about how I’m unable to protect you when I’m not here. My house has a state of the art security system, along with Maxim, who would let you know if someone he didn’t know was in the house, and then attack them for being in his space.”

“How about I stay with Brie and Kenyon then.”

“And if you have a nightmare?” She looks past my shoulder and presses her lips together. She doesn’t want to admit it, but she knows no one keeps her bad dreams away but me. “You could just tell me why you’re once again trying to push me away. We could talk about it then you could give in and stay with me.”

“You said you’re working tonight. You won’t even be home.”

“Talk to me.”

“There is nothing to talk about.”

“So fucking stubborn.” I grab both sides of her face so I have her complete attention. “If this is about your dad, you need to know I don’t give a fuck who your parents are.”

“My parents?” she whispers, and I rub my thumbs along her jaw.

“Baby, I know exactly who your mom and dad are. I haven’t ever personally dealt with them, but I know the kind of people they are. I also know that doesn’t reflect on you. You are not them.”

“We can’t do this.”

“We’re already doing it. I told you before, and I’ll keep telling you until you understand. You’re mine and I’m not letting you go.”

“I’m not yours.”

“You are.”

“I’m not an object you can own, Cobi, and I don’t want to be owned. Ever.”

“Whatever.” I lean in and kiss her nose. “I gotta go. I’ll see you this evening.”

“I just told you I’m not—”

I cut her off, dropping a quick kiss to her lips before picking up my duffle bag. “I’ll call Brie as soon as I leave to let her know the plan.”

“You can’t just call my best friend,” she snaps, as she hops off the counter and starts to follow me to the door.

“Have a good day, baby.” I open the door and walk out onto the porch, laughing as she shouts about me being an overbearing ass. When I get into my truck, I smile at her as she glares at me.

When she spins around and slams the door, I know I’m already halfway in love with her.

_______________

I open the door to my truck and get out, with Maxim hopping out behind me.

I know Hadley’s home; her car is in the drive along with another one. Figuring Brie is inside, I head up to the front door and use my key to get in. Both women turn to look at me—Brie with a bright smile, Hadley with a frown.

“I see we need to have another conversation about my key,” she states, and I grin at her then watch a smile spread across her full lips when she spots Maxim at my side. She slides off the stool she’s sitting on and gets closer to Maxim, holding out her hand.

“Hey, handsome.” She gets down to eye level with him, running her fingers over the top of his head, and then laughs as he starts to lick her face.

“Can I get a hello kiss?” I ask, and she looks up at me.

“No.”

“It wasn’t really a question.” I smile then pull her up against me, listening to her squeak right before I capture her mouth.

When I pull away, her breathless “Brie’s here” makes me laugh.

“Please, don’t mind me,” Brie says, and I look to find her giving Maxim a belly rub.

“How was dinner?”

“Good,” Brie answers. “I’m sure your ears were burning.”

At her statement, I smile down at Hadley, who’s a pretty shade of pink, then ask, “Did you pack your bag?”

“I’m going to stay with Brie.”

“You’re not,” I deny.

“She knows she’s not staying with us.” Brie narrows her eyes at Hadley. “We already talked about it. She knows she’s better off staying with you; she’s just being hardheaded.”

“You mean you talked about it,” Hadley says, taking a step away from me and turning to face her friend.

“Okay, I talked about it and know that even if you’re too stubborn to admit it, you know I’m right. Do you need me to help you pack?”

“No.” Hadley denies looking annoyed.

“All right, then I’m gonna head home.” Brie grabs her purse and gives me a wink then Hadley a hug.

When she’s gone, I look at Hadley. “I went and talked to your dad today.” At my statement, her body freezes. “He’s adamant that he had nothing to do with what happened last night. He said he was home with your mom and she could confirm that if I needed her to.” I pull in a breath and grab her hand, dragging her up against me. “He was concerned about you. Said he didn’t like the idea of you being here on your own, even after I told him that you and I are together.”

“I’m sure he was worried,” she mumbles, rolling her eyes.

Not wanting to upset her right now by digging into her relationship with her parents, I change the subject. “Did you call your bank and credit cards?”

“Yeah, they’re all canceled. I still have to get to the DMV for a new license, but that will have to wait until tomorrow after I meet with one of my clients.”

“Anything I can help with?”

Her face softens and she shakes her head. “No, but thank you.”

I kiss the top of her head and release her. “Go pack. I want time to show you around my place before I gotta leave for work.”