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I wasn’t worried that someone was hiding inside. I knew better than that. Cole had the prospects check it out before I arrived. But I knew they’d been there, and I still remembered how terrified I’d been. Cole knew I would be nervous, so he had Nash out front, keeping an eye on things.

Not because he had to. The threat was over, but Cole didn’t want me to worry. It was yet another reason why I was falling in love with him.

He wasn’t just handsome. He didn’t just make me feel wanted, hot and bothered. He looked after me and made sure that I was okay, even when he was at home recovering from a gunshot wound. The man was something else, and he was quickly becoming more than just a simple crush.

Mondays were usually pretty rough. It was hard to get back into a routine, but today was different. I was excited to get back to work. This was my happy place. Every piece of that studio was mine. I’d created it, and I’d made something really good out of it, something I could be proud of.

Reagan was my first client of the day, and sadly, she didn’t take the loss of her pottery nearly as well as Poppy had. But we made the best of it, and by the time she left, she had a new cup and a smile.

I took that as a win. The next few clients came and went, and I was feeling pretty good about my first day back. I went upstairs, gathered a few things, and headed back to Cole’s for dinner. I’d just gotten in my car when my cellphone started ringing, and Adan’s name came up on the dash.

I hadn’t spoken to him in days, and I figured he was just calling to check in until I answered, and he snapped, “Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

“Are you with him?” he spat. “Are you fucking Ravage?”

“Adan.”

“So, that’s a yes… Damn, Em. What the fuck are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking I don’t need your approval to date whoever I want to date,” I snapped. “I get the situation isn’t perfect, but Cole is a good man. He’s good to me, and I want to be with him.”

“A good man,” he scoffed. “I’m sure Dad would love this.”

“Well, Dad’s not here. Neither is Mom, so I guess we’ll never know.”

“You could have anyone.”

“I want him.” He didn’t respond, so I added, “I know you have never been crazy about the brothers and what they’re about. But you don’t know them the way I do. He will be good to me, Adan. He will make me happy.”

“And when he winds up dead on the street one day, what are you gonna do?”

“I’ll survive it. Just like I did when Mom and Dad died.” I loved my brother. I didn’t want him angry with me or disappointed in me, but I wasn’t going to let him determine my path. That was for me to decide. “I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I really hope he’s in it. Because I’m more myself with him than I am with anyone.”

“So, there’s no talking you out of this?”

“Afraid not.”

“He’s going to break your heart.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.”

“You’ve always been so damn stubborn.”

“I get it from you.”

“Yeah, right.” He paused for a moment before saying, “I’m not sure I can give you my blessing on this.”

“I’m not asking for it. I’m just asking you to trust me. I’ve made it this far, haven’t I?”

“Yeah, I guess you have.”

“I love you, Adan. I appreciate you always looking out for me.”

“I love you, too. Even when you’re too stubborn for your own good.”

He ended the call, and while it hadn’t gone all that great, it could’ve gone worse. Much worse. Adan would never admit it, but he’d always liked Cole. Maybe it was his calm demeanor or the way he was with his kids. I’m not sure what it was, but he gravitated to him at all the club events, always sitting next to him or watching the game with him. He shouldn’t have been all that surprised that I’d done the same.