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Lyra was already wrapped around Zach. The other Bulls were making their way slowly around the bikes and van to the clubhouse, or getting out of the van to mount their bikes and ride off home.
Cooper finished his greeting with Geneva, which included some chat Siena couldn’t hear, and then he turned and smiled up at her.
Siena stood at the top of the steps and waited for him to reach her.
“Hey,” he said as he put a foot on the first step.
“Hey,” she said. “You’re home.”
He stood directly before her, still smiling that one-in-a-million smile. “Like I promised.” His hand came up to cradle her cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good. Now that you’re home, I’m great.”
“Cough?”
“Mild. Every now and then. But my chest feels better. My throat, too.”
“That’s good news.”
Unable to take it anymore, Siena slid her arms up and around his neck, molding her body as tightly to his as she could. His arms swept around her and pulled her even closer. They didn’t kiss; she tucked her head under his chin and reveled in the simple closeness.
He smelled of gasoline and smoke, scents that turned her stomach and made new memories tremble, but she ignored all that. She had no impulse whatsoever to ask what he’d done. Earlier, she’d told him she wanted to be as deeply informed about his club work as she could be. She’d never be able to deal with ignorance. However, she already knew everything she needed to know about this night. Cooper had gone to exact revenge for the fiery destruction of their homes and possessions, and now he was home. That he smelled of fire made sense. That he was home meant he’d been successful. That was all the information she needed.
“I want to talk to you, babe,” he murmured into her hair.
“You don’t have to tell me about tonight. I know enough.”
“I’m glad. But that’s not what I want to talk about. You feeling up to talking now, or would you rather sleep and do it in the morning?”
She leaned back and looked up at his beautiful face. “I’m not ready to sleep. If you’re up to it now, so am I.”
He grinned. “Then let’s go upstairs and get some privacy.”
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~oOo~
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“You closed up the bed,” Cooper said, surprised, when they entered his office.
“Yeah, Lyra and I were in cleaning mode this evening. I know we’re just going to get in it again, but ...”
“No, it’s good. Gives us a place to sit now.” With a wave of his hand, he indicated she should do that sitting now. So she did. He sat beside her and slipped her hand into his, weaving their fingers together.
“What do you want to talk about?” she asked, when he’d been quiet, staring at their linked hands, for what felt like a long time.
He cleared his throat. “So, I had some time to think, getting to Vegas and around, and back. You and me, our lives are pretty much a mess right now.”
She laughed. “Yeah. A sooty mess.”
“Right. So, I was thinking how we’re gonna straighten all that out.”
“Me too. We need to start calling insurance and—”
“Yeah, that,” he cut her off. “Obviously, that’s gonna be a pain in the ass. I hate all that bureaucratic shit. But that’s not what I’m talking about.” He paused and looked up to meet her eyes. “I’m talking about I want to sell both those places once new houses are up, and I want to buy somewhere else—a better house, maybe with more land or something—and live together.”
Siena’s heart stopped beating. When it kicked back to life with a heavy thump, she sucked in a breath and said, “Coop, what?”
