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It appears that I’ve got some screws loose.
I used to tease Jack about how hard and fast he fell for Ava, but here I am doing the same fucking thing. It’s not that I don’t believe in love or love at first sight, it’s that I never imagined it was for me.
I’ve been so focused on Cole Mechanics over the past decade that I haven’t given relationships much thought. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve had fun with a few girls, but nothing serious, and I’ve never felt this clamoring need to make a girl mine until I laid eyes on Bunny.
Whenever things progressed before, I’d call it off and never see them again. Yeah, it’s an asshole move, but I never claimed to be prince charming. I’ve always left that for the movies or Jack. He seems to have it down pat.
“Uhm, hi.” Bunny’s lilting voice has me spinning to face her. She looks far more casual in cut-off jean shorts with a frayed hem, a pair of black Chucks, and a t-shirt showing too much fucking skin for the public eye.
“Where’s the rest of your shirt?” I think it’s called a crop top.Too late.I realize I’ve messed up.
“Right. I think I’ll just go home then.”
Fuck.“No, wait. I’m sorry. That was such a dick thing to say.”Fuck. Am I messing this up more?“It’s the protector in me. I spent years watching my sister wear the same thing and always hated the idea of guys staring at her. Jack does it now.”
Her head tilts; she’s inspecting me, determining if I’m worth her time. “My sister’s husband controls everything she does and wears. I don’t want that for myself.”
“Sounds like a dick.”
“He’s not. He’s…perfect,” she sighs, and I want to punch this fucker in the face. “She loves it. It works so well for them. She gives up all control, but honestly, he’s the one who’s powerless because he’d do anything for her. Has, in fact.” She sighs again. “I don’t know what I’m trying to say, just that I’m my own person. I don’t want to be told what to do or wear.”
I’ve heard of relationships like the one she’s describing, and while I like to be in control and can be an ornery asshole, I don’t want my woman under my thumb without her desire to be. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
She nods. “I realized inside that I don’t know your name.”
Reaching out, I take her hand. “Caspian Cole.”
“Caspian.” She says my name, trying it out, and my dick jumps and weeps. “It suits you.” Her smile is sunny, showing off her perfectly straight white teeth, and this time it reaches her eyes. “So, what are we doing for dinner?”
Shit.I hadn’t thought that far. “How about I cook for you?” We don’t need the distraction of a restaurant; I want her focus entirely on me.
Fretting at her lip, she appears about to decline when instead she shocks me by nodding her head and saying, “I’ll follow you, then?”
After helping her into her Mercedes E-Class Coupe—my brows raise at the money this thing costs—I get her phone and dial mine so we have each other’s numbers. A girl that young, driving a car that expensive, has me wondering about all kinds of things.
CHAPTER3
Bunny
What was I thinking? I’m an idiot. This man could be a serial killer for all I know. I could disappear tonight, and no one would realize because I’m the dumbass who didn’t tell anyone where I was going, that I left work early, or who I was with.
From the truck he drives—an old 70’s pickup—to the house he lives in, Caspian Cole is a contradiction. Although, the pickupisrestored. But his home is massive. Nothing like Roman’s; nobody has money like my brother-in-law, but still huge with its three stories, four-car garage, and huge wrap-around porch.
“Your house is beautiful,” I say again as I sit across the island from where he’s cooking at the gas range, which I imagine cost ten grand, easily.
Everything is open concept. A living room sprawls out behind me, the kitchen has double French doors that open onto a beautiful deck with a hot tub, and despite the limited acreage, there’s a generous-sized pool outside as well. The laundry room is on the second floor, with a bathroom, two guest rooms, and an office, even though there’s a den down here with sliding barn doors if he wants privacy. Then a level above that, there are four bedrooms. Two have a shared bathroom between them, and my first thought when I initially saw this was that it would be perfect for the kids; however, I bit my lip and shut that down rather quickly. The main suite is expansive, nearly half the size of the floor plan, with two walk-in closets, a generous attached bathroom with a jacuzzi tub, and even a makeup room with the biggest built-in vanity I’d ever seen. And the last bedroom remains a blank slate.
“It’s my parents’ old home. I grew up here. Once I bought it from them, I added on the third floor about four years ago after I renovated the rest of the house first. The basement is still unfinished.” The pride in his voice is attractive to me. I squeeze my thighs together to help with the pressure I feel building.
“Do you mind if I look around outside?” He turns from the stove, a delighted grin across his face, and nods.
Sliding apart the French doors, a light breeze wafts in, tempering my overheated skin. What I missed out back earlier was that there’s a seating area off to the side and a garden lining the fence. “Is that a vegetable garden?” I pop my head back inside to ask him.
He shuts off the burner on the stove before joining me. “It is. My mom started it, and I never stopped.” He grips my hand, our fingers weaving together naturally, and I follow him down the steps as I’m brought over to a large oak tree with an attached swing. “I replaced the ropes last year when my nephew became old enough to play around on this thing, so it’s sturdy.” He nods his head for me to take a seat.
As soon as I do, I’m given a light push. I close my eyes and enjoy the carefree moment of it all. Tilting my head back, the swinging slows until I’m halted, and I feel Caspian’s hand on my cheek, holding me in place as his lips cover mine.
His bristle is rough against my delicate skin, but I love it; the tantalizing scrape likely leaving a red mark. I enjoy the idea of him marking me.
