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Butch comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me as I plate our dessert. He dips his head into the crook of my neck and inhales deeply. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Something changed between us in the last few hours—the last week, in truth. I’ve never felt more desired, more cared for by someone. It’s a stark difference from the last few years of dealing with the death of my father, my runaway mother, and my spiraling brother. Now, with Butch by my side, holding me how he is now, I feel like we could handle anything. Together.
I set the plates aside and cover the rest of the cheesecake to put away before turning in his arms. I hum, sliding my hands up his bare, chest hair peppered pecs and over his wide, solid shoulders. “Me, too,” I whisper, bringing him in for another panty-melting kiss.
Fifteen.
Butch
I wake in themiddle of the night to the woman of my dreams lying sprawled out over me with her head on my chest. My arm cramps and I shift ever so carefully, not wanting to disturb her and ruin the moment.
The clock on the wall tells me it’s two in the morning, and with the TV back on the home screen, I gather we fell asleep at some point during the movie. I still can’t believe she convinced me to sit through two hours ofThe Notebook. But I had to. The way her eyes lit up when she picked it, it felt like a test. Joke’s on her because I enjoyed it for the most part—not that I’ll ever admit that to another living soul, mind you.
She’ll soon realize I’m in this for her and only her. When it comes to us, she’ll have anything her pretty little heart desires without complaint from me.
With that all too pleasing thought in mind, I hold her to my chest as I roll us to lay on our sides with her pinned between myself and the back of the couch. She doesn’t fuss, hardly stirring as she lets out a breathy sigh when I draw the throw blanket higher over us.
I’m almost asleep when I hear my phone vibrating loudly with a rattle on the coffee table. I glance back over my shoulder at it lit up and flashing. Who the hell is calling me at this hour?
I debate getting up and answering, but the thought of moving and waking Cassidy is like grit in my eyes. Unfortunately, whoever it is, they’re not letting up.Fuck. I gingerly pry myself from Cassidy’s warm embrace and slide off the couch onto the floor, nearly landing on Frankie sleeping beside us. I make sure she’s tucked in, even shifting the pillows around for her so she doesn’t miss me too much.
Christ. If any of my brothers saw me right now, they’d laugh their asses off. I’d never live it down. Not that I give a shit. When it comes to my girl, I’ll gladly look like a fool for her. Because that’s what she is now—mine.
I grab my phone off the table and stand. I clean up a bit on my way to the kitchen, picking up our used dishes and whatnot before checking my phone. Two missed calls and a text message, all from an unknown number.
Unknown:I’d like to take you up on that offer. Call me.
My brow furrows as I try to figure out who the hell… Then it hits me. There’s only one person who could possibly be calling me this late that’d say something like that.
I glance back up toward the couch, my thumb hovering over the call button. Should I wake her up and tell her? I haven’t even thought about what would happen if her brother took me up on my offer. Shit. I haven’t eventoldCass I offered to get him some professional help the other day at their trailer.
She’s been through enough. And if he’s calling me and not her about this, there’s a reason.
I grab a work hoodie from the hook in my mud room and slip my sneakers on just as Frankie waddles through the kitchen with clicks of his nails. He pauses, watching me. “Come on,” I whisper to him, patting my leg. “If your mom wakes up, you’ll be a great excuse for why I’m outside.”
He huffs, waddling toward me with a lack of enthusiasm that has me fighting to hold in a laugh. I grab his leash and hook his collar as we make our way outside. I hit the call button on the unknown number and wait for an answer.
A nasty sounding wretch precedes a weak spoken, “Hey.”
“This is a one-time offer,” I tell him, getting straight to the point as the outdoor motion light comes on, I lead Frankie over to the grass beside the garage. “You fuck it up, there are no second chances.”
“I hear ya,” he says, sounding pained. “My sister with you?”
“Yeah, she’s here.”
“I…can’t see her,” he admits. “If I do, I don’t know if I can go through with it.”
I nod to myself, even though I know when Cassidy finds out he left without saying goodbye, she’s going to be more than upset—she’ll be devastated. Thankfully, I’ll be there when she does. “She’ll understand.”
“I won’t be able to leave knowing…she’s alone.”
“She’s not alone,” I all but snap. “She’s with me now. And I’m not going anywhere, Clark.”
He chuckles on the other end of the phone. “I figured as much.”
“She works tomorrow,” I tell him. “I’ll make a few calls first thing in the morning. Be ready.”
He’s silent for a long moment before he mutters, “Tell her I’m sorry.”
