“Caleb, we don’t have to go anywhere.”
“Get dressed, sweetheart.” I watch as she crosses the room.
She’s wearing nothing but a soft grey camisole and tiny pink shorts that I’m not sure are actual shorts or underwear.
“Stop staring,” she says, pulling on jeans and a T-shirt.
“Please tell me you don’t walk around the house in that.”
“Oh Lord, no. Alex would die of an aneurism.”
“Good. I knew I liked him.” I grab her hand and head for the door.
“Hunter! I need your keys!” Emma shouts.
I prepare myself to exchange a few words with Hunter, but to my surprise, it’s Alex who steps into my path.
“If she comes home crying, I will slaughter you. I’ve known Emma for over fifteen years, and I’ve seen her cry more in the last two months than I have in all those years combined. Man the fuck up, put your personal bullshit aside, and worry about her for once,” he says, staring down at me. I want to say something dickish back to him, but he’s fucking right.
“She’ll be okay. I swear.”
“She better be.” He turns and walks back over to where Hunter is standing with Emma.
“Call me if you need anything.” Hunter kisses her forehead, and it takes all I have not to rip his lips from his face.
“Come on, Emmy. Let’s go.”
“JESUS, YOU really must have sold a kidney for this room.” I walk into a huge suite in the new hotel right on River Street.
“Nah, it wasn’t that bad. No worries. All my organs are securely intact.” He smirks. God, I’ve missed him. “You hungry or thirsty? How do you feel?” he asks as concern slides over his face. His gaze flashes back and forth from my eyes to my stomach (with the occasional rake over my breasts).
“I’m fine. Can we sit and talk?”
“Yeah, of course.” He motions for me to move to the couch.
No sooner than my butt hits the fabric, he slides in beside me—mouth aimed for mine. I barely have enough time to turn my head and dodge it. We have a lot of words that need to be said before we get to that point. I ache for Caleb’s touch, but I know myself. If I kiss him now, I’ll never want to stop and we will end up right back where we were months ago. I’m like an alcoholic when it comes to him. If I take even one taste, I’ll be a goner.
“Please. We have a lot to figure out,” I plead.
He groans into my hair but never moves away.
I can’t think with him this close. I breathe in a deep whiff of all that is Caleb and quickly begin to lose my resolve. The image of Caleb pushing me down on to the couch while I drag my tongue up his neck has me letting out a soft moan.
“For fuck’s sake, start talking, Emmy. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to keep my hands off you.”
“I don’t blame you for the wreck,” I start, but my voice is thick with desire.
“I know.” He pulls away, but not before grazing his teeth across my shoulder. “We were both pissed and said some really shitty stuff. I didn’t mean it—any of it. If I could go back, I would have handled that so much differently. I’m sorry, Emmy. ”
I nod, knowing that, yesterday, this would be an extremely serious and more in-depth conversation, but now, we have much bigger issues to deal with.
“I’m pregnant,” I say, chewing on my bottom lip.
“So I’ve heard. Sarah was all too happy to let me know this morning.” He leans back and runs a hand over his face.
“I’m so sorry. She called me as I was leaving the doctor yesterday. I shouldn’t have said anything, but she could tell I was upset. She just kept asking until I finally broke and told her. Yesterday was really rough for me.”
“You should have called. I would have been here last night.”
“I wanted to tell you in person. I was heading up on Saturday. I’ve been back and forth from Chicago for the last six weeks. I fly up for a few days once a week.”
“What? Why?”
“Because I wanted to see Sarah, and I needed to keep my business going for when she gets out.”
“Why the hell didn’t you just stay up there? That must have cost you a fortune.”
“Well I definitely accumulated some frequent-flyer miles,” I offer a small grin, but judging by the look he is giving me, it’s not enough of an answer. “I didn’t trust myself to be near you,” I whisper, and his eyes immediately go soft.
“Come here.”
He doesn’t have to say it twice. I move toward him and melt completely into his strong arms. He kisses the top of my head before dragging me across his lap. I nuzzle into his neck and ask him the real question.
Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)
Aly Martinez's books
- Among the Echoes
- The Fall Up
- Fighting Solitude (On The Ropes #3)
- Retrieval (The Retrieval Duet #1)
- Transfer (The Retrieval Duet #2)
- The Spiral Down (The Fall Up #2)
- Broken Course (Wrecked and Ruined #3)
- Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)
- Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2)
- Fighting Silence (On the Ropes #1)
- Savor Me