Trials and Tiaras (Untouchable #7) - Heather Long Page 0,9
and she pressed her hands to the wall. I went from washing her hair to running my hands up and down her back.
“There were four tests, Angel.”
“I can’t lose him.” Those words were so soft, they damn near broke my heart.
“You won’t.”
“You sound so sure.” And she needed that certainty. Good thing I had it in spades.
“He’s not going anywhere. He’s one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met. He can out stubborn you when he puts his mind to it. He can talk himself out of trouble and reshape any situation to make it work. Angel, trust this if you trust nothing else—he loves you, and there is nothing he won’t do for you. Whatever the hell Standish said to you and whatever the hell your mother told him, that isn’t changing a damn thing. We’ll figure it out. I promise.”
When she sank back against me, I wrapped my arms around her again and held her.
“I’m worried about him,” she admitted. “I hated telling him. I hated hearing it.”
“I know. Jake’s with him, and you know Jake, he’s going to be in full-on Pit Bull mode. He won’t let anything get near him.”
She laughed a little. “He’s very protective.”
“Yes, he is. And he’s more than a little pissed off at how you two have been treated and extremely motivated to make sure they both get back here whole and hearty.”
“Are you indulging me?”
“Just bit,” I promised and smoothed a hand over her stomach. “Is it helping?”
“A bit.”
“Good.”
“Ian?”
“Hmm?”
“The idea of you and Coop doing things to me when I can’t see you is really hot.”
“Good to know.” I tweaked her nipple. “Can I go back to bathing you now?”
A husky little laugh escaped. “You’re really working at distracting me.”
“Oh, I haven’t begun to work on you, Angel.” The clench of her ass against my cock was a clear sign she understood that promise.
Good.
Valentine’s Day
“Frankie, what’s the matter?” Coop’s hands were hot against my icier ones, and the rain spattering me and soaking my hair registered as the honk of a horn pulled my gaze to the street. The familiar yellow SUV had pulled over, blocking a lane of traffic, and Archie and Ian both stared out at me. Jake probably did too, but I couldn’t see him.
Another horn sounded, then the car behind them ripped sideways with a squeal of tires to whip around them. It was after five. The traffic was heavier, and they were just stopped on the side of the road. I glanced back at Coop.
“What happened?” He gripped my hands in his, and I swallowed. The sound of slamming car doors stopped the silent words that didn’t want to leave my mouth, and then Archie and Ian were both there.
“Babe, what happened?” Archie had an umbrella in hand, and he snapped it open over me and Coop.
Fuck. I stared into his brown eyes, and I swore my heart broke all over again. It couldn’t possibly be true.
“Angel.” Ian had a hand on my back, and I tore my gaze from Archie to look at Coop and then Ian. Suddenly, Jake slammed out of the SUV and stalked over to us. They were all dressed nicely.
They all smelled great.
Fuck.
Valentine’s day.
“Frankie, tell me what the fuck is going on so I can fix it,” Archie said and dragged my attention back to him.
I really didn’t have the words. “I had a meeting with…” I started to say ‘your dad,’ but I couldn’t push those words out. I couldn’t say his name either. “With Mr. Standish…” That sounded even worse. I really couldn’t get it out. His expression turned to stone. How the hell did I tell him this?
My silence went on for too long, because Archie thrust the umbrella at Coop.
“I’ll fucking kill him.”
Chapter Three
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Coop
I finished my shower first. No surprise. In the kitchen, I filled a mug with coffee and set the coffeemaker up to do a second pot when we finished the first. While sipping that coffee, I got out the cinnamon rolls from the fridge and popped a couple of containers open and got them in the oven. At least those were fast and easy to make.
They were also comfort food. The cats swarmed around me in search of food, but I was on to them. Bubba had fed them earlier before he woke us up. A yawn cracked my jaw as I went in search of the phone. No messages yet. I didn’t think there would be, but always