phone.
“When, Cole? When did you talk to him?”
“A little while…after.” After…after he’d driven away and tried not to look back. After he’d given her his heart and tried to live like half a man. “When doesn’t matter. I didn’t—I didn’t know, okay? I didn’t know about your nightmares. I’m sorry that you were hurting, and I wasn’t there.” She was still holding his wrist. His head had bent toward hers, and he wanted to put his mouth on hers. Wanted to taste her. The night he’d had with her—she’d tasted so good. Perfect. “I won’t let you down again. You call for me, and I will come running.” Just like he had moments before.
Just like he would always do for her now.
Her hand slid away from his. “You—you’re not wearing a shirt.”
No, he wasn’t. Actually, he was just wearing old jogging shorts. He’d just remembered that fact.
“You have tattoos on your chest.”
He had a whole lot of tats. He didn’t think the dim lighting from her lamp let her clearly see all the designs. “And some on my back.” He wondered what she thought of tats. Some women loved tats. Thought they made a guy look badass. Other women couldn’t stand them. Thought they made a man look too dangerous and wild.
He didn’t particularly care about all those other women, though. He just wondered what Evie thought.
He’d gotten the tats for a very specific reason. One he wasn’t going to tell her about. At least, not yet.
The way Cole figured it, there was no sense in telling her about what had happened to him. He’d survived. Time to move on.
His gaze lingered on her lips, though. What he wouldn’t give to taste her....
“Good night, Cole.”
A clear dismissal. He swallowed. If she glanced down, she’d realize that his eager dick was about to tear right out of his shorts. He stood and turned quickly for the door. Then he stopped. “I hope you don’t have any other bad dreams.” If you do, baby, call for me. I’ll be here. He marched forward.
“Do you ever have bad dreams?”
Yeah, he fucking did. “Everyone does.”
“What are yours about?”
His…
He looked back at her. “They’re about getting to that closet in LA. Ripping open that door…” A hard exhale. “And not finding you.”
My nightmares are about losing you.
He exited the bedroom. Closed the door. He stood there a moment, his heart racing, and rage churning in his gut. A quick glance at the nearby clock told him it was after midnight. Like he gave a damn. Cole snatched up his phone and dialed Harrison White’s number.
It took four rings for a groggy Harrison to answer.
“Wh-what is it?” Harrison rasped. “Evie…okay?”
“You bastard, when this is over, I’m kicking your ass.”
“What?” Now Harrison sounded more awake. More aware. And a little scared. “Why?”
“Evie has nightmares. She calls out my name.”
Silence.
“And you didn’t think it was important to tell me that shit?” If Harrison had been in front of him, Cole would have driven his fist into the other man’s face.
“Evie was—was moving on with her life,” Harrison sputtered. “Her therapist said a few nightmares were normal, and she—”
“Evie called for me.” That gutted him. His hand almost smashed the phone because he held it so tightly. “And I wasn’t there.” A situation that would never occur again. “You kept me from her.”
“You…you’re not right for Evie, you’re—”
“At this exact moment, considering the danger surrounding your sister, I’m more than right for her. I’m fucking perfect.” He tried to choke down his rage. “You attempt to come between us again, and it will be the last mistake you ever make, got me?”
“You’re threatening me? Me? I am paying for—”
“Screw your money. In case Eric didn’t tell you, I’m footing the bill for any and all security measures that involve Evie.”
“Why? Why would you do that?”
Because she’s mine.
Her bedroom door creaked open.
He spun.
Evie stood in the doorway, wearing her white T-shirt, an oversize T-shirt that fell to mid-thigh. She wore the T-shirt and…
Holy hell, does she have on panties, or is she only wearing the shirt? He couldn’t tell, and he really, really wanted to tell. With all of his soul.
“Cole? Are you listening to me?”
Hell, no. He was drooling over Evie. “Don’t forget my promise.” Cole’s voice was a rough rumble. “I’ll keep it when the case is over.”
“But—”
Cole hung up on the dick. He tossed his phone aside and didn’t even look to see where it landed, mostly because he couldn’t look away from Evie. What sane man