Page 10

COLE

KAS: Season home opener. Dinner after? Or, are you too good for me now?

I smirked as I read the text from my former linemate.

COLE: Maybe. Things are getting a little complicated.

KAS: I promise not to bring Daisy.

COLE: You and your pussy.

KAS: They’re both the best. No arguing, dinner.

I paused my scrolling through Kas’ texts, studying Eden as she put clothes and shoes, toiletries, a blanket and fuck knew what else into various bags I’d helped her pull down from a high shelf in her closet. After she argued with me and finally understood I wasn’t fucking asking.

COLE: Might have a guest.

KAS: Bring her. Him. Whoever.

COLE: My sister, asshole.

KAS: I knew you were into kinky shit.

COLE: Step. Never mind. See at center ice, Holken.

KAS: DROP THE PUCK

I slipped my phone into my pocket as Eden struggled to close one of the suitcases. “Four?” She stepped back as I zipped one after the other closed.

“High maintenance,” she said.

“I doubt that.”

“I am. Needy. Loud.”

“Stop trying to change my mind, Eden. I promised my father I’d take care of you. And there’s no fucking way I’m letting you stay here alone while some asshole is stalking you.” I threw over my shoulder. She flinched, and I hated myself for a second until I reminded myself it was good that she was scared. It meant she’d listen and come home with me.

“He meant drive me home, not kidnap me.”

“I take my promises seriously. Which means, you’re not staying here alone or otherwise, Bu-” Shit. I stopped before I said it. Bunny. The nickname conjured up all sorts of images of her. Running. Panting. Coming all over my cock as I fucked her.

“But what? ”

Good. She didn’t catch my almost slip up. “Even if your roommate was home, it wouldn’t matter. And she’s not.”

She watched me, green eyes full of the things I couldn’t give her. “Why are you doing this, Cole?” she whispered, as if she were afraid to say the words out loud.

Or maybe hear my answer.

I roughed a hand over my face, and told her as much of the truth as I could. “You're my family now, Eden. I can’t…I won’t let anything happen to you.” One side of my mouth lifted. “And Izzy would kick my ass if I didn’t do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

That earned me a chuckle. Her head fell to one side, and she asked, “She never said…much about you. Other than she missed you. A lot.”

Did I tell her the truth, or as much of it as I could without letting the anger take over? I settled for half truths. “I wrote to her every two weeks. But she hid them from our father because, at first, she was afraid he’d take them away. Then, she didn’t want to hurt him by bringing me up. That one I didn’t get but, but Izzy is…fierce.”

“You two have more in common than you think,” she muttered.

Fuck, her bags were heavy, but I loaded them up, stopping her when she tried to grab one. “I got it.” She glared and I glared back, and she gave in. Eden released the strap of the last bright pink bag with a sigh. I motioned for her to go first. “Keys are on the island. Unlock and pop the lift gate, but stay in the house until I come and get you.”

Eden rolled her eyes, and my cock twitched. Great idea, Cole. Bring your fucking fantasy brought to life that you can longer harbor any feelings, sexual or otherwise, into your house. Where she’ll be naked, at least in the shower.

“I’m not-” she started as she headed down the stairs .

“Stay,” I growled from behind her. Yep, fucking growled. With a glare, she grabbed the keys, walked to the window, held up the remote and pressed the release button.

And sat on the couch. “Fine. But only so I can text Zoe and Noah to let them know where I am. Good thing we know you’re not a serial killer. You’re not, right?” she called as I closed the door and walked to my SUV.

I only hunt my favorite little Bunny , I thought. And too bad that’s fucking over.

The night air was still chilled, but the street was empty at the late hour. Whoever sent Eden those messages either was really good hiding, or a fucking coward. I was betting on both.

You can never be too safe. One step ahead.

FUCK. She was texting Noah .

NOAH: WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING KIDNAPPING MY BESTIE, ROMEO?

HUNTER: Who?

NOAH: Stay up to date, Spice Boy.

HUNTER: WTAF?

NOAH: Pumpkin head. Pumpkin spice. Spice.

HUNTER: No.

NOAH: We’ll circle around.

WOLF: I’m out.

(Wolf left the chat. )

(Noah added Wolf back in.)

WOLF: GOALIE

THEO: Mute it. It’s what I do.

NOAH: We are having a #ghosthockeydaddies meeting at practice tomorrow and talk about protocol. But back to the matter at hand. What the fuck are you doing with EDEN?

Through the window, Eden sat on the couch, waiting and trying to not freak out. The fidgeting gave away. I called Noah before he sent another text.

“What the hell is going on? Eden just texted Zoe and me, and Zoe isn’t answering, which is also fucking concerning.”

I raked a hand through my hair, and explained the situation. Leaving out that I fucked his best friend in the haunted house and that she’d been hiding this stalker shit from them both. From everyone, apparently. Because knowing my father, if he knew, he probably would’ve locked Eden up in a bedroom and only let her out with an armed detail.

“Stalker? How long?”

“I don’t know. But after seeing the text and how freaked out she was, there’s no way I’m letting her stay here.”

“Shit. You can drop her here, but I did one of those season ticket delivery days and I’m at Laney’s thank you for doling his dinners. I won’t get home for at least 45 minutes even if I leave now.”

“It’s fine,” I assured him, while part of me screamed no fucking way. Eden was my responsibility. “I’ll take her to my place. I have plenty of room. ”

“Just don’t let her stepdad talk you into making her move in with them.” His voice lowered. “Eden would lose it. Don’t tell her I told you.”

“You don’t have to, I saw it for myself tonight. Plus, he’s my father. I know firsthand.”

“Sorry, I'm still processing that one. Are you sure? Is she freaked out? She won’t answer her phone, and keeps texting that she’s fine and her step brother is letting her stay at his place. Which is fucking crazy that you’re the step brother, Sunders. I should’ve put the pieces together.” The background noise sounded muffled for a second as he called to someone and covered the bottom of his phone. “Have her call me in the morning just to check in. I can see if I can have a security system installed at her and Zoe’s place.”

Yeah, not happening. “I’lll take care of her, don't worry.” I hung up before he responded and opened the door. “Ready?”

Eden stood and nodded. “But I don’t have to like it,” she warned.

Me, neither, Bunny. Me neither.

The house seemed bigger than it had when I first bought it after I realized Eden wouldn’t be moving in. After my father texted me the picture of her and Izzy together. Every room a reminder of what could’ve been. The damn candles I ordered stuffed into a closet somewhere on the second floor. The extra blankets that would ever touch her skin in another closet .

A fucking case of Junior Mints in the butler pantry never to be opened.

But, now thanks to some fucking creepy asshole, the house had her scent in it. Drifting down the hallway from the guest suite. Where my step sister, I reminded myself, was staying. But before closing the door, I told her to let me know if she needed anything.

“And tomorrow, after practice, I’m picking you up and you’re getting a new phone. No arguments.” It fucking hit me how sad and tired she looked. And relieved. Eden didn’t protest, and after I pointed out the en suite bathroom and walk in closet, that, I never planned on her using, at least not for long, I shut the door. Padded down the hallway to my room, and fought the urge to drink myself to sleep in order to stay away from the temptation I’d brought into my world willingly.

Temptation I had to stay away from.

No matter how much it killed me to. After an hour of tossing and turning, I gave up and headed downstairs to grab a glass of water and maybe a fucking snack. Cookies.

Or Junior Mints. If I couldn’t kiss Eden, at least I could taste the thing she loved and fool myself.

Fucking sap.

I padded down the hall, down the back staircase that led into the kitchen. The lights under the cabinet that stayed on even at night barely lit the space, but my eyes were adjusted to the darkness while I laid in bed. A clink of ice, the slosh of water. I took a sip and was just about to head back upstairs after grabbing a box of the damn candies when I noticed a light on in the great room just off the kitchen. The house was semi open concept, but I loved to cook and the kitchen was larger and led into the great but wasn’t closed off. If you were on one side of the kitchen, the view into the other area was obstructed.

Without turning on any other lights, I slowly headed toward the light, knowing that the security system and the alarm were activated and no one got in or out without me knowing.

The sight that greeted stole my fucking breath.

Eden. In a white off the shoulder t-shirt and nothing else, holding a glass of wine and standing in front of the wall of windows that faced the pool. The moonlight illuminated her body, every curve I remembered so fucking well in vivid detail. Her face turned up while she looked at the full moon in the clear sky like a flower would be as it soaked up the sun. Hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun. Legs I pictured wrapped around my waist as I fucked her up against the panes of glass in front of her. Claiming what was mine.

She tilted her head, then jumped as she finally saw me standing there. “Oh! I didn’t hear you! Wrong stalker,” she joked feebly, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “I hope you don’t mind,” she added, holding up the glass. “I found it in the refrigerator, and it just so happens to be a favorite. I couldn’t sleep, and…” Her voice drifted, embarrassment flushing her cheeks beautifully.

I waved her off, full well knowing I bought it specifically for her, and when I walked past a bottle in the butler pantry this morning, put it in the refrigerator for some reason.

Fate at its twisted finest at work.

“It’s fine.”

“You either?”

“Me either, what?”

Her eyes, large and voluminous in the cool light, seemed tired for more reasons than I think even she knew. “Couldn’t sleep?”

I shook my head. “I usually go for a run before bed. Then do a little yoga to keep my body from getting pissed at me. Helps calm the nervous system.”

“And my sta-“ I refused to use the word, “problems messed that up for you.”

“It’s not a problem at all. You’re family.”

A little of the light went out of her eyes. “Yeah, Family.”

I nodded. An almost uncomfortable silence stretched out between us, and her cheeks flushed more before she turned back to the window and sipped the wine.

I’d never been more jealous of a fucking glass in my life. Or a window, because it got to watch those lips dart out as she licked errant drops from them.

“You don’t have to stay up with me. I’m okay, I promise.” Her voice sounded weary, and I recalled what her mother said about her episodes at dinner.

Fuck. She thought I was worried she was having one.

“You’re not okay, but that’s to be expected.”

She glanced at me before returning her attention to the night sky. “What do you mean?”

I walked up, not quite behind her, or close enough to touch her. But close enough that her scent was stronger and made me want to get closer.

I didn’t.

“Having someone send you messages like those isn’t normal. Sharing that out loud makes it real. And you should be scared. But getting up and getting a glass of wine, or,” I added, “staring at the moon because you can’t sleep doesn’t mean there’s anything I need to worry about, Eden.”

Neither of us said a word for a few minutes, enjoying the silence and the relief of not having to say anything .

I sighed. “I’ll be down the hall from your room if you need anything, Eden. Stay up as long as you like. Or don’t. It’s up to you. Always.”

And with that, I walked away knowing I lied to her. It wasn’t up to her. Or me. Not anymore. Fate stepped in and decided we couldn’t be together long before we met. But we were just finding out.

It was the worst feeling in the world. But at least I could keep her safe.