Page 7

Cora

“Cora, I’m starting to worry about you. Every time I’ve called you this week, you’re watching this movie.”

I stuffed another handful of popcorn in my mouth as my Aunt Connie’s sweet voice came through my phone speaker.

“It’s a classic,” I defended, watching Kevin Bacon jump up and down on the wheel well of the blue pickup as he hollered STAMPEDE . I giggled when Val fell ass over tea kettle out of the bed of the truck, looking scared for his life.

“Those disgusting worm things are not a classic.”

“They’re called Graboids,” I corrected, knowing I sounded like the world’s biggest nerd.

“Honey,” Connie sighed. “You need a life. Or at least a date. Getting laid is good for you.” The last part she said slightly under her breath. It was also nothing new. I hadn’t been on a date in years and my aunt was always giving me grief about it.

“Dating is overrated.” And B.O.B., my battery operated boyfriend, handled my orgasms just fine.

“So is watching the same movie a thousand times,” she countered. “When’s the last time you let someone take you to dinner?”

My mind immediately flashed to Chief showing up out of the blue at the Burger Shack. Was the universe conspiring against me or something? I’d gotten over him and there he was popping up out of nowhere. A voice in my head called bullshit, but I was purposely choosing to ignore it.

“I’m too busy for dating,” I lied, pushing thoughts of men out of my head. “Between work, my kiddos, and focusing on the surf shop, there’s no time.”

Connie made that little humming noise that meant she was calling bullshit. “There’s always time for orgasms, sweetie.”

“Aunt Connie!” I groaned, but couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up. My aunt had always been refreshingly blunt about everything, especially sex. While my parents had been alive, she’d been the cool aunt who slipped me banned books and took me to PG-13 movies behind their backs. After they died, she’d become so much more.

“What? I’m old, not dead.”

I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see me. “I’m hanging up now. Love you.”

“Love you more, starfish,” she replied, using the nickname she’d given me when I was five. “Don’t forget to lock your doors. There was a story on the news about?—”

“—Already locked,” I assured her. I’d double-checked a few times since Chief had brought me home. The last thing I wanted was him showing up again and being able to walk right in.

“All right. Goodnight, kiddo.”

Warmth spread through my belly. She was always looking out for me. “Goodnight.”

After ending the call, I scooched deeper into the nest of blankets and pillows perfectly arranged on my couch. Dressed in my worn oversized Myrtle Beach t-shirt and short cotton shorts, I was in full-on bum mode.

“I don’t need a date,” I huffed, securing my still-damp hair into a messy bun on top of my head.

I looked around the room. It was just me, my popcorn, and the underground monsters on the screen that were much less complicated than the ones in the real world.

See. Perfect.

And that’s when the pounding on my door started, making me damn near jump out of my skin.

“Son of a—” I hissed when the popcorn I’d been happily devouring went flying all over the place. Annoyed, I paused the movie and set aside my now sadly half empty bowl. Someone was going to get it for banging on my door like they were the freaking cops.

As I glanced up at the clock on the wall, seeing that it was ten after nine, the second round of knocking started. “I’m coming! Hold your dang horses. Sheesh.”

I hurried to the door and peeked through the peephole. “You’ve gotta be shitting me.”

Standing in the hallway, looking annoyingly fit in a black t-shirt that was spectacularly stretched tight across his broad shoulders and jeans that hugged his muscular thighs with an expression that suggested he wasn’t going anywhere, was the man I’d been trying desperately to forget.

Again.

I banged my forehead against the door in frustration. Maybe if I stayed real quiet, he’d go away.

And then another round of knocking started. “Open the door, Cora. I can hear you in there.”

I groaned, knowing he was too stubborn to give up. Sucking in a deep breath, I schooled my features and yanked open the door, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

“What do you want, Chief?” I asked, deliberately blocking the entrance with my body. Not that it would stop him if he decided to push past me, but the gesture was symbolic. This was my space, and he wasn’t invited.

His eyes did a slow sweep from my bare feet up to the messy bun on top of my head then back down, lingering a beat too long on my legs. “Stop staring, creep!”

“Nice to see you too, baby.”

Before I could stop him, he placed a hand on the door and pushed forward. I had no choice but to step back or get bulldozed over.

“Seriously? You can’t just barge in here!” I don’t know why I was wasting my breath. He was already inside, taking in the suspended shelves in my living room that were filled with vintage knick knacks, the half-refinished coffee table (I was going to finish it eventually), and my nest of blankets on the couch.

“Have you eaten dinner yet?” he asked, completely ignoring my outburst.

I crossed my arms over my chest, acutely aware that I wasn’t wearing a bra. “Did you miss the part where I didn’t invite you in?”

Chief turned to face me, his expression maddeningly calm. “Cora, have you had dinner or not?”

“No,” I admitted reluctantly, my stomach choosing that exact moment to growl traitorously. “But that’s not the?—”

Ignoring me completely, he pulled out his phone, his thumbs tapping across the screen. After a moment, he looked up at me expectantly. “What do you want from Fast Freddy’s?”

I stared at him, feeling like I’d somehow stepped into an alternate reality where Chief and I were on speaking terms and he regularly showed up at my apartment wanting to feed me.

“Babe, what do you want? I’m starving.” He raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to give him my order.

I rolled my eyes, knowing I was fighting a losing battle. “Double cheeseburger, no onions, extra pickles, and sweet potato fries,” I said, then added, “Tell your minion not to forget the Freddy sauce for my fries.”

A hint of a smile played at the corner of his mouth as he typed out the order. “Anything else?”

“Yeah. An explanation for why you’re in my apartment.”

He ignored that too, finishing his text before shoving the phone back in his pocket. Without invitation, he walked over to my couch and dropped down onto it, making himself completely at home in my personal space.

I didn’t know what the hell he was playing at, but once my dinner got here, I was kicking his ass out.

Annoyed, I stalked over and reclaimed my spot at the opposite end, grabbing the remote and pressing play. The movie resumed with Val spotting the new intern out in the distance and remembering it was a girl the school had sent this time.

“Tremors,” Chief said, his deep voice rumbling through the small space between us. “Haven’t seen this in forever.”

I tried desperately to focus on the movie, but it was physically impossible with him sitting so close. He smelled like something woodsy that I liked way too much. It was aggravatingly distracting.

“What are you really doing here, Chief?” I finally asked, unable to take it anymore. I hit pause again and spun around on my butt to face him fully. I wanted answers.

He met my gaze, his expression shifting to something more serious. “I told you earlier. Some shit is going down that I can’t tell you about. Club business.”

“That’s the most unhelpful explanation ever,” I said, throwing my hands up. “What kind of trouble? And why do I need you camping out on my couch to protect me from it?”

He drew in a deep breath as if it would help him find some patience. “The kind of trouble that means you shouldn’t be alone right now.”

My heart rate kicked up a notch. Whatever was happening was serious enough that Braxton had sent Chief to check on me. That alone was concerning, but his evasiveness was making it worse.

“You’re not telling me something,” I accused.

He just stared at me, refusing to say anymore.

“Whatever.” I hit play on the remote then scooted deeper into the arm of the couch. I wasn’t playing these stupid games with him.

Twenty minutes later there was a knock at my door. Chief stood, pulling a gun from inside his cut as he walked over and checked the peephole. “It’s Lid,” he said, holstering his gun.

“Whoever that is.” I crossed my arms under my boobs and his eyes dropped.

“Fuck.” Shaking his head and muttering about my lack of a bra, he flipped the deadbolt and opened the door. A young guy with dark hair, wide eyes, and a prospect patch on his cut was standing on the other side, holding two paper bags that smelled like heaven.

Oh, heck yeah.

“Hi, Lid!” I chirped, ducking under Chief’s beefy arm as I moved in front of him and took the food.

“Uh... Hi?” he said back, his eyes darting between his boss and me.

“You didn’t forget my sauce, did you?” I lifted a brow. Sweet potato fries dipped in Freddy’s sauce were chef’s kiss. My belly rumbled in agreement.

The prospect nodded. “Yes, ma’am. It’s in the bag.”

“You’re the best.” I flashed him a smile as I stepped around Chief and hip checked him out into the hallway. As he stumbled towards his minion, I tried to close the door on him. Moving quickly, his hand shot out and caught it.

I sighed and shook my head. “So close.”

“No. Not close at all,” he growled, slamming the door in the prospect’s face.

See. Total asshole move. He didn’t even say thanks.

Deciding it was best to ignore him, I started pulling containers from the bags and setting them on the coffee table. Fast Freddy’s was a major upgrade from the Cocoa Pebbles I’d planned on having for dinner.

The couch dipped when Chief sat down beside me. Somehow managing to sit even closer than before.

It’s just a burger. We’d eat and then I’d kick him out. I was a strong independent woman. I could totally do this. Easy peasy.

Glancing at the mountain of a man beside me, I wasn’t sure who I was kidding.

“Here.” He handed me a cup of fry sauce.

I shook my head.

Right. Food and then kick him out.

I opened my burger and took a big bite, moaning when the greasy cheesy goodness hit my taste buds. Seriously. Fast Freddy’s was so good.

Taking another bite, I felt his eyes on me.

“What?” I asked around a mouthful of food.

“You’ve got a little sauce...” He motioned to the corner of his own mouth.

Before I could reach for a napkin, his thumb brushed across my bottom lip, wiping away the mess. The touch sent a jolt straight through me, and I jerked back like I’d been electrocuted.

“Don’t,” I warned.

His eyes darkened. “Don’t what?”

“Whatever you’re trying to do. It’s not happening.”

A slow, we’re so totally doing this smile spread across his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.” I set my burger down, suddenly not hungry anymore.

The memory of the night we spent together five years ago flashed through my mind—his hands on my skin, his mouth hot against mine, the way he’d made me feel things. And then the gut-wrenching discovery that he was married.

My stomach churned, and I frowned, unable to hide my emotions.

Chief’s smile faded. He set his burger down and turned to face me fully. “We need to talk.”

No. We really fucking didn’t. Over whatever game it was that he was playing, I shot to my feet, stomped over to the door, and yanked it open. “Get out.”

Chief looked from me to the open door, his brows drawing together. “I’m not leaving, Cora. You need to get that through your head. Shit is going down. It’s not safe.”

“You keep leaving out the part of what exactly isn’t safe!” I threw my hands up in frustration. “So I’m calling bullshit. Now... get the fuck out before I call the cops to put you out.”

He stood slowly, his face hardening. Like a predator, he prowled through my living room until he was right in front of me. “The cops won’t be able to help you if something happens,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “You think I want to be here, babysitting some bratty bitch who clearly doesn’t know what’s good for her? I was doing a favor for your brother, but fuck it.”

The look in his eyes made me take a healthy step back. For the first time, I felt a sliver of real fear about whatever trouble was brewing.

“Chief,” I started, my voice sounding small even to my own ears.

“Fuck off,” he snapped.

And with that, he turned and walked out.

Tears welling up in my eyes, I pushed the door closed behind him and threw the deadbolt with shaking hands.

“No,” I whispered, pressing my palms against my eyes. “No, no, no.”

My back hit the door and I slid down onto the floor.

I didn’t need this shit. I was fine on my own. I had been for years.

So why did watching him walk away hurt so damn much?