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BODHI

My groggy body lurches from the bed to check the time.

It’s midnight.

Who would be knocking on my door at this hour?

My instincts automatically alert me to the potential danger, so I quickly stand up, put on some basketball shorts, and jog down the stairs to check.

I know the guys aren’t home yet, having texted me before I passed out, saying it would be late if they even came home.

Penelope is out of town for the weekend with some friends.

I run frantically through a list of all the possible people who would be awake and at my door this late.

Sifting through my thoughts does me no good; I can’t think of anyone, and it’s likely because it’s too late for my tired brain to think straight.

“Who is it?” I call out to the unknown visitor.

“It’s me.” I can’t pinpoint the voice, but it sounds familiar. It’s too far in the distance to place.

It sounds feminine, though.

I shake my head before opening the front door, only to come face-to-face with the prettiest emerald green eyes and wild red curls.

Navy.

Fuck. Has it been that long since I’ve seen her? I’ve worked like hell to avoid her the last two months, and to say I’ve tried and failed many times would be an understatement. Navy is the lead sideline reporter for the Strikers, making keeping my distance from her nearly impossible, as if her beauty can’t draw me to her on its own. She travels with and interviews the team—she’s everywhere.

I gape at her, confused by what would cause her to come here this late and knock on my door of all doors.

I know I’m probably her last resort, but I’ll take it if it means she needs me for something.

I need to make sure she’s okay. “Navy, is everything alright?”

She sends me a small smile, and I instantly notice a rush of tears in her eyes. Fuck. Something happened, and she’s definitely not okay.

The suitcases at her feet are a clear indication.

I don’t give her a chance to respond before I take her bags from beside her distraught form, place them inside the house, and pull her into my arms. Navy’s body instantly softens in my embrace, and my heart shatters at the sound of her choked sobs.

She’s hurting. Someone hurt her.

What the hell happened?

“Shhh. Come inside and let’s get you settled. You can stay here.”

I usher her quietly into the house before closing the door behind us. I can’t help myself. Navy has a magnetic pull that makes me unable to resist comforting her. I don’t fucking comfort anyone, nor do I welcome someone in my home as quickly as I did Navy.

I feel protective over this woman.

It should be alarming because she’s so far out of my league it’s pitiful—so far off-limits as well.

My hands gently touch her face as I search her eyes. “Navy, look at me. You’re sleeping here tonight, okay? You should have been here to begin with.”

I’m fighting the urge to ask her a million questions until she tells me everything. It’s either that or hug her and refuse to let her go.

She nods softly before raising her eyes to meet mine. “I know, I know, it’s just that he?—”

I cut her off before she can finish her sentence. I don’t have it in me tonight to rage like a fucking maniac at whatever she’s about to tell me. My concern right now is that she’s safe and can get some rest.

It looks like she could use it.

But she’s crazy if she thinks I’ll let this go.

“Don’t. It’s alright. You’re safe here. Let’s get you settled in Cal’s old room and we can talk in the morning. Talking is the last thing you need right now.”

I don’t know what I expected her to say, but it’s evident how mentally and physically exhausted she is because she doesn’t put up a fight.

“Okay.”

Okay. I sigh in relief before guiding Navy to sit on the sectional sofa while I bring her suitcases upstairs. I gather as many extra blankets and pillows as possible to set her up to sleep comfortably. It’s November in Atlanta, and the temperatures get nearly freezing at night.

It’s important that she stays warm.

It makes me seem like a creep, but her things smell like her.

A warm and invigorating scent of eucalyptus hits my senses, making my traitorous brain recall a moment in Fiji when that smell consumed my every thought. She always smells clean and calming. It’s debilitating, even now, as I lay her suitcases in the corner of the room and detach her wool sweater wrapped around the handle to lay across the bed.

I want Navy to feel comfortable here, not concerned that she’s at risk of being sniffed by her brother’s best friend.

She’s staying here for now, and I wouldn’t change that, but it means I invited my biggest temptation inside the walls of my home.

There’s no way to escape her now.

Thankfully, I share this place with three other guys who are like family to her and will act as a buffer between us.

Because a buffer is my only chance of keeping my hands to myself.

Although, if you would have asked me two months ago, I may have died trying.

Navy’s brother, Cal, came from a long line of shitty genes. They chose to chase the next high over him, so when the Hayes family adopted him as a teenager, the bond between their new family became untouchable—bound by loyalty and endless love.

That’s exactly the way it should be.

I know my friend, and although he trusts me, I’m confident he would never approve of my interest in his sister.

Speaking of Callaway, I should text him to let him know Navy is here. Chances are, he doesn’t know, likely because Navy would rather not worry him.

But I know if Penelope, my younger sister, had suddenly moved out of the place she was staying, I’d want to know in a heartbeat.

I’ll let her share the rest when she’s ready.

Bodhi: Hey man. Navy is here—just a heads up. I’m not sure what happened, but I wanted you to know she’s crashing in your old room. She’s safe, and I’ll have her call you in the morning.

Cal: What the hell? Is she ok? Fuck. Why didn’t she call me?

Bodhi: I don’t know. She looks too exhausted to talk. I’ll find out more in the morning. Keep you posted.

Cal: Thanks, B. I owe you.

If you owe me anything, it’s a punch straight to the jaw.

It’s time to do right by my friend…and his little sister in the room beside mine.

* * *

I can’t move. My large frame locks firmly in place as I round the corner of the staircase and catch sight of Navy sleeping quietly on the couch. I’m taken aback by how innocent she looks right now. Navy is known to be the woman in the crowd who radiates positivity and does everything in her power to ensure the people she loves are cared for. I can’t, however, remember the last time I saw her take care of herself.

She’s stunning—freckles and all. So much it’s painful at times.

Navy stands tall with the confidence to match, making her so damn sexy. She’s thin and toned with the tightest little curves that complement her shape so fucking well. It makes me weak.

I never knew I had a thing for redheads until this wild and untamed woman stormed into my life like a pretty little earthquake. Her natural red curls are large, bouncy, and appear to be made of silk.

I remember the feel of the silky strands tangled in my grip.

The vibrancy in them brings her bright green eyes to life, leaving me lost in swirls of jade and emerald.

Ten fingers wouldn’t be enough to count the number of times I’ve admired the delicate freckles sprinkled across her face.

She’s a work of art. A motherfucking masterpiece.

She’s everything I can’t have, but that won’t stop me from caring for her. As much as I’m attracted to Navy, she’s also my friend, and making sure she wants for nothing is important to me.

After taking a second to get myself together, I walk to where Navy sprawls out on the couch. Her purse lies across her lap, and she’s practically still seated, only slightly relaxed once she fell asleep.

It’s clear she’s exhausted, it’s been a long night for her.

I settle my hand gently on the slope of her shoulder, careful not to scare her. “Navy, let’s get you to your room, okay?”

Her soft humming tells me she’s awake but struggling to open her eyes. The heaviness in them causes her to drift back to sleep in seconds. I could leave her here to sleep, but I don’t want to risk her waking up in a panic, unsure of where she is. If I can carry her while she’s still asleep, I can lay her down in the bed and make sure the guys don’t wake her if they come home.

She fidgets to get comfortable.

Before Navy can wake, I carefully scoop one arm under her neck and the other under the arch of her knees. Once I have her cradled in my hold, I feel her body relax into my chest as I’m hit with the sweetness of her scent.

Her smell is impossible not to recognize.

It’s uniquely Navy.

I make my way up the stairs, fighting like hell not to let my touch drift to the globes of her ass that are in such close proximity to my hands. The globes that not long ago were in my grasp as her body clung to me.

She’s my terremoto of chaos and beauty.

Callaway’s old room is, unfortunately, right next to mine. The upstairs of the house is giant, with four bedrooms and a loft in the center. Since Gus was the one who found the house, he got the master suite downstairs. However, every room in this place feels like a master suite, so none of us mind.

After entering Navy’s room, I walk her carefully to the already set up bed. I reach a hand out to pull one side of the covers back and lay her body gently.

I can’t let her sleep in her boots; there’s no way she would relax that way. I’ll let her clothes be because we all fucking know that’s not a good idea.

I slowly start to pull her boots off one at a time, stealing a glance at her face to confirm she’s still sound asleep. She is, thankfully. Her delicate feet are covered by socks with donuts on them.

An effortless smile paints my face.

One thing I’ve learned about Navy over the years is that no matter how perfect and classy she dresses on the outside, I can always expect a pair of fun socks underneath. It’s her thing, and it’s fucking adorable.

I carefully slide her feet underneath the covers, doing my best to keep them warm before removing her socks. Her toes are painted bright pink, the prettiest color for the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen.

I make sure she’s tucked in comfortably and turn to slowly tiptoe my way out of the room before a small whisper stops me in my tracks. “Thanks, Bodhi.”

My heart soars at the sound of her sweet voice.

I can’t let her see the effect she has on me.

I’m helping my buddy and helping my friend—nothing more.

Without another word, I escape the place my body urges me to stay, and finally get the rest I need now more than ever.