Cohen

I could lie and say it’s good to be back at work. Don’t get me wrong—I’m loving my job. I just love being in bed with Quincy even more. We haven’t done more than make-out in my bed yet, but it was hot as hell. Even her ridiculous striptease had my dick at full mast.

The knock at my door is a surprise, but it shouldn’t be. “You got a sec, Cohen?”

“You’re the boss.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” Matt tells me with a smirk that puts mine to shame.

“What’s up?”

“I wanted to check on you and make sure you’re doing okay.”

“I’m good. My head still hurts a little, but Quincy says I’m out of the woods.”

“You sound a little disappointed.”

“I’m not gonna lie—having her with me the last day was pretty damn great.”

“You don’t need a head injury for that. Or maybe you do,” he tells me with one eyebrow raised.

He seems to be looking for something and I’m not going to hide my pursuit of Quincy from anyone. “I’ve always had good game. With her, I want it to be real and I’m not sure how to do that.”

“That’s when you know it’s real—when you stop trying to be smooth and realize you want more.”

“Yeah. It’s just hard to know what to do.”

“You’ll figure it out.”

“Thanks.”

“Now that we have that out of the way, we can talk about what I really came here for.”

“That wasn’t it?”

“No. It was just an added bonus.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t look so nervous. I wanted you to know I love the recommendations you sent over for me and Miles. Everything you suggested is a yes. Also, thanks for getting me and Rei out of the San Diego thing this weekend.”

“I did that before I knew Mika’s married to Quincy’s ex and tried to make her life hell. Now, I’m even happier to have declined her family’s invitation for you.”

“I’m not a fan. I didn’t know about their connection to Quincy, but I’m glad I do now. I’m here if you need help dealing with them. More than happy to help in that area, actually.”

“Right now, they’re leaving her alone. If that changes, I’ll let you know. I can throw my weight around, but I’m not going to turn down some reinforcements.”

“Anything you need. Toss my name around all you want. No one messes with my people. Reina’s even more fierce when it comes to the Society.”

“Thanks.”

“Keep up the great work. I’m glad we brought you on board,” he tells me, walking back out the door.

A sense of pride fills me. I haven’t felt like this since I stopped diving. I never thought anything could make me feel even close to how I felt then. I’ve found my place here. A place for me and Shane, and hopefully, a place for me and Quincy too.

My next visitor a few hours later is less welcome. It’s the girl from the hallway. She steps inside my open door and starts to close it.

“Leave it open.”

“You want everyone to see?”

“There’s not going to be anything for them to see.”

“I wanted to finish what we started the other day,” she informs me, setting her lips into a pout.

“No thanks.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, am I interrupting?” Quincy asks, walking into my office.

“No,” I say at the same time as the girl says “yes” to her.

“Since it’s his office, I’m going with his answer.”

Yes. Praise God, yes. She believes me.

“Whatever. You’re not worth the trouble.”

She walks out, and I smile. “Close the door, Quince.”

My girl does what I ask, leaning against it to turn the lock too. “Unwanted visitors can be so annoying.”

“They can. Thanks for believing me.”

“A week ago, I probably wouldn’t have,” she admits.

“A week ago, I wouldn’t have deserved your trust.”

“I won’t say I’m grateful for your head injury, but…”

“You’re grateful for my head injury,” I say as she walks over to perch on the edge of my desk.

“Off the record.”

“Totally.”

She leans forward until her mouth is inches from mine. “I’m going to kiss you now. You might want to close the blinds.”

“Or not.”

“Or not.”

The kiss is a little more chaste than I’d like, but I know it’s because anyone walking by could see us. From her book I skimmed through, I know she likes the idea of someone seeing her, but the idea is different than an actual act. She wants to try, but she’s still unsure about how far she can go. I’m more than willing to let her experiment with me.

“I missed you today.”

“It’s only been a few hours. I came to see how you’re feeling.”

“Right now, I’m feeling horny. You didn’t miss me?”

“I did. I shouldn’t because it’s been so short a time, but I did.”

“Good. I like to be on an even playing field with you.”

“We both know I’m not even on the sidelines when it comes to this stuff.”

“As if. You’re the MVP.”

“Flattery is not going to get you into my panties.”

“Truth. It’s the truth. I may have some extra experience, but you make me more turned-on than any other woman ever has. Swear.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me for speaking the truth.”

“Do you want—”

“Yes.”

“You don’t even know what I’m going to ask you.”

I shrug. “It’s always going to be a yes if you’re asking.”

“Even if I want to act out the shower scene?” she blurts out, her eyes going wide as though she didn’t mean to say the words out loud.

“That would be a ‘hell yes’ but only if it’s in my outdoor shower.”

“I was going to ask you and Shane to dinner tonight. Rain check on the shower, because you probably need another day of so before you should be—you know.”

“Oh, trust me, I know. I also want. And need.”

“You’re trying to make me drop to my knees right now, aren’t you?”

“I mean, I wouldn’t deny you, but I was talking about dinner. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

She crosses her arms over her chest and glares down at me. “Remember when I said I kind of hated you? The feeling’s returning.”

“Even when I’m offering to bring dessert?”

“You don’t even know what I like.”

“I could give you another suggestive answer, but I really want to come over and hang out with you tonight. So, I’ll just ask what you’d like.”

“Good idea.”

“I have them every once in a while.”

“Pretty much anything from Drago Sisters, and the Foret Noire cake from Patisserie Manon.”

“Done.”

“I should let you get back to work.”

“One more kiss before you go?”

She leans down, kissing me long and slow. Her hands move through my hair as I hold her thighs in mine. “See you later, C.”

I smile at her, feeling like a member of a secret club. I don’t know the meaning of the letters, but I love that I’m included. She’s definitely getting more desserts than she could possibly eat in one night.

* * *

Quincy

I don’t know what it’s like to be spoiled. My parents live a comfortable life, but I was never given too much more than I needed. Rick has more than enough money, but he never cared enough about me to lavish me with anything but jewelry he could show me off in. Who knew a guy who I once thought of as a beach bum would be the one to make me feel cherished.

I’m not talking about the fifteen different kinds of desserts her brought over, either. It’s the fact he did it that makes it special. Cohen went to both bakeries, bringing me all manners of desserts from Drago, along with an entire cake from Manon. I’d go into a sugar coma if I ate it all tonight.

“Are you going to come over every night to help me eat all of these?” I ask him with a smile.

We’re all spread out on the floor around my coffee table. It feels like we’re a family, and I like it. I know it’s too soon, but I also know it feels right.

“Count on it.”

“I’ll help too!” Shane says, shoving half a macaron into his mouth.

“That’s my boy.”

“Can I have a cupcake, Mommy?”

Bianca’s had a cookie already, but she deserves a little pampering too. “Yes.”

“Shane and I will grab the dishes once we’re done for the night.”

Swoon. “You don’t have to.”

“You and B cooked. It’s the least we can do.”

“I’m not going to protest too much.”

“Good.”

We finish a few minutes later, and I help B with her homework while the guys do the dishes. Shane is totally adorable, and Cohen is just plain sexy as he helps his little boy. My ovaries are sitting up and begging for his attention right now.

Down girls—he’s still recovering.

“Shane, do you want to play a game with me?” B asks, once her homework and the dishes are done.

“Daddy?”

Cohen pauses in wiping down the stove, and ruffles his hair. “Go on. We have to leave in a half hour so you can get ready for bed.”

“K.”

They run out of the room together. I have a moment to smile at them before I’m being pulled into a pair of sexy arms. “You did a good job cleaning up. Thank you.”

“You were eye-fucking me in front of our kids, Quince.”

“I know,” I tell him, letting my mortification show. “You’re so damn sexy in my kitchen.”

“Tonight was good. The kids like each other, we like each other.”

“Yes.”

“I meant what I said about coming over every night. If you meant it, that is.”

“I meant it.”

“I can make sandwiches and order in.”

“I don’t mind cooking.”

He shakes his head. “That right there. You said you didn’t mind, but you didn’t say you loved it.”

“True. I also know how to use an app to order dinner if I don’t feel like cooking.”

“How about we take turns doing that ordering?”

“I’d like that. We can go to your place too. B loves it.”

“I honestly worried about Shane running wild in here.”

I look around at the apartment I chose. It’s luxurious, but comfortable. I picked it for how girly I felt, but I can see how boys would feel out of place.

“I wouldn’t care if he messed it up. It’s just stuff.”

“Yeah, it is. I love that you think the same way about it.”

“You keep throwing that word around.”

“I think I could love you. I think I’m already starting to. I’m falling for you, and for the first time in my life, I’m not scared of that happening.”

I reach out to run my hand over his stubbled jaw. “I’m falling for you too.”

“I don’t want to take advantage of our friends, or pass our kids off all the time, but I’d like to take you on a date this week.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll ask Wave and Knox when they’re free.”

I lean forward to kiss him softly, placing my forehead against his. We just stay there, looking into each other’s eyes and smiling. We’re doing this, and I’ve never felt more sure of anything in my life.