Chapter 2
“Your hair looks so pretty down!” Sam grinned as we made ourselves comfortable in a booth at a bar down the street from the yoga studio the next evening.
I fingered my wild curls absently. “You think so?”
After class, I’d changed into a flowy cream dress with a chunky sweater and boots. Though I rarely put much thought into my look, I favored fall and winter, when I could wear sweaters and boots with the occasional scarf. I’d left my curls loose, swiped some mascara on my blue eyes, and finished the look with a dash of lip stain.
“Definitely.” Danny nodded. With her shiny black hair and blue eyes, Danny was gorgeous.
“Thanks,” I murmured, reaching for my cocktail.
“That was a great class. I’ll be sore tomorrow.” Sam grimaced, shifting in her seat.
“Good.” I grinned around the rim of my glass. “Where are your husbands tonight?” I asked curiously.
Sid, Sam’s husband, and Caden, Danny’s, were brothers.
“Sid’s on assignment.” Sam sighed. “He’ll be back in about a week.”
“Caden’s still at the shop. He has Olivia with him,” Danny replied. Caden owned one of the most successful tattoo shops in Los Angeles. He was also a wonderful father to their eighteen-month-old, Olivia.
“Hopefully Livie will end up in your class when the times comes.” Danny smiled.
It meant the world to me that they trusted me with their children.
I smiled. “I hope so, too.” I turned to Sam. “Do you need anything while Sid’s gone?” I didn’t imagine it was easy when he was away, especially with a busy three-year-old to contend with.
“I’m okay, but thanks,” she replied. “The guys and Danny help out a lot while he’s gone.”
“The guys?” I asked curiously.
“My brother, Travis, helps a lot,” she explained. “You’ve met him when he’s come to pick up Hud, haven’t you?”
Boy, had I ever.
“I think so.” I replied casually, knowing my cheeks flushed at the mere mention of her handsome brother.
“Trav’s been traveling less lately. I’ve told you he owns Talon Security, haven’t I?” she verified.
I nodded, though I still didn’t understand exactly what that meant. I knew Travis and Sid were ex-military, but that was where my understanding ended.
“Anyway, he’s been able to help out with Hud, which has been awesome since Sid still travels more than I’d like. With the Talon team, Caden, and Danny—we’re like a big family,” she explained warmly.
I didn’t ask about Hudson’s grandparents. Sam had never mentioned them, and I assumed they weren’t involved.
I was glad she had the help and support of good friends.
“That’s wonderful.” I nodded.
“How about you? How’s Ryan?” Danny asked after my younger brother. I’d mentioned to them that he was an active duty marine.
“Okay, I hope,” I replied worriedly. “He’s deployed to Kuwait. It’s his last six months. I can’t wait to have him back stateside.” I sighed.
“I’m sure.” Danny nodded with kind eyes.
Despite being prouder than hell of him, I didn’t usually talk about Ryan much. It was difficult, since I hated even thinking about him being in danger. But with Sam and Danny it had come naturally; they understood to some degree what I was going through.
Sensing it was a difficult subject for me, Sam reached over and gripped my hand. “I know something about that if you ever want to talk. Now, let’s switch to lighter subjects, shall we?”
Unfortunately, it was to my least favorite of all.
“What’s with this dating life of yours?” she demanded, her curiosity barely contained.
I groaned. “You sound like May,” I complained.
“Well luckily for me, May is one smart lady.”
“I want to meet her,” Danny put in.
“Mabel is awesome,” I agreed resolutely. “She has a way more active dating life than I do, wears bright red lipstick, and never leaves the house without doing her hair. She’s funny, extremely well-read, and can quote every line of Thelma and Louise. Though she always makes me pause on the scene with Brad Pitt.” I rolled my eyes with a laugh. “She’s also incredibly strong and kind.”
“Mabel might be my hero,” Sam breathed.
“Told you.” I shrugged, finishing off the last of my drink. “Do you guys have time for another round?”
“Totally. Caden can give us a lift,” Danny replied.
“Oh, I can just grab an Uber.” I waved a hand.
“It’s no problem,” Danny assured me, and I sensed there was no talking her out of it.
After more rounds than I could keep track of, we were good and drunk by the time Danny’s husband arrived to collect us, and I was struck dumb at seeing Sam’s brother with him.
I could barely string together a sentence around him when I was sober. It would be a hopeless exercise now.
Dressed in a fitted black Henley that outlined his fit physique, the man struck me dumb every time I saw him. He had these brown eyes that always appeared sharp and assessing—until he looked at his nephew, and they would turn a warm chocolate brown.
“Where’s Livie?” Danny pouted, looking up at her husband.
Caden chuckled. “Baby, it’s almost midnight. She’s at Sam’s, asleep. Theo is with her and Hud. I figured, after I talked to you, that I’d need reinforcements,” he explained, cocking his head toward Travis.
Her eyes popped wide. “Holy shit, it’s that late?”
I couldn’t believe it either. I’d had more fun than I could recall in recent memory.
I grabbed my purse and followed the girls out of the booth, mortified when I wobbled. A second later a strong arm wrapped around me, steadying me. “Okay?” Travis’s deep rumble of a voice asked.
I blushed crimson at both his proximity and the fact that he was seeing me so drunk. “Fine, thanks,” I murmured.
I was vindicated slightly when Danny almost fell flat on her ass a second later. Caden shot a bemused grin our way as he wrapped an arm around his wife. “Do we have to carry you all out to the car?”
“Not me.” I shook my head stubbornly. “I could run a marathon right now.”
Caden laughed. “Aren’t you more into twisting yourself into a pretzel over running?”
“Em is a yoga master. She’s the best,” Sam slurred seriously. “Her best friend is eighty years old,” she added with a serious nod.
“Eighty, huh?” Travis asked as the guys began to guide us out of the bar.
“Mabel is awesome,” I reiterated, before looking over my shoulder at Sam. “And you’re the best,” I argued. “You’re both so pretty.” I sighed wistfully as Travis kept a hand on my lower back.
“All right, drunkards. Let’s continue the love fest in the car,” Caden ordered, nodding toward an SUV parked at the curb.
We managed to make it, though not completely without incident.
“Is the sidewalk lopsided?” I asked, tilting my head to try to make it straight again.
“I think it is!” Sam gasped, nearly falling over before Travis caught her arm.
He groaned. “Christ. Why is Sid always out of town when this shit happens? You’re so going to barf later.”
“Am not,” she protested, before she seemed to consider the possibility. “Or, maybe I will.” She shrugged.
Travis groaned.
“I hope that’s not the case for you.” Caden leaned down to murmur in Danny’s ear. “I have plans for you.” He pulled her closer and delivered a soft kiss to her lips.
For the first time in a long time, I found myself yearning for someone to hold me. To kiss me.
The guys hopped in the front, leaving the three of us to chatter away in the back the entire drive to my house.
“Em, we are so doing this again!” Sam cried as we pulled up in front. May’s house was dark, though knowing what a night owl she was, I suspected she’d only turned in recently.
“I’d really like that,” I agreed with a grin, opening the door, surprised when Travis did the same.
“I’ll walk you in,” he informed me.
I looked up at him, wide-eyed. “Um, you don’t have to. I can manage,” I stammered.
“I’ll walk you in,” he reiterated.
The prospect of time alone with him, even if it was only a few moments, was enough for me to lose my damn composure. And I’d been doing so well, too.
Well, aside from almost face-planting on the sidewalk.
He followed me around the side of the house into the dark backyard. “Where are we going?” he asked turning the flashlight on his phone on, lighting our way.
“My cottage is just back here.” I pointed toward the dark patch of trees in the distance.
“You should keep a flashlight with you,” he replied gruffly.
“Yeah well, I’m usually home before dark.” I winced.
Way to broadcast how pathetic I was.
To make matters worse, I tripped over a root, nearly falling on my face in front of him for the second time that night.
“Careful,” he clipped, grabbing my upper arm to steady me.
“You’re very growly,” I commented absently.
“Growly?” he demanded, but I could swear he fought a smile.
“Growly,” I affirmed. “That’s okay, though. You have soft insides,” I added, clapping a hand over my mouth a second later. “Sorry, I don’t usually drink much. My filter seems to have deserted me.” I groaned.
He looked over at me, lifting a brow. “Your filter?”
“You know, the part of your brain that tells you to shut the hell up,” I explained.
He chuckled. “Ah yes, the filter.” He nodded. “What do you mean by soft insides?” he asked as my cottage came into view.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you’re super tough,” I assured him, receiving another deep chuckle. “But the way you look at Hudson….” I shrugged. “Your eyes get all soft, and it’s like he lights up your world. And now that I seem like a total creep… I’m just going to stop talking.” I bit my lip.
“You don’t seem like a creep,” he assured me as I put my key in the lock and opened the door, unleashing the exuberance that was Able.
He bounded around our legs excitedly.
Travis bent down to grab his scruff and my heart melted that much more watching him give my dog some love. He looked up at me. “What’s his name?”
“Able.” I smiled.
“Unusual name,” he noted, following me inside. Him seeing my small cottage in its typical state of disarray had my cheeks flushing. “Sorry, my place is a mess.” I grimaced.
His eyes remained on mine before drifting to my lips. I swore an actual spark snapped between us. “So, Able?” he pressed, his voice an octave lower.
I shook my head, trying to get out of the Travis fog. “Right, Able. I found him on the side of the road when he was a puppy. He’d been abused, starved, and left for dead. The vet I brought him to didn’t think he’d make it,” I explained. “I knew he was stronger than that. Able just seemed appropriate.” I shrugged just as Buster entered the room with a loud meow.
“And this guy,” I went on, gesturing to my orange tabby. “He just showed up one day and wouldn’t leave. Buster felt appropriate for him, too.” I laughed.
When I looked at Travis again I was floored to see the same look in his eye I’d seen when he looked at Hudson. “Now who has soft insides?” he murmured.
I looked down at my boots with a shrug. “I just did what anyone would.”
“Em, I’m sorry to say it, but I know firsthand that isn’t true.”
I wanted to ask him what he meant. I wanted to ask where that sadness and constant wariness I saw in him came from, but I didn’t. “Thanks for walking me inside,” I said instead.
He nodded, watching me intently. “You going to be okay?”
I waved a hand dismissively. “Fine. I’ll probably pay for it tomorrow, but it was fun.”
He smiled, flashing that dimple I’d only seen one other time. “I’m glad. I’ll see you soon. Lock the door behind me,” he instructed.
I was too surprised by his comment that I’d see him soon to manage a response until he was headed for the door. “Night, Travis.”
He looked over his shoulder, his eyes something close to hungry as he regarded me. “Good night, Emerly.”
“Holy hell,” I whispered, leaning my forehead against the door.
It was hours before I could find sleep, and as expected I had a nasty hangover the next morning.
When I let Able out, it took me a minute to register the small flashlight in front of my door, wrapped with a note.
E— So that you don’t have to walk in the dark. —Travis.
I was floored by the gesture, and clutched the small purple flashlight close to my chest, close to my heart, where I felt certain Travis could easily find himself.