Whatever It Takes

by Elizabeth Perry

  “Of course. And again, thank you for taking me in.”

  I step into the bedroom and set my suitcases in the corner.

  “I expect those suitcases to be unpacked and put away, now, you hear me?”

  I nod, as he continues.

  “You won’t be needing to use those anymore. This is your home, now. This is where you will live. Your things will be kept in here, in the closet, in the dresser, wherever you choose to put them. But they will not be kept inside of a suitcase. Got it?”

  I nod, as he backs up and heads towards the door.

  “Good. Glad we’re on the same page. Welcome home, son. I’ll let you settle in.”

  Welcome home.

  Two small words, yet to me? They’re huge.

  I’ve never in my life had a stable home. Never before have I had the security of knowing exactly where I will be for the entire next year.

  Jack Cooper just gave me more than just a home. He’s given me peace of mind, for the very first time in my life.

  I barely know the guy. I’d only ever heard of him through the grapevine since he is a teacher and a baseball coach of a school that was always in my schools division.

  I’d heard that he was a pretty stand up guy, but this?

  This is unreal.

  Giving me a solid home, one that I’m certain that I won’t be getting thrown out of when Mom spends the rent money on drugs, is the nicest thing that anyone has ever done for me.

  Especially now, since my Mom’s gone ahead and gotten herself locked up, again, only this time, for ten years.

  This man just saved me from living on the streets.

  What he has given me can never be repaid...

  So, if his only rule is to stay away from his daughter? Well, you can fucking guarantee that I will be doing just that.

  There are a million other women in the world.

  How hard can it be to keep my hands off one of them?

  HARDER THAN I COULD ever have imagined, actually.

  Because as I come face to face with Avery Cooper?

  Holy fucking hell.

  I’m a goner.

  “You’re Avery?” I stare at the woman in front of me, who is standing in the hallway, wearing nothing more than a towel.

  “Ah, yes.” Her face turns bright red as she clutches the towel tightly against her body.

  “You must be Eric.”

  I nod, unable to find any words, as my eyes trail her up and down, and then, back down...to where the white towel meets the soft mounds of her chest...

  Jesus.

  The way that Jack Cooper talked about his little girl, I guess I expected just that.

  A little girl.

  Maybe a young teen, a shy and mousy girl...I’m not really sure.

  But I can guarantee you that I did not expect a fully grown, hot ass woman with a rocking fucking body.

  I was not expecting this at all...

  “Um, well. It’s nice to meet you. But I should probably be getting some clothes on.”

  “You should definitely be getting some clothes on.” My voice sounds like gravel as I force my words out.

  Her beautiful face turns bright red, as she nods, before turning and hurrying down the hallway, giving me one last look over her shoulder before opening her door and shutting it hard behind her.

  I know that it’s wrong to even be having these kinds of thoughts about her, but dammit all.

  I can’t even help myself.

  I have never in my lifetime seen a more beautiful creature than the one that my eyes just feasted on.

  I’m not even sure what part of her made me lose every damn word?

  But fuck...

  Obviously, she’s gorgeous, but I’ve seen my fair share of beautiful women in my lifetime.

  There was something else about Avery, something that makes her just so damn different from any other woman.

  And while I can’t put my finger on it?

  I already know that I am totally fucked here.

  And while my brain knows that all the dirty thoughts running through my head are so damn wrong?

  My dick seems to have other ideas.

  And keeping my hands off her may just prove to be very damn hard.

  Chapter 4

  Six Years ago

  Avery

  I stumble down the stairs and into the kitchen, making a beeline for the coffee pot. I have no idea why I agreed to work out this morning with Amanda, but I pretty much want to punch myself in the face, right about now.

  I’m in such a fog, that I pay about zero attention to where I’m going, which leads me here, smacking myself face first into Eric’s chest.

  His body is so hard that once I hit him? I bounce back, off of him, so hard that I nearly get knocked onto my ass.

  I cry out as I begin to tumble backward, but right before I hit the ground, two strong arms grab a hold of me, pulling me back onto my feet.

  I blink hard, before looking up, and meeting those gorgeous blue eyes.

  “You know, you’re supposed to look up when you’re walking.”

  He winks down at me, actually winks, causing butterflies to erupt, just about everywhere.

  “I’m so sorry. Are you ok?”

  A huge smile flashes across his lips, showing off two perfect dimples before he chuckles.

  “Um, yes. I’m totally fine. You weigh what? Ninety pounds soaking wet? I should be asking you if you’re ok.”

  “I’m fine,” I grumble, stepping past him. “The only thing hurt is my pride.”

  He chuckles again, as I move towards the coffee pot. I reach for it, before slamming down my fist.

  “Sonofabitch!”

  The stupid thing is totally empty.

  “Everything ok?”

  I exhale, long and slow, before my shoulders slump.

  “Yes. No. Dammit, I really need coffee. I swear, I set the damn timer last night.”

  He reaches past me, before flipping the on switch.

  “Calm down, Ave’s. It only takes a second to brew.”

  I slump into one of the kitchen table chairs, before placing my arms on the table and resting my head on top of them.

  “I can’t function without it,” I grumble, before sighing hard. “And I’m already irritated about having to be up so early.”

  “Up so early?”

  I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, as he raises an eyebrow in my direction and looks up at the clock.

  “It’s already after nine.”

  “Yeah, and it’s Saturday! I prefer to sleep until noon.”

  “Day waster.” He flashes me a grin before grabbing out a coffee mug.

  “Cream and sugar?”

  “You really don’t have to...”

  “Yes, I do. You stay sitting. I’ll get you coffee and then I’m gonna get out of your way. You’re pretty scary in the mornings.”

  He winks at me, and even despite my foul mood?

  It makes my heart leap into my chest.

  “I’m sorry.” I pull my head out of my hands before wiping at my eyes. “I’m just really not much of a morning person.”

  “Yeah. I’ve picked up on that.”

  He sets a mug in front of me, before taking a few steps towards the doorway.

  “Eric?” I call out to him, causing him to stop in his tracks. He turns to look at me, and I give him a sheepish smile.

  “Thanks for the coffee. And sorry that I’m being such a grouch. I just don’t want to be up this early, and I didn’t really sleep well. Amanda is forcing me to go to the gym with her this morning, and, well. I shouldn’t be acting like an asshole to you.”

  He chuckles again.

  “No worries, Ave’s. It’s all good. I pretty much picked up, day one, that you are not someone to mess with in the mornings. Have fun at the gym.”

  I snort.

  “Those words never go together.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Fun, and gym.”

  “You’re cr
azy. The gym is hella fun.”

  I roll my eyes before taking a long drink of my coffee, which of course, instantly lifts my mood.

  “You, friend, need to get out more. Because it is most definitely not hella fun. It’s more like hella...hell.”

  He returns the eye roll, before shaking his head.

  “Enjoy your coffee.”

  I admire his backside as he walks out of the room, because, well...

  I’m only human, and there is a lot there to be admired.

  While Eric mostly keeps his distance from me, I’ve come to enjoy to few moments that I get where he actually talks to me.

  And not just because I get to check him out.

  That’s just the added bonus.

  But I have found that while Eric is very quiet, and mostly keeps to himself?

  He’s also a super sweet guy. A gentle giant, actually.

  Which of course, makes him even hotter.

  He comes down for dinner and eats with us every night, but that’s about it for the time that I spend with him.

  I see him once in a while in the hallways at school, and while he always smiles in my direction?

  He never approaches me or tries to hang out with me.

  I finish up my coffee, feeling at this point like I can at least manage to function.

  I’m still not super stoked to be having to go to the gym today, but at least now I don’t feel like I could very well murder someone.

  I make my way through the house and am just about to head upstairs to get my sorry ass ready, when I spy Eric in the front yard, on his phone.

  He looks pissed.

  I’ve never seen him look angry, so I hang back for a second, watching him out the window.

  He’s damn near yelling into his phone and waving his hands around like a crazy person. He ends his phone call, and I watch him chuck his phone across the yard, before standing there, staring down the driveway, with his hands on his hips.

  For a fleeting moment, I wonder who he was talking to.

  Does he have a girlfriend, who just made him about lose his marbles?

  I definitely wouldn’t know...

  I haven’t seen him with anyone around school, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a girl from his last school.

  From the rumors that I’ve heard?

  He had an awful lot of girls at his last school...

  He turns quickly, before storming into the house. So fast, actually, that I can’t even try to pretend that I wasn’t just watching him.

  It would be rude not to ask if he’s ok, so...

  “Hey. Everything ok?”

  His breathing is harsh as he stands there, staring at the wall, before finally swinging his eyes at me.

  “Yeah. No. Fuck. Not really.”

  He doesn’t offer anything else, so I just shrug.

  “Are you grouchy because you need your coffee too? Because there’s more in there.”

  He snorts, before finally, a small smile pulls at the corner of his lips.

  “I don’t drink that crap, Ave’s. But thanks anyways. I’m just...fuck. My uncle was supposed to be picking me up today and bringing me to see my mom. But something came up, and now he’s not coming.”

  “Oh.”

  I blink hard, watching as he throws his arms out before shaking his head.

  “Yeah. It’s so fucked up. I mean, I was counting on him. I guess I should just know by now, that the only person is this fucking life that I can depend on is myself.”

  He walks across the room, before dropping down onto the couch and throwing his head back against the pillows.

  I’ve never seen him like this. Never seen him show any kind of emotion about anything.

  And my heart breaks for him.

  I don’t know much about his life prior to coming to live with us, but I do know that his mom is currently in prison, a couple of hours away from here, serving a ten-year sentence. I know that he didn’t have a stable life prior to coming to live with us, and I know that my dad had taken him in so that he could have a shot at getting a baseball scholarship, because word on the street is that he is a pretty fucking fantastic ball player.

  But that’s the extent of my knowledge, and, like I said. He hasn’t shared a single bit of that with me.

  “You can take my car.” I offer, as his head snaps towards me.

  “Really?”

  I shrug.

  “Sure. I don’t need it today. Amanda was going to just pick me up anyways. You can drive a stick, right?”

  “A stick?” His face falls.

  “No. Never learned.”

  “Oh.” Fuck. I watch him for just a split second longer.

  “Ok then. I’ll drive you.”

  His eyes widen as he shakes his head.

  “No, Ave’s. Thank you, I really appreciate the offer, but no. I am not going to bring you to prison with me.”

  “Tough cookies, hot shot.” I shrug, before glancing up at the clock. “You said your uncle was supposed to pick you up at ten?”

  He nods slowly, not meeting my eyes.

  “Fine. I’ll take a quick shower and throw some clothes on. I’ll be ready by 9:55.”

  “Ave’s...”

  “Nope. Accept it. I’ll give you a ride. And then maybe on the way home? I’ll show you how to drive a stick.”

  I flash him a smile before darting up the stairs.

  I’m going to be honest. Sitting in a car right next to Eric for two hours each way has my heart about racing in my chest. I’m not sure how that’s going to work out for me, since my body is usually all hot and bothered by him after just a few minutes.

  But no way am I going to just sit back and make him miss his visit with his mom.

  Plus?

  Bringing him means that I get to skip the gym today.

  Which is a pretty damn big win in my book.

  Chapter 5

  Six years ago

  Eric

  Two damn hours alone in the car with Avery.

  Someone kill me now.

  I’m doing my best here, to try to keep my mind off the fact that she is sitting incredibly close to me, since her car is so small that it doesn’t really leave much room between us, but being this close to her?

  Is pretty damn hard.

  As is my dick, which of course, really makes this even harder than it should be.

  No pun intended.

  When we first got into the car, she chattered away, thanking me endlessly for saving her from the gym. I managed to get a thank you out to her, for dropping her whole damn day, for me, but honestly?

  Most of my words got caught in my throat.

  No one has ever been this kind to me. Putting my needs first, well above their own.

  And dammit all, I’m fairly certain that in this moment, as I sit next to Avery, listening to her sing along to every damn song on the radio, every so often glancing over at me with a smile, and letting her amazing fucking scent intoxicate me?

  Well, in this moment, I suddenly know what it’s like to be in love with someone.

  And, fuck my life.

  Of course, that person would have to be her. The one single person that I absolutely cannot have.

  I try to lean back and close my eyes, but it’s impossible. Because like always?

  Avery haunts my fucking dreams as well.

  How is it, that you can be doing just fine in life, and then you meet one person, one single fucking person, and suddenly, you’re all spun out, and unable to think about anything but them?

  That’s how I feel, and that is what Avery has done to me.

  “What’s your favorite kind of music?” She breaks the silence, as she speeds along the highway.

  “Not sure. It’s hard to pick a favorite, I guess.” I keep my eyes turned towards the window.

  “Agree.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I see her point to the visor above my head.

  “If you want to change what I’m playing, you can grab any of thos
e CD’s. I have a bunch of mixed ones.”

  “What you’re playing is fine.”

  She simply shrugs.

  “Ok. It’s just, this is a road trip, you know? I firmly believe that road trips are only as awesome as the music that you have playing. So, feel free to change it up.”

  I continue to keep my eyes focused out of the window, watching as the tree’s and other cars fly by. I let Avery’s sweet voice surround me, as she sings along to every damn song that plays.

  And then...the song changes.

  And as Avery begins to belt out the words, I can no longer focus on anything but her.

  She nails the chorus, before glancing over at me for a second, before she sways slightly to the music as those fucking words leave her sweet lips...

  “I don’t see nothing wrong...” She sings before winking at me. “With a little bump and grind...”

  She is singing sex music...music that you fuck to...and oh my god.

  Hearing that roll off her tongue?

  Well, stick a fork in me.

  Because I’m done.

  My dick begins to throb as it grows, becoming uncomfortably hard in my pants.

  I bite my bottom lip hard, trying to pull the focus away from the thoughts of pure sex that this song evokes in me, before finally, scrambling to find a different CD.

  “Aww. You don’t like R Kelly?” She pouts, as I pop the CD out and slide another one in.

  “He’s alright. You don’t mind if I change it, right?”

  “Too late now.” She winks again, before shaking her finger at me. “It’s fine, but next time? At least let me finish my jam.”

  I was about to finish myself off...literally, without a single stroke of my dick, inside of my pants.

  So fucking way are we ever listening to that song again.

  No fucking way.

  Red Hot Chili Peppers begins to blast through the speakers, and I settle back against my seat.

  Avery continues to sing along, but at least now my mind isn’t focused on pure, raw, hot sex with her. At least, not at the moment.

  We don’t speak for the rest of the drive, at least, nothing more than about changing the CD’s. But it’s fine anyhow.

  The silence between us allows me to wrap my mind around the fact that I’m about to see my mom for the first time in three months.