by BJ Harvey
He looks at me with an indiscernible expression. Does he think I’ve completely lost the plot, or if he’s teleported into another universe? I decide to just lay it all out there. Go big or go home.
“So, in closing, if you think you can separate sex from all the other bullshit, I’m open to it. With you, I mean. ’Cause you’re a damn good kisser and I’ve wondered for months whether the reputation precedes the man. And if the way you kiss is an indication of how you are in bed, I’d be a fool not to let you know I’d be open to no-strings, no-bullshit, just-sex sex… with you.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
I shrug. “That’s okay. I thought I’d clear the air, explain what happened this morning and how I came to be lying next to you. I wouldn’t want you to think I laid back and thought of England for just anyone.”
“I’ve been known to hold full conversations while sleeping,” he says, his cheeks flushing an adorable pink. “But I don’t think… I mean, I don’t know if us crossing that line—more than we already have—is a good idea. We’ve got a good thing going here, don’t we? With work and as friends. It’s hard for most people to keep things as cut and dried as you said.”
“You mean, most women? ’Cause I know you’ve not exactly been a saint since I’ve known you, and none of those women have been girlfriends.”
“No, but they haven’t been you.” Straight through the heart with that one.
“Okay, Co,” I say softly. I do mean it, but I can also admit a part of me is a little disappointed that he didn’t even consider exactly what I pretty much just spelled out for him. Yes, Co, I’d totally bang your brains out and enjoy it, and not expect a cuddle or call the next day. “You’re right. We should put this morning down to a curiosity that we’ve now sated, and we’ll just forget it happened.”
“Not sure I’ll be forgetting that in a hurry,” he mutters, his lips curving into a half-smile as he meets my eyes. “No hard feelings, brat?” he says, closing the distance between us and holding his arms open.
“Of course not, you doofus. Although you were pretty har—”
He groans and shakes his head, a quiet chuckle rumbling in his chest.
“At least now I know the rumors about you are true…” I whisper in his ear, earning me a light tap on the ass before we pull apart and grin at each other.
“Are you sure?” he asks, his eyes roaming my face. “I don’t want things to be uncomfortable between us. I know I crossed a line, and I apologize. I’m really sorry, Skye, I don’t—”
“If you keep asking me if I’m okay, you’ll soon learn the meaning of twisted testicles, and not in a ha ha joking way, either.”
He jumps back and puts his hands over his crotch. “Okay, okay. Leave my junk out of this.”
“As opposed to—”
“Skye…” he grumbles, deep and low. I’m not ashamed to admit that particular tone of his voice will also be going on high rotation when I need spank-bank material after he leaves.
“Oh, all right. Jeez. Who knew Cohen Casanova Cook couldn’t take a sex joke.”
He looks to the ceiling as if wanting divine intervention. “I’m gonna go and get some real sleep before our shift tonight.”
“Yeah, me too. Who knew my couch wasn’t built for two? Well, me, you and that massive—by the way, who was it on the phone? We should probably thank them, right?”
“It was the chief cock-blocker, Jamie.”
“Everything okay?” I ask, wondering why Jamie would call Cohen early on a Sunday morning.
“Yeah. He just wanted to check in and see if I could swing by his place later to finalize arrangements.”
“For here?” Jamie and his brothers—Cohen included—bought my three-flat building, and I’m the only tenant who’s staying behind.
Cohen stops at my front door and suddenly won’t meet my eyes.
“Cohen? What’s going on? Is it to do with the renovations?”
He reaches up and rubs the back of his neck. I get the feeling there’s something he’s not saying. “Yeah, it’s to do with the flip.”
“Okay. So what aren’t you telling me?”
“How is it you can read me like a book?”
“Because you’re pretty damn obvious. Out with it. What’s going on?”
“I meant to tell you. I was just waiting until we had a start date.”
“Okay… and?”
“We’re starting Monday week.”
Now, I’m frowning. “That’s good. I don’t know why you look like a guilty teenager about to confess all. I’ve already sat down with Jamie and the building-site foreman about the timeline, and they’ve assured me they’ll keep disruption down to a minimum.”
“That’s good. I made it clear we had to be considerate.”
“I don’t see what the problem is then.”
“Since it’s a big job, we decided that someone should be on-site.”
“And…”
He lifts his head, looks me straight in the eye, and almost winces when he announces, “Surprise. I guess you could say I’m your new landlord.”
Um… God? Yeah, it’s me, your semi-loyal servant, Skye. That divine intervention Cohen was looking for? I’m going to need you to get right on that because I can see the forecast, and I’m now predicting awkward.
Send help.
3
Cohen
To say the last twelve or so hours have been one hell of a mind-fuck is an understatement.
I’m still reeling from the fact I pulled Skye onto the couch with me and woke up dry-humping her in what I remember to be the hottest fucking dream I can remember. It felt so real, and I was so close to busting a nut. When I woke up right on the precipice and realized just where I was and that the star of my hot-as-fuck sleep fantasy was actually not so much a dream but almost an awkward reality, I literally couldn’t move off that couch fast enough.
Not only was it wrong on many levels, but her brothers—maybe mine as well—would cut off my dick for even touching Skye, let alone doing what I almost did.
Then she was in my face, and I could barely think straight. My only thought was how fucking amazing she felt against me.
When she launched herself at me, my hard-on was back on board, and the moment her tongue touched mine, I was done for.
Had Jamie not called, there’s no telling what would’ve happened—or how far we might have gone.
Now though, I’m parked outside Jamie’s house in my car, hands gripped on the steering wheel, my mind still back in Skye’s kitchen with those skimpy sleep shorts and long tanned legs that go on for miles. Her hard nipples poked through her thin-as-hell T-shirt as she stood there, blowing my mind about her attitude toward sex being a physical act between consenting adults, no feelings necessary.
I thought I knew Skye, not just as a colleague and trusted workmate, but a best friend. You don’t spend as much time together as we do and not get close.
Yet I had no fucking idea she thought like most men when it came to getting laid. I’m both surprised and impressed, and I’m neither surprised or impressed easily.
The one area of her life Skye keeps to herself is her love life, and out of respect for her, I’ve done the same. It’s not that I’ve hidden anything on purpose—we just don’t talk about it. Probably because her brothers work with us. It’s potentially more of a self-preservation method for her than anything else.
But after feeling her, tasting her, and then hearing her school me on the ability to keep sex and friendship separate, I can’t get it out of my damn head.
The idea was never a possibility, so I’d never let it even enter my mind, but now the door has been opened and I can’t not think about it.
You think you know someone and then—
Someone knocks on my window. I turn my head and meet the wide, gap-toothed grin of my eight-year-old nephew, Axel.
I wave, indicating he take a step back, then swing open the door, hopping out and closing it behind me. “Hey, A
x.”
“I lost two teeth last night, but the tooth fairy got drunk at Uncle Bry’s wedding party, so Mom says he will definitely come tonight.”
I bite my lip to stop myself from bursting out laughing.
Jamie told me that the tooth fairy, aka April—Jamie’s wife and Axel’s mom—did, in fact, get rather inebriated after I left with Skye and was feeling a little under the weather this morning.
This is why Jamie and I are killing two birds with one stone—taking Ax out for lunch and organizing the final details for my move into Skye’s building this week.
I ruffle Ax’s hair, his abundant energy and cheerfulness contagious. “I bet the tooth fairy will pay double if you write her a note.” I bend down to his level. “She loves notes from boys who’ve been waiting ages to lose teeth like you have.”
His eyes widen, and his smile is huge. “You think? I could buy so much stuff with double tooth money. Even more than I can buy when you and Uncle Jax say fu—”
“Axel…” Jamie says in his gruff “dad” voice, coming up behind his son. To his credit, Ax looks back up at my brother and attempts to appear apologetic.
“I was going to say fun, Dad. I swear,” he says, shooting innocent puppy-dog eyes at his father.
Jamie smirks. “Sure, buddy. I believe you, but maybe don’t tempt fate by saying words so close to adult words you know you’re not supposed to say. Okay?”
“Yeah, Dad,” he says, shooting a mischievous grin my way.
“You wanna go inside and get your jacket? Just be quiet so your mom can sleep, yeah?”
“Yup,” Ax replies. “Be right back, guys.”
I chuckle as he runs back up the front path and into the house we renovated almost eleven months ago.
“Now that’s a thoughtful look. What’s up?” Jamie asks, snapping me from my thoughts.
“Huh?”
“You’re a million miles away.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, just had a crazy morning.”
“You walk in on Mom and Dad again?” he asks, chuckling.
I swallow down that particularly gross memory. “No, but thanks for reminding me.”
He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “Well, it won’t be an issue after this week. You’ll have your own place where you can come and go as you please without any therapy needed.”
I shake my head and laugh. “Yeah, can’t say I’ll miss that. Not that I’ll be there much.”
“But when you are, you know we can always do with another pair of hands.”
“Speaking of that. I told Skye, so no need to keep it to yourself anymore.”
Jamie nods. “Good. Not sure why you didn’t tell her sooner, but I trust your reasons.”
“I just wanted to wait until it was certain. Can’t say her expression wasn’t worth it though,” I say with a smirk.
“Surprised, was she?”
“You could say that. But it helped me get out of an awkward—”
“Ready!” Ax appears beside us.
I grin down at him. “Damn, kid. Did you become a ninja overnight or something? I didn’t even hear you.”
The boy beams up at me. “Maybe,” he says, puffing out his chest. “Dad told me to be super quiet and let Mom sleep, so I made sure I engaged my ninja superpowers.”
Jamie winks at his son. “Did you lock the front door, buddy?”
“Yep.”
Jamie ruffles Ax’s hair. “Good boy. You ready for lunch?”
“Am I ever. I’m starving.”
“It’s only been an hour since you ate.”
Axel shoots Jamie a smirk well beyond his years. “I’m a growing boy. Mommy says so.”
I gently bump Ax with my hip. “Did she also say you can have a burger and a milkshake for lunch?”
His eyes go wide, and his head jerks to Jamie. “Can I, Dad?”
Jamie chuckles. “Only if we get in the car and stop talking about it.”
That’s all he needs to say. One second, Axel is standing beside us; the next, he’s jumping into Jamie’s truck.
My brother arches his brow. “You want a milkshake too, Co?” he teases, moving toward the driveway.
“Shut up and get moving, Dad,” I say, following him with a smile on my face, my uncertainty over this morning’s events with Skye momentarily forgotten.
Having talked our ears off the entire drive to the burger place, Ax falls quiet when our food arrives, focused on the huge plate of food in front of him.
“We’ve organized to get some stuff from the storage unit for you to use, so furniture is sorted. It’ll just be your clothes and bed we need to move on Friday. Are you all packed?” Jamie leans back in his chair, picking at the bowl of fries in front of him.
“I will be. Scotty from work is bringing some boxes in tonight, and I’ll have forty-eight hours off Tuesday–Wednesday. Then we can move first thing Friday morning if that works for everyone.”
He picks up his phone and swipes his thumb up the screen a few times. “Project meeting on-site Monday ten a.m. with everyone except Bry.”
My brows bunch together. “Where’s Bry going?”
“He’s whisking Faith away to San Francisco for a week. He called me this morning. He’s still got six weeks of leave left before winter classes start, so he’ll help out for some of it, but he wants to give Faith a honeymoon. Calling it making up for lost time.”
I nod, liking that my brother and his new wife can have that.
“I’m surprised Jax and Ronnie aren’t tagging along,” I say with a grin. “Tweedledee and Tweedledum like doing things together. Getting married and knocking their wives up within months of each other notwithstanding.”
Jamie laughs and shakes his head. “Mom is over the moon. I heard her saying to Mrs. Baker last night that she’s just got to get you married off, and her job is done.”
“Oh God,” I say with a grimace. “She’ll be waiting a while.”
“Yeah. And why’s that, little brother? Too busy playing the field? You are going to be thirty soon.”
I groan. “Don’t remind me.”
“Abi was shacked up with Cade at your age.”
“Our sister was also not living at home and working unsociable hours like I do.”
Jamie’s brows go up. “So, that’s your excuse now? The job?”
“No,” I sigh. “But let’s just go with that.”
My brother tilts his head, scanning me. “Now you really have to spill. Something is on your mind, so talk to me, and maybe I can help you sort through it.”
Can you time travel back six hours so I can forget how good it felt to have my tongue in my best friend’s mouth?
I shake my head, lifting my cup, and taking a long drink, averting my eyes from my too-damn-astute sibling.
A foot connects with my shin under the table. Pain lances through my leg. My eyes snap to Jamie. “You forget, Co. Avoidance doesn’t work with me.”
“Mommy says he’s like a dog with a dog bone,” Ax says, entering the conversation. I turn my head toward him to see the boy didn’t even look up from his tablet to do it. He’s watching some weird sensory video that sounds more aggravating than entertaining, but each to their own.
I look back to my brother, my shoulders sagging in resignation. The fucker is the king of imparting wisdom these days, and it’s only because I trust him to tell me exactly what I should do—whether I like the answer or not—that I decide to unload.
“I screwed up this morning, and I don’t know how I feel about it.”
He nods, encouraging me to continue.
“Skye went to bed, and I slept on her couch, and sometime during the night, she came to put a blanket over me, and I told her to lie down with me.”
Jamie’s eyes widen, but he doesn’t say anything. I glance sideways to make sure Axel and his big ears are still focused on his food and the tablet before continuing.
“I may have forgotten where I was and who I was rubbing up against. Then I woke up, freaked out,
but when I tried to apologize, she got in my face and—”
“You kissed.”
My head jerks back. “How the hel—” I catch a knowing grin on Axel’s lips. “—heck…?”
Axel’s smile turns into a frown.
Jamie rolls his eyes. “Because you’re you, it’s Skye, and it’s been a long time coming.”
If a head could spin 360 degrees, then mine would’ve just done it. “What has been a long time coming?”
“Are you just going to avoid talking about it by repeating what I say?” Jamie asks, arching a brow. “Because you damn well know what I’m talking about.” He holds his finger up to Ax. “And no, damn does not get a swear-jar payment, so quit while you’re ahead.”
Ax releases a big harrumph before returning to his food.
I shake my head in disbelief. “Skye and I are just friends.”
“You’re also a guy and a girl who spend more time together than most couples do.” Well… shit.
“Yeah. But it’s strictly platonic.”
“And that’s how it should stay.”
My head jerks back. That was not what I expected my loved up, wants-everyone-to-be-happy oldest brother to say. “That’s why I freaked out. From day one, we’ve just been friends—I made sure of that out of respect for the job and her brothers. But now—”
“You can’t get the lid back on the box now that the Jack—or your dick—has jumped out of it?”
“Get out of my head.” I narrow my eyes, and Jamie shoots me a smirk.
“I’ve known you your entire life, Co. I’ve watched you crash and burn more times than I’ve had hot dinners, and I’ve seen you go through women just as fast. So excuse me if I cut to the chase and tell you to nip this in the bud now.”
“I’m kind of thrown by it all,” I confess.
“I could tell that as soon as I saw you today. And although this development is not all that unexpected—especially after last night’s post-wedding entertainment—I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t tell you to think long and hard about taking things any further. Skye is a great girl, but you plus her plus anything other than friendship will equal complicated times a hundred. Not just because we’re all now effectively her landlords, but because you work together and you work with her two very protective brothers who will make your body disappear for touching her. And, if things go wrong, this one will mark you, Co, and I want you to be happy.”