by BJ Harvey
“Dammit,” I shriek, quickly grabbing the controls and shutting it off.
A quick glance in the mirror has me looking more like a drowned rat than a sultry siren. With nothing else to do, I wrap a towel around me, grab my bra, underwear, and phone, and make a beeline out of my apartment and down the stairs.
A minute later, I’m on the ground floor, knocking on his door.
When it swings open, his phone is in his hand, his eyes widening when he sees me before his gaze drifts down to the floor and slowly back up again.
“Shit. Is this a new form of DoorDash? ’Cause if so, sign me up.”
“Only if you give me more than the tip,” I say, dissolving into a fit of giggles at his gaping mouth. “No, really, I need to steal your bathroom. My showerhead just tried to impale the wall and water was going everywhere. I’ve stopped the tap, but I really need to get ready, so please take pity on your neighbor and tenant and let me use yours?” I say, batting my lashes and shooting him my best puppy-dog eyes.
“Well, shit. Sure.” He steps back and ushers me inside, closing the door behind him. “Want me to take a look while you’re out?”
“It’ll be okay. I’ll just use yours until it can be fixed,” I say with a wry grin.
His eyes are full of amusement. “Oh, really?”
“Why else do I keep you around?”
He barks out a laugh. “You keep me around, do you?”
“Yep.”
He shrugs and shakes his head at me, his gaze locked with mine. The longer he looks at me with hungry desire in his eyes, the more likely it becomes that self-combustion could be my demise.
“Ah… so this shower,” I say, quirking a brow. “Want to save the planet?”
A lascivious smirk plays at his lips. “Is this a ruse to get naked in my apartment?”
I tilt my head. “Is that all it would take?”
His eyes narrow, an almost indiscernible growl rumbling from his chest.
I have to bite my lip to stop myself from grinning like the Cheshire cat, knowing he’s so easy to rile up—in all the ways I want to rile him up. It’s also to stop a tell-tale moan from giving away how much turning him on turns me on.
“What was the question again?” he says.
“I’m just going to make my way to your bathroom and get naked. Is that okay with you?” My lips twitch as his eyes glaze over. It seems the word naked coming out of my lips has an effect on him. “Co… the bathroom?”
“Off my bedroom.”
“Is it okay if I get dressed in there?”
“Yup. Yes. Sure,” he says, nodding incessantly, his gaze drifting up and down and over my still towel-clad body.
“I’ll be quick, I promise.” I take a step toward Co, lean in, and with a hand on his shoulder, press a soft kiss to his cheek. “Thank you,” I whisper before walking toward his bedroom. I stop and lean my front against the doorframe, locking eyes with him. “Co?”
“Yeah?” he says. His voice is rough and strained, his body strung tight as if he’s fighting to stay where he is. I take a very small moment to revel in the fact I make him feel that way. He looks like a fuse that’s ready to blow. I wonder how much longer he’s going to hold out on me for—and hold out on himself, too.
I hungrily roam my eyes over his face, his strong, broad shoulders, his muscular arms that are the perfect size to grab hold of and dig your nails in while he… yeah…
He slowly advances toward me. “Are you sure you have to go out?”
A satisfied smile curls my lips. “I really am. You’re welcome to save the environment though.” He stills, his brows bunching together. I decide to make my proposition crystal clear. “You know, save the environment, shower together…” I leave that idea hanging between us.
“Brat, what are you—”
I take a deep breath, lift my hand and drop my towel, giving him a clear-as-day side-on view of my bare skin, his scorching gaze takes me in, leaving goosebumps covering my skin in its wake. It’s got nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with all of the things I want to do to this man.
“Fuck,” he rasps, so rough and guttural I swear I feel it imprint inside of me.
With one last look, I push off the wall and make my way into Cohen’s bathroom, not bothering to shut the door behind me.
I quickly wash and stand under the water, my eyes glued to the shower curtain and hoping—desperately so—that Cohen gives in to this thing between us.
Lusting after my best friend, remembering how he felt pressed against me on the couch, filing away how hot our kiss was, and the potential for mind-bending orgasms, can drive a red-blooded woman like me to extreme measures.
I thank the universe for doing me a solid. If the showerhead hadn’t blown off, I wouldn’t have had a need to be here or the opportunity to tempt the man I desperately hope takes me up on my offer. I made the offer. I’ve made it crystal clear I’d like him to join me. Now the ball is in his court.
I know he wants me—that’s become increasingly obvious—and I definitely want him, and if blue bean is a thing, then I’m rapidly becoming the poster child for it.
Except he doesn’t join me.
He doesn’t even come into the bathroom.
So I turn the shower off, grab one of his towels from the rail, and dry myself. I quickly put on my bra, knickers, and one of his tees, which I nabbed from the top of his bed.
I walk out into the living room, determined to find out what exactly is going on.
“Cass, I think we need to ta—” I stop dead.
Because it’s not just Cohen standing there looking at me. I also find Bryant, Faith, and Abi.
Well, damn.
11
Cohen
“Skye,” I breathe as the woman I had every intention of joining in my shower comes stomping out of my bedroom. “I was just coming—”
“I bet you were hoping to, little brother,” Abi says, making Faith giggle. “Such a shame your family arrived.”
“Unexpectedly. Completely unannounced,” I mutter, my eyes locked with the bare-legged, favorite-T-shirt-wearing woman who looks torn between throttling me and jumping me.
Bryant smirks. “Oh, my bad. Did we interrupt something?”
“No!” we say at the same time, making it seem really obvious.
“Not yet,” I blurt out, earning a laugh from Abi, a shocked laugh from Bry, and a whispered “I knew it” from Faith.
Skye, though? She gasps and stands there in the doorway to my bedroom, seemingly unapologetic in her state of undress and the circumstances that led to it.
Then, it’s as if a wave of calmness washes over her, and her head is back in the game. Pity mine—both of them—are still stuck on the fact I missed my chance, because damn, does Skye Rossi look good in my tee, with her wet hair piled on top of her head and her flushed cheeks. The large shirt swims on her and falls to mid-thigh, covering her ass but still teasing me as to what may lay underneath. Who am I kidding? The glimpse she gave me when she dropped the towel just ten minutes ago is burned into my brain and will be for a long time yet.
She’s so bold, yet there is still that soft spot I know she’s hiding deep inside. She may have a smart mouth, a quick wit, and a dirty mind, but she gave me a choice. She didn’t jump me as soon as she walked in the door. She stated what she wanted and left it at that.
And God, was I so close to having it—and her.
I’d reached the edge of reason. I was sick of looking and was ready to leap.
Then there was a knock at the door, and I was pulled back from the brink. But looking at Skye right now, it’s obvious I should stop thinking of what-ifs and focus on the why should I.
“My shower broke,” Skye blurts out, breaking the silence.
“I bet,” Bry mutters.
Abi snorts, and Faith shakes her head.
Skye holds her hands up. “No, seriously. The showerhead shot off and broke the tiles. There was water flying everywhere, and I’m goi
ng out, so I came downstairs to use Co’s bathroom because I have to get ready, and here you are, thinking the worst when this is perfectly innocent, I swear!”
God, her rambling is cute.
I look to Bry. “She’s telling the truth.”
“Then why is she wearing your clothes, huh?” Abi asks. “I think she doth protest too much.”
“I heard your voices and knew Co had company. I may have arrived in a towel, but you guys don’t need to see everything I have to offer.”
“For Cohen’s eyes only then?” Faith says teasingly.
Skye eyes me over then looks to my sister-in-law. “Not even him. That would make working together pretty awkward.”
My eyes widen, but I quickly school my expression.
“We’re going to the driving range. I was gonna suggest you join us, but you said you’ve got plans,” Bry says.
“Yep. I’m going to play wing-woman for my sister, Valentina. She’s coming up to thirty, and she’s on the hunt for a husband, so we’re going to ladies’ night at Throb.”
Abi nods. “Throb is a good place to find husbands.”
“You’d know,” I muse.
“And what a husband I found.” My sister beams. “Fingers crossed Val has the same luck I have. Maybe you too?”
“Um…” Skye’s expression is unreadable, and I decide to step in and change the conversation before I say or do something to give away my feelings about that prospect.
“I’m sure Skye has to get going,” I say, looking at my watch, “and we’re due to meet everyone in thirty minutes, so…”
My partner’s relieved eyes meet mine. “Yeah. I’ll just grab my stuff and go home.”
“You want us to take a look at your shower?” Bry asks, putting his landlord hat on. “Or call a plumber?”
Skye’s eyes soften. “It’ll be okay until tomorrow. Besides, I can always pop down here and steal Cohen’s water again if need be.”
I don’t miss the inference. Maybe all is not lost after all.
“Maybe Monday, though? We’re working a twenty-four, so if someone could fix it while I’m at the station, that would be great.”
I zone out of the conversation, my mind too focused on the concept of Skye in my shower again.
“Co?” Bry says, bumping me with his elbow. “You okay with that?”
I look up at my brother and nod. “Yeah, of course. Any time.”
Faith and Abi laugh quietly. I’m being obvious as hell.
I turn to Skye and meet blue eyes dancing with amusement.
“Okay. I’m going back home, and I’ll let you guys get on your way,” Skye says.
“I’ll get Jamie to call you tomorrow about the shower,” Bry offers.
She walks straight to the door, seeming in a rush to get out of here. “Thanks, Bryant. Much appreciated.”
“See you later?” I ask. Say yes, please say yes…
“Yeah. I’ll text you,” she says before sweeping her gaze around the room. “Bye, Abi, Faith, Bry. Have a good night.” She locks eyes with mine. “Make sure you best this guy, Faith. He wasn’t happy last time you did.”
I shake my head and grin at her. “Thanks for the support, brat.”
“Anytime, Cass. See ya.” She waves over her shoulder then disappears through the door.
As soon as it closes, all three family members burst out laughing.
“You two aren’t fooling anyone,” Abi says, her smile huge.
“We are friends. Just friends. Nothing but friends,” I reply, but even I’m not convinced.
“If you’re only friends now, I don’t see that lasting too much longer. If she’s that comfortable half-naked in your apartment, taking that to totally naked won’t be too hard.”
“We work together.”
“So?” Abi says. “Take it from me, that’s a girl who can put a line between work and play, and one look at you looking at her tells me you’re ready to jump all over that.”
“You guys are nuts,” I mutter, moving past her toward my bedroom. “Now, give me ten minutes, and I’ll be ready to go.” I lock eyes with Bry, his asking the unanswered question if I’m all good.
I lift my chin and swing my arm out. “Make yourselves at home, and I’ll get changed.”
“Maybe your shower will break, and you can go upstairs half-dressed too,” Abi muses.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Abs.”
“And I’m no fool, Co.” She arches a brow and stares straight at me.
I wave her off and walk into my room, closing the door behind me. My eyes fall to Skye’s towel lying on my bedroom floor, wishing she was naked in my bed right now.
Something’s got to give, and it’s got to happen soon. Maybe we need a one-and-done to work it out of our systems. Then we can be friends who’ve slept together and agree; it’s too complicated to do again.
People do it all the time. There’s no reason why we can’t.
As I get changed and take one last look in the mirror, I wonder if I’m fooling myself.
I pick up my phone and find a text from Skye waiting for me.
Skye—Well, that was fun. I’m hoping we can take a rain check.
Cohen—I’m sorry. That was completely unexpected.
Skye—It was funny, and it’s not the first time I’ve been caught half-dressed by family members. Don’t sweat it.
Cohen—Is it bad if I say don’t have too much fun tonight?
Skye—Aww, are you saying I shouldn’t go looking for a husband tonight too?
I grumble under my breath, thankful there’s no one around to hear it.
Cohen—I’m saying don’t look for something you can get closer to home.
Skye—Is that a promise, Cass?
Cohen—You naked in front of me while inviting me to save water is now burned in my brain, so right now, yes, that’s a promise.
Skye—I’m going to hold you to that.
Cohen—I’m counting on it.
My golf playing is mimicking the state of my sex life—woeful.
All I can think about is Skye, and ladies’ night at Throb, a meat market known as the place to go to hook up and head out.
I’ve resisted sending her a text, and if the sidelong looks I’ve been getting from Bry and Abi are anything to go by, I’m wearing my mood on my sleeve.
“Co, you going to let both Bakers beat you tonight?” Jamie asks, smirking over at me.
I shrug. “Got to let them win occasionally. Let them think they can actually play.”
Ezra bursts out laughing, and Faith just shakes her head.
“Maybe his mind is elsewhere,” Jax says with a knowing grin. And I’m supposedly the big gossip in the family.
I decide to call his bluff. “Oh, yeah? And where would that be?”
“On faulty plumbing, of course,” he replies. Bryant snorts but quickly shuts up when I send him a scathing look.
“Why do I feel like I’m missing something?” Jamie asks.
“Because you are,” Abi, Bry, Jax, and I all say in unison.
“Jesus. It’s scary when you do that,” our big brother replies, looking between the four of us.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mutter, lifting my beer bottle to my mouth and taking a long, measured sip. Jamie’s eyes narrow.
“So, what’s the plan for Thanksgiving? The family has kind of grown since last year,” Abi says, saving me from Jamie’s interrogation. They start talking amongst themselves, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m working on Thanksgiving anyway, so the best I’ll get is a quick dine and dash at Mom and Dad’s.
Considering one of the last things Jamie said to me in regards to Skye was not to let my dick screw things up, I’m undecided as to how he’ll react when—no longer if—I bring said appendage into my friendship with Skye.
Because we’re certainly heading down that path, and I’m powerless to stop it from happening.
Unless she picks up a guy tonight at Throb.
Unless I’ve taken too long and the unresolved sexual tension between us leads her to find another outlet—read: guy—to work it out of her system with.
Then I’d have to watch them saunter out of her apartment and out of the building, walking with their heads held high after a night of what would undoubtedly be great, energetic, mutually beneficial casual sex. The same casual sex she offered up to me and that I thought I was right in turning down for the sake of everyone and everything intertwined in our lives.
Fuck! Why did I wait so long? Not just since that kiss on her couch, but even while deciding to join her in the shower tonight. If I’d just jumped straight in with her, there would’ve been no untimely Cook family interruption, and I might’ve been able to talk her out of going to Throb—or I could’ve skipped golf and gone with her.
I’m knocked out of my thoughts by Ezra’s hand landing on my shoulder.
“Your shot, Co,” he says, before leaning in close. “And if you don’t wanna make it completely obvious your mind is on your hot little partner; you should probably stop zoning out and looking like you want to throttle someone.”
My head jerks back. “What?”
“If you grind your teeth any more, you’ll be funding your dentist’s next five-star vacation. Take it out on the ball. Besides,” he says with a sly grin, “I have it on good authority that your little tenant is behaving herself so far.”
My eyes narrow. “How do you know that?”
He chuckles. “Because I was fishing, and you just bit the hook. But good on you. It’s about time you two got your shit sorted.”
“We’re not… I’m not…”
He quirks his brow. “Why not?”
“I don’t even know anymore.”
“Then you should do something about it soon. She’s a firecracker, that one. If you want to go there, you better hurry up before someone else takes your place.”
“It’s not like that. It’s just physical—it would be, anyway.”
“And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I’ve got that with someone, and it’s perfect for our situation. If you think you can keep it clean and clear, without letting feelings get in the way of some fun, then don’t let anyone and their opinion of it sway you. Yeah?”