by BJ Harvey
I burst out laughing at the memory. Gio was furious when he caught us, and Papa couldn’t stop chuckling when my brother ratted us out.
“Good times. I don’t think Co will laugh if I ruin his gearbox though.”
Dion shrugs. “You’ll never know unless you turn the damn key. C’mon, Skye, what have you got to lose? Give the man a chance.”
My head jerks back. “Since when were you Team Cohen?”
“I’m not. I’m Team SkyCo. It has a much better ring to it.”
I arch a brow, my lips quirking.
“Yep. I’m going to trademark it and make millions in merchandise. Then I’ll retire at thirty-five and Vin, Penny, and I can live on a Caribbean island in the lap of luxury.”
My fingers move to push the key into the ignition. “You’ve put far too much thought into this,” I mutter, twisting my hand and causing the engine to roar to life with an invigorating rumble.
I can’t help the huge smile that covers my face at the sound, the energy, the feel of the power in my hands right now.
“You’re totally getting off on this car, aren’t you?” Dion asks with a laugh. I give a one-sided shrug but then rev the engine and giggle like a nut.
“Totally horny for the car. That man is not an idiot,” D mutters. I shake my head, and with a deep breath and a silent prayer, I ease away from the sidewalk and head down the road.
“Now, can you tell me where I’m driving this sexy piece of metal to?”
“We’ve got an hour to kill so I’ve been told to tell you to—and I quote—‘go nuts.’”
My head snaps sideways, my eyes bugging out so far that they near on roll out of the car and down the road as we stop at a set of lights. “He said that?” I whisper.
“Yup. And if he loves this car as much as you say he does, then that should tell you something.”
It does, but part of me still isn’t ready to believe it. Then again, if he told me to “go nuts,” this might be the only chance I get to do exactly that.
“Well then,” I say, revving the engine with a smirk, “this is one time I will do as he says.”
“Good girl. Now show me what this pretty lady can do.”
“She’s not a lady, she’s a snarling bitch, and I’m about to show you just how much.” And when the light turns green, I set out to do exactly that.
I pull Cohen’s car into a parking space outside the firehouse and shut down the engine, my eyes glued on the building I used to call my second home.
All my nerves come racing back now that whatever Cohen has planned is about to happen.
I swivel my head toward Dion, who’s staring back at me with an almost cautious expression.
“What’s going on, D? Surely he’s not asking me here to talk during a shift?” My voice lilts toward the end to a squeak.
“Relax, sweetness. He’s not working today.”
My head jerks back, and I scrunch my face up in confusion. “Then why the hell are we here?”
“Because Cohen told me to bring you.”
“Oh my God. Did he not say I could drive the car? Was this your way of getting him back for not buying the cow when he was getting the milkshake for free?”
Dion snorts. “Is any milkshake ever really free? I don’t even get or want your milkshake, and I still feel like I’m paying for it in one way or another.”
My entire mouth twitches. “I’m totally lost. How on earth does my sex life with Cohen relate to you and paying for it somehow?”
He stares back at me, not saying a word… then it dawns on me that he means he has to hear about it. I glare at him as he chuckles under his breath.
I throw my arm out and whack his shoulder. “It’s a privilege for anyone to have me or my milkshake in their lives, thank you very much!”
Dion’s chuckles turn into full-on, bent-at-the-waist bellows, and he’s soon wheezing with it. “Can’t… breathe… too… funny.”
“Stop it,” I say with a scowl, with absolutely no feeling behind it. “I’m a fucking delight, I tell you. I’m worth any pain and suffering I inflict.”
“That you are, my Skye,” he says with an exaggerated nod.
I poke my tongue out at his cheeky grin. “You forget, Princess Penny has half of my genes. It’ll be just your luck if she turns out exactly like me.”
“Well, I damn well hope so. She needs some of your spunk to even out my fabulousness.”
“God,” I say before dissolving into a fit of giggles. “Heaven help the world.”
“Right? Vin says we should invest in therapy now.”
“She’s not going to need professional help.”
Dion snorts. “Not for her—for us.” He looks out the back window, and his smile gets bigger. “Well, well, well. Looks like it’s go time.”
“What?”
“We need to get out of the car, and go inside the firehouse now,” he says, slowly enunciating every word like I’m a child.
“I. Heard. You. What I mean is, why now? Wh—” My eyes dart to the rear-view mirror just as the fire truck—my brothers’ fire truck—reverses into the driveway and inside the garage.
I stop breathing, complete and utter panic taking over my entire body, keeping me frozen in place.
“Skye?” Dion’s hand rests on my forearm. “Sweetness?” His fingers give me a gentle squeeze. “Hey, crazy lady, what on earth is wrong with you?” he screeches, shaking me out of my fear-filled freeze.
I turn my torso toward him, meeting his eyes. “D, why are we here?” I whisper.
Dion holds both hands up in surrender. “I just do what I’m told, and I quote, ‘Let her take the Camaro for a spin, wherever she wants, for however long she wants, but have her here by three’—that’s all I know.” I narrow my eyes, trying to glean any more information from him. When he meets me head-on until I blink first, I know he’s said all he can.
I huff out a breath and grip the steering wheel, looking straight out the windshield at nothing in particular.
And just like that, I regain the use of my limbs and reach for the door handle.
“We’ve got to get in there,” I rush out before jumping into action and opening the door.
“Okay then,” Dion mutters, then I’m gone, hurrying along the sidewalk and up the driveway, footsteps running behind me. “Ah, Skye. What’s the hurry?”
I don’t slow down. If anything, I walk faster. “I just need to get inside.”
“Okay,” he says. “But you might want to lock the man’s pride and joy.”
Stopping suddenly, I spin around and throw him the keys, then resume my mission through the firehouse doors, destination unknown, but I decide the living area is the best place to start.
With Dion by my side, I walk into the biggest room in the building, coming to a stop when I find Jamie, Jax, Bry, and a grinning Ezra lounging on the couches with Rhodes, Zach, and Gio. Marco, Luca and the rest of the squad are standing around the table and kitchen. I look for Cohen but don’t find him anywhere.
I turn back to Jamie, whose eyes have moved to me. In fact—everyone is now watching me.
“Brat!” Gio says, pushing to his feet and crossing the room toward me.
“Hey, look who’s back,” Rhodes calls out. Marco and Luca join Gio, forming an impromptu Rossi huddle. I’m about to ask someone—anyone—what the hell is going on when the air in the room changes. My eyes dart to the kitchen door just as Cohen strolls through it, his eyes boring deep into mine.
He walks straight toward me, the guys parting like he’s Moses and forming a small crowd behind him.
I catch movement out of the side of my eyes and see the Cook posse now in a line to my left, opposite my brothers who are to my right, with Cohen standing five feet in front of me.
His body language is relaxed, his eyes soft and warm. Although there’s an edge to him, a flash of determination in his gaze, an almost imperceptible tick in his jaw, and he’s not in uniform—something which is weird considering he should be working to
day.
I feel like the headline act at the state fair, except I’m not a willing performer, and I hate the spotlight. I also hate not knowing what the hell is happening.
“Okay, so it’s not my birthday, I haven’t been promoted, and I can’t think of anything else that’s happened to warrant a surprise celebration. So can someone please tell me what’s going on? Cass?”
His chest expands as he takes a deep breath and exhales slowly before he nods toward his family. The corner of his lips tip up as he glances back at me then turns to face my brothers.
“A little over a year ago, I made you a promise,” he says to Marco. “I’m standing here today to tell you I lied. From the minute I laid eyes on your sister, I knew something was different. I just didn’t see it.” The energy in the room shifts, and my attention moves to my three very protective siblings who are all now standing a little bit taller and wearing varied expressions ranging from confused to puzzled to intense. “Skye…” Cohen’s voice has my eyes snapping his way. “I was an idiot.”
“Well, that’s a good opener,” Dion murmurs beside me, but my sole visual focus is on the man in front of me.
“I didn’t realize the enormity of just how much you meant to me until you called me on it, and you were right to say the things you did. You deserve a man who is ready and willing to claim you, and a stronger man might step aside and let you find that.”
He closes the distance between us and reaches out, grabbing my hands that I didn’t realize were clenched tightly in front of me. “But I’m here today to fight for you—for us—and to tell our world that I love you. I’m a much better man—a better person—having you with me.” He gently squeezes my fingers. “I broke us by not admitting what you seemed to know before I did. I let the fear of losing you lead me to lose you anyway, and I’m here now to tell you, in front of everyone, that I love you and can’t imagine a life without you in it.” My heart pounds against my chest as tears gather in my eyes and he moves even closer, the heat from his body radiating to mine. “I want you today, tomorrow and always, and I won’t ever stop loving you and proving every single day that I’m not worthy of you but working my ass off to be the man you deserve me to be.”
I’m frozen in place, my stomach full of so many butterflies I fear I might take flight or spontaneously combust. Both are an option at this point.
“Holy fuck,” Gio whispers.
“Well shit,” Luca mutters.
“Jesus,” Marco says.
“If you don’t want him, I’ll create a harem so I can claim him for myself,” Dion whispers.
“Does this mean…” Scotty asks.
But everyone else in the room fades away as Cohen lifts his hands to cradle my jaw. I blink to make sure I’m not dreaming, and his lips curve into the sexiest, happiest damn smile I’ve ever seen.
“I love you, brat. Will you have me back?” he asks softly.
I stare into his beautiful bright eyes and blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “You let me drive your car.”
Cohen crushes his lips to mine, one hand diving into my hair as his tongue delves inside my mouth, my hands grabbing his shoulders and holding on for dear life as he plunders. There’s a buzz of hoots and hollers around us, but I don’t give a single shit, because I’m kissing Cohen Cook and he’s told the world—our world—he loves me and always will. What else is a girl to do but kiss the living hell out of him after that?
When we finally pull apart, I melt into him, giving him my weight as we lean our heads against each other to catch our breath.
“You lurrrrve me,” I say in a quiet, singsong voice.
He looks me dead in the eye. “Yeah, baby, I do.”
“You told everyone.”
“Yep. And I’ll do it all over again if that’s what it takes.”
I shift back a little and smirk up at him. “I’m sure there are other ways you could show me you love me.”
“Skye, you’re our sister. We don’t wanna hear that,” Gio groans.
We both spin around to look at my brothers, all of them standing there watching us.
I look straight at Marco. “Please don’t kill him. I touched him first, so in all fairness, he didn’t lie to you. I dragged him over to the dark side.”
Marco’s lips twitch, and he quickly turns to Gio and Luca.
“Wait,” Luca says, shooting narrowed eyes at Cohen. “You’re just saying you love her—you definitely haven’t touched her or anything? You wouldn’t do that without asking our permission, right?”
To his credit, Cohen stands strong, although I swear I feel a little shudder go through him.
I roll my eyes. “Of course, Luca. That’s the first time he’s ever kissed me too. We both agreed to wait for marriage to consummate our relationship,” I deadpan. A strained choking sound escapes Cohen, his brothers chuckling at the look of panic on the youngest Cook’s face.
I’m too happy to make him suffer for long though. I place my hand over his heart and meet his wide eyes. “Don’t worry, Cass. We can go to City Hall straight away if you like…” He shakes his head, his lips quirking up into an ‘I’m gonna get me some’ smirk.
“Do we kick his ass now, or should we just hold the threat of it over him if he ever hurts her again?” Gio muses.
Hearing that makes me giggle. Cohen’s entire body relaxes as I huff out a sigh of relief.
“Wait, so Skye and Cohen are—” Scotty asks, his words cut off by a roar of laughter filling the room.
I turn back to Cohen, lifting up on my toes to brush my lips against his. “You risked bodily harm for me.”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Can I drive your car again?”
His eye twitches, and I burst out laughing.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“Take that as a ‘You can drive it as long as you’re coming home to me.’”
“As long as I’m with you, I’m always home.”
“Oh, God, I’m gonna be sick,” Jax or Bry mutters—they sound so alike I can’t always tell them apart.
“Get a room,” Rhodes calls out.
“Aww, shucks. Baby Cook is growing up.” That was definitely Ezra.
I don’t care though, because I’m suddenly too busy being dipped backward and having the life kissed out of me by Cohen Cook.
Who would’ve thought lust at first sight and a little sleepy frottage would lead me to finding the love of my life and him risking bodily harm to declare his feelings for me?
I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Luckily for me, the hard work is now done.
All that’s left to do is enjoy the rewards.
Oh, and to make up for lost time, because two weeks without orgasms is far too long.
And Cohen did say he’d do anything…
Epilogue - Cohen
TWO WEEKS LATER
Sunday afternoon, and we’re all gathered in the newly finished open-plan living area of apartment two. As per tradition, there’s a step ladder in the middle of the room waiting for one of us to screw in the last light bulb, signifying the end of the flip—this floor of the three-flat building anyway.
Skye chose to stay as a floater, leaving Corey as my partner for the next few months. The captain has said he’s personally not opposed to Skye and I working together again, but he has to take the request higher up the food chain. Until a decision is made, we’ve just been spending our time off together and nothing much has changed from before New Year’s, except for the fact we know we love each other and there’s nothing casual about our relationship.
Marco and Luca still like to give me shit, but Skye assures me they’re just messing with me. If they come after me, I plan to use Scotty as a shield and run for my life.
Since we’re all busy these days, with Jax and Bryant back at the university for the new semester and my shifts being crazy, we’ve combined today’s celebration with a joint baby shower for Ronnie and Faith. This means it’s not just the normal Cook clan in the room today. Ro
nnie’s sister, Gilly, Faith, and Ezra’s parents, sister and her family, and April’s ex-mother-in-law, Betty, are all here too. There’s tons of food and booze here, a lot of which we’ve demolished already.
Axel calls out, “Quiet everybody,” earning the attention of everyone in the room. April giggles, shaking her head at her son, while Jamie looks down at him and clears his throat. Axel’s eyes widen as it dawns on him. “Please!” he adds, and the air fills with soft laughter.
“Thanks, Ax.” Jamie moves to the front of the group, facing everyone. “Today is a little different since Ronnie and Faith have graciously let us crash their shower so we can officially sign off on this baby, ahead of the upcoming arrival of the next two members of our family. So, Cohen, do you want to come take care of this light bulb so we can get back to the festivities?” Jamie says.
“How about you do it, and we’ll say I did,” I muse.
Ax jumps up and down with his hand up. “Oh, oh, oh, Daddy, pick me.”
Jamie looks down at his son, but before he can answer, Bryant swoops in and picks Axel up, holding out his hand to take the light bulb from our brother. Then, with a lift and a little instruction from Jax and Jamie, Axel shouts out, “I did it,” making us all laugh again.
I look over at Faith and Bryant, then to Jax and Ronnie, all of them looking ridiculously loved-up. This time six months ago, I was jealous of what they had, but now, pulling Skye into my side and pressing my lips to her temple, I’m so damn happy myself that I almost forget how envious I was.
“So today, we finish step one of our biggest flip yet, and come Monday week, we’ll start working on our next project, which will be Skye’s apartment upstairs,” Jamie says, looking in our direction. “While that is happening, Skye will be moving down here starting tomorrow—isn’t that right?”