Fifteen seconds is all I can wait before I finally break. “Okay, what’s going on?”
“I’ve decided it’s a good idea to put new security on the building,” Chloe responds.
“Has something happened?”
Silence fills the room; no one will look directly at me.
“Yes, something’s happened. But I don’t want you to worry. I’m handling it.” Chloe waves her hand flippantly.
“Worry about what? Can someone please quit beating around the bush and spit it out? What the hell’s going on?” my voice cracks at the possibilities. “Is this about Dad?”
Robbie pulls me in front of him and wraps his arms around my waist protectively. His lips come to my ear. “Your dad is fine.”
“Ember, sit down.” Chloe motions for a chair, but I refuse. She sighs and looks around at all the men in the room before her eyes settle on me. “Serena’s back. She’s looking for you.”
I regret not sitting when my knees start to wobble and I sway slightly. Strong arms hold me up and squeeze.
“Why?” I barely whisper. The thought that my mother has resurfaced after all these years rocks me to the core. She never called after I left, never acknowledged the lengths I went to for Natalie, never even reached out to me when she remarried. I was non-existent. So why is she calling now?
“I don’t know the specifics, but there’s no doubt in my mind it’s about money.”
“Money? Why would she reach out to me? I don’t have any money.”
If I wasn’t staring so intently, I’d miss the slight flinch. But I see it as Chloe’s face pales. “Yes, you do. We never told you about it.”
“What are you talking about, and who’s we?”
“Thad and me. She went to see your dad.”
My lunch coils in my stomach, threatening to reappear, and I become lightheaded. Robbie bends to lift me and sits us down, still holding me firmly.
“Please don’t make me drag it out of you, Chloe.”
“Maybe I should go,” Finn cuts in, looking at me sympathetically. My fondness grows for this man who is clearly concerned for me.
“Are you going to help us get to the bottom of what she wants?”
“I’m sure as shit going to try. You’re with Robbie. You’re family. Robbie’s made it clear no one fucks with you.”
I nod at Chloe to continue.
“Thad had a plan, Ember, he was going to take you out of that house and get you far away from the conditions you were living in. The plan was already in place. We’d been working together to get you registered in a high school up here, and Thad had met with a lawyer. He told Serena his plan to divorce her and take you with him. He told her that she could have the house, the cars, and half of the money in all their accounts. The only stipulation was he wanted you. Natalie was eighteen, so she could make the choice what she wanted to do, but it was a no-brainer. We all knew she would stay. During this time, he put the business in my name and also the inheritance, which you already know.
“You became Serena’s bargaining chip. That’s the only time in her fucking life she was decent to you. She told him if he’d give her more money in the divorce, she’d sign all parental rights over. One thing he did to throw her off was make some investments in your and Natalie’s names. She was livid because she couldn’t touch these investments. Thad wanted you to be taken care of, always. The day he got the call to get you at school because of the gash on your head was the last straw. He called me when the doctor was stitching you up. I had a room ready for you both to drive in that night. We know how that ended.
“Oh my God, she really never wanted me. All I did to try and be accepted was never going to be enough.”
Chloe wipes a tear off her own cheek and shakes her head. “No, Little Star, you were enough. She was jealous, so jealous she couldn’t see straight. Your dad loved you so much. He chose you time and time over her and Natalie. He didn’t want to be biased, but he watched how they treated you. I begged him to let me keep you until he could get the shit with Serena straightened out, but he couldn’t live without you. Since the day you turned four, I pleaded with your dad to let me show you a mother’s love.”
I press my lips together as hard as I can to stop the cry threatening to escape. Cruz is on his knees next to me, instantly pulling my hands into his. Robbie moves my head so I’m leaning into the crook of his neck as I sniff a few times to hold back the tears. The wound I thought was healed is starting to bleed again. After a few minutes, my emotions are under control.
“So after reconfirming she’s a world class bitch for the millionth time, why is she looking for me now?”
“My guess is she’s going to try to talk you into giving her some cash. Serena’s always been a manipulative person, but I’m not going to let her near you.”
“It’s not like I’m hard to find. She knows where the shop is. She knows where you live. Why didn’t she come to me directly?”
“We think she tried. The current security system shows a woman coming to the doors after six-thirty three times last week. We haven’t changed the hours on the window, so whomever it was, wanted to get here close to closing time. This woman was wearing a coat and hat, but I’m certain it was your mom.”
A chill runs down my spine. ‘My mom’ shows back up into my life to ask for money. It’s a kick to the gut.
“So what’s the plan?”
Robbie lifts my chin, forcing me to look at him. “The plan is that Finn and I are installing a more detailed security system in the store. We’re also putting a system at your townhome. Chloe’s going to talk to your dad and get me some information, and I’m going to look into your mom. See what kind of trouble she could be in. Once we know more on her motives, we can get a better plan together.”
“Oh my God, what is your dad going to think?”
“He’s not going to think anything, because he won’t know. Until you’re ready to share, he’s not involved in this.”
I nod and look around the room, catching the eye of everyone before speaking. “I may have broken down because of shock, but it’ll be okay. I’m stronger now, and they have no place in my life. The added security is probably not necessary.”
“It’s been on my to-do list for a while,” Chloe tells me with a warm smile.
“Anything else I need to know?”
“We’re going to find out what she’s up to and keep her the hell away from you. And when Thad comes home, keep her away from him, too.”
“Okay then, Hero, tell us about the new security system.” I point to Finn.
His eyes sparkle, and he gives me a wink. Robbie squeezes me possessively and moans low, “Please don’t flirt with my best friend.”
A giggle escapes as I lean into him, listening to Finn explain the latest and greatest in technology he and Robbie are installing on Monday. My mind tunes out and drifts to thoughts of my mom. No matter what everyone around me thinks, I want her to find me. It’s time she sees that her hold on me has vanished.
Chapter 17
Valentine’s Day
Robbie
Finn screws in the last bolt on the kitchen window, and I put away the tools. Needless to say, my Saturday night plans with Ember changed when I got off the phone with Cruz this morning. After he told me about Serena contacting Chloe and Thad, we talked about how to protect Ember.
Cruz didn’t seem to think Serena was a physical threat, but could cause emotional danger. I didn’t want to agree, but when Ember almost broke down crying in my arms, it was apparent that there was scarring that I wasn’t aware of. To me, she’s so strong about that time in her life, but when being faced with the possibility of seeing her mother, she showed a sense of vulnerability.
Everyone decided it was a good idea to put a security system on the townhouse because it was only a matter of time before Serena or Natalie found where she lived.
Instead of dinner at my house, we all came back so Finn could assess the type of system to install. Ember ordered pizza
and watched us while we secured the windows. Cruz and Alex hung around until they decided to go out.
“Would you guys like a drink?” Ember asks, opening the refrigerator.
“Beer,” Finn replies, and I nod in agreement.
She hands us two bottles and hops on the counter, sipping her wine. “I want to tell you both something. Maybe you know, maybe you don’t, but when you look into her, you’ll probably discover it. My mom had a drug problem, a serious one, not like Chloe who likes her marijuana. Mom was hard-core. She liked cocaine the most. The crowd she was in wasn’t a rough and tough crowd- they were somewhat suburbanites. One time, after my dad was gone, I came home and found her passed out. This was unlike anything before, though because she was barely breathing. It scared me to death, but I knew I couldn’t call the paramedics. So I took care of her. I knew she was alive because I held her wrist in my hand and counted her pulse every thirty minutes.
“When she finally started to come around, she was sick, so sick. I cleaned up her vomit for almost two days. At this point, I was terrified and did try to call the paramedics. She begged me not to, so instead, I did whatever to help her. She never did drugs again. I knew the signs to look for, but they weren’t there. So whatever she needs money for, it’s not drugs.”
“That’s fucking whacked.” Finn takes a long drink of his beer.
She doesn’t answer but shrugs her shoulders with no emotion. I walk over and slide my hips between her knees, wrapping one arm around her waist. “She doesn’t deserve you. Then or now.”
Her face softens and she leans into me, resting her head against my chest. “Last night, your sister told me you guys were protective and bossy. I can see what she’s talking about.”
Finn chuckles. “It’s all with good intentions. I’ll be the first to admit, Raven probably has the most protective one of the bunch. But he has reason to be.”
“Why is that?”
“Raven was kidnapped and held in a basement last year by a crazy girl obsessed with Declan. It scared the shit out of all of us, but he took it to another level. His guilt almost drove them apart. Then he made the stupid decision to keep their engagement private to promote Sayge last summer, which caused her to leave him. So now that he’s got her back, he’s beyond protective of her. His devotion borderlines obsession.”
“I had no idea she was kidnapped.”
“We kept it quiet. The woman is in a mental hospital.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think there are any crazy people coming to kidnap me, but thank you both for all you’re doing.” She lifts her face to mine and kisses me quickly. “If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to go take a quick shower. Help yourself to all the beer you want.”
I step back and she jumps off the counter. Instead of leaving, she goes straight to Finn and throws her arms around his shoulders. “Thank you for everything. But mostly, thanks for not judging me. I’m usually very private about my life. Today, you didn’t show pity. You showed support.” He hugs her back and locks eyes with me.
“Ember, you ever need anything, I meant what I said. You’re family.”
She gives him a quick kiss and leaves us standing in the kitchen.
I grab us another beer and sit down, elevating my leg.
“Shit, didn’t want to believe it, but there’s no denying.”
“Denying what?”
“You’ve found it. You’ve got your girl.”
I remain quiet for a minute, drinking the beer and watching his face. “May be a little soon to declare it, but it feels right.”
“Bullshit too soon.”
“I want her to trust me, really trust me, and I have this overpowering need to guard her from the shit going down in the other parts of my life. This stuff with Raven is toxic, and Ember has enough to deal with.”
“So shield her from it.”
“That’s my plan.”
“I’m here to help. Anytime, anything.”
“I know and appreciate that.”
“I’d better go. Want to go to the gym tomorrow afternoon?”
“I’ll let you know. Believe it or not, my leg does ache a little today. Think I overdid it on the run this morning.”
“Let me know.”
I follow him to the door and slap his back lightly. “Thanks, man. I owe you.”
He jerks his head and jogs to his truck. I lock up the house and hear the water turn off. The door to the bathroom is partially open, and steam swirls through the crack. I see shadows of movement and plant my feet in place to stop from barging in. The thought of a naked, wet, and hot Ember has my dick hardening quickly.
“Robbie? Are you in here?”
“Yeah, just walked in.”
“Can you tell me the time?”
I look down at my watch and wonder why the time matters. “Five after midnight.”
“Good, then it’s officially tomorrow.” She walks out and my knees go weak. The sight of her in a black satin camisole and red panties coming toward me sends my pulse racing. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
She stops a foot in front of me, licking her lips nervously, then turns around and goes to her nightstand. I watch spellbound as she unwraps a chocolate flower and takes a small bite then comes back and raises the remaining piece to my mouth. I open slightly, and when she places the chocolate on my tongue, I grab her wrist and lick each of her fingers, slowly. Her blue eyes remain glued to mine as Finn’s words cloud my mind.
‘You’ve got your girl.’
In this moment, there’s no denying she’s it.
“Ember—”
“Robbie, I meant what I said last night, even with alcohol fueling my courage. I’m crazy about you.”
“Ember—”
“Don’t talk. Let me get this out. Never have I felt as safe talking about myself to anyone. You’ve met my crazy family, know my deepest secrets, and still haven’t turned away. I feel you hold me tight when we sleep, and you don’t move, even though I’m a terrible bed partner.
“Thank you for today. Thank you for calling your best friend and getting him involved in the shit that is surfacing. Thank you for holding me when I cried and not hiding the truth from me.”
My entire body hums. It hums with need for this emotionally abused woman that stands before me as a vixen and has no idea how sexy she is. The need to control takes over, and I tug her to me and slam my lips to hers. I kiss her deep, addicted to her taste. She whimpers, but I don’t stop, angling her head and sucking her in. The scent of citrus bath wash and the warmth of her skin surround me. I pick her up and move her to the bed, molding our bodies together. Her lips never leave mine, but her hands find the hem of my shirt, pushing it up my body. The second her soft fingertips touch my abdomen, I hiss.
For the third time today, my blood rushes to my aching cock and I grind into her. “I want to talk now,” my mouth whispers against hers. “I’m crazy about you, too. I’ve thought you were gorgeous from the minute I laid eyes on you. Completely gorgeous. I was an idiot to stay away. The last month with you in my arms, I’ve kicked myself in the ass.”
“Robbie—”
“We all have things in our life we’re not proud of, people that have hurts us, and decisions we’ve made. Even though I don’t know everything about your past, I’m one-thousand percent sure nothing would ever change my feelings. There will never be judgment, only acceptance. Anyone who makes you upset, threatens your happiness, or tries to hurt you again, will come face to face with me. And, babe, that won’t be pretty.”
“Are you real?” she whispers.
I smile down at her and lower my lips to her damp eyelids, kissing them gently. “Real as they come.”
When I lift back up, her eyes are swimming with emotion, which hits me deep. We stare at each other for a few seconds before her hand slinks down my side and into the waistband of my jeans. She scrapes her nails lightly over the tip of my dick, which is straining to be freed.
&nb
sp; “I know our plans changed, but are we still going to pick up where we left off this morning?” Her voice is hushed and timid.
“Fuck yeah, especially with you in this outfit. Tell me, Ember, did you buy this for me?”
She nods and smiles seductively. “I did.”
“You’re fucking stunning.”
“And you have way too many clothes on.” Her arms move up, taking my shirt with them.
I lift one arm and pull it over my head, throwing it to the side. She rakes her eyes down my naked chest and licks her lips. My pulse increases, watching her shaky hands move from my neck to my waistband.
“Do you want me, Robbie?”
“For you to even ask that tells me—”
She silences me by slamming her mouth to mine and linking her legs behind my back. Her tongue takes possession of mine eagerly, twirling and swirling, sending electric sensations through my every nerve. I roll us over, moving her on top of me, and grip the silky material of her camisole, breaking away from her mouth just enough to yank it over her head and then dive back into her sweet lips. The feel of her naked flesh against mine drives me crazy, and I roll back over so I can prop up and see her.
My hand starts at the base of her neck, moving gently down until I reach the swell of her breast and gently flick her nipple. She arches as my tongue circles the tight peak. I push over her, bracing on my knees, and use my other hand to scrape lightly up her side until I reach the other breast. Her soft moans give me encouragement to move lower. My lips and tongue lick and kiss down her stomach until reaching the red lace. My body aches to run my mouth over every single inch of her, but the need to taste her overpowers me.
I grip the sides of her panties and pull them down, moving lower with them. When I reach her feet and finally get them free, my gaze roams up, my breath catching in my throat. She’s fucking sensational. I stare a little too long because she moves her arms to cover herself. Meeting her worried eyes, I shake my head and start kissing up her right leg.
She squirms under me, but I push gently on her hipbone and look at her watching me. When I finally reach the spot between her legs I’ve wanted to touch and taste for weeks, my adrenaline spikes. My tongue lashes out and licks her folds as she bucks against my face.
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