Cougar

by M. A. Foster

  “Truthfully, no,” Harper answers. “But last summer when I applied, it was in hopes of seeing Willow.” Tears pool in her eyes. “I just wanted to see her,” she cries. “When Jade died, I didn’t just lose my sister. I lost Willow, too. I lost my family.”

  “My God, Harper,” I say softly.

  Shaking her head, she swipes the tears from her face. “When I found the journal, I was shocked to find out that Willow’s father was one of my classmates. Do you know how hard it was for me to sit behind him in class every day, wondering if he’d ever let me see her? I waited for him to call. That’s all I wanted. But he never once took my feelings, my grief, into consideration.”

  “Because he was a scared sixteen-year-old kid,” Dylan yells. “He wasn’t thinking about anything or anyone but Willow.”

  “Dylan,” Jessica chides. “Calm down.”

  “I know that, Dylan. I’m just telling you what I was thinking and feeling at the time. I’m not here because I’m trying to get close to Cole. I’m not one of his ‘groupies.’ It’s always been about Willow. I had finally given up and moved on by the time Alex called me in for an interview. I had a boyfriend and I was happy.” She looks up at my brother. “Max, I took the job because I needed one, and I genuinely like working here.”

  “I think we need to all sit down with Cole and talk,” Jessica says. “What’s your relationship like with him?”

  “We’ve only recently become friends,” she admits.

  “And you haven’t shared any of this information with Jay?” I ask.

  “No.”

  “Are you interested in Cole?” Max asks, and Harper’s brows pinch in confusion. “You know….” He waves his hand around. “Someone help me out here. I don’t know what terminology kids are using these days.”

  I purse my lips in amusement.

  “He wants to know if you’re planning to screw my brother,” Dylan explains with a laugh.

  “Dylan,” Jessica chastises him again. “Don’t be so crude.”

  “That’s not exactly what I meant, Dylan,” Max chides.

  “No.” She shakes her head. “We’re barely friends.”

  “It’s only a matter of time before he tries to bang her,” Dylan offers.

  Max jerks his head toward his son. “That’s enough. She’s Willow’s family, too, and she hasn’t done anything wrong.”

  “Does Jay know Willow belongs to Cole?” Harper asks me.

  “Jay and anyone else who matters believe Willow was adopted,” Max answers.

  “Does Willow understand that Cole is her dad?”

  “It’s complicated,” Jessica says. “She and Cole share a strong bond. She relies on him just as any child would rely on a father. Willow is very smart, but she doesn’t understand the difference between him being her father and him being Cole.”

  “Who does she think you are?” Harper asks Jessica.

  “She calls me Mom.” Jessica gestures to Max. “She calls him Pops. Basically she calls us what Cole and Aiden call us. She’s at the stage where she repeats everything she hears.” She smiles. “I know you think it’s unconventional, but it’s not our call. She’s Cole’s daughter, and this is how he chooses to raise her.”

  Harper nods. “I’m not questioning his parenting. I’m just trying to understand. Honestly, from what I’ve seen, Cole is amazing with Willow. She’s sweet and funny, and she has a big personality. She looks so much like Jade.”

  “I still think we need to tell Cole the truth,” Dylan interjects.

  “Why are you so hell-bent on telling him, Dylan?” Harper taunts. “Do you really think he’s gonna be like ‘Okay, that’s cool’?” She sarcastically gives two thumbs-up. “Or do you want to see him hurt?”

  Max frowns and looks over his shoulder at Dylan. “What’s she talking about?”

  Dylan crosses his arms over his chest and raises his brow. “No clue.”

  Harper raises her brows and mimics. “No clue?” She keeps her eyes pinned on Dylan as she continues. “Jade was actually interested in Dylan. He invited her to that party and even flirted with her for a bit, before he blew her off for another girl. Then Jade got stupid drunk and hooked up with Cole. She didn’t know they were brothers. Fast-forward a couple of months later and she’s talking to Dylan again. Then Jade found out she was pregnant. She and Dylan were still friends. Fast-forward another couple of months, and Cole shows up at Dr. Graham’s office, where Jade worked. He didn’t remember her, but she remembered him. I assume that’s why she made a photocopy of his patient information sheet. The last thing she wrote was that she was going to tell Dylan about Cole.”

  Dylan’s tormented expression tears at my heart. He drops his head and says softly, “I didn’t know she’d been in an accident. It wasn’t until our family meeting that I put the pieces together.”

  “I don’t understand,” Jessica says, turning to Dylan. “You’re angry with Cole because… why?”

  “Because I liked her, and if he hadn’t knocked her up, things would’ve been different.” Dylan turns to address Harper. “I cared about Jade. It didn’t matter that she was having someone else’s baby. I would’ve been there for her. But the universe decided to play a sick joke on both of us. Cole….” He lets his last word hang in the air, shaking his head.

  Oh my God. Dylan was in love with Willow’s mother.

  “I know you cared about her, Dylan. Jade knew it, and she cared about you, too. It hurt that I had to learn all these things about my sister from a journal. I’ll always love my sister, but I’m so pissed at her for leaving me in the dark with all these secrets. And the Averys—” She stops talking and my head jerks to the side.

  “What about the Averys?” I snap.

  “Patrick Avery—”

  “What about Patrick?” Patrick Avery is the son of Principal Avery and his wife, Patty. He’s also Max’s childhood friend. They were the best of friends until Patrick joined the Army and then Special Forces. I know Max still keeps in touch with him.

  “He’s my father.”

  “What?” I choke out.

  Dylan throws his head back and laughs loudly. “Holy shit, this just keeps getting better.” He digs his phone out from his front pocket and taps the screen. “Hold on, let me get Jerry Springer on the line.”

  “Shut up, Dylan.” Max sighs, rubbing his temples. “This is too much information. I’m starting to regret even bringing you in here.” He huffs out a humorless laugh. “I think I’m going to need a few minutes or months to absorb all of this. Harper, go to work and pretend we never had this conversation.”

  Harper stands from her seat and heads for the door. “Thank you for giving me a chance and hearing me out.”

  “Thank you for your honesty.”

  “Harper,” I call out, and her gaze flicks to me. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”

  “Harper.” Jessica stands from behind the desk and makes her way over to Harper. She throws her arms around the girl and whispers something in her ear.

  While they speak quietly near the door, I turn my attention to Dylan, who’s watching the two of them.

  Harper looks over at him and smiles. “Are we okay?”

  “We’re more than okay,” he replies with a sad smile. “I’m sorry, Harper.”

  “Thank you. Me, too.”

  Once Harper is out of the room, Max rakes his fingers through his hair and blows out a breath, clearly frustrated.

  “What did she mean she was waiting for Cole to call?” I ask. “I thought Cole didn’t know anything about Harper.”

  “He knew Jaden had a sister, but because of her age, there was a guardian. Cole was given the option to reach out through the guardian, but I think he was afraid, and maybe he just didn’t want to share Willow with anyone.”

  My eyes flick to Dylan to see him staring out the window. The room is uncomfortably silent, and my heart is pounding with anticipation for what’s coming next.

  Tears spill down my cheeks as Max rounds
his desk, walking over to Dylan and wrapping his arms around his son. “Jesus, Dylan. Why have you been holding on to this?” Dylan shakes his head against Max’s shoulder, fingers curling into his shirt. “You could’ve come to me, son. You should’ve come to me.”

  “Did you love her?” Jessica cries.

  His answer is muffled, but we all hear him loud and clear. “Yes.”

  Emerson

  “Cake” plays over the intercom as Grace sets a platter stacked with pancakes and another with bacon on the center of the marble island.

  Jay dances her way into the kitchen with her arm looped around Harper’s, both smiling.

  “Happy birthday to you,” I sing. “What are your plans for your birthday?”

  “She has a date,” Jay announces, and I don’t miss the way Harper stiffens. “With Cole.” She rounds the island and bumps hips with Grace.

  I raise my brows. “Really?” I drawl, feigning surprise. “I had no idea you were interested in Cole,” I add, trying to mask the skepticism in my voice.

  Harper gives a careless shrug. “I wasn’t. I’m not. Not really. He kind of asked me out of the blue the other day.” I’m not surprised. My mother called it a couple of weeks ago at the Labor Day barbecue.

  “Cole likes her,” Jay chimes in with a knowing smile and a wink. “Zach told me.” She grabs a plate and begins loading it with pancakes and bacon.

  I paste a smile on my face. “Just be careful with him.”

  Jay snorts. “I already warned her.”

  Cam

  The ringing of the doorbell pulls me from my daze. Setting my beer on the coffee table, I make my way to the front door and am surprised to find Emerson standing there holding a bottle of wine.

  “Hey.” She holds it up. “You busy?”

  “No.” I step back and gesture for her to come in. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask as I close the door behind me and follow her to the kitchen.

  “I’m bored, Cam,” she admits as she sets the bottle on the island and begins opening and closing the drawers. “Where’s your corkscrew?”

  I reach past her and open the drawer containing three different ones. She grabs one and turns back to the bottle. I pull a stemless wineglass from the cabinet and slide it across the granite countertop.

  “Thanks.”

  I lean with my backside against the counter across from her, my arms crossed over my chest. I watch as she pours half a glass of wine and immediately begins downing it like water, keeping her back to me.

  “Em—”

  “Give me a minute.” She sighs before she turns to face me. “I didn’t expect this.” She huffs out a single laugh. “Actually, this is the last thing I expected.”

  I keep still, my expression blank as if she were a wild animal and will at any moment get spooked and take off running.

  “You’re too young for me, Cam.”

  I open my mouth to object, but she holds up her free hand. “Let me finish.” She takes another sip of her liquid courage. It’s clear now why she brought the wine. “But it doesn’t change this.” She gestures between us. “You and me. The way you feel about me”—she takes another sip of her wine—“or the way I’m beginning to feel about you.”

  Straightening, I pluck the wineglass from her hand and place it on the counter before leaning forward with my hands on either side of her. “How do you feel about me?” I ask.

  Her beautiful green eyes fill with tears as they flick back and forth over mine. “I’m not ready.” She shakes her head. I don’t push. Emerson can’t be pushed. She’s the only one who can decide when she’s ready. She’s scared, timid even, but she’s too stubborn to back down.

  “What do you want, Emerson?”

  “I want—” She blows out a shaky breath. “I want you,” she admits as a tear slips from the corner of her eye and slides down her cheek.

  That’s all I need to hear before my lips are on hers, my tongue sliding between her already parted lips. My heart pounds against my rib cage as the room spins around us.

  My hands dig into the back of her thighs and I lift, my lips never leaving hers as she wraps her legs around my waist. Carrying her down the hall to my bedroom, I make a mental list of everything I want to do to her. I kick the door shut behind me, her legs tightening around my waist, and our kissing turns frantic and needy as I lay us down on the bed.

  Emerson’s small hands grab at the hem of my shirt, her fingers digging into the skin of my back as she rocks against me. Breaking the kiss, I sit back on my heels to pull my shirt over my head. Her eyes stay locked on mine as she removes her shirt and bra, tossing them to the floor. Hooking my fingers into the waistband of her yoga pants, I drag them and her panties down her legs, revealing a tiny patch of hair between her legs, and I let out an audible groan.

  Standing from the bed, I stare down at her. Her black hair is a tangled mess across my pillows, her knees are bent, and her chest is heaving. I want to take my time with her and explore every inch of her body, but something tells me that’s not what Emerson wants right now. And if I’m being honest, I don’t think I can go slow.

  Hooking my thumbs into the waistband of my basketball shorts, I shove them to my ankles and kick them to the side before crawling up the bed and settling between her thighs.

  Bending my head, I close my lips around her nipple and swirl my tongue around the tight bud before moving to the other.

  Emerson moans softly as she wraps her legs around my waist and I rock forward, sliding my cock between her soft skin and over her clit.

  “Cam,” she pants. “Please.” She digs her heels into my ass.

  “Shhh. I got you, babe.” Bringing my mouth to hers, our tongues tangle once again as I reach down and line myself up with her entrance before sliding inside her.

  She feels so fucking good. Better than I ever fantasized.

  I slide my arms between the mattress and her back, gripping her shoulders, fusing our bodies together as I pick up the pace until I’m pounding into her relentlessly. Only the sounds of our bodies colliding and heavy breathing can be heard in the dimly lit room.

  Her nails dig into my back as she stills under me and a strangled moan pours from her lips.

  And then I let go, slamming into her one last time before the most intense orgasm of my entire life takes over.

  Baseball has been my life since I was four years old. I always loved the smell of fresh-cut grass mixed with dirt and the sound of a baseball slamming into my glove, leather against leather.

  But all that pales in comparison to the sweet scent of Emerson’s sweat and her breathy moans as she comes undone.

  Nothing will ever come close.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking.” I trail my fingers lightly up and down her back. Her silky-smooth skin pebbles with goose bumps under my fingertips. I press a kiss to the top of her head and breathe in her scent. Her hair smells like an expensive tropical fruit.

  “I can’t believe that just happened.”

  “Well believe it, because it’s going to happen again in about five minutes.” I feel her body shake with laughter. “Admit it. That was pretty fucking amazing.”

  “It was,” she admits.

  “But…?” I hedge.

  She pulls from my arms and rolls to her back. My eyes fall to her full breasts before trailing up to her beautiful angelic face, illuminated by the moonlight.

  “I’m sick with guilt for being attracted to you. You’ve always been like a little brother to me.”

  I groan. “Don’t make it weird.”

  “But it is weird. People—our families—won’t understand.”

  “It’s not. And I don’t care what people, including our families, think. It’s none of their business.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “Me, too,” I breathe.

  “What are you afraid of?”

  I turn on my side and prop my head on my hand. “Where do I start?” I let out a nervous laugh. “I’m afraid you’re already regret
ting this. And that you’re going to let our age difference override your feelings for me. I’m afraid you’ll decide I’m not good enough for you.”

  “You’re more than good enough,” she whispers. “You’re too good for me.”

  “Don’t say that.” I roll on top of her and settle between her legs, resting on my forearms. “You’re perfect, Emerson.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Nobody’s perfect.”

  “Maybe. But you’re perfect to me.” This is the moment to tell her how much I love her. That I’ve loved her for a long time. But I won’t. Because it’s also the moment I could lose her before I really have her.

  So instead, I lock that shit down and revel in the fact that I just made love to the woman of my dreams.

  “Cam, if you really want this, then you have to agree to take it slow. I care about you, but I’m not ready for love or anything close to it. I’m still trying to adjust to all the changes in my life. I have responsibilities and priorities. And my number one priority is Jay. I don’t want to hurt her, so for now, we have to keep this between us.”

  “I’m okay with that. I told you the other night, you’re the one navigating this. Nothing about our friendship has to change. No one, including our families, has to know. It’s no one’s business.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “I know you need space to work out your feelings. I can wait. However long it takes, I’ll be here when you’re ready. Just promise me that if you start having any doubts, you’ll talk to me first. Give me a chance to remind you how good we are together.”

  She cups my cheek. “When did you become so grown-up?”

  I smirk. “Five minutes are up.” I bring my lips to hers as I rock my hips forward and slide back inside her.

  And there’s that breathy moan again.

  Music to my ears.

  Emerson

  “You think there’s any wine left in that bottle?”

  “I don’t know, you were chugging it down pretty fast.” He chuckles as he rises from the bed.

  “I was nervous,” I admit through a laugh of my own.

  The moonlight pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows allows me a glorious view of Cam’s tight, muscular ass as he bends over to retrieve his boxer briefs from the floor.