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I debate whether to wait for her to finish as the brush glides through her long, thick tresses after the asshole on the other side of the door knocks again. If you can call that bang a knock.
Ripping the door open, I startle the pricks on the other side.
A laugh booms out of me.God, I wish Kaleb was here.What are the fucking chances?
Mr. I Used to be Someone Cooper, as Kaleb now calls him, stands with his arm raised, ready to knock again, mouth open, his eyes growing wider with every passing second.
The girl I saw exit my family’s camp cabin with Lara last night stands a few paces behind Cooper with the dead kid’s friends.
I can’t quell my grin. I knew someone would come looking today after all his friends helped him get in here, but Cooper, he’s a nice surprise.
“Is there a reason you’re attacking the wood of my girl’s door?”
He tries to peer around me, but I’m too broad, and he’s too short. But at six foot four, most people are short to me.
“Your girl?” he stutters.
I don’t answer, just stare like I think he’s a moron.
“This is your girlfriend’s room?” he asks again.
This time, I do answer but not for him. Opening the door wide, I give him a clear view into the recently cleaned room.
Standing from where she knelt to tie her sneakers, Lara takes my outstretched hand. My fingers flex, the feeling of holding someone’s hand still new and foreign.
“Fiancée, actually.”
I hear rather than see Lara’s sharp intake of breath, but I don’t trust Cooper enough to look away from him. If I’m being honest with myself, I keep my gaze away from her so I don’t see disappointment or her rejection.
I’m not asking, I’m telling.
“Since when?” her friend demands.
Lara tugs at her hand, trying to break free of myhold, but I don’t let her. I’m never letting go. Spreading my fingers, I wiggle hers to interconnect them.
“It’s complicated,” Lara whispers.
Cooper’s eyes drop to our fingers.
He smirks. “Another one of those, is it? You Cromwell brothers just can’t find someone who wants to fuck you willingly, can you?”
Lara wanted last night; I know that, but his words hit their mark. But cool and calm is my thing. I’m not giving him what he wants. My face doesn’t react, even if my heart does.
Why did I ever stop Daniel or Kaleb from killing this motherfucker?
“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be out job searching? I hear no one in this town wants your has-been ass?” Okay, so I can’t hide my annoyance completely.
Michael,I warn myself.
No good comes from me losing control. Images of last night and how I filled Lara argue with me. Okay, so maybe losing control has its advantages, but murdering Cooper in a hall full of witnesses gets me nowhere but locked up and away from my soon-to-be wife.
The kids behind him shuffle, looking between themselves. They don’t know he’s a loser.
“I’m searching for my nephew!” he growls flustered.
“And that’s supposed to mean something to me?”
I know what’s coming, but this is Lara’s first time, so I try to soothe her by brushing my thumb back and forth over the back of her hand.
