Bet they haven’t heard this one.
“Clo, you with me?”
She blinked. Shit, what had he asked? “Sorry, what did you say?”
“You all right? You kinda checked out on me for a minute there.” He reached across the table and took her hand in his.
Shaking her head, Chloe said, “Yeah, big brother, I’m good. Just got lost in my mind for a second. Uh, you asked if I was going out. No, I’m not. I’m just not ready for that yet, Scott. And I’d appreciate it if you’d just let it lie. I need to work through it at my own pace.”
Staring at her as though she was a code he was trying to decrypt, he sipped his coffee, swallowed, then sipped again. She squirmed under the weight of his assessment. He wouldn’t even have to interrogate the bad guys, just bore into their heads with his x-ray eyes and they’d spill their guts.
“Jesus, Scott, stop trying to Ranger me and just be a normal big brother.” She lifted the mug to her lips; anything to distract from the way he tried to tunnel inside her brain. Damnit, when had she finished the coffee?
Scott rose and grabbed her cup as he made his way to the half-full coffee pot. He stared out the window as he poured. “You know,” he said. “I was hoping to get out a bit. Explore the area a little while I’m here. Maybe do some hiking, take in a movie, eat at a few restaurants. Normal things I haven’t been able to do in more than eight months.”
“For sure. You should definitely do all those things. And more. Enjoy your time off. You’re welcome here as long as you want.”
He turned, holding the mug out to her, and for the first time since he walked in her house, she got a glimpse of the boy she’d idolized growing up. Scott had nine years on her and to say she’d followed him around like a loyal puppy would be an understatement. “I don’t want to do all this shit alone, Clo. I want to do it with you. I want you to show me around and hang with me.”
With his intense military career, he didn’t get much down time. Much time to just be a regular guy enjoying life. If all he wanted was to spend time with her, she could force herself out of her comfort zone and rejoin the real world.
Maybe. At the very least she could try.
With an internal sigh, she accepted the fresh coffee. “Of course, Scott. Just because I haven’t been ready to dive back into the single scene doesn’t mean I’m locking myself away in my house.” Hopefully that came off believable. “I’d be happy to take you to all the local sights. Hell,” she gave him a saucy grin. “We can even go to Dollywood. I have to work some, but should be able to spare plenty of time.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Looking forward to it, sis.”
Chloe swallowed the anxiety already creeping up her throat. Maybe having big, strong, and sometimes scary Scott with her would keep the demons at bay.
Or maybe by next weekend she’d be so stressed, she’d need the one thing keeping her sane.
The one thing she could never pull off while Scott was around.
CHAPTER EIGHT
ROCKET KNOCKED ON the heavy wooden door his president was working behind. To say he wasn’t looking forward to this meeting was quite an understatement. Disappointing Copper sucked worse than letting a parent down, mostly because he respected the hell out of Copper, whereas his parents were useless.
“Come in.” Copper’s accented voice came through the door.
Prepared for his fate, Rocket entered the sizable office. The prez wasn’t much of one for decorating, but his ol’ lady, Shell, had added a few touches to the place years ago. A plush leather chair, some badass skull and motorcycle knickknacks on the desk, black and white photos of bikes mounted to the walls. In the space behind Copper’s oak desk was a large twenty-four-by-thirty-six-inch framed picture of himself, Copper, Mav, Zach, and Jig. The good old days. They were all a good five years younger and twice as many years softer.
Well, maybe not Rocket. He’d hardened up ages ago. Both his heart and his mind.
“Hey, prez,” he said as he took the empty chair across from Copper.
The stare he received had him thinking he wasn’t leaving with just a verbal slap. Fuck, Copper might just swing one of those giant fists his way.
Dropping his pen to the desk, Copper leaned back in his leather chair. Both thick arms folded across his chest, all the while he seared Rocket with that pissed off glare. Even injured, with his left leg in a cast and his body beat to shit, Copper was a formidable foe. “Ain’t gonna bother with bullshit, Rocket. Just come straight out and tell me what the fuck is going on. You in trouble?”