Salvation (Surrender 3)

Alex looks between the two of us and bursts into laughter. “Cruz, don’t be a dick. I think it’s a good idea. We can stay at my place.”

The two of them share a look, and I start to feel uncomfortable. “I didn’t mean you can’t come home. It’s not like he’s staying the night or anything.”

“Ember, I know you’re slow on the uptake, but a woman asking a guy to dinner at her house can mean a variety of things. Should we be gone all night?”

“Oh. My. God! No! I just wanted to invite him for dinner. Is that so incomprehensible?”

“Nope, hold on to your harlot. I was just asking.”

“Do you think I’d sleep with him after only a few times seeing each other?”

“I would,” both men say at the same time, holding back laugher.

“Well, I’m not,” I huff.

“Calm down. We’re joking with you.”

“You’re both asses.”

“Yes, but you still love us.”

“Yeah, even if I think of killing you slowly after the stunt you pulled yesterday.”

Cruz bends over and yanks me out of my chair and over his shoulder, spinning us around. “We love you, Star. It’s our job to act like pseudo assholes in order to protect you. But something tells me you know what you’re doing.”

“Stop! I’ll throw up on you!” I beat on his back until he pulls me up and I’m dizzy. “I love you both, but quit with the antics. Let me see where this goes.”

Both nod in agreement, and Cruz puts me on my feet. “So spill. I’d love to hear about Robbie meeting Declan Collins.”

I smile at the story. “Sit down and get your coffee. It’s a long story, but the way he told it, it has to do with migraines, tongues in ears, and Robbie calling him a street thug.”

Both men sit and listen as I retell the story. By the time I’m done, tears are rolling down my cheeks from laughing so hard and both Cruz and Alex are howling.

I stir the risotto and check the pork again. Robbie should have been here five minutes ago. My phone dings with a text, so I grab it quickly.

Cruz: Relax and have fun.

Why the hell do I feel like an eighteen-year old instead of twenty-three? Oh yeah, because I was forced to grow up and never really experienced my teens. My fucking mom and Natalie left me no choice but to be the responsible adult in the house.

I check the meat again unnecessarily, and start to get nervous. Maybe this was too much. Maybe Robbie thinks coming to my house for dinner means more than it should. With my freak-out looming, the doorbell rings and another round of nerves kicks in.

When I open the door, all I see is a vase of cellophane wrapped stems. “What in the world?”

Robbie lowers the bouquet and smiles slyly. “Sorry I’m late, but these weren’t ready yet.”

He steps into the doorway, crowding me with his large body. Being barefoot puts me at a sizable height disadvantage. The smell of his cologne hangs in the air around us, and I inhale deeply, eyeing him. He lowers his head and runs his lips across mine lightly. “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, momentarily getting lost in his liquid blue eyes. He reaches around and lays everything in his hands on the entry table then lifts me into his arms. For a few seconds, he stares at me then crushes his mouth to mine.

The kiss is wet, hot, and deep, with neither one of us holding back. Our tongues dance together, and our bodies mold as I wrap my arms around his shoulders, hugging him close. Too soon, he pulls away, nipping my lower lip.

“Hi there,” he says breathlessly.

“Hi.”

“Am I about to get my ass kicked by two very protective guys that see me mauling you in the foyer?”

“No, it’s just us.”