“My brother is a dumbass.” She’s got her phone in her hand. I’m guessing she’s gotten some messages from Molly. “That who you were talking to?” She puts her hands on her hips. She’s annoyed.

“Hey.” I hold my hands up. “I told his ass Grace and Molly were good people, and whatever he was thinking that he was wrong.”

Emily shakes her head. “Not why I’m mad, Chase. You didn’t want him to know, did you? That I was in your bed. Can’t let this little secret get out.” Something flashes in her eyes. I can’t place it, but I know it stems from something deeper than her brother knowing about us. I don’t give a fuck if Asher knows. I just didn’t think that was the moment to let that cat out of the bag. His plate is still pretty damn full.

“The fuck?” I’m out of the bed. She holds her hands out in front of her.

“We’re not doing this right now. I have a sister who is a mess, and I need to get to her. Whatever this is can wait.”

“This is?” I repeat through gritted teeth. I try to reason with myself. Emily knows the family that Grace and Molly have started to create in her home is being threatened, and she wants to try and fix it. She is so used to people running that I’m sure she thinks Grace and Molly might do the same, but I don’t take Grace for a runner. If anything, she’ll be the one to stitch them back together once they figure out what caused it.

“Chase, I know we’re in the bedroom, but I have to go.” I drop my head. It takes everything inside of me to nod. She takes no time getting dressed. She puts her skirt back on but leaves my shirt on before putting on her shoes. She tries to leave, but I snag her around the wrist and pull her back to me and kiss her with everything I have. She needs to know this is far from over.

I dig my fingers into her hair. She always tastes so damn sweet even when she’s pissed. That’s my girl, though. Sweetness is always close to the surface even when she’s mad. It’s who she is. Where she got that from in her family, I have no idea, but it’s all her.

“Last night,” she breathes when we finally break the kiss.

“We’ll talk about it later.” That’s a whole long conversation we need to have. A confession on my part really.

“Okay,” she agrees before I finally release my hold on her.

I last about ten minutes before I’m getting dressed and heading over to the Score estate. The faster I can clean up Asher's mess, the faster I can get my girl back.

14

Emily