Page 15 of Time Bomb

“You teasing me, Ophelia?” Baxter.

Now I understand why I sensed someone watching me. “Take your hands off me, please.” I try to step away again, but he won’t allow me. His grasp tightens, bruising in its intensity.

“You shouldn’t be out here teasing me like this then.” He pulls me back, closer to his front.

“I wasn’t. I’m here with my girlfriends. Please, leave us alone.” Ripping away from him, I nearly stumble, but Hope and Peyton grab ahold of me.

He clasps my wrist, tugging me forward when thankfully, a security guard comes over and orders him to take a hike. He reluctantly listens and shoots me a glare so fierce I feel it in my soul.

“What a creep,” Laken mutters.

I absently nod as I watch him leave, not bothering to mention that he’s one of the guys she set me up with. Though I suspect she already knows from the guilt-ridden look in her eyes.

Torque

I think my sister-in-law is trying to punish me for some untold deed I either didn’t do or have yet to commit. The images she sends me of Philly dancing with their friends have my blood to near boiling.

Her face is so relaxed, happy, carefree. Christ, she’s beautiful. I can tell by the way she moves that she has a natural sensuality to her. Her curves sway in all the right places, and I’m the envy of every man there tonight.

“If you stop looking, it won’t bother you as much,” Hale laughs as he chugs the rest of his beer.

I hadn’t planned on coming over to their house, but then Laken sent me that picture of Ophelia before they left, and I knew without a doubt that I wanted to be here when they returned. I needed to see her in the outfit with my own eyes; an image wasn’t enough.

“Not happening,” I mutter as I swipe through the photos again. It was hell staying away from her today. I wanted to see her after I dropped her off at home, but I held myself back because I didn’t want to mess this up.

Hale leans forward in his chair on their front porch and stares me down. “Little brother, I’m telling you, you’re going to drive yourself crazy.”

“Says the guy who stalked his girl.” I know he feels guilty about that. Laken enjoyed it, in any case. She always tells me how loved it made her feel that Hale couldn’t keep to himself.

“Worked, didn’t it?” he smirks.

“Don’t think mine is into that.” Doesn’t mean it hasn’t crossed my mind. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to get closer to Ophelia, but I get the sense that while she wants a relationship, she’s a little weary about them. She hasn’t outright said it to me, but I know from little things Laken has let slip that her past wasn’t always the greatest.

But I want that story to come from her lips, not secondhand. In order to make that happen, I must be patient and show some restraint. No matter how much it kills me.

“There they are.” Hale lifts his chin towards the garage door lifting at Ophelia’s place. “Shall we greet them?” He’s already down the steps before he finishes the question.

Shaking my head, I jog to catch up with him. The garage door closes, and a couple of minutes later, the girls come spilling out the front door, a little more somber than I would have figured since they looked like they were all having fun.

Hope and Peyton get into a car after saying good night, and Hale doesn’t hesitate to cup Laken’s cheeks and steal a kiss before asking her what’s wrong. I don’t hear the answer because Ophelia has stolen my entire focus.

“Philly?” She’s about to close the door when I call her name. Glancing back, she seems surprised to see me.

“What happened?” Because it’s obvious something spooked the four of them.

“Talk to you tomorrow, Tor!” I wave Hale off as he carries Laken back home.

“Ophelia.” My tone becomes sterner. Her eyes drift to mine, and I hate the turmoil reflected back at me. Taking the final step up to her in one leap, I pull her into my arms. Wrapping her tight in my embrace, I kiss the top of her head as she finally enfolds her arms around my waist, burying her face in my chest.

Fuck, it feels so right holding her like this. Being her safety net. I find I’m at the point where there isn’t much I won’t do for her.

Scooping her up, I carry her inside, bolting the lock behind me. I have no intention of going anywhere tonight. I move her to the couch and sit in the corner with her in my lap. Pulling the afghan off the back, I drape it around her body before lifting her chin with a finger.

“Talk to me, Philly. Something obviously happened.” Brushing my lips across her mouth, I can’t help the grin when she tries to follow as I pull back.

“Bad interaction with a guy while we were dancing,” she finally responds, holding me tighter.

“How?” She shrugs at first. I don’t say anything more as I wait for her to confide in me. I desire her trust, and earning it is the only way to get it.