Want a sneak peek at Porter? Check out this teaser!
I started for the stairs, but Astrid wasn’t following me. So, I peered over my shoulder and waited for her to come. But instead of walking my way, all she did was lean against the kitchen counter while I stood at the bottom of the steps.
“You coming?” I asked.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why did you come back?”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
She looked around. “The house. Why did you come back here?”
I shrugged. “To check up on you. Make sure things are okay here and that no one’s hassling you.”
She tilted her head. “Something’s happening, isn’t it? That’s why you’re here and not Brooks.”
I sighed. “I’m just here to keep you safe. That’s all.”
“Safe from what?”
“Ah, we’ve got some people who are pissed off at us right now. Just taking extra precautions and all that.”
She slowly walked toward me. “I’m not an idiot, Porter. And Brooks has spat out more to me than he probably should have. I know you guys are struggling with the Black Flags right now. Are they watching the house?”
I held her gaze as she came closer. “Again, just a precaution.”
She stopped just shy of the stairs. “I can handle myself, you know.”
“I’m sure you can.”
“Hell, I’ve been in L.A. all this time by myself. Surely, that counts for something.”
I shook my head. “I’m not saying you can’t handle yourself. You forget how long we’ve known each other. I saw how you handled your mother. How you took care of her as much as you could. I know you’re more than capable.”
She swallowed hard. “Holding Mom’s hair back while she was puking wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“I always thought it was.”
Her eyes fell to her feet. “I’m sorry I left, Porter.”
I furrowed my brow. “You don’t owe me an apology for that. You more than deserve the chance to carve out a life for yourself. Especially after the shit you put up with from your family.”
She slowly raised her gaze. “You think so?”
I stepped off the steps, feeling her body heat reaching out for me. “I know so, Astrid. You’re one of the strongest people I know. I just wish you saw it yourself.”
Her eyes danced between mine. “Porter?”
“Yeah?”
She licked her lips. “Have you ever thought about—I mean, maybe in your free time—possibly...”
I knew what she was trying to ask, so I cut her off at the pass as I cupped her cheek. Her soft skin slid against my palm, making me weak in my knees. I braced myself as I closed the distance between us, allowing the pad of my thumb to run along her lower lip.
Then, I gazed deeply into her eyes.
“I’ve always had feelings for you, Astrid. And that’s never going to change.”
And the next thing I knew, her lips were against my own.
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