Filed to story: Danielle and Austin Booker Carver Book PDF Free
“He’s gorgeous, Em, but he’s also really bossy and I think he’s used to having people do exactly what he tells them to do, because he gets all weird when I defy him. Like it’s alien to him.”
Emily laughed. “Welcome to the club, babe.”
“Really?”
“Hells yes. Mitch is the same way. Well, he was.”
“He was? But he’s so sweet with you and the kids.”
She smiled. “Yes, he is, but he’s also bossy and protective, and if another man looks sideways at me, or disrespects me, he’s pissy about it because he can’t beat the shit out of him. Or at least, he doesn’t do that anymore.”
“He beat people up?”
“Oh, honey, yes. When we were first together, it was a huge problem because I couldn’t just vent to him about the assholes I had to deal with. He’d actually go and have a “conversation” with them before I could work it out. He was constantly getting in my business and making things a lot harder for me. We had a come to Jesus meeting and when he still continued to do it, I dumped his ass.”
I gasped. “You didn’t.”
“I totally did.” She set a plate on the counter. “I needed him to understand that I was a grown ass woman and for the most part, could fight my own battles. I’m an officer of the law so to speak, I couldn’t have my man breaking it in order to make my life easier. I still have to be careful sometimes with how much I tell him, which is hard, because he’s my best friend, but he’s also much better about letting me work stuff out myself.”
“What if you can’t work it out?”
Emily bit her lip. “Then I have asked him not to use his fists.”
“Ohmigod, Em. Seriously?”
She nodded with a grin. “Sometimes it’s nice to have a badass husband willing to defend your honor.”
“I guess so.”
Danielle
Emily leaned against the counter. “Give me this guy’s info and I’ll run him through the system.”
I sighed. “Kimmie said I should do that, too. Of course, she said I should make Elliot do it.”
Emily rolled her eyes. “I wonder if there will ever be a woman able to resist him.”
I shrugged. “Doubtful.”
“We don’t need to get the men involved,” she said. “You and I can handle it on this end, I think.”
I grinned. “You’re the best sister ever.”
“Back atya.”
Family dinner wrapped up and after hugs all around, I headed home.
I arrived to find Austin waiting for me in the parking lot. He was standing next to one of the prettiest Harley-Davidsons I’d ever seen (limited exposure, of course, but it really was pretty) and he was dropping his phone into his jeans pocket as I stepped out of my car.
“Hi,” I said.
He lifted his chin. “Hey, babe.”
He closed the distance between us and leaned down to kiss me.
I smiled. “I thought you were busy tonight.”
“Had a break. Wanted to see my girl.”
This sent a thrill down my spine. “And who might that be?”
He chuckled. “How was dinner?”
“It was good,” I said, and started up the stairs. “How long’s your ‘break’?”
“I’ve probably got about an hour.”
“Want to come in for a drink or something?” I asked.
“Or somethin’.”
I unlocked my door, leading him inside. I shrugged out of my coat and hung it up, while Austin dropped his onto a chair and planted himself on the sofa. I grabbed him a beer, poured myself a glass of wine, and sat beside him on the couch. In the light, I could see the stress on his face and frowned.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Shit day.”
“Want to talk about it?”
He shook his head. “I can’t, babe.”
I sighed. “You look tired.”
“I am.” He took a sip of his beer.
“What time did you get to bed last night?”
“I didn’t.”
“Seriously?” I frowned. “Mack dropped me off at eleven. You didn’t go home after the meeting?”
“Had a thing.” He smiled tiredly. “Got about two hours of sleep this morning.”
I set my wine on the coffee table. “Have you eaten?”
He checked his watch. “Not since this morning.”
“Austin,” I admonished, and rose to my feet. “I’m going to fix you something to eat at least.”
His phone buzzed and he nodded. “Appreciate it, baby.”
He answered his call and I headed back to the kitchen. I pulled out bread and cheese, figuring grilled cheese was quick and easy to prepare, and it would tide him over for a little while.
I was setting the food on the table when he walked back into my apartment, his face grim… well, grimmer than it had been twenty minutes ago.
“You okay?”
He nodded and sat at the table, devouring the food in record time. “Thanks, babe,” he said, and dropped his plate into the sink.
“Got time to sleep for a bit?” I asked.
Austin shook his head, sliding his hand to my neck.
“What can I do?”
“You’re doin’ it, babe. You make everything better,” he said, and pulled me close.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed. A familiar scent registered and I leaned back. “Why do you smell like gun powder? Please tell me you were at a firing range.”
“Sure.”
“Are you carrying?”
He stroked my cheek. “I’m always carrying.”
“You’re scaring me a little, honey. What’s wrong?”
“Nothin’ that won’t be handled tonight, so I just have to deal.”
“Are you in danger?”
“Not currently, no.”
“That’s not what I mean,” I said.
“I know, baby, but I can’t talk about it.”
“Fine.” I settled my cheek against his chest and closed my eyes. He stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head and we stood like this for a while. Our peace, however, was disturbed when he answered his phone again.
“Yo.” He tried to pull away, but I held him tighter, so he settled and wrapped an arm around me. “Yeah. No. What do Crow and Hatch say? Shit. Yeah, I’m here. No. Okay. Fuck me, Mack. Yeah. Fine. Okay. If that’s the case, then I’m gonna grab some shut-eye. See ya.” He hung up and dropped his phone in his pocket again.
“Are you staying?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Kind of you to offer, baby.”
I smiled up at him. “Well, you pretty much announced you were going to, so I have benevolently decided not to kick you out.”
Austin laughed. “Appreciate that. I’ll lock up and meet you in the bedroom.”
“Um, no,” I countered. “I’m going to bed. You’re sleeping on the sofa.”
“You’re fuckin’ hilarious, baby.”
“I’m serious, Austin.”
