Free Unbroken (The Disclosure Series Book 2) by R.E. Hunter

of her mouth more harshly than she meant. “We were dating.”
    He shook his head. “We never dated, not really. We spent four months sneaking around, looking over our shoulders” —a naughty grin crept onto his face— “having sex on desks and in bathrooms.”
    Embry’s cheeks heated at the memories, her heartbeat speeding in her chest. “I don’t remember you complaining.”
    “No ma’am,” he said, his southern charm coming out in full force. “And I hope we won’t do away with the desk and bathroom sex entirely. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” He winked and her knees weakened as they always did. “But I want to take you out, treat you like you deserve. Spoil you fucking rotten.”
    They’d been so far beyond dating—spending almost every night together, deciding to live together and share a home. To go back to just… dating? It seemed like such a foreign concept.
    But wasn’t that what she wanted? To slow things down and start from the beginning? She wasn’t ready to lose him entirely; maybe this was what they needed, what she needed, to regain her trust in the man who still held her heart.
    And being spoiled rotten by Luke Brody didn’t sound like the worst thing in the world.
    “Will you let me do that?” he asked, emotion in his eyes.
    “Okay,” she agreed. “We can date. But I want to get to know you better. The real you. No more lies or façades. I want to know every little horrible detail.”
    Luke chuckled. “I’m right here, sweetheart. You already know the real me, I promise.” He stood, holding out his arms. “C’mere.”
    She hesitated, unsure. “There’s nothing else?”
    He dropped his arms and his face fell. So there was more. “The reason I called you tonight…”
    “I thought you called because you wanted to talk,” she questioned apprehensively.
    Luke sat back down. “I did.” He patted the couch next to him. “Come sit.”
    Embry walked cautiously toward him. Her nerves were so frazzled, she wasn’t sure how much more she could handle. She sat down and Luke immediately turned toward her, his eyes reassuring. “You’re thinking the worst, but it’s nothing like that.” He reached behind him and pulled an envelope from his back pocket. “I got this in the mail.”
    She inspected the crisp, white paper, turning it over in her hands. The seal in the left-hand corner read New York State Unified Court System, and her stomach dropped, fear and dread gripping her tightly. She glanced back up to find Luke’s eyes trained on hers, his jaw clenched.
    “I’ve got you, Bree. Okay? I’m going to protect you, no matter what.”
    She silently flipped the envelope in her hand and pulled out the letter. “We have a court date.” She looked to Luke. “I have to see him?” Her voice was barely audible.
    He reached for her hands, squeezing them tightly. “I’ll be there every step of the way. Once it’s over, you’ll never have to see him again.”
    “I—but—” She couldn’t get the words out.
    He cast his eyes seriously on her. “I’ve got you. Do you understand me?”
    She nodded numbly, feeling like a fool for being blindsided, but with everything else going on, it had completely slipped her mind. Of course there would be a court date. No judge would grant a final restraining order without a defendant being able to make his case. After Luke had filed the temporary restraining order against Jack, the harassment had stopped, but it wasn’t permanent. The only way to keep Jack away for good would be to go through with the hearing.
    Luke cupped her face, bringing her eyes to his. “Are you all right?”
    She swallowed thickly, her mouth dry. “I think I need another beer.”
    He chuckled. “That’s my girl.” He went into the kitchen and came back out with two fresh beers. Popping the tops, he handed one to Embry and sat beside her. “We’ve got a few weeks. And it’s quite possible it could be adjourned to a later date. It can take some time, before the