Free Embracing Everly by Kelly Mooney Page A

Called him on it right in front of her, and she believed his shit lies over me.” I didn’t want to seem so blatant in the way I delivered the news but it was unavoidable. And even though I felt like a kicked puppy licking its wounds when I got back, I still wanted her.
    “Take him out of the equation if he continues to hurt her.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “As a heart attack. Don’t kill the pussy, just make sure he doesn’t come back.”
    “Gladly,” I agreed without question.
    “Other than that how are things?”
    I blew smoke up his ass for ten more minutes filling him in because I knew that’s what he needed to hear. I didn’t lie, but I did sugarcoat it a little. And then he continued filling me in on the possible danger. He also informed me on the cleanup of my mess. Case had been closed, and I am good to go. Diablo’s men have no lead to follow other than it most likely being a rival gang hit. At least one thing was going my way.
    It wasn’t until my head hit my pillow that I heard the pair of them giggling through the wall. Something inside me just wanted to explode at her stupidity. Screw that!
    Bang! Bang! Bang! I slammed my fist several times into the wall that led to hers. “Shut the fuck up. I’m trying to sleep.”
    I didn’t even care if she got pissed at me this time. She made her choice, now she needed to live with it. I knew I wasn’t truly able to offer her anything other than my friendship and a one-night fuck she’d never forget, but still that girl deserved better than that two-timing lying prick.
     

     
    NOT ONE WORD had been spoken between the two of us, even when we passed each other in the hall, and she practically fell into my arms. She just upped and walked away, forcing out a small, “I’m sorry.” But I noticed the difference in her immediately. It had been almost a week when I finally spotted her without that asshole grabbing her mail from the main lobby of our building. Stepping up behind her, I bent down, hovered my lips by her ear. “What is this?” I flicked the long braid of hair that reminded me of a five-year-old hanging off one side of her shoulder.
    She froze, and since she didn’t answer, I assumed she was trying to ignore me. “Angel, I asked you a question. What’s the new look for?”
    She looked over her shoulder and glared right into my eyes. “I was looking for a change. Is that okay with you?”
    I shrugged undecidedly. It looked good, but maybe a little school girlish for my liking. I liked it down better, imagining how soft and silky it would feel between my fingers. “It’s fine if you’re doing it for yourself.”
    She spun around so quickly, catching me off guard when she hit my elbow with her chest. And it felt like one second of pure heaven. “Of course I’m doing it for myself. Who the hell else would I be doing it for?”
    I caged her in with my arms, just wanting a minute of her time to see if I still could still stir her up. “I don’t know, Angel, you tell me.”
    She gulped, and I couldn’t help but grin knowing the affect I was having on her, holding her in one tight little spot, caged in. Her beautiful blue eyes landed on my lips for a quick second, and I knew what she wanted, but I also knew she wouldn’t do it. She knocked my arm out of her way, and steam practically billowed out of her ears. “Stop calling me that. I have a name—use it, please.” My eyes watched her sweet bottom sway as she walked up the stairs in a fit and out of my vision. Jesus, what I wanted to do that ass if I ever got the chance .
    “Hey, Everly,” I called out knowing she could still hear me. “I’ll kiss you when I know you’re ready.”
    That night I decided to check her place of business out and see what’s up with her out of curiosity. I knew she was mad as hell at me because I accused her man of cheating, but she needed a wake up call and pronto. I had been watching her for over a month at this point, and she always looked the same.