Free Alexis (The Love Family Series Book 6) by Kate Allenton Page A

squished her growing feelings for the fireman.
    “It’s been nice knowing you. I’ll see you around.” She patted his chest and moved to grab her toiletries out of the bathroom.
    “You can’t be serious.” Cole stormed after her, took the bottles out of her hand, and set them back.
    “What makes you think any of this is a joke?” Her veins began a slow simmer, and she took a deep breath to calm the growing anger. “I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of letting some asshole control my life, and why?” She threw her hands up and moved back into the bedroom. “Because I thought you were sexy. This stops now, Cole. I don’t care if you like it. I don’t even know you, and it’s obvious you don’t know me. Believe in me or not...this stops NOW!”
    Thunder clapped outside, and light rain hit the windows.
    Cole advanced on her and pulled her into his arms, holding her like a man struggling with inner demons and she was his only light. He leaned back and cupped her cheek in one hand.
    “I don’t know you. Not like I want to, and if something happens to you, I’ll never know you. It’s not that I don’t believe in you or think you can’t handle yourself. It’s that I’m scared I won’t be able to save you, just like I wasn’t there for Victoria. So while you’re sitting here judging me and getting angry, you need to remember the reason why I’m acting this way. I care about you, Alexis. With each moment, with each new surprise you throw my way, I’m falling harder, so forgive me for not wanting to let that go.”
    “Protecting me isn’t your job, Cole. It’s mine. It’s my life; it’s my heart, and it’s my soul. Believe in me because… without that… we have nothing and we’ll never have anything.”
    His eyes searched hers. “You’re stubborn.”
    “You’re bossy,” she countered.
    “You might die,” he whispered against her lips.
    “I have an endless supply of one billion volts of electricity on my side. I think the odds are pretty good that I’ll survive.”
    He pressed his lips to hers again, and the rain subsided.
    “Do we have a deal?”
    “Only if it includes endless dates when this is all over.”
    She chuckled. “There you go, using blackmail again.”
    “You know…I’ve got to seize the moment and all.”
    “One date, and if it goes well, then we’ll see.”
    “Sex afterward?” He wiggled his brows.
    “Required.” She laughed and pressed a quick kiss to his lips before stepping out of his arms. “Now, let’s go tell the others. One week or I’m officially bait.”
    She pulled the door open. “And someone needs to take me to see my house before I sneak out and go alone.”
    “Food first. I’ll take you in the morning.” He took her hand and squeezed, leading her out of the room and down the stairs.  
     

     
    All eyes turned to them as they walked hand in hand into the kitchen. Avery was still standing behind Reed, reading over his shoulder.
    “I told you they made up.”
    “So what’s the plan?” Landon asked.
    “One week of you guys searching, and after that, I’m easy bait.”
    “You’re serious?” Stone Face asked.
    “As serious as the donut I eat every morning.”
    Declan moved to the map and started barking orders on the best and worst places to search. She ignored them all, went to the bag of donuts, and pulled out another. Moving to the double doors that led outside, she stood watching as the moon rose high into the evening sky.
    He was out there. She knew it. They all did. He’d be watching and waiting for the perfect time to strike.
    Cole moved in behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and rested his head on top of hers. “You’re not thinking about making a run for it, are you?”
    “And miss a full week of hot monkey sex?” She tsked and shook her head. “I was thinking he’s out there, probably watching us right now with his little camera.”
    “We could give him a show; kick the others out.”
    “That got us into this