Broken Course (Wrecked and Ruined #3)(68)

"Kara! Leave her alone!" Emma yells from the kitchen.

"I can’t do that and you know it! I need some answers!" she calls back to Emma.

My pulse begins to race as I nervously slide impossibly closer to Leo.

"Jesus Christ, Kara. They just got here." Emma walks over and hands me cup of punch. "You’re freaking her out."

Kara clears her throat and pointedly tilts her head to Leo.

"Seriously?" Emma laughs.

Kara shrugs unapologetically.

"It’s not what you think," Emma tells me. "She’s not mad or anything."

"Oh God no!" Kara exclaims from behind her. "Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t even think…" Her face heats to pink and I begin to feel bad about my reaction.

"It’s okay." I smile weakly while trying to get my heart to slow.

"Come on. We can chat in my room. I need to change anyway. I’m covered in shrimp dip. The mixer just went haywire."

I glance down to Emma's shirt to find it covered in an orange mess. "You made shrimp dip?" I ask in shock and immediate excitement. It’s my favorite, but you can’t find the mix in Chicago. It’s only sold at one of the touristy shops in Savannah.

"Yep. Alex brought some up just for you."

"You still love that stuff, right?" Alex asks, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Um, abso-f*cking-lutely," I quickly respond before Emma scolds me for cussing.

"All right, gentlemen. Food’s in the kitchen. Go eat. Come on, Sarah." Emma turns and walks away with Kara giggling hot on her heels.

"You going to be okay?" Leo whispers in my ear.

"I think so." I stand on my tiptoes to give him a kiss. "However, while I’m gone, I need you to put on a professional face. Go in there, find that bowl of shrimp dip, and guard it with your life. No one touches it until I get back. You got it?" I pat his chest, causing him to grin.

"Yes, ma’am," he answers before whispering into my ear, "Since this is a professional job, I will expect payment in the form of your mouth on my cock later."

"Leo," I chastise.

"Sorry, ángel. That’s the price you pay for professional bodyguard services these days."

"I’m going to check your bills on Monday. I better not find you charging anyone else like that."

He laughs and gives me another kiss before walking away unfazed. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same.

When I walk into the bedroom room, I find Kara rummaging through Emma’s closet.

"Wear this one. It gives you great cleavage."

"Um, I’m not wearing a backless cocktail dress to my child’s second birthday party," Emma responds, pulling an orange T-shirt from her drawer.

"Can I wear it then?" Kara asks.

"Sure, but it would be a floor-length, ass-less dress on you. Hunter would lose his crazy shit."

"Damn it. Why do I have to be so short?" she complains, flopping down on the bed.

"You’re not short. We’re just giants," I say, walking up to her. "Hi. I’m Sarah."

"I’m really happy to meet you again."

"We’ve met before?" I ask, confused.

"Well, kinda. You waved a gun in my face," she says bluntly.

My eyes go wide as I stumble back a step.

"Kara!" Emma scolds.

"Oh my God. I totally did that," I breathe, beginning to feel sick when I catch a flash of her coming home early that day I broke into her apartment.

"No. It’s okay. I swear. Don’t get upset. I was just really worried about you for a while."

"I’m so sorry." I attempt to apologize, but the words lodge in my throat.

"No, stop. I’m just glad to see you doing so well."

"You have to understand. I was a mess back then. I’m not…" I trail off before claiming not to be that woman anymore. I honestly don’t know if I am or not.

"I know you’re not that person anymore," she finishes for me. "It’s been my experience that f*ck-hot men like that one don’t do crazy."

My anxiety immediately begins to subside as she mentions Leo. "Leo’s really good at crazy actually." I grin awkwardly.

"Jesse’s been keeping me filled in on your progress over the years."

"Jesse should really learn how to hate me," I respond matter-of-factly.

"Nah. She has this huge heart. She really wants to see you happy. However, if you need her to hate you, just hit on Brett. She’d go nutso on someone over him." She lifts her hands like cat claws and hisses. "She told me you had a new stud. And I have to say she was really freaking right."

"Jesse did not say stud," Emma interjects, causing Kara to laugh.

It’s infectious. I glance down at my feet to try to hide my smile.

"Nah. She said something completely appropriate like ‘attractive.’ I translated it to what she really meant though. I’m a good friend like that. Now, Sarah, tell me where you met that fine piece of meat out there. If Hunter doesn’t get his shit straight, I might be in the market soon. Is there an auction where you can go purchase men like that? Because I have to say I wasn’t sure you’d be able to top Brett, but damn, woman. I think you might have pulled it off," she rushes out and ends with a huge grin.