Jacked (Trent Brothers #1)(57)
Erin brushed her fingers over the scar on top of my right hand, giving me her comfort again, but looking at that disfigured line that zigzagged across my skin was an unwelcomed reminder of being on the receiving end of his belt the night Nikki’s cop father brought me home butt-ass naked. To say my father had a firm hand was an understatement. Raising four hell-raising boys took its toll on the old man.
Erin’s face fell when she saw what I was focused on and I could feel her wanting to give me her sympathy too, though I sure as hell didn’t need it. The shit I went through to become a man wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.
“How’s your mom holding up?” Kip continued.
“She’s got her hands full with him being home all the time. And it doesn’t help that she’s constantly worrying about all of us, either.”
Kip nodded and pulled out his phone. “That’s what moms do, man. Hey, I’ve got to get back into the kitchen, but it was great seeing you. You still at the same cell number? We need to keep in touch.”
By the time the girl took our order and we got some soft drinks served to us, Erin had gone fairly quiet, eying me warily.
“I’m sorry about your dad,” she said, tossing the topic back onto the table. “Was it recent?”
I felt my jaw clench, recalling that horrible moment. It happened right before Nikki and I split up. What she had done while I was dealing with one of scariest moments of my life was unforgivable. “It was last summer.” June 18th to be exact, in the morning. “I was headed home from work. My mom called to tell me that she was having trouble rousing my dad from bed.”
Just saying the words caused a shudder to roll down my spine. I’d never felt so helpless in all my life. And just when I needed someone the most, Nikki dropped the bottom out from under me. I know most of it was my fault, but damn.
I glanced back up at Erin, whose wheels were turning with what I could only surmise was filled with medical textbook passages, hospital experience, mixed in with a lot of womanly concern.
“I’ve treated a few stroke patients,” she said assuredly. “Do you know if it was from a blockage or an aneurysm?”
Even though we were talking about my father, hence my inner wounds again, I had to hold back a smile. Her doctoring was cute as shit. “Blockage. High cholesterol runs in the family.”
Her head popped up, scanning the entire area. “Maybe we should change our order then. You shouldn’t be eating fried foods.”
“Erin…” I grabbed her hand before she had a chance to even think about darting into the kitchen. “I’m good.”
That brought her down a notch and her butt back down to the bench seat, but I still felt like I needed to hold her in place.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind eating something else.”
And just like that I thought about eating her—her lips, her neck, feeling the heels of her feet dig into my shoulders as I ate my fill. She’d wiggle in my hands, on my tongue. I felt the blood flow surge; my boys down below definitely wanted in on that entire scene. I cleared my throat. “You’d forgo eating gravy fries for me? For real?”
“Yeah. Please. Let’s order something else that’s healthier. Maybe the waitress can bring the menus back.”
My chest tightened, pressing the emotions up into my neck. Could she really be that concerned for me? “We don’t need menus. You wanted gravy fries—we’re eating gravy fries.”
“Adam, I’m serious.”
“So am I. I swear… Healthy as a horse.” Instantly, I had to fight back images of her riding me. Her hands pressing into my chest as I palmed her ass, guiding her up and down on me. Fuck. I shook my head. “I get regular checkups and donate blood every time we have a blood drive. My numbers are good, Doc.”
She grimaced. “I hope you’re being honest with me. I don’t want to tempt you with bad food choices.”
My lust-filled images were swept over with a tinge of annoyance. “Erin, I need you to get this in your head right now. I don’t lie—ever. I’ll always be straight up with you. Always. I may choose to keep things to myself, but omission is not lying.”
Her eyes locked onto mine, searching, I supposed. “No man has ever said that to me,” she said in a tiny voice.
That’s because she’s probably dated *s. “Just so you know I expect it in return. I find that you’re telling me a bunch of shit, it won’t end well. We clear on that?”
“Crystal,” she said with a nod. “And might I add—very refreshing.”
I liked feeling her relaxing. Her hand eased into mine and most of the recent tension evaporated, allowing me to relish the fact that I was holding her hand again. Don’t know exactly what was happening or how, but damn if I didn’t feel that invisible tether winding its way through my hand, up my arm, making my pecs tingle.
I was far from a novice when it came to doing this dance with women, often feigning the interest to get the most out of it, but Erin Novak was tossing me way off my game, making me aware of everything.
“Why are you smiling?” She smiled back.
“You.” I said it before I’d completely fleshed the reasons out in a rational explanation in my head.
“Me?”
“Yeah, you. I thought you were going to run into the kitchen and stop Kip from pouring gravy. I think it’s cute you’re all concerned about my cholesterol.” If she was this concerned about me being tempted by fried food, I was willing to bet she’d be okay with my other issues. Well, at least I hoped she would be.