After I splash some cool water on my face, I look at my reflection in the mirror. I look different. I don’t know if it’s what happened last night or what has happened over the last few days, but I don’t look like my old self. The look in my eyes seems more sedated, and I feel more secure in who I am.

When I head out of the bathroom, I’m greeted by Maxim, who leans into my side. I scratch him behind his ears, and his big brown doggie eyes meet mine. He’s adorable, and I had no choice but to fall in love with him since the moment we met.

“Come on.” I run my fingers through the fur on the top of his head one more time then go into the main living area of Cobi’s townhouse. I once again let out an uncomfortable sigh as I head for the kitchen. Cobi’s place is awesome, with a view of rolling hills out his kitchen window and a small manmade lake just outside a sliding door and back deck. His place is two stories, the garage and storage on the main floor then upstairs is the living area, two bedrooms, two and a half baths and an open floor plan. The unit is new, as in it was only built a few months ago. It’s in a part of town that is only now being built up with grocery stores, coffee shops, and fast food restaurants.

As I head through his living room with Maxim on my heels, I’m overwhelmed by the beauty of the open space. His brightly lit kitchen with white cabinets and speckled granite is open to the living room, the large space broken up with a long peninsula that has three barstools lining the edge. He has a wide-seated, dark gray, brushed leather couch in front of a state-of-the-art entertainment center, complete with a sixty-inch flat screen TV. Built-in shelves line one of the walls, and decorative wallpaper in silvers and golds accent the open space, making it feel cozier.

When I reach the kitchen, I stop to take in a bare-chested Cobi in front of the stove, flipping over bacon in a pan. My body tingles and my mouth waters as I study him. Seriously, he’s the hottest and most intense man I have ever met in my life. I can’t believe that just last night I had all of his power on me and in me, filling me with something unexpected and memorable. Even just standing in his kitchen, he’s mesmerizing; I could watch him for hours and constantly come up with something new I like about him. It doesn’t help that he’s not just hot, but he’s sweet and caring—something that is a rare quality in men these days.

“Morning, baby,” he says, turning to look at me as I lean against the wall at the edge of the kitchen, needing it to hold me up, unsure if I can keep my feet under me. Maxim, who is still at my side, rests his heavy head against my thigh, and I run my hand over his fur and scratch behind his ears.

“Morning,” I whisper, and he smiles just slightly, his lips barely tipping up at the corners.

“I’m trying really fucking hard not to be jealous of my dog, baby. Maybe you wanna help me out with that by coming to kiss your man?”

My man?

I couldn’t even fathom a man like Cobi a week ago. I would never even have dared to dream up a guy like him, so it’s seriously difficult for me to think about him being mine.

“Babe.” The one word is impatient, causing me to jump in place. I move from the wall and head toward him. As soon as I’m within touching distance, he wraps his hand around my hip and pulls me flush against him. I don’t lean up to kiss him. I don’t have to, because he bends down and captures my mouth in a searing kiss that makes my toes curl and body buzz. When he releases me, his eyes search mine. “No dreams last night?”

“No.” I shake my head, running my hands up his biceps and over his tattoos.

“You still need to keep going. Even if the dreams stop for a time, you need to talk things out.”

“I have an appointment tomorrow.”

He kisses my forehead in approval. “Want some coffee?”

“Yes, please,” I say, and he keeps me attached to him with his arm around my waist as he leads me to the coffee pot and pulls down a cup from the cupboard above. He pours me a cup of coffee then fixes it for me just how I like it.

“Sit with me while I finish up breakfast.” It’s not a request; it’s an order, and I know this when he lifts me up and plants my ass on the cold counter. I sit and sip my coffee while he finishes up the bacon then he uses the bacon grease to fry the eggs. When he pulls out a loaf of bread, I hop down and take it from him, figuring it would be rude if I didn’t even try to help out.

“Do you have to work today?”

“Yep, but not until this evening,” he says, meeting my gaze as I press down the lever on the toaster. “I should be home around the same time I was this morning. I have the weekend off though, so I figured either Saturday or Sunday we could go see Harmony. She called me yesterday asking how you’re doing.”

“How is she?” I ask, feeling like a weight has suddenly settled in the pit of my stomach.

“Good, home now. The media hasn’t stopped trying to contact her, so she’s laying low for the time being.”

“I’m sorry she’s dealing with that,” I say truthfully. I hated even the idea of having to talk to the media and am thankful I never got caught out where I would have to. I feel like an asshole even thinking it, considering what she must be going through, but I’m relieved they let the story having to do with me go and have left me alone.

“Me too, but I’m also relieved that you don’t have to deal with that,” he says, reading my mind.

He comes over to where I’m standing and places a kiss against the side of my head, and I look up at him, asking, “Is she really okay?”

“She’s got our family and her fiancé protecting her, so she’s good. Not sure she’d be that way if she was on her own.”

On her own like me; he doesn’t have to say it, but I know that’s exactly what he means. Up until Cobi came along, the only people I really had in my life were Brie and Kenyon, and that reminder is a depressing one. Maybe it’s time I make some changes. Maybe it’s time I make some friends and get a life that doesn’t revolve around monthly dates with Brie and reality TV shows. “I’d really like to see her this weekend if she’s up to it,” I say, feeling more confident.

“I should probably warn you that my mom and dad will likely be there, so you’d also be meeting them.”

“Your parents?” I know my eyes are wide with horror. I’m sure I look like a deer caught in a set of bright white headlights with a car coming toward it going fifty miles an hour.

“They will love you, Hadley, so get that look off your face, baby.”

“I don’t know how to meet parents. Meeting people is even a new thing for me.” He laughs, tossing his head back. “I’m not actually being funny.”

“I know, babe, but you still are.” He touches his mouth to mine. “It’s going to be fine. You’ll see.”

I’m not as sure as he is. Really, I don’t think he understands what he’s asking me to do. I have never been social. I have always found a way to agree to social gatherings but escape at the last minute without seeming rude. Brie and Kenyon are the only people I spend any real time with, and that’s only because I have known them for years.

“If you say so,” I murmur, getting another smile from him before he lets me go and heads back to the eggs he’s frying.

Having a couple of hours before I have to leave for work, and his place being closer to my job than mine, I eat with him, enjoying the moment before I have to get ready to leave. When the time finally closes down on us and the bubble we’ve created, I go get ready for work, and afterward he walks me to my car, waiting until I’m inside and pulling away to head back into his townhouse.

_______________

“Hadley.” The sigh in Reggie’s tone lets me know what I already suspect. He’s done. He doesn’t want to listen to me anymore, and he sure as heck doesn’t want to believe what I have been telling him for the last ten minutes.

“Reggie, I’ll look into things, but my records show that Marcus received the funds issued to him for his new football uniform. The money was deposited. I don’t know what happened afterward, since the money is untraceable on my end after that.”