Page 30 of Bought For Us

“Doesn’t matter.” I take a shuddering breath as I shake my head.

“Yes, it does,” Zack says, grabbing my shoulders. “Listen to me, Cora.” The way my name rumbles out of his chest has my blurry eyes meeting his. “You're going to bring that sexy stubborn ass of yours to our place and we’re going to talk about why in all the places we’re meeting again, it's here.”

“Please,” Kimmy pleads. “Please, come home with us.”

I lick my lips, my pulse racing like a pounding drum. I don’t get this money unless I spend the weekend with them. I have to.

“No sex. Just talking.” Zack says.

And part of me is a little disappointed.

“Okay.” I nod. “You want to talk then? Let’s talk.”

Chapter 11

Zack

The whole car ride back to our house is filled with suffocating silence. Cora hasn’t said a word since the dressing room. Her eyes have been fixed out the window, not even a glance over to us.

I hold my wife's thigh, rubbing soothing circles on her leg with my thumb. Kimmy is tense and I can tell she’s worried by the way she keeps looking in the rearview mirror. I hate seeing my wife upset, and I didn’t particularly enjoy seeing Cora upset back in the dressing room either.

This whole night isn’t what any of us expected, but I’m choosing to see it as a sign from fate. Cora, my little daredevil is in the car with us. After ten years, she’s finally back.

As we pull into the driveway and park, I look over at Kimmy. She meets my eyes with her anxious ones. I grab her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze and a small smile. She tries to give me one back, but I know she’s stressed and we’re all a little out of sorts.

“We’re here.” I look over my shoulder to see Cora’s gaze is still looking out the window. I don’t think she heard me, it’s as if she’s lost in her own mind. “Cora?”

She blinks a few times, as if coming out of a fog. “Sorry, what?”

“We’re here,” I repeat.

Her attention goes out the window again, but this time she seems to be registering her surroundings. “Oh.” She blinks.

My gaze shifts back to Kimmy as my own worry sinks in. Kissing the back of her hand, I let it go and get out. First, I open Kimmy’s door and offer my hand to her. She smiles up at me and takes it. I help her out and close her door before opening Cora’s.

When I hold my hand out for her, she stares at it. “It’s not going to bite.” I chuckle.

Her brows furrow. “How do I know?” She raises a brow. “You could just be saying that.”

My lip twitches. Cheeky little one she is. I can work with that.

“Guess you’re just going to have to take it and find out.” I grin.

She licks her lips, gaze dropping to my hand again. Hesitantly, she takes it and a thrill fills me as my large hand wraps around her soft smaller one.

Pulling her to her feet, she stumbles a little, sucking in a sharp gasp. My arm shoots out to catch her around the waist. “Careful,” I murmur, her face inches from mine.

Her eyes widen, lips part as her breathing starts to come in little pants. My eyes drop to her lips and the urge to dive forward and kiss her like I didn’t get the chance to all those years ago hits me hard.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she whispers.

“Like what?” I ask, fully aware that I still have her flush to my body.

“Like you want to eat me.” She frowns. “Your wife is right there.”

I look over at Kimmy to find her watching, amusement written all over her sexy face. “Oh, don’t mind me.” She waves it off casually.

Cora steps back out of my hold and brushes herself off. Holding her head high, she says. “So, what now?”

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