Page 148 of Hot Cops

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Blake smiled. “Mama Lewis invited me.”

Chloe shook her head. “That’s Mrs. Lewis to you and she wouldn’t do that.”

“Chloe,” her mother called out from the dining room. “Invite him in.”

Chloe closed her eyes, hoping that by blocking out Blake’s cocky face, he’d simply vanish. When she opened them to find him still standing in the doorway, she muttered, “I’m going to kill her.”

Blake chuckled. “If you do that, I’ll have to pull out my handcuffs and arrest you.”

She was tempted to slam the door in his face, then reconsidered as a wide smile crossed her face. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

Blake’s lowered brows betrayed his sudden suspicion at her quick change in demeanor. “You like the idea of handcuffs?” He grinned, his dirty mind kicking in.

“No, perv, I don’t.” She was lying, but she wasn’t about to admit her libido had suddenly jerked into gear at the thought. “You realize you’re about to willingly walk into the lion’s den, right? My brothers will tear you limb from limb.”

Unfortunately her threat didn’t faze the infuriating man. “I’m banking on your mother to protect me. But just in case,” he patted his hip, drawing her attention to his holster, “I’m packing.”

There was no way she could convince him to leave and time was up anyway. If she stalled much longer, her brothers’ curiosity would win out and they’d all manage to make their way to the front door, lazy jackasses or not. She stepped aside, allowing Blake to enter.

He glanced around the entryway, looking fondly at the photographs and furniture. “It’s exactly the way I remember it.”

“Everyone is in the dining room and my food is getting cold.” Her tone was short and annoyed, but she didn’t feel like playing nice. He didn’t deserve it. He’d hurt her worse than anyone in her life and while that wound had been inflicted nearly a decade earlier, it ached as if it had happened only yesterday.

She hated that she’d let him get so deep inside her he still had the power to cause her pain.

Blake waited for her to lead the way. She kept her eyes on her mother as they entered the room together. She didn’t have to look at her brothers to see how pissed off they were.

Jett stood, his stance pure aggression. “What are you doing here?”

“I invited him,” Mama replied, as if bringing the man who’d stolen from their family into their home was the most natural thing in the world. Of course, for their mother, it was. Her capacity for forgiveness was limitless.

Chloe could only assume that attribute skipped a generation because God knew she couldn’t find it in herself right now.

Her mother rose, then gestured to an empty chair next to her as she grabbed a plate from the sideboard. “Help yourself, Blake.”

He smiled his thanks as he took a seat. “I apologize for being late. Wound up pulling some overtime after the midnight shift. Lots of idiots on the street last night. Took me a few extra hours to finish the paperwork.”

Chloe reclaimed her seat, grateful that Justin sat between her and Blake.

Blake kept his attention on her mother, pointedly ignoring the glares he was receiving from everyone else at the table. “I was sorry to hear about Papa Lewis.”

Mama smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Blake. We all miss him something terrible.”

That was an understatement, but Chloe didn’t say anything. Though her father had passed away three years ago, sometimes it felt as if he was just away, working on the oil rig and that he’d be back, crashing through the front door with that loud bellow of his, telling all his kids to get their asses downstairs so he could hug them. Her father had been a giant of a man—Caliph and Jett had gotten his stature—but as gentle as a butterfly.

“And what is your father up to these days, Blake?” her mother asked.

Blake fell silent for only a moment, then gave her a rueful smile. “He’s up to twelve months served on a twenty-year stint in prison.”

“Oh, I see.”

Blake shrugged. “Not surprised, are you?”

Mama shook her head. “Not really, but Iamsorry.”

“Don’t be.” Blake’s voice was harder than Chloe had ever heard it. “I’m the one who put him there.”

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