Page 81 of Cougar

“I do spend time with you.”

“When the season ends, I’ll be around more. I want to do things with you.”

“Like date?”

“If I say yes, I feel like that’s putting unnecessary pressure on you and our friendship, and I don’t want to do that. You’re not ready.”

“You’re right. I’m not.”

“But you like the kissing?”

“Yes,” I breathe.

“Then I’m going to kiss you.” He dips his head and brushes his lips against mine. “I’m not trying to make you forget him, Emerson. I’m trying to make you feel something other than grief. You said you just want to breathe. Let me be your air.”

Wrapping my arms around his waist, I part my lips, allowing him to slip his tongue into my mouth. He brings one hand up to cup the back of my head while placing the other on my lower back, pulling me closer. Before our kiss becomes heavy, Cam pulls away and rests his forehead against mine.

“This is happening,” he whispers. He moves to kiss that spot on my neck just below my ear. “You can navigate this any way you want, but there will be a lot of kissing.”

* * *

My lips are still tingling as I ease up the driveway slowly, attempting to gather my wits. Damn, that man can kiss.

Bass, Levi, and Troy are unloading Harper’s things from the back of Bass’s Denali as I pull into the garage.

“What did you find out?” I ask as I climb out of the car.

“The story about her mom and sister is true. Mom died of cancer and sister died in a car accident. There is no dad. She was living with a friend of her sister’s until she shacked up with her boyfriend,” Bass tells me. “ApparentlyHarper was arguing with a woman outside Mac’s and the woman hit her.”

“What? Who?”

“His wife,” Levi adds. “Jay and Lexi walked up and saw the whole thing. Before the girls could go full-on savage on the lady, I stepped in and told the woman to leave or I would arrest her.”

“Jesus.” I rake my fingers through my hair. I knew something was off.Jay lied to me.

“There’s more. On her way out, the wife slashed Harper’s tires.”

“And this is the type of girl my daughter is friends with? Do I have reason to worry, B?”

“Doubt it. She’s a girl with no family who got caught up in a bad situation and was taken advantage of.”

“All right.” I exhale a heavy sigh. “I’m going to help get her settled in.” I head inside.

No matter the circumstances surrounding Harper, lying is unacceptable. Jay and I will be having a nice little chat later.

I stop outside the guest room, just down the hall from Jay’s bedroom, and lean against the doorframe.

“Your house is beautiful, Jay,” Harper gushes. “This place is like a fortress.”

“It was either a fortress or a bubble,” I say with a forced smile. “If her father had had his way, she’d be living in a bubble.” I push off the frame and step into the room. “How are you, Harper?”

“I’m good.”

“Levi filled me on what happened tonight at Mac’s. No one will bother you here.”

Jay scoffs. “He’s such a tattletale.”

I turn and pin her with a glare. “It’s his job, Jayla.”

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