Page 75 of The Troublemaker
In typical Gemma fashion, she straightened her shoulders in that old, familiar way that let him know he’d hit a soft spot. “I’m capable of walking home by myself.” She lifted her head a little higher. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m all grown up.”
Oh, he’d noticed all right.
She opened her mouth to say something else, but he countered with, “It’s on my way, Gems.”
That gave her pause. Her head jerked back with a start and he didn’t miss the accusation in her tone when she said, “Let me get this straight, you know where I work and where I live?”
“Yeah,” he said, for lack of anything else.
Her big blue eyes narrowed. “Why is it you know so much about me yet I know nothing about you?”
“What do you want to know?”
Without hesitating she asked, “If walking me home is on your way, where do you live?”
He gestured to the motorcycle parked at the curb outside. “For now I’ve got a cot in the back of Freedom Cycle.”
Perfectly manicured brows knit together as she angled her head curiously. “You’re staying with Jack?”
“You remember Jack?”
She nodded. “Ex-sniper. Brandon always liked him.” At the mention of her brother she rubbed the back of her neck and a contemplative look came over her face before she began again. “When I moved into one of my parents’ downtown apartments during college Brandon told me—” she paused to do air quotes before saying, “—Jack of all trades was my go-to guy if I ever needed anything. I’ve run into him a couple of times since the funeral.”
Cole paused for a moment before saying, “He takes in ex-soldiers and gives them work until they get back on their feet again.”
“What I heard…” Her voice fell off and her eyes widened. “Wait… Are you saying…?”
“Yeah. I’m getting out, Gems. My days serving overseas will soon be behind me.”
“Oh,” she said, a mixture of surprise and relief swimming in her big blue eyes. Then she frowned. “So you’re sleeping in the back of his shop?”
“Just until my new place is ready.”
“And when will that be?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Where will you be moving?”
Gemma stifled a yawn, and Cole could see exhaustion pulling at her. Instead of answering, he said, “Come on, I’m taking you home.” He tossed her a lopsided grin, one that always pulled a smile from her when they were younger. “You know, for old time’s sake.”
Their eyes met and everything in his gut told him her thoughts were traveling down the same path as his. She too was remembering her youth and all the times he’d taken her home and snuck her to her room so she wouldn’t get busted by her older brother or her folks. Sure, he’d lectured her on the dangers of her rebellious nature, but he’d always had an inherent need to protect her, from everyone and everything. He couldn’t bring himself to let her get caught, even though it might have been for her own good. Then again, as long as he was around and watching over her, no harm would ever come to her.
“Cole—” she began, but he cut her off.
“I know, I know. You’re quite capable of taking care of yourself,” he said to appease her protest. He still wasn’t taking a chance with her safety now that she was living on her own in the downtown core and he was back from overseas. Besides, when Brandon was dying in his arms and there wasn’t a thing Cole could do to save him, he’d asked only one thing of Cole. And no matter what, Cole planned to follow through with the vow he’d made to Gemma’s brother on that dark night, because he never, ever wanted to fail Brandon again.