Read Online Against Me (Cedar Tree Book 3) by Freya Barker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Freya Barker
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shooting me a 'don't-fuck-with-me' look, so I tuck my hands in my pockets.
"Now, I know what the problem is and I suspect you know what the problem is too. Don't need me to tell you that that woman in there has you in knots. I've known it since I walked in on you holding her bleeding head together in your lap. Wasn't hard to tell you were holding your life in your hands." He pauses, giving me a minute to recognize the truth of his words and relive the horrific memory of those moments. "But my friend, how long are you gonna sit idle? If not for this shit happening at Larchwood, you'd be satisfied to wait for years for her to show a sign of life so you could make a move. Your stoic patience is one of your strengths, Caleb, but in this case, it may well be the one thing that hangs you. Moving Katie here and under your nose may not be ideal, but fuck it. You need to pull your finger out and get with the program."
He's right. Of course he's right, but moving forward also means taking a risk. Truth? I'm scared. I've waited for Katie for years, learned to be satisfied with even a peripheral presence in her life, but if I push for more, I run the chance of ending up with nada. Zilch.
"Two days, Caleb. Take two days with Katie to talk or do whatever the fuck is needed to settle you down. We'll spend some time tomorrow going over this case and the weird fluke that has ended Katie up to her neck into an already complex investigation that just got a hell of a lot more complicated. After that, you head back to Shiprock and see what can be salvaged from your assignment there."
"Sounds good."
I have nothing more to say. In fact, I've said very little at all, but I heard every word Gus said. Trust his judgement above my own at this moment, which is why I came here.
"We good?" he wants to know; ready to dive back into whatever it was he was working on.
"We're good."
"Excellent. Now send that mouthy redhead back over this way, will ya? I think I have some grovelling of my own to do," he says with a smirk.
I rap my knuckles on the doorpost in confirmation on my way out.
The sound of voices gets louder as I make my way through the now dark guesthouse to the bedroom. Leaning against the doorway into the room, I can just catch the last few sentences exchanged between the women sitting on the big bed. It's obvious from the tearstained faces that some emotional stuff has gone down and I feel guilt eating at my insides, but then I hear Katie say that me walking out earlier meant I must have regretted what happened between us. I have to set her straight. She can't be further from the truth and it's time she knows it.
The moment her eyes meet mine, everything disappears. I barely notice Emma leaving. In a few steps I reach the bed, lean in and pick Katie up.
"Whoa!" she calls out, scrambling to hold onto my neck. "What are you doing?"
"You in my bed means I can't think, and I'm having a hard enough time thinking around you. We need to set some things straight." I tell her, trying not to get lost in the feel of her soft body against mine, her subtle scent teasing me, and her restless fingers playing against the short bristles on my neck. My dick, however, is a goner, and there’s no way to hide it when I sit down on the couch with Katie in my lap.
"Stop squirming, you're making it worse."
When she throws me an irritated look, I'm glad to see the fire back in her eyes. There she is.
"Okay, enough of the manhandling, Caleb," Katie bats at my hands as I shift her around so she faces me. The old tank top and shorts she wears as PJ’s aren't doing much to cover her and I can't help the tortured groan that slips from me. Fucking hell, this is gonna be torture with her nipples poking through the threadbare material, and right in my face.
"What the hell is this? I honestly don't know whether I'm coming or going with you."
"Shh, don't get upset," I try to settle her before the tears I hear wobbling in her voice start flowing. "I just needed
"Now, I know what the problem is and I suspect you know what the problem is too. Don't need me to tell you that that woman in there has you in knots. I've known it since I walked in on you holding her bleeding head together in your lap. Wasn't hard to tell you were holding your life in your hands." He pauses, giving me a minute to recognize the truth of his words and relive the horrific memory of those moments. "But my friend, how long are you gonna sit idle? If not for this shit happening at Larchwood, you'd be satisfied to wait for years for her to show a sign of life so you could make a move. Your stoic patience is one of your strengths, Caleb, but in this case, it may well be the one thing that hangs you. Moving Katie here and under your nose may not be ideal, but fuck it. You need to pull your finger out and get with the program."
He's right. Of course he's right, but moving forward also means taking a risk. Truth? I'm scared. I've waited for Katie for years, learned to be satisfied with even a peripheral presence in her life, but if I push for more, I run the chance of ending up with nada. Zilch.
"Two days, Caleb. Take two days with Katie to talk or do whatever the fuck is needed to settle you down. We'll spend some time tomorrow going over this case and the weird fluke that has ended Katie up to her neck into an already complex investigation that just got a hell of a lot more complicated. After that, you head back to Shiprock and see what can be salvaged from your assignment there."
"Sounds good."
I have nothing more to say. In fact, I've said very little at all, but I heard every word Gus said. Trust his judgement above my own at this moment, which is why I came here.
"We good?" he wants to know; ready to dive back into whatever it was he was working on.
"We're good."
"Excellent. Now send that mouthy redhead back over this way, will ya? I think I have some grovelling of my own to do," he says with a smirk.
I rap my knuckles on the doorpost in confirmation on my way out.
The sound of voices gets louder as I make my way through the now dark guesthouse to the bedroom. Leaning against the doorway into the room, I can just catch the last few sentences exchanged between the women sitting on the big bed. It's obvious from the tearstained faces that some emotional stuff has gone down and I feel guilt eating at my insides, but then I hear Katie say that me walking out earlier meant I must have regretted what happened between us. I have to set her straight. She can't be further from the truth and it's time she knows it.
The moment her eyes meet mine, everything disappears. I barely notice Emma leaving. In a few steps I reach the bed, lean in and pick Katie up.
"Whoa!" she calls out, scrambling to hold onto my neck. "What are you doing?"
"You in my bed means I can't think, and I'm having a hard enough time thinking around you. We need to set some things straight." I tell her, trying not to get lost in the feel of her soft body against mine, her subtle scent teasing me, and her restless fingers playing against the short bristles on my neck. My dick, however, is a goner, and there’s no way to hide it when I sit down on the couch with Katie in my lap.
"Stop squirming, you're making it worse."
When she throws me an irritated look, I'm glad to see the fire back in her eyes. There she is.
"Okay, enough of the manhandling, Caleb," Katie bats at my hands as I shift her around so she faces me. The old tank top and shorts she wears as PJ’s aren't doing much to cover her and I can't help the tortured groan that slips from me. Fucking hell, this is gonna be torture with her nipples poking through the threadbare material, and right in my face.
"What the hell is this? I honestly don't know whether I'm coming or going with you."
"Shh, don't get upset," I try to settle her before the tears I hear wobbling in her voice start flowing. "I just needed
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