Read Online Copper by Iris Abbott - Free Book Online

weeks.”
    “That’s long enough for him to get a sense of Marla’s schedule, case out the school, and find out where she lives.”
    “Yep, he’s a local too, so it probably wouldn’t be too hard for him to ask around and get all the information he wanted on Marla or Natalie for that matter.”
    Copper growled deep in his throat and smacked the palm of his hand against his thigh.  “You’re right.  He has to know Natalie and Marla are sisters.  It’s no secret that Natalie works for us.”  He smiled an evil grin.  “I almost wish the bastard would come a calling.”  He rubbed his hands together.  “He’d get one hell of a welcome,” Copper promised.  “But there wouldn’t be anything pleasant about it, at least not for him.  Me on the other hand, I’d love every gory second of it.”
    Iron’s fingers stopped moving over the keyboard.  He spun around in his desk chair and squared off with Copper.  “What’s up with you, man? You seem to be taking this just a little too personally.  I know Natalie is an important part of our business, but we hardly know Marla.” 
    He raked a hand through his already disheveled hair, took a couple of big steps, and turned to face Iron. “Marla gets to me, always has. I’ve tried approaching her before at various barbecues and parties, but in the past she’s always managed to avoid me.”
    “You aren’t usually put off that easily,” Iron said with a chuckle.
    “I was trying not to rock the boat with Natalie. I don’t think we could find a better assistant.”
    “You got that right,” Iron agreed. “If we depended on Tina to keep the office part of the business running smoothly, we’d be screwed, maybe even bankrupt.  Remind me why we hired that ditzy woman again.”
    Copper grimaced.  “I think Steel and Chrome were suckered by a pretty face. I bet they regret that decision now.” The two men snickered. “Worse than being bankrupt, could you imagine having to work with two women like Tina every day?”
    Iron actually shuddered at the thought. “Is that the only reason you don’t want to upset Natalie?”
    “Hell no, Chrome would kick my ass if I made Natalie angry enough to quit.”
    “Ah, so I’m not the only one who noticed that sparks always seem to fly when those two are in the same room.”
    “I’m pretty sure everyone here has noticed. I always thought it was funny, not so much anymore. I feel that same electric sizzle whenever Marla is nearby. The only difference is now I’m done with the tiptoeing.  She could have died tonight,” he said in a voice that cracked with emotion. 
    “I want her and I’m going to have her.  If there’s one lesson we learned in the military, it’s that life is too short to waste time.  I’m done with that.  I’m reaching out and taking what I want.”
    “Then why are you wasting time down here with my ugly mug?”
    Copper laughed long and hard.  “Right, like you don’t have to beat single women off with a stick whenever we go trolling in bars?”
    Iron, who got his nickname because he loved to pump iron, flexed his muscles. “They admire the six-pack and the biceps, not necessarily the face.”
    Copper snorted.  “I know you’re not fishing for compliments.  On that note, I’m out of here. I want to check on Marla.”
    “You are so screwed,” Iron teased the other man.
    “Not tonight but soon, bro, soon.” 
    Copper jogged from the room and bounded up the stairs two at a time. The pounding of his shit-kickers against the hardwood stairs echoed around him. It matched the erratic and wild beat of his heart.  He came to an abrupt stop in front of his closed bedroom door.  He was trying to coax her into his bed not send her running into the night.  Besides, he still had some manners left. 
    He rapped his knuckles against the wood and waited for a softly spoken invitation to enter.  When it didn’t happen, Copper decided Marla must be asleep already.  He opened the door as