Crazy Dreams by Dawn Pendleton

guess Baker should be there around two.”
    “Sounds good. Why does he expect you to be here? I didn’t even realize the two of you were close.”
    “That’s kind of the problem. No one knows I let Ember come to Nashville and then left her while I took a job. It wasn’t how I wanted it, and I never expected to have to be gone for a week, but if Baker shows up and I’m not there, he’ll kill me. Ember is like a sister to him and he thinks she’s too young to take care of herself.”
    “Got it. So you want me to tell Ember to not let him know you haven’t been here?”
    “That would be awesome. I’ll talk to her when I get in, too. How are things going, anyway?” he asked the question I was dreading.
    “They’re good. Ember and I are getting along very well.”
    His voice turned stern. “Don’t fucking touch her, Stone. I swear to God, I’ll rip your balls off if you touch her.”
    “For fuck’s sake, Dallas. It’s not like I’m a
eunuch
. I can’t help it if I’m attracted to her.”
    “Don’t touch her.”
    I wasn’t threatened; I was pissed. “She’s a fucking adult. If she wan
t
s to sleep with me, she’s going to, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. You just got done telling me that everyone from Maine would be pissed if they thought you left her alone, but you didn’t, did you? You left her with me. And that means you trust me, whether you want to admit it or not. I didn’t make a move on her, if that’s what you’re thinking. But we’re both attracted to one another. Don’t make it more than it is.”
    “You think I’m kidding, Stone? I’m telling you, if you lay a hand on her, I will kill you in your sleep. She’s too young, too innocent for you. So just stop liking her right now,” he suggested.
    “I’ll get right on that. Do me a favor… When you get on your plane, try to lighten the fuck up and don’t start shit when you get here. I called you to tell you how I felt because we’re friends. I don’t want to see you end things over her, but let me tell you, if you do, I’ll choose her. She’s special, someone I could actually see myself falling for in the future, and I won’t let you ruin it.”
    “You could fall for her ? It’s been less than three days, you dumb fuck. Get the hell out of my apartment. You better be gone by the time I get there.”
    I sighed, expecting it. “I’ll be gone.”
    He hung up on me and I tucked my phone in my pocket. Time to start packing up.
    “Stone,” Ember said from the doorway.
    “Hey, you didn’t hear all that, did you?” I asked.
    She nodded with tears in her eyes. “Did you mean what you said?”
    “Every word.”
    She walked up to me, threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. It was sweet and pure, full of promise and hope. I let her guide the kiss, but when she opened her mouth to me, I couldn’t stop myself from ruling it. I thrust my tongue into her mouth, pulling her body flush with mine. She made little sounds in the back of her throat that drove me crazy. My hands were on her ass, keeping her close. She tangled her fingers in my hair, gripping the strands to keep my mouth on hers.
    I finally pulled away to breathe and we were both winded. My body craved hers, but I knew I needed to get the hell out before Dallas got back. I set her away from me.
    “I’ve got to get moved out,” I explained.
    She pouted for a minute and then let out a sigh. “I’ll help you pack.”
    I nodded my appreciation and went to my closet. I had several plastic totes stacked up and I pulled them out.
    “How do you want me to pack?” she asked, grabbing one of the totes.
    “You can just toss whatever in there,” I said, distracted.
    “Where are you going to live?”
    I sighed. “I’m not sure. I guess I’ll just put everything in my truck for now and hopefully find a place later today.”
    She nodded and the two of us packed in silence. Less than two hours later, my entire room was packed up. I didn’t have much,