Courage by Kristen Proby

Chapter 2

~Sam~

Bam!

I slam my fist into the punching bag and imagine that it’s the fucking landlord’s face. The asshole who killed my sister.

I hit, jab, and punch until the muscles in my arms and across my shoulders sing from the impacts. When I take a break and turn to sip some water, I see Noah King sitting on the bench behind me, tying his shoes and watching me silently.

Noah’s a friend. But I wasn’t expecting company.

Then again, I don’t own this gym.

“Hey, man.” I wipe the sweat off my brow with a towel. “You need the bag?”

“Nah, I’m lifting today,” he says as he stands, but he doesn’t walk toward the weights. “How’s it going, man?”

I shrug a shoulder and adjust my sparring gloves. “Same ol’.”

He raises a brow. “Bullshit.”

“I’m worried about Tash,” I admit with a sigh. “She’s all over the place with her moods, and I know she’s overwhelmed with having the kids full time. I take them when I’m not on call, but you know how it is around here. I’m almost always on call. She puts on a brave face for the twins, but when they’re not around, she just crumbles. She’s full of guilt and hasn’t even had time to grieve. Not really, you know?”

He nods thoughtfully. “Yeah, that’s rough. Kids are hard. Fallon’s pregnant with our second, and I’m scared to death.”

“You make beautiful babies,” I remind him. “And you have plenty of space out on your property to have a dozen.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “Don’t let Fallon hear you say that. She swears we’re done at two. So, you told me how Tash is doing. Now, how are you?”

I stop and blink at him. “I just—”

“Bullshit.” His face is expressionless as he stares back at me. I sigh.

“I’m fucked up in the head. Overwhelmed. Guilty. Pissed as all hell.” I punch the bag once more. “I want someone to pay, and I know they never will. Because it’s considered a goddamn accident.”

“I’m quite sure old man Betters didn’t mean—”

“It was fucking irresponsible,” I interrupt. “And it cost me two people I love.”

“I know.” The words are quiet as Noah nods. “You’re right.”

I swallow and shove the bitterness down. “I can’t, Noah. I can’t deal with all of this bullshit right now. I have too much on my plate. I have kids now, and a demanding career, and another job that I don’t even know for sure if I can take. I don’t have the luxury of swimming in my feelings right now.”

“So you hit the bag instead.”

“Yeah.” I shrug again. “It’s cheap therapy. Seems to do the trick.”

“Then I say punch away.” He stands and pats me on the shoulder. “I’m always around, you know. For anything. Even to take the kids for a little while. Fallon and I would love to have them. We can take them to the sanctuary and show them the birds.”

Noah owns and runs the Spread Your Wings wild bird sanctuary just outside of town. It’s a cool place. The kids would love it.

“I may take you up on that sometime.”

“Do. We’ll take the kids, and you can do something nice for Natasha. I know you’re not a couple, but I’m sure she could use some time out of the house without the twins in tow.”

My gut clenches at the you’re not a couple. Why? Of course, we’re not a couple.

But I smile and nod at my friend. “Thank you. Really. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Noah moves away to get his workout started, and I take off my gloves, done for the day.

I punched the bag so hard; it’s a wonder it’s still hanging.

Maybe I should take Noah up on his offer to watch the kids and do something nice for Tash. God knows she could use it, and so could I.

An idea starts to form as I grab my duffel, bypass the locker room and head straight for my truck. I’ll shower at the station.

But before I can even start the vehicle, I get a call.

From Tash.

“Hey,” I say into the phone but have to pull it away from my head because of the deafening screams blaring in my ears. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“Can you swing by real quick?”

“On my way.”

I hang up and start the truck, my mind already running through all of the horrible things that could be happening at Tash’s house.

Is someone cut? Bleeding out?

Did they fall and break a leg, their bone sticking out through the tender flesh?

I’ve seen too much on my job. It could literally be anything.

I come to a screeching halt in front of Tash’s house and sprint up to the front door, bursting inside to find both twins crying in the living room.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on? Where’s Auntie Tash?”

“In here,” she calls from the bathroom. I run down the hall and skid to a stop, taking in the scene. “I hope you don’t have a queasy stomach.”

“You’re bleeding.” I see a laceration across the palm of her hand. My EMT brain immediately takes over, and I grab a towel to clean away the blood so I can see what I’m dealing with here. “How?”

“I was cutting fruit for breakfast, and Kevin bumped into my arm. And, well… You see what happened. They’re upset, and I can’t stop this bleeding.”

“Because you need stitches.” I wrap her palm with the towel. “Keep pressure on it. I’m taking you to the ER.”

“I have to get the kids to preschool.”

“They’re in no shape to go to school this morning, Tash. They’re upset and worried about you. I’m calling Aspen to come sit with them.”

“She’s done too much,” Tash says with a sigh. “I can’t keep asking her to come running over to help. It’s been two months, Sam. There comes a time when I have to be able to take care of my life. Without calling in the troops every time someone cries, or I cut my hand.”

“That’s what they’re there for,” I remind her gently and brush my fingers down her cheek. Her skin is so damn soft. “Aspen would be pissed if she heard you say that, by the way.”

“Yeah, well. Okay. We’ll call her. But she’s probably at Drips today. She has a business to run.”

“She has a manager for that,” I remind her. “And she’s married to a damn prince. I think she can afford to take a morning off.”

I’m already calling Aspen’s number.

“Hey, Sam. How’s it going?”

“Oh, you know. Never a dull moment around here.” I quickly run down what’s happening. “Do you have time to take the kids for a couple of hours while we have her hand seen to?”

“Of course. Actually, I’m on my way to Drips. I’ll swing by and pick them up. They can come with me. I’ll put them to work.”

“Sounds damn good to me.”

“See you in five.”

“I heard,” Tash says when I hang up. “Thanks.”

She holds her towel-wrapped hand against her chest as we walk down the hall and find the kids still sitting in the living room, sniffling.

“Hey, no need to cry,” Tash says and kisses their heads. “I’m going to be just fine. It’s just a cut on my hand.”

“I didn’t mean to,” Kevin says and clings to her. “I’m so sorry.”

“Of course, you didn’t mean to,” Tash assures him. “Uncle Sam is here, and he’s an expert in these things. He thinks I should go have a doctor have a look at it.”

“How about instead of going to school today, you go spend some time with Aspen?” I ask the kids and see their eyes light up. “She’s going to take you to the coffee shop.”

“Okay,” Kelsey says. She’s always been the more laid-back of the two.

“I want to go with Auntie,” Kevin says, still clinging to her hip.

“We won’t be long,” Tash assures and squats down next to him. “And when we get home, you and I can curl up and watch a movie, okay?”

He nods, and I hear Aspen pull into the drive. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Hi, guys,” Aspen says with a smile when we all come outside. “What a fun surprise.”

“Thanks,” Tash says with an apologetic grin. “Sam says I need stitches.”

“Ouch,” Aspen replies. “Well, don’t rush on my account. I’ve got things handled with these little monsters.”

They pile into Aspen’s SUV, and I lead Tash to my truck.

“This throbs like a bitch,” she says when I boost her up onto the seat and buckle her in.

I accidentally brush her breast with my arm and feel the contact all the way to my cock.

Jesus, when did Tash turn into a sexy, curvy woman?

I’ve always seen her as my little sister’s friend. That’s it.

But now that we’ve been in close quarters for the past couple of months, I’m seeing her differently.

Maybe it’s just my long-ignored libido talking.

But I don’t think so.

“Sam?” Her breath is on my neck. I didn’t realize that I’d frozen in place. “You okay?”

“Sorry,” I mutter and click the belt into place. “Spacey today, I guess.”

I shut the door and hurry around to the driver’s side.

“Let’s get you all fixed up.”

* * *

“The end.”I close the book and kiss Kelsey on the forehead. “That’s it for tonight. You both need to get some sleep.”

“Just one more story?” Kevin asks from the twin bed across the room.

“I read four stories, and that’s one more than usual. Because you were extra-good for Aspen today. Thanks for that, by the way.”

“It was fun,” Kelsey says, her big blue eyes droopy with sleep. “She let us have a cookie.”

“That was nice of her.” I can’t help but lean over and kiss her little cheek.

“Is Auntie Tash’s hand really okay?” Kevin asks. Even though this dude has given us a lot of trouble over the past couple of months, he’s been so worried today. He loves Tash. They both do.

“Yes. The doctor stitched her right up. She’s going to be sore for a couple of days, but it’ll heal.”

There’s no need to tell them how she fainted when they brought out the needle for the stitches.

That’ll be our little secret.

“Okay.” Kevin snuggles down under the covers. “Good night.”

I cross to him and kiss his head. “Good night, buddy.”

After I turn out the light, I close the door and walk down the hall. I find Tash in the kitchen, emptying the dishwasher with one hand.

“Let me.” I scoot her aside and start pulling out glasses and mugs. “You should rest.”

“It’s just my hand,” she reminds me but doesn’t argue about stepping aside as she leans against the kitchen island. “Did they fight you at all?”

“Not much. I read an extra story. Where does this go?” I hold up a colander.

She points to a cabinet, and I stow it away. “How does it feel?”

“Aches like a bitch,” she says. “Now that the numbing stuff has worn off.”

“He gave you pain meds. Take one.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “I’ll take ibuprofen or something. I have the kids. I can’t take the hard stuff. What if they needed me and I’m out cold? Not gonna happen.”

I empty the silverware tray. “Jeez, you go through the spoons.”

“No kidding. I’m gonna buy more.”

I turn and look at her. She’s in black leggings that mold to the curves of her thighs and ass and a baggy sweatshirt.

Tash is tall, not much shorter than my six feet. With that slender, willowy body and curves in all the right places, she’s sexy as hell.

And as I watch, the neck of her sweatshirt falls over her shoulder.

No bra strap.

Jesus.

I could just push my hand under the hemline and feel her bare skin.

She raises her face, and her dark eyes find mine.

“You okay?” she asks, tilting her head.

“Yeah.” I clear my throat and get back to the task at hand. Once the dishes are all put away, I load the dishwasher with the dirty ones in the sink, start it, and then wipe down the counters.

“Thanks.” She yawns widely. “Wanna sit and chat for a while, or are you ready to head home? I’m sure you’re tired.”

“I can stay for a few.”

I toss the towel onto the counter and follow her into the living room. She sits in the corner of the couch, and I take the opposite side.

“Thanks for staying all day,” she says. “You didn’t have to.”

“No biggie. I called the chief and asked him to take me off the board for the day.”

Her eyes go wide. “Wait. You took the day off? Shit, Sam, I’m sorry. I need to write down your schedule so I don’t bother you on your working days.”

“Hey, it’s fine. I’m happy to help, you know that.”

She shakes her head and then sighs. “You know, some days I think I have this all under control. On the days when the kids are happy, and I’m caught up on laundry and get no calls from the school. They’re few but coming more often than they did in the beginning—which I think is a good sign.”

“Definitely a good sign.”

“And then days like today just sneak up on me and slap me across the face as if God is saying, ‘Ha! You thought you could do this? Think again, sweetheart.’”

“What are you talking about? You did great today. You got hurt, you called me, we executed a plan. It all came together.”

“But you had to take off of work.”

“And if that had been an issue, I would have said something. Tash, I’m not here because I feel sorry for you or something. The kids are my responsibility, too, you know.”

“But I’m not.”

“Aren’t you?”

The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. She narrows her gorgeous dark eyes, and that sass she’s always been known for comes to the surface.

I much prefer the sass to the sadness.

“I don’t need you to save me, Sam Waters.”

“No, ma’am.” I chuckle and shake my head. “Absolutely, not. But I can be here because I want to be, can’t I? If not, just tell me to get lost. It’ll wound my ego, but I’ll survive.”

“You can be here anytime you want,” she says with a laugh. “I just don’t want you to feel obligated. I know we’re co-parenting the twins. And that’s awesome because I couldn’t do it by myself.”

“You could. But you don’t have to.”

She licks her lips. “Do you remember that one time when I was twenty and supposed to go out with Monica, but when I got to the house, she had already left for a date with Rich? There was a lot of miscommunication, and you were there for something. I forget what.”

“I was fixing my parents’ sink,” I reply, remembering that night vividly. “And you were so disappointed that Monica had left, so we hung out.”

“And you kissed me.”

Hell, yes, I’d kissed her. She was so sweet and pretty.

“And you put on the brakes. Said Monica would kill you. And I came to my senses because you’re almost ten years younger than me.”

She nods, remembering that night.

“I had such a horrible, painful crush on you,” she admits softly.

I knew. Of course, I knew. From the time she was in middle school, Tash watched me with lovesick eyes.

“But then we grew up,” I add. “And you started dating Jeff Slimeball.”

“Jeff Simpson,” she says with a laugh. “He wasn’t a slimeball. A little weird, maybe. He moved to Seattle. Last I heard, he and his husband are quite happy together.”

“Good for him.” I lean closer to her. “You have a little something right here.”

I brush the tip of my finger over the corner of her mouth. Of course, I lied. There’s nothing there.

But I want to touch her so badly I ache with it.

“What was it?” she asks quietly.

“Nothing.” Her eyes narrow, but I only chuckle. “Your skin is so soft.”

“That’s what you said when I was twenty.”

I swallow and watch her lips move. “I want to be clear here, Tash. I’m attracted to you, though not because of the situation we’re currently in. I want to set that straight right now.”

“So noted. And appreciated.”

She watches as I lean in closer. I want to kiss her. I need to kiss her.

With the very tips of my fingers, I brush her dark locks off her cheek and over the soft crook of her ear.

She swallows and licks her lips.

Just as I’m about to lay my lips on hers, we hear, “Can I have some water?”

I sigh and glance to the right. Kelsey, looking tousled from sleep, holds her brown bear close to her chest.

“I’m thirsty,” she says.

“Sure, sweetie,” Tash says and stands from the couch. “And then right back to bed, okay?”

“Uh-huh,” Kelsey murmurs as she follows Tash to the kitchen.

I blow out a breath and rub my hands over my face.

What am I doing? Getting tangled up with Tash only adds more complications to the whole situation.

I need to keep my hands—and my lips—to myself.

I’m about to say just that when I hear the woman walking back down the hall toward me.

“You know, I was just thinking—”

Before I can finish the thought, she straddles my lap.

I have no choice but to cup that gorgeous ass of hers in my hands—finally!—and stare up at her, waiting.

“Don’t think,” she advises.