Obimbo

“His sexy mouth tightened in a thin line. “Fine. You want me to go, I’ll go.” He turned then shot her a glance over his shoulder. “But this isn’t over, Holly. Maybe I stepped over a line tonight, but I did it for you. You spend so much time worrying about your family that you never have enough time for yourself. I just wanted you to have one night that’s only about you, not them. Because I care about you, and I want…” He let out a slow breath. “I want to be with you, and I know you want to be with me.”

Her heart ached as a sad expression filled his face. “And, baby, we’d both be a lot better off if you’d just admit it.” With that, he slid out the door.”
― Elle Kennedy, Heat of Passion

“You want to borrow my girlfriend?” Carson shouted later that afternoon, promptly dropping the box in his hands. The cardboard smashed onto the floor of Carson and Holly’s new glorious kitchen with a resounding thunk and the distinct sound of glass shattering.

“My new plates!” Holly wailed, immediately sinking to her knees. She ripped open the tape closing the two flaps together and peered into the box then looked up at Carson in horror. “You’re a monster!”

Carson scowled at her. “I’ll buy you new plates.” The scowl deepened. “That is, if I decide not to break up with you. I can’t believe this was your idea. I told Garrett you and Shelby shouldn’t hang out. The two of you are trouble together.”

“They’re just trying to help me out,” Will pointed out, experiencing a jolt of sympathy at the despair on Holly’s face. He swiftly knelt down and tried to pry her hands out of the box. “Quit sticking your fingers in there, Hol. It’s filled with broken glass.”

Carson let out an enraged roar. “Don’t you dare console my girlfriend. My girlfriend!”

Holly got to her feet, planting her hands on her hips. “Now I’m definitely going,” she shot out. “You broke my plates.”

“So you’re going to play house with my lieutenant as punishment?”

“He’s in love with another woman!”

“Well, I’m in love with you!”

Holly’s eyes softened. “Doesn’t it make you love me more, knowing I’m willing to help out one of your friends?”

A sigh slid out of Carson’s mouth. “What is it with you and helping people? Didn’t we just decide you’re not going to drop everything for your family anymore?”

“This isn’t my family. It’s yours.”

“Will and I aren’t related.”

“You’re SEALs. Of course you’re related.”

Another sigh. “Yeah, you’re right.” Carson took a step forward and pulled Holly into his arms. “Fine, you can go.”

“Really?”

“I just said it, didn’t I?”

Holly threw her arms around her boyfriend. The two proceeded to make out as if Will wasn’t in the kitchen.

He shook his head to himself. He wasn’t quite certain how they’d gone from furious to calm to horny in a matter of seconds, but he wasn’t complaining. Ever since Holly and Shelby had burst into his house this morning, he’d been warming up to the plan, starting to believe it might actually work. He was glad Carson hadn’t put up more of a fight.

Slipping his hands in the pockets of his khakis, he let the couple smooch a while longer, then cleared his throat. “Uh, guys?”

The two pulled apart sheepishly. “Sorry,” Holly said. “Forgot you were here.”

Story of his life, women forgetting he was standing right in front of them. Hopefully not for much longer, though.

“So how is this going to work?” Carson asked, bending down to retrieve the fallen box. He glanced at his girlfriend. “I’m sorry about the plates, sweetheart. We’ll go out and buy some tomorrow, ’kay?”

“I’m holding you to that.” With a stern look, she headed for the fridge and grabbed a can of soda. Flicking the tab, she raised the can to her lips, sipped, and then said, “Will and I are going to Hunter Ridge tomorrow. Apparently there’s some fair going on this weekend.”
― Elle Kennedy, Heat of the Storm

“Each time a person stands for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, they send a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. —Robert F. Kennedy”
― Misty Griffin, Tears of the Silenced

“Her hands began to shake. “Stay with me. Please.”

He sighed. “Mac, this is my job. You’ve always accepted it before.”

“Yeah, when you were my best friend, not the man I lo—” She halted.

Will’s dark eyes glimmered. “Finish that sentence, baby.”

“Only if you promise not to go.”

“Finish the sentence.”
― Elle Kennedy, Heat of the Storm