Page 16 of Timeless

“All right, go shower, raid my closet, and you know which room is yours,” Amber said, catching Chelsea shiver.

“Thanks, Amber. I owe you one,” Chelsea said, her eyes still on my sister. Then she looked at my brothers. “It was nice to meet you, and I promise I make a better second impression.”

I don’t think she could beat her first impression. Not with the way that dress clung to her figure.

I stepped out of her way as she turned to walk up the hall. My eyes followed her.

“So, Cole, have I told you how much I love you lately?” Amber said oh-so-sweetly, drawing my suspicion.

Cole grunted. But we all knew whatever Amber wanted, she got. Especially if she asked something of Cole. He would do it. Didn’t matter they had been apart for six years. He would still do anything for her.

“What do you want, Amber?” I said. I needed to change. But it wasn’t like I brought a spare change of clothes.

“I want Cole to do what he does best,” Amber said smugly.

We all knew what Cole did best. Use his fists.

“On who?” Cole looked interested. Hell, I was interested.

“On Mason. Chelsea’s abusive boyfriend. Someone has to scare him away for her.”

“She said she wasn’t going back to him.” I wanted to point that out. The fact someone hurt Chelsea annoyed me. Was that the word for it? Annoyed? No, it was something else. I just couldn’t label it.

“Fine. I’ll do it.” Cole shrugged; he would be more than happy to get into a fist fight. He didn’t need a reason to get into a fight. He would just pick one. Always ready for one.

Still, him making Chelsea’s wounds right didn’t sit right with me. Yeah, I wasn’t letting him act on Chelsea’s behalf. No, I was making this right. I was going to make Chelsea’s boyfriend regret ever touch her.

I’d do that to any man who touched a woman, wouldn’t I? I’d feel this need to use my fists on any man who touched a woman?

Yes, I would. No man should hit a woman. I wasn’t going to beat Chelsea’s boyfriend up because I felt something for her. I was doing it because it was the right thing to do.

* * *

Amber

The boys were surprised when they realized I had a room for each of them. I don’t know why I had to have a room for them in case. But I did. It was one of the reasons I had such a large house.

Plus, the rooms always came in handy with Jack and his friends.

They went to bed before nine, and I wasn’t expecting them up any time soon.

The rain finally stopped around six that night. Chelsea and Jack were playing outside. Jack always roped her into his games. Right now, they were playing soccer. And Chelsea was doing what she always did, letting Jack win.

She was chasing him around the backyard, laughing. Another reason I brought this house was because there were windows overlooking the backyard. I stood at the glass bay windows, watching Jack and Chelsea play.

“Hey.”

I spun around, spotting Troy. He was yawning.

“I didn’t expect any of you to surface until tomorrow,” I said.

He shrugged and walked to my side, his eyes on Chelsea and Jack. I glanced back at them, to see Jack kick the ball past Chelsea and into their pretend goals.

“She’s his favorite adult,” I said, my eyes still on Jack and Chelsea. “He calls her Chilly.”

“Why?”

“Couldn’t say Chelsea when he was smaller.”

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