So Far Gone in You(Primal Heat 2)(15)

Coop growled low in his throat when he saw the little twerp with Camille say something to her and then turn on his heel and rush down the sidewalk toward a rusted-out red Camaro. Camille gazed after the boy and then shook her head as her dark-gold eyes rolled.

“You want to tell me who he was?” Coop hollered loud enough for the boy to hear before the little punk jumped into his car.

Camille crossed her arms over his small breasts. “Apparently an ex-friend.” She sounded as if she were pissed at Coop.

“You’re fourteen. You don’t have guys for friends.” Coop gave the kid his best menacing glare as the guy’s tires screeched when he zoomed past them and out of the parking lot.

She blinked at Coop and then gave him a you’re unbelievable expression before she sputtered, “Seriously, Cooper? What day and age do you live in? I have lots of guys for friends. Mom and Dad don’t mind.”

“They don’t mind you going off to a concert at your age. They don’t mind you hanging around boys at your age.” Coop swung his leg over his motorcycle and strode toward her. He couldn’t help it, all he saw was his little Camille in her pigtails, still falling off her bike as she desperately tried to learn how to ride it. No, she wasn’t allowed to grow up, and she wasn’t allowed to hang out with boys. “And then I find out you have a crush on a man who is twenty-six years old. Syn’s twelve years your senior.”

Camille smirked as her gaze swung to Karidon who had dismounted as well. “He can count, Kar. I’m impressed.”

“Get over here and give your brother a hug, smarty-pants.” Coop opened his arms, and Camille gave a light and breezy laugh as she hugged him. When his arms wrapped around her, all Coop wanted to do was protect her from the world.

And boys.

Definitely boys.

Coop was biased, but his little sister was as beautiful as a sunrise. Her black hair was long, to her tiny waist, and her dark-gold eyes only lent to her exotic looks. She would always be his little princess and Coop would slay any boy who thought to tarnish her in any way.

Being a big brother to an outgoing, vibrant young woman had given Coop many headaches over the years. He was fourteen years older than her. She was an oops baby his parents had had late in life. But she was a treasure to her family.

“Why are you here?” Camille asked as she pulled away.

“I told you I wasn’t going to be home,” he said as Karidon gave Camille a quick hug. “I didn’t want you showing up to an empty house.”

Her dark brows furrowed. “But I could have gone over to Talyn’s and waited. It was no big deal.”

It was to him, and he wasn’t going to tell her about the bounty on his head. She would only worry.

“Besides,” she continued, “I wanted to meet Gabriel. Mom has told me about him, and I wanted to see the person who tamed Talyn Bourne.” She laughed.

Coop inwardly groaned when Camille’s friend Gracie walked out of the deli, bag in hand. She smiled at him and batted her eyes, making Coop take a step back. When had she gotten braces? Did he care?

“Hi, Cooper,” she said as she gave him a goofy grin, her braces blinging in the sun as she looked at him like a little star-struck puppy Camille snickered, and Karidon smirked.

Coop waved at Gracie before he grabbed Camille by her upper arm and hauled her toward his bike. “How much do you need?” He wanted to get out of there and away from Camille’s exuberant friend.

“Would one hundred and fifty be too much?” she asked. “And I’ll need a ride home since you scared mine away.”

Coop glanced at Gracie, who was giving him the goo-goo eyes, her lashes lifting up and down slowly. He swallowed roughly and shook his head. “Call Mom to come get you.”

Camille hugged him. “I promise to be over to clean if you loan me the money.”

“Do not bring Gracie with you,” Coop grumbled as he pulled the cash out of his wallet and handed it over. She kissed him on the cheek as a throat cleared behind him.

Coop turned, his little sister arms still around his neck, and spotted Olin glaring at him. Coop’s gaze swung from Olin to Camille. This looked bad. Real bad.

He had a teenager hugging him as he handed over some cash. But then something else happened. A deep, clawing hunger rose up when he gazed into Olin’s green eyes.

“I spotted you from the road and pulled in,” Olin said as his gaze swung between Coop and Camille and then over to Gracie and Karidon, who were talking and laughing on the sidewalk.

“Who’s your friend?” Camille asked as she took the cash and shoved it into the colorful purse hanging over his shoulder.