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HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 51
Chandler had had his fair share of meals at that table. The couch and chair—basic and brown leather—faced a small TV on an equally small console table because when Paul was home, he was outdoors.His property was probably more than five acres of heavily wooded forests, and the entire square footage of his cabin couldn't have been more than five hundred. The soaring ceilings of the main room is what made it feel bigger than it was. The old-fashioned wood-burning stove set into the back corner gave it a warm, inviting feeling, which would get even better once he had it lit."Bedroom upstairs?" she asked.Chandler nodded. "The loft."Elena eyed the staircase warily."Don't worry," he told her. "I have a long history crashing on that couch, and I've had much worse nights of sleep than that."Elena turned and faced the part of the cabin that was all windows. It was Paul's, and Chandler's, favorite part of the cabin. Yeah, it was small, but one whole side showed the beauty of this place the
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She inhaled. "Why'd you guys do that?""Who knows?" he admitted. "We were seventeen and bored, and our friends probably thought we'd be too chicken shit to do it." Elena was a loud thinker, he was coming to realize. Especially when she was trying to figure something out. And right now, she was trying to figure him out. She stared at that picture so hard, he was surprised it didn't jump off the wall. "No wonder," she murmured.He stepped closer behind her and took a slow inhale. It was stronger than it had been on the pillow, that incredible scent. He had to fight not to bury his nose in her hair, wrap his arms around her from behind, and glory in how warm and soft she'd be tucked into his body.It was so clear she wanted to put him together like a puzzle that no one had sorted. But eventually, she'd see that it wasn't as complicated as all that. He was what his family thought. A screwup and a disappointment. He was what Paul thought too. A hothead who didn't think things through."N
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Over her shoulder, Elena gave him a chiding look. "I guess you've forgotten that I bake too."Chandler held up his hands with a laugh. "Touché, Princess, touché."She shook her head. "Of course I can cook and I'm good at it."Tugging a chair out from the table with his foot, Chandler took a seat and shamelessly watched her navigate around the small kitchen area."How come you and Emily do everything together and yet you and Elijah are not as close as the both of them are?"Her smile was barely visible as she stirred the sauce. "Emily and I don't do everything together… At least not anymore," Chandler thought about the picture of her and her sister from her apartment. "Did something happen?"She snorted. "Not exactly. We were ... oh," she sighed, "how do I put this?I guess after college, living in different states kinda separated us too much…More than we cared to admit," Watching as Elena tasted the sauce, then added some salt, he nodded. He could understand that. Carefully, she set
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They ate quietly for a few minutes until Chandler felt like a complete asshole. It wasn't her fault, not really. Elena didn't have to try to understand why he and his stepmother had the relationship they did, and how that bled into his relationships with his father and brother. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Elena spoke first."I don't like thinking too hard about things that upset me too, so I understand." She told him, This didn't feel like the time to say anything, so he held her gaze across the table and waited. Elena twirled some pasta on her fork and took another bite. When she was done chewing, she set the fork down. "I'm not angry with you, and I don't know exactly why I want to figure you out as you put it. I guess I just… I want to know you… And understand you… That's all."Even though her words touched him, her face was so calm when she said it that he laughed."That's funny?" she asked."Not really," he admitted, then he added even though she had not asked again. "
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Chandler surged forward and took her mouth. Oh, he took it deep and sweet and hot and hungry. Endless, wonderful kisses that had them panting and sighing and moaning as her hands ripped at his shirt. He took pity, breaking away to tear it off. Her hands slid over his skin, wonderful and gorgeous and stacked with muscles.Using his hands underneath her ass, he picked her up and stood, then moved to the couch in the sitting room area. He turned them so that she was underneath him on the couch. Once she was settled, those hands moved onto the waistband of her leggings as he peeled them off. They landed in a heap on the floor. Her underwear came next, his tongue coming out to lick along his bottom lip in a way that had her writhing helplessly while he stood and shucked off his pants and boxer briefs.Before he came back between her legs, Chandler snagged his wallet from the side table and pulled out a condom.She widened her legs so that he could settle his hips between them, and their ha
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"Morning," she mumbled, giving him a sleepy grin that had his heart twisting painfully in his chest."Morning." He leaned down to give her a kiss.Elena scrunched her face adorably. "I bet my morning breath is lovely.""I don't give a shit," Chandler told her. With his thumb, he traced along her bottom lip. "These are worth it."In the bright morning light, it was a delightful discovery that Elena was unashamed of her nudity because she didn't even attempt to cover her equally delightful breasts using the sheet draped around her waist."I hope Paul has Advil downstairs," she said.Chandler hummed. "You sore today, princess?""Wipe that smug ass grin off your face."His laughter had her smiling. The smile was the best thing he could have woken to. Not only was Elena not ducking out of bed, avoiding eye contact or explaining to him why it could never happen again. Explaining why she hadn't been thinking when she'd let him do all sorts of filthy things to her incredible body.Thump. Scra
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'I'm fine! Sorry. Sorry. Spotty service, haven't been checking my phone.' 'Not amused, Sis, not amused. I swear I'm ready to castrate Chandler for kidnapping you.' 'Chandler is hardly at fault for the snowstorm and he didn't kidnap me. I'm fine, and I'm on my way home now, so calm down, please.'"Emily's freaking, huh?" Chandler asked after he finally pulled the car onto the road.Her phone and all their belligerent texts were safely tucked into her bag where he wouldn't accidentally see them. The last thing Chandler needed was to know that Emily was ready to sic federal agents on him."They're ... fine." She tucked her leg up against her chest and stared happily at his profile. "But they're on to you, bud. They know the roads were cleared yesterday.""On to me?" Chandler glanced at her. "Should I tell them who seduced who into staying for one more day? Because only one of us was topless and begging. With straddling involved, I might add."Elena held up her hand. "Okay, okay. I get
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Her gut screamed at her over whatever logic her head told her to just ... keep her mouth shut about Elijah. Elijah didn't even know about her crush on him. No one did, so there wasn't even really a secret to be brought out into the open. It was just something she used to feel. Something she'd gotten over."What's waiting for you when you get back home?" Chandler asked.Elena smiled, happy for the change in subject. "Dinner at Emily and Daniel's. But that's after Elijah and Lexi come back from their honeymoon. They're going to be back early because of work, and knowing Emily, It's going to be loud and crazy and ... perfect. Wanna come""Ermmm… I'm not really looking forward to Emily bashing my head in with a pestle when I show up at her house," Turning slightly in her seat, Elena took a moment to gauge his facial expression. Because his eyes were covered, she couldn't get a true read on him, not really, but the rest of him looked relaxed and happy. Interested.This was the both of the
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HOW TO CATCH A BAD BOY 69
"It's okay, Chandler. You were surprised and out of your element, and you should have heard it from me." Elena told him. "Don't let me off the hook, love." He dropped his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on her lips. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you, and I plan on apologizing to Emily and Daniel for walking out of their house. I have no excuse.""Okay." He smiled. "Just okay?"Elena's hands found their way up his chest, a slow trek, and she relished the heat of his skin coming through the material of his shirt. She only stopped when her palm was over his thudding heart. "Yeah. I don't think either one of us needs fancy words or big speeches about what happened. I just ... I just need you to know that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for not telling you when I had the chance. I need you to know that I'm in this with you, even if you screw up, which you will. Just like I will too, but we'll always find our way back to each other. That's all I want."Chandler plucked her hand off his che
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The only thing that could've tugged Elena's attention away from Chandler was her sister hustling to her side with a devious grin on her face. Her eyes were bright with tears, and Elena felt her happiness for her like a sweet wave. "I know you might not want to, but talk to him," Emily told her. Elena shook her head. Yes, she missed him terribly, but she'd gone through this phase with him before. She had given him another chance, and here she was… Hurt again. Maybe they cared about each other. Maybe they even loved each other, but did it really mean that they should be together? Not everyone in love could be in a relationship, and maybe she and Chandler were like that. Maybe they'd only keep hurting each other if they remained together. Maybe their relationship was meant to be a short one. Chandler's gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on her. His chest expanded on a deep breath, and his eyes warmed in his handsome face. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and he'd shaved. Th
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Chandler hooted with laughter. "Nothing to do with you? Pray tell, enlighten me, Future Dr. Kendrick.""I'm no shrink, but Elena is the first woman to make you want something more. And you'd have to put every part of you on the line in order to make something real with her. It's scary, and you've never done it, and you grabbed the most convenient excuse to make life easier on yourself. That excuse is bullshit, but you'll hold on to it like it's a life raft."Chandler glared mightily at him because clearly someone had used their time driving up here to prepare exactly how to knee him in the proverbial balls. Paul murmured like he was hearing a good sermon. He got a glare too.Elijah leaned forward. "What if she had been the one to show at your door?"The second he said it, his heart reacted without a single thought on his end.Racing, pounding, thumping erratically at the mere mention of her on the other side of that door. He wanted it so badly.Wanted her."What if you had the chance,
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Pinching the bridge of his nose, Chandler willed his mind to stop cycling around those thoughts because it didn't matter. It was like two months of his life, and that was it.He'd get over it. He'd get over her.His phone lit up again, and he sighed. "I don't know what he could possibly want to say to me."The recliner squeaked as Paul leaned forward. "I'm curious too. Hello?""What are you doing?" he yelled. "Give me that phone."When he tried to swipe for it, Paul flipped him off. "Elijah? Yeah, this is Paul. I am with the grumpy asshole."Even though his leg screamed in protest, Chandler stood from the couch and towered over Paul, holding out his hand and giving him his most forbidding glare.Paul ignored him. "Hmm. Sure, yeah. Makes sense." He continued. "Give me the phone, Paul.""Great idea, Elijah. Yeah. I like it."When he handed Chandler the phone, he exhaled heavily. Then he saw the call was already disconnected. Chandler blinked. "He hung up?""Guess so."His eyebrows lift
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"Emily," Elena warned. "You paused. Why did you pause?"She scrunched up her face. "Did I?"Elena sat forward. "Oh my gosh, what is it? Are you moving out of town? Are you leaving? Are you sick?""Slow your roll, crazy," Emily said on a laugh. "I'm not sick, good grief."Her heart settled back into a normal rhythm. "Well, it's something.""I didn't want to say anything with all the feelings and everything that's been going on." Emily gestured to Elena. "But…. I'm pregnant," "What?" Elena shrieked excitedly, and hugged her sister tightly. "Congratulations. You should have told me since," "Well, I was going to… But then I screwed up so I had to fix things first," Elena beamed at her, "You and Daniel are going to be so happy, and I'm going to be the best Aunt ever," "So you're coming right?" "Do you really have to ask? Of course I am coming." She hesitated for a while, then added, "Will Chandler be there?" she asked carefully. "It's not that I'd ... I don't know, avoid going if he w
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Emily braced her arms on her thighs and leaned toward her. "Okay, talk to me. Tell me everything. I mean, maybe not like, sex details. But ... what happened while you were gone?"Then she patted the bed. Elena's entire being settled back into place as she and Emily braced their backs against the wall. She curled her hand around hers with their legs stretched out straight onto the bed, and Elena unloaded for the next thirty minutes.After a bit, Emily leaned her head on her shoulder, and Elena set her head on hers, and they fell quiet before she got to the scene in the driveway. She didn't even attempt to wipe the tears coming down her face during that part."I'm so mad at him for leaving," Elena said, voice hoarse from talking. "But I get it. I don't want to, but I do.""I don't."Elena nudged her. "I don't need you to vilify him."Emily laughed under her breath. After the driveway showdown, dinner was a shitshow. Elena cried in the balcony while Elijah, Daniel Emily and Lexi yelled
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Elena froze, and she had to clench her teeth tightly to keep from screaming at her that there was no conceivable way she could have known that when they'd never freaking talked about it.Emily, like a rabid dog, saw the pause in her motion and pounced on it. "I thought you guys talked about it, okay? And I just ... I was trying to make conversation because seriously, I was trying to be nice to him. I wanted to get closer to him because I thought it'd make you happy, and honestly, I was starting to like him. I just wanted to have a conversation."By telling him I had a crush on his brother! Elena wanted to scream. Her eyes pinched shut. This was killing her.Because no matter how pissed she was, she could feel it seeping through her skin, how miserable Emily was.She was sad. She was frustrated. She was scared.Between the two of them, Elena was always the one who caved first. Who tried to keep the peace. Who let things slide. And she didn't want to let this slide because she was mi
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Chandler dropped his chin and breathed deeply. "Could you?""I don't hold your past against you. Because it's irrational and unfair, and you know it." She said, "That's not what I mean." He lifted his head, held her gaze, and the resolve Elena saw there chilled her to her core. "Could you overlook it if I told you that I showed up that night to take a shot with Emily?" Words were gone. Her mouth was sand-dry at what that did to her.He kept talking, quiet, dangerous words that did horrible things to her heart."If I told you that I thought about being with her, touching her, kissing her, and for even one moment, I was disappointed that I got you instead."She sucked in a startled breath."Yeah," he said slowly, softly. "You couldn't overlook it either. Because that look in your pretty brown eyes, baby. It feels like I just punched you in the gut, doesn't it?"Her eyes filled with tears, and she hated them. She hated that he was right. And for just a moment, one fleeting, fast one, s
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"What did Emily say to you?" Elena asked quietly. It was taking everything in her not to march up to him and shake the answer out of him."I can see it." Chandler said, Elena's head tilted at his strange answer. She felt like a fish that had been plopped unceremoniously out of its bowl. It was hard to breathe because she had no concept of how to navigate this. "See what?"He exhaled slowly, finally turning to face her. "You and Elijah."Her stomach was now the thing giving her all the ominous feels because it turned dangerously. What the hell did her sister say to him? "Elijah and I," she repeated quietly. "Chandler... I—" Denial trapped in her throat. Nothing else came up. Because she couldn't lie.And he saw that on her face.He nodded. "You'd look great together. And it's probably really fucking stupid on my end that I never even considered that you were into him.""I don't want Elijah," she argued. Carefully, she approached him with her hands held up. Don't spook him, Elena, beca
