Cautious: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Read online

  “Cora and I broke up,” he offers with a half-hearted shrug.

  I raise my eyebrows at that. It's not a secret that none of us guys are big fans of hers, but we kept our mouths shut because Aiden genuinely seemed into her.

  “I’m sorry, man. What happened?” Sipping my black coffee, I wait as he sighs and rubs a hand over his face.

  “Came home early to surprise her but I was the one that ended up surprised when I walked in and found Brett fucking Daniels balls deep inside her while she was bent over the kitchen counter,” he spits out.

  “He still breathing?” I ask, needing to know if Aiden will need an alibi.

  “Breathing sure, walking without a limp, not so much. I’m more pissed off with myself than anything. How the fuck did I not know what kind of soul-sucking bitch I had let into my bed?”

  “It happens, man, trust me. You live and learn,” I reassure him. He’s not the first man to be blinded by a pair of tits, and he won’t be the last.

  An image of Callie’s ample bust flashes to mind, making my dick twitch.

  He grunts before placing his mug on the desk behind him.

  “Anyway, I slept in my truck. I knew I couldn’t deal with her bullshit without losing my mind.”

  “You need a place to crash?” I offer, pulling my mind back to the present.

  “Nah, it's fine. I’m looking at an apartment this afternoon. Thank fuck we hadn’t been able to agree on which house we wanted to buy. Both our names are on the lease, so I’ll just give the manager a call and have my name removed.”

  “No worries. The boys and I will come by later and help you grab your shit so you don't have to go back there after today. You can stash everything at my place for as long as you need to, and the offer is always open if you need a place to crash.”

  “Appreciated. I’ve got to go. Noah and I have a pickup this morning.”

  “The Brown case, right?” I reply, remembering the case is one of our usual ones. Aiden and Noah will be in court offering protection to a woman, Ava Brown, while she confronts her violent ex.

  “Let me know how it goes,” I tell him, then turn to the back of the room that leads to the offices and the break room when I hear footsteps and see Noah walking toward us. He has a slice of toast shoved in his mouth as he pulls on his black leather jacket.

  Where Aiden is dark and broody, Noah is the polar opposite. Fair-haired and quick to smile, he has what women describe as a boyish face. The only thing messing with his pretty-boy looks is the scar that bisects his left eyebrow and lines his face down to his jaw. Not that it ever stops him from attracting the ladies.

  Both men are big and broad, and standing at around six-three and six-four, they are the perfect guys for the Brown case. They’ll make sure Ava feels safe when facing the monster that beat her throughout the duration of their marriage.

  Protection is, after all, what our office specializes in. With seven of us, we are able to cater to anything—from close guard security details of the elite to assisting in domestic violence cases.

  Noah nods to me as they both head out through the glass front door that's etched with my company logo and name—Price Security.

  Grabbing my coffee, I stroll toward my private office in the back, determined to get some work done and not spend the rest of the day thinking about a certain adorable little blonde and that damned pink cock of hers.

  Chapter Three

  Callie

  Putting the incident with Bundy temporarily out of my mind, I begin the arduous task of unpacking.

  I spend most of the day sweating like a pig as I clean, put fresh sheets on the bed, and mop the floors. Collapsing onto the sofa with a yawn, I admit defeat and call it quits for the day, utterly exhausted, but I accomplished what I needed to.

  Looking out the window, I see that the bright blue sky has begun to darken, a dusky violet hue painting the view as the colors outside mute their intensity with the approaching darkness. I had been so busy trying to get everything done that I never realized just how much time had passed.

  “Fuck.” What I want to do is climb under a steaming hot shower and try out the speed settings eight through twelve of the invader before collapsing into the surprisingly comfortable bed, but the fridge and cupboards are bare, which puts a kink in my plan. If there is one thing that trumps sleep, it’s food.

  When I was a kid, we moved around a lot. Most of our time was spent in either shelters or motels. That meant I ended up developing some quirks. One of those is that I like my cupboards and fridge to always be full. There is something visually comforting about opening the door, knowing I can eat what I want whenever I want it.

  My stomach grumbles in agreement with my thoughts. “Well, the food isn’t going to buy itself,” I mutter before dragging myself back up the stairs for a quick shower. I throw on my favorite pair of faded blue jeans and a rainbow-striped tank top. Tugging my hair up into a messy bun, I slip my feet into my Converse and call it good. It's not like I’m trying to impress anyone, and I figure the odds of me running into Charlie Hunnam are relatively low.

  I snag my keys and wallet from the table in the hallway and lock up before making my way down the path toward my beat-up, phlegm-green VW beetle.

  There is a breeze in the air, offering a nice reprieve from today's unseasonably warm temperature. Perfect for driving with the windows down and the music turned up.

  I have my hand on the car door, my key ready to open it, when I hear a hiss and then a groan, followed by the sound of something dropping to the ground in the yard next door.

  Hesitating for a moment, I remind myself of the lessons I learned about stranger danger in school and that I’ve already interacted with a hotel clerk, my landlady, and Bundy today. That’s three people over my usual limit. I turn back to my car but hesitate when I hear a soft pain-filled gasp. Feeling uneasy, I wait a little longer, looking around for another adult and sigh when I realize I’m the only one about. Urgh, fine.

  “I deserve two tubs of ice cream for this good Samaritan shit,” I mumble to myself, making my way across the uneven pebbles and around the row of conifers separating my neighbor's house from mine. Keeping my key in my hand just in case I need a weapon, I berate myself for not investing in some mace. I’d buy a gun, but knowing me, I’d shoot myself in the foot the first day I had it.

  I make my way around the bush that runs along the road at the end of the neighbor's driveway, stopping to take in the scene before me.

  An older lady, probably in her early to late seventies, is standing next to her trash cans by the gate at the end of her drive.

  By her feet is a black bag that has split open, spilling its contents of food scraps and trash, littering the surrounding ground.

  The woman is gripping a walker, trying to use it for balance as she attempts to bend but each movement looks painful, so much so that I wince when she gasps once more.

  “Here, let me help you with that,” I offer, sliding my keys and wallet into the back pocket of my jeans before pulling the wrought iron gate open.

  She startles slightly, placing a hand over her chest.

  “Jesus fucking Christ, you scared the shit out of me,” she swears, making my polite smile turn huge. This gray-haired woman wearing a hot pink housecoat and sporting a head full of rollers has just become my idol.

  “My bad. I come in peace; I swear.” I do the Vulcan salute to show my sincerity before bending down and scooping up all the trash and depositing it into the trash cans.

  “Thank you so much, dear. I had a fall and now I’m not quite as sprightly as I once was,” she explains, clearly frustrated.

  “I’m sure you’ll be back to your normal self soon enough,” I reassure her, although I have no idea if that's true or not.

  “I do hope so. Gentlemen callers prefer bendy girls, after all,” she tells me straight-faced, making me gulp and then choke on a lungful of air.

  Oh my god. I want to be her when I grow up.

  “Come, let’s
get your hands washed, and I’ll make you some tea.”

  It doesn’t even cross my mind to refuse. I’m strangely charmed by this dirty-mouthed grandma. Plus, my hands are sticky and gross.

  “Tell me, dear, what's your name?” she asks, carefully maneuvering her walker over the step into her house as I follow her, closing the door behind me.

  “I’m Callie, your new neighbor,” I inform her as we make our way into a brightly lit, cozy kitchen with a cottage-style theme.

  “Sit, sit.” She shoos me into the corner where her table and chairs are, the same spot I have mine.

  She continues to talk as she buzzes about making us a drink.

  “My name is Juniper Price, like the berry, but you can call me June. All my friends do.”

  “Well, it's nice to meet you, June. Have you lived here long?” I question, blowing over the rim of the cup that she hands me. Small talk—I can do small talk, right?

  “Hmm… I’ve lived in Sunnyville my whole life. I traveled some in my younger years, but I always knew I would settle here and, lucky for me, my late husband loved it here as much as I do.”

  “I can see why. I’ve not even been here a week and I’m already half in love with the place.”

  She smiles as she sits in her chair gingerly. “It has that effect on people. Take my grandson, for instance. He joined the army straight out of high school. He couldn’t wait to get out and explore what the world has to offer. Don’t get me wrong, he did, but now he is back here, drawn to it like a moth to the flame.”

  I smile at her softly as I take a sip of the sweet tea and place it on the table in front of me.

  “I’d say your grandson came home for more than just the town.” I know I would have if I’d been blessed to have had a grandmother like June. Sadly, both sets of my grandparents died when I was young—too young for me to remember them now.

  She beams at my words, clearly taking the compliment as I intended, when something she said clicks into place.

  “Wait, Price? Is your grandson named Blake by any chance?” I blurt out, realizing that would explain how he had ended up on my doorstep.

  “Why, yes, have you two met?” she inquires, her eyes sparkling at the thought.

  I feel myself blush when I picture him holding the invader and squirm in my seat, deciding to edit that part out of my meet and greet.

  “Er, yeah. I was moving some boxes into the house earlier and dropped one. He um… helped me pick the stuff up off the ground,” I stutter, feeling uncomfortable sitting here with her while thinking about her grandson and all the dirty things I want him to do to me.

  “Aw, he’s such a sweet boy. So, when is he taking you out?” she continues.

  I splutter on the mouthful of tea I’ve just taken.

  “How did you know…? Crap, is this his thing? Finding damsels in distress to save, because I have to be honest, any would-be white knights I’ve encountered usually turn out to be little more than jerkoffs in tinfoil.” I shiver at the thought of why I moved here in the first place. Yeah, men can be deceptively nice until they hear the word no.

  She laughs at that but I’m not joking, not even close.

  “Although it is true my grandson likes to help out damsels in distress, especially in his line of work, he never asks them out.”

  “Then how did you know he asked me?”

  “Oh, honey child, do you even own a mirror? All of this,” she waves a hand over me, “is why my grandson asked you out. He is nobody's fool, that's for sure. Lord knows you two will make me some gorgeous grandbabies.” She mutters the last part to herself, but I hear her loud and clear.

  “I er… what is happening right now?” How did I go from picking up trash to having babies?

  “Nothing for you to worry about. Now, tell me everything about you.”

  Oh, boy. It looks like shopping will have to wait until tomorrow.

  Chapter Four

  Blake

  I pause for a moment on the front step of my grandmother's house when I hear laughter coming from inside. Intrigued, I push the door open and follow the sound toward the kitchen.

  “And—” the familiar voice cuts off with a chuckle before continuing, “she sat there, cutting it up before asking if I needed help.”

  My grandmother bursts into laughter just as I round the corner, my eyes landing on the blonde sitting at the table who hasn’t strayed far from my thoughts.

  “What's so funny?” I question, making them both jump. My grandmother places a hand over her chest, but the little demonic blonde picks up an apple from the fruit bowl in the center of the table and lobs it at my head.

  I catch it before it can connect, placing the bouquet of flowers I brought with me on the counter before taking a big bite.

  “Nice throw,” I compliment as her eyes go wide. Fucking adorable.

  “Shit, I’m so sorry.” She cringes, embarrassed.

  I wink and wave her off, before taking another bite of the apple and walking over to place a kiss on my grandmother's cheek.

  “So, what was so funny?” I repeat, tossing the apple core in the trash.

  “Callie was telling me about a date she went on where the man brought his mother with him. She then proceeded to tuck a napkin into his collar and cut up his steak for him.”

  I snort as Callie goes bright red.

  “Well, at least I know the bar is set pretty low for me then,” I remark playfully, watching her bite her lip, making me imagine what she might taste like.

  “Blake Price, you behave. I expect you to be the perfect gentleman I know you to be and woo her,” my grandmother snaps, interrupting my thoughts, which tend to all go in one direction when Callie is around me. South, with my blood flow.

  “Woo me? Did we go back in time?” Callie teases my grandmother.

  I have to admit, I like that they like each other. My grandmother is pretty good at reading people, and she hated my ex-girlfriend on sight. Not that she was really my girlfriend to begin with, but there was no way I was explaining to my grandmother that Becky was nothing more than a dirty fuck when I got sick of my hand. She doesn’t understand that not everyone is looking for a love connection

  “Young’uns today,” my grandmother tuts, snapping me out of my musings. I see Callie flush, making me realize I’ve zoned out staring at her. Thank fuck it’s her face, not her boobs like the creeper I clearly am.

  “Let him spoil you,” my grandmother continues. “Get to know what makes you tick and see if there is a connection. If you give away the cookies for free, child, he’ll eat his fill and move on to his next snack. But feed him crumbs, and he will be sniffing around your cookie for years to come.”

  Callie and I stare at each other in amusement before turning to face my grandmother almost in slow motion.

  “There are so many things wrong with this conversation, I don't even know where to start,” I tell her honestly.

  “And I would like to add, I have no intention of giving your grandson my… er… cookie,” Callie adds adamantly.

  Oh, sweetheart, I do like a challenge.

  As if sensing where my thoughts have gone, she scowls at me, crossing her arms over her chest, drawing my eyes to the swell of her breasts peeking out over the edge of her tank top. Speaking of swelling.

  I step behind Callie’s chair, which thankfully hides my growing cock from my poor grandmother's eyes, but now I have a clear view all the way down the front of Callie’s top, taking my cock from semi to stiff in a nanosecond.

  “Well now, Callie, never say never.” My grandmother continues to impart us with her words of wisdom. “You have to give him your cookie at some point, child. A man can't stay on a diet forever without cheating.”

  “Are you… did you… is she?” Callie splutters, looking up at me, flummoxed.

  I laugh and decide to throw her a bone.

  Speaking of bones.

  I discreetly adjust myself before sliding a hand over one of her slim shoulders, my fingertips brushing
over her collarbone, making her shiver.

  “She’s old. I’m pretty sure she’s going senile, so ignore her.”

  “I will whoop your ass. I’ll show you senile,” my grandmother snaps at me as I use my other hand to stroke Callie’s back.

  “I’m not having sex with you on our first date!” Callie yells out unexpectedly, making me laugh out loud.

  "I didn’t think you would, so calm down. I really do just want to spend time getting to know you,” I reassure her when I feel how tense she has become. Thankfully, she relaxes at my words.

  “All right, all right. This senile old woman is getting tired. Blake, walk Callie home, please, and thank you for the flowers, they’re my favorite,” my grandmother announces with a discreet wink at me.

  When Callie starts to protest, I talk over her.

  “Favorite flowers for my favorite girl,” I tease my grandmother. Now that my dick has calmed down, I walk around the table and place another kiss on her cheek before helping her to her feet. “Can you manage?” I ask her quietly.

  “Boy,” she answers in that stern tone she used to use when I was a kid and tried to sneak dessert before I’d finished my supper.

  I shake my head at her stubbornness. “All right, all right,” I capitulate before turning to Callie. “You ready?” I ask her, holding out my hand.

  She looks at my hand, then my face, then back to my hand again before standing and walking toward me, sliding her smaller one into mine.

  “Callie, come back soon, you hear me?” my grandmother demands, wrapping an arm around Callie’s shoulders quickly before pulling away.

  “I… er… Sure, June, I’d like that.”

  “Good, now get going, and remember what I said,” she calls as we walk down the hall toward the front door.

  “Nope, I’m working pretty hard to forget everything she said to me from the moment you arrived,” Callie informs me quietly.

  “Now, that's a crying shame,” I tease her, stepping out into the cooling air, pulling the door closed behind us.