Page 47 of Cautious Love

So much for a quiet night.

My gun is in the safe, and I’m not prepared like I should be.

Adrenaline already high, I slowly approach the door. The small window at the top keeps whoever is standing on the porch from seeing me approach, and I check the peephole.

Shit.

“Dude, I know you’re home. I saw you two hours ago. Let me in,” Sterling calls.

I puff out a breath and scramble for excuses as I open the door.

“Hey, I brought beer; figured you’d want to watch the game with me,” Sterling says, holding up a six-pack.

He looks around me and behind him at Shiloh’s Jeep, then he grins widely. “Do you have a lady friend over?”

Then I hear her bedroom door open. Am I in a play? Is this a joke? Please tell me she’s wearing pants.

“Hello there,” Sterling says, slipping past me and rushing Shiloh.

I push the door closed and our eyes meet over his shoulder, and thankfully she’s wearing shorts, only this time they aren’ther baggy ones they’re the ones that hug her ass perfectly, too short for comfort, but I like them on her anyway.

“I’m Sterling,” he says, holding out his hand even though he knows exactly who she is.

Shiloh rolls her eyes and pops her hip out, ignoring his hand. “Sterling, you know exactly who I am.”

He grins and looks at me over his shoulder. “I do, but that doesn’t mean I can’t reintroduce myself. I’m a gentleman, and it’s been a while.”

She rolls her eyes and shuffles to the fridge, pulling out a Coke. “Ever the charmer, Sterling,” she says deadpan.

“Hey, it comes naturally,” he says, gesturing to his body.

His flirty tone makes me bristle, and I know it shouldn’t, but it does.

“You know what else could come naturally?” Shiloh asks.

Sterling hums, completely enamored by her, and a little part of me loves that she’s barely giving him the time of day.

“A swift kick in the balls. Back off, Sterling,” she says and goes back to her room, but as she closes the door, she meets my eyes again, and I swear she says I have nothing to worry about before she closes the door softly.

“I like her. How did that happen?” Sterling asks, spinning on his heel and grabbing a beer.

“Nothing happened,” I mumble.

He huffs. “You’re kidding, right?” he asks.

“No, Sterling, I’m not kidding. She needed help. I offered. Leave it alone,” I mutter.

“Good old Ledger, knight in shining armor.”

I shrug and hold my hand out for a beer before dropping onto the couch. He’s not going to leave anytime soon. Might as well get comfortable. He’ll probably end up passing out on the couch anyway.

Sterling drops onto the sofa next to me and I focus on the game, ignoring my best friend, who I want to kick out at the moment, but that cat is out of the bag now.

“Come on, man, you know I won’t talk. Why is Shiloh Sullivan living with you and wearing a wedding ring?” he asks.

I groan and lean my head back on the cushion. “No. We … no.”

“But —”