Draked Up: Book 5 of Colson Brothers Series by Reese Madison Page A

sneaky, and stepped over to lean his thigh against the dresser and give me a one-eyebrow raised look of amusement.
    I took my hand away as if the bag was on fire. “Sorry. I tend to be nosy, and I know nothing about you.” Like that was an excuse for my behavior.
    He nodded to the bag giving me permission to snoop, so, I did.
    I’m like a kid on Christmas morning with a mystery to solve. Who is this man? Why is he so interested in me? And why can’t I resist his… charm? No. I wouldn’t refer to Drake as charming. The only thing I found of interest I was so used to seeing it didn’t faze me. I used to carry a gun too.
    I looked up closing the bag, but not zipping it. “Well, that was boring. I’ve been meaning to get another gun, but I always spend my money on bills and these trips. Plus guns kind of remind me of my old life.” I’m talking to myself, but not.
    He reached into the bag, unloaded and dislodged the clip of his .400, then held it out for me to take.
    I admired the gun for a moment reminiscing over all the times I went target practicing with my .380, “Thank you, but my fingers aren’t strong enough to load these clips.” I showed him my hands, “They’ve been broken a few times. I liked my old .380.” I turned around to snoop some more while he put the gun back together.
    A minute later he took my hand and motioned for me to sit on the edge of the bed to read what he’d written while I wasn’t looking. He picked up my foot after dropping the pad in my lap.
    You can keep the job at the club, but quit the other two.
    “I wish. I need the money Drake.” I gave him my other foot so he could remove that shoe too.
    He tossed my shoe aside with the other one.
    I scooted back on the bed and sat Indian-style as I pulled a pillow over to hug to my chest. “What did you do with those two guys?”
    He sat with his back to me to remove his boots now.
    “Never mind. I don’t think you should tell me, then I’d be an accessory.”
    He fell back suddenly landing his ruggedly handsome head in my lap.
    I can’t help but touch his long wavy black hair. It falls just past his shoulders when he takes the ponytail holder out, which he did when we walked into the room. “I’ve warned you about getting involved with me, right?”
    He nodded once with that affirming blink.
    “Did you enjoy yourself earlier at the house?” I accused trying to tap his nose, but he’s fast and tried to bite my finger in defense.
    His shrug was noncommittal.
    “I wish I could see the bill for cleaning up the rubber you laid on that concrete.”
    He caught my hands and began studying them with his eyes and fingers.
    “I’m going to need those arthritic gloves in another year or two.”
    He pressed a kiss to my palm as he shook his head.
    “How long have you been mute?”
    He held up three fingers.
    “Three weeks?”
    He shook his head.
    “Three months?”
    A nod.
    “Does it hurt?”
    He shook his head before rolling and crawling over me until I landed on my back.
    I put my hands on his chest, “I’m not ready for this.”
    He nodded as if I’d stated the obvious.
    “I have nothing to offer you Drake. You know my life now. If it’s sex you want, I’m sorry, I don’t do one night stands. I’m already having trouble with you engraining yourself in my girl’s lives without asking me first. If Ashley never sees you again it’s going to break her heart, bad.”
    He put his finger to my lips silencing me. Our eyes locked in silent understanding for a long time. I’ve never looked into anyone’s eyes this long. It’s amazing what you can see just by lingering.
    Drake’s eyes and expression told me he’s insulted by my words. The thumb he ran over my cheek as his eyes drank me in told me this was not a one-night stand for him. I should have pushed him away when he lowered his lips to mine, but I couldn’t.
    Something happened just now. Something big. Just before his talented lips caused my brain to go blank, I made