Her brothers best friend

Chapter 5

Joes pov

“Touch my bacon and I will cut your hand off.” She said. Joe started laughing. She did too. She walked to the door and opened it.

“Hey!” She sounded so excited.

“Hey I heard about Jared you doing okay?” Must be her boyfriend… for now. Joe got up and cleared up some of the dishes. He started loading the dishwasher.

“Yeah. I’m okay. I slept through most of the worry.” Joe showed up behind her. Even in baggy pants her butt looked great. Her boyfriend seemed confused at the sight of him. She turned around. Almost like she forgot Joe was even here.

“He’s one of Jared’s friends. He came over because my phone died and I hadnt charged it. Uncle frank was worried.” She said. Cruz seemed fine with that explanation. Which was surprising. There was no way Joe would be fine if that was his girl.

“Why don’t you come crash at my place for a few days?” Cruz asked Della. No! He silently begged her with everything in him to say no. He wanted to spend time with her.

“sure. I’ll go pack.” She turned around and looked at the kitchen. There wasn’t that much clean up. Joe cleaned up most of the prep dishes when she was in the shower.

“I got this go pack.” Joe said. And she walked upstairs. Cruz stayed down with Joe.

“I’m Cruz by the way.”

“Joe. I’m technically nicks partner.” Joe said.

“How long has that been a thing?” Cruz asked.

“We went through hell week together. Then he came back here and I got stationed here. Known him for about 9 years.” Joe said.

“That’s cool. So you have seen Della grow up.” Boy has he. He has seen her turn hot! He has seen her through every awkward phase of her life.

“Yeah. Mostly. I haven’t been around here as much the last couple of years. Saw her the first time in like 2 years on her birthday. Her brothers invited me over.” He heard Della come down. He was finishing up drying the dishes.

“Those can stay a few days. Out.” She said pointing to the door. Joe smirked. He hung up the dish towel and then picked up his phone and keys and walked past her. She smelt off. Not anything like the perfume Joe got her for her birthday. She must not have opened it. He knows she took it upstairs. She also never officially thanked him. So there’s no way she opened it. She probably forgot. A lots happened the few weeks. Cruz followed him out of the house. They were still talking. Della turned off all the lights then walked out and locked the door. Cruz grabbed her duffle. He was good to her at least. If he wasn’t Joe would have a thing or two to say about it. Not like Della would actually listen to him. But he would have a talk with Nick or Jared. They would talk to her and she would definitely listen to them.

“It was nice to meet you. Maybe we can all hang out sometime.” Cruz said. Doubtful. He knows the guys not blind. There was no way he didn’t know that Joe had a hard on for his girl.

“Yeah maybe when this whole Jared thing is over.” Joe said. And he meant it. Slightly. “Bye Della.” He smiled at her and walked away. He hopped into his truck. Cruz walked to his and opened the door for Della. So sweet. She didn’t look over in joes direction. She hopped up. Joe started his truck and took off. He got home. Seemed so lonely without her. Which is weird he’s never had a problem being alone. He preferred it. There was just something about Della. He pulled his phone out.

‘Make it safely to your destination?’

He noticed Cruz didn’t turn in the direction of his dad’s house. His phone vibrated. There was a picture. There was a fire. A book in Della’s lap and a mug. Looked like it had tea in it. She had a blanket over her legs. Gosh those legs could kill. So toned and firm looking. Tan. Gosh what Joe would do to her if he got between them. Wow… what a thought. He doubts she’s had s*x. She’s probably still a virgin. He hasn’t had s*x in years. He’s not normally that horny of a guy. What was Della doing to him?

‘Not exactly what I was expecting but it feels good.’

He bets it did.

‘You look like you’re suffering… need me to come save you?’

He hoped she would say yes.

‘No. Let me suffer some more.’

He smirked. He didn’t know what else to tell her. He changed and got ready to go for a run.

Della’s pov

She was sitting on the couch. Cruz gave her a book and mug of tea. He placed a blanket on her. Gosh this was heaven. Her phone vibrated. Hopefully an update on Jared! Nope. It was Joe. The heavenly feeling just left the room.

‘Make it safely to your destination?’

She thought about ignoring him. It would serve him right. But after this morning she decided to be nice to him. He didn’t have to do what he did with her. He was told to check up on her. He didn’t have to cook or clean. She didn’t ask him to.

‘Not exactly what I was expecting but it feels good.’

‘You look like you’re suffering… need me to come save you?’

Her heart lunged. Save her. Yes! He would too. He would make her feel so good. Or at least distract her for a moment.

‘No. Let me suffer some more.’

No reply back. That was fine. She picked up her book again. Continued reading. She doesn’t know how long she was reading for. Cruz sat down on the couch at her feet. He handed her a bowl of soup. The sun had already set.

“Did you just make this?” She asked surprised.

“I started it hours ago. You are apparently distracted with your book.” He started eating his.

“You better be careful. If this is the treatment I get I may never leave.” And she meant it. She would stay here forever. He laughed.

“I would probably like that.” He said. She knew he was going to propose soon. She lifted up her spoon. Which appeared to be a fork… with a ring on it. She gave Cruz a look.

“Were you expecting it?” He had a smirk on his face.

“No. Now it’s all dirty.”

“That’s the fake one.” Cruz said. What?!

“You are enjoying messing with me aren’t you?”

“Yes. It’s fun to see you confused. He handed her a spoon. Which also had a ring on it. She gave him another look. He laughed. She removed it and put it on the coffee table. That one felt real.

“That’s the real one.” Cruz said.

“Is it? I have trust issues with you now.” He laughed. He put his bowl down on the table and grabbed the ring. He got down on one knee.

“Will you marry me?” He said. She was not expecting that. She choked on her soup. She started coughing Cruz got her water. She calmed down.

“Next time can you just shoot me? That will be less surprising.” He laughed.

“Is that a yes?”

“I’ll have to think about it.” And she did. What about Joe? She couldn’t deny their chemistry. She even hated the fact that the first thing that popped in her head was what about Joe? There was nothing there!

And if there was she needed to shut it down! As fast as humanly possible.

“Take your time. I’m going to go hide this til you decide.” He said and got up. The rest of the night he seemed anxious. Waiting to see if she will even say yes. She loved messing with him. He invited her into his room. The one they would share. There was a fire going. There was a cowhide in front of it and then a trunk and then the bed. A simple bed. Nothing too fancy. She liked it. She went to his bathroom. He followed her. He grabbed her a tooth brush. They had two sinks. She noticed the ring box in the middle. She went to brush her teeth ignoring it. Drive him a little more crazy. She was done and he said he was going to shower real quick then be out. She changed while he was in the shower to her pjs. She grabbed her phone. There was one message and she bets everyone can guess who it was from.

‘Still suffering over there?’

She climbed under the blankets and took a picture.

‘It got worse.’

‘Looks like it. Need to be rescued now?’

‘No.’

There was no way he didn’t see the fact that she was going to bed and Cruz was going to be with her. The bed was turned down. An i********: notification showed up. She clicked it. Apparently Joe was asking to follow her. She accepted it and followed him back. She knows the thirst traps she put on there. Back when she was single. When her and Cruz started dating she started including him in them. She still had a couple on there of just her. But Cruz would be the one taking the picture. But Joe had his fair share on his. Gosh his body should be illegal. She heard the shower stop and she exited out of the app. Tonight it was her and Cruz. Whether they had s*x or not. She was just going to enjoy her time with him.