I hear the rustling of him taking off his shoes and jeans. Even with the brief look at him, the way his t-shirt clings to his body is already etching into memory. The bed dipping from his weight shouldn’t make me as happy as it does but the warmth of his body near mine is welcomed. He’s a big man all around, tall, broad, muscular but not in an overly bulky way, and warm.
“Cuddle?” I suggest so I don’t sound pushy.
“I’ll always want to touch you, Jessamine.”
Oh how my belly flutters when he says shit like that to me. I lace my fingers with the hand that just went around my waist.
“Good. I want you to have that same energy when I’m recharged.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll have that energy and then some.”
He drops a kiss on my temple as if it seals his promise. Ugh. He’s that kind of man who’d make a girl fall fast and hard. It amazes me how safe and comfortable he makes me feel in such a short time. It’s becoming hard to remember my life before I was able to speak to him.
I drift off only for my dreams to be about him. Us. I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep but it’s dark once I open my eyes, I find that I’m alone. The room is too still for him to be here. Sadness I didn't expect lingers right at the edge of my conscience. Maybe I’m becoming too attached. He has a hotel to run, I can’t expect him to be up under me at all times.
Sitting up, I take a sip of water from my bottle and go relieve myself. After washing my hands, I check my phone but there aren’t any texts. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I’mconsidering texting him when another news alert pops up in the corner. Giving in to curiosity, I click on it.
It’s some random influencer doing a thinkpiece on how I’m still hung up on Adam. She lays out points that almost make me believe her when I know she’s full of shit. Some of the instances she names are taken out of context and some of the clips are not of me looking or talking about him. The comments are full of people bashing me although I’ve never given them a reason for this hate train. There are only a few supporters who disagree with the video.
My mood drops instantly, all of the relaxation undone by one wannabe investigative journalist. Dropping the phone on the bed, I rest my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands. It’s so frustrating being so misunderstood.
The soft click of the door closing is followed by Cole’s voice. “What’s wrong?”
I move my hands to look at him. It’s too late to hide my tears. He puts down the pizza box he’s holding as his eyes land on my phone. Two steps bring him directly in front of me, he grabs my phone. The video plays again and him seeing it just increases my embarrassment.
“None of it is true.” I murmur.
Cole shakes his head and places the phone in his pocket.
“No more phone for the rest of the week.” His tone brooks no argument. “You’re here to relax and get away from the noise.”
He grabs a tissue and daps up my tears. “You’re too pretty to cry over bullshit.”
“I’d only picked it up to text you. It’s just so frustrating that I’m even a topic. I broke up with him and didn’t look back. Yet the lie is I’m pressed about his new relationship.”
“Agreed. I was there. I know the look a woman has when she’s done. You were done.”
He sits down next to me and puts his arm around my shoulder. “How about this, I will stay by your side the rest of the week. You won’t need to text me.”
“This is your project. Your baby. I can’t stop you from working just to babysit me.”
Cole kisses my forehead. “I’m not babysitting you. I’m supposed to be a guest this week so I’ll do just that. Tomorrow, we raid the spa.”
I look up at him with hopeful eyes. “It’s hard for a woman to turn down the spa.”
“That was my hope. Now, how about some dinner?” He gets up and grabs the pizza box and places it on the bed between us. “A very low key dinner.”
“Pizza in bed sounds like a plan to me.”
He gives me a sweet smile. “That’s the spirit. We can watch a movie or anything on streaming. I have all the services. No commercials.”
“Oh,” I tease. “That’s a sexy flex.”
I laugh when he repeats himself slower before placing a kiss on my nose. Just like that he’s managed to take away all of my troubles. I study him as we eat, wondering if he’s too good to be true.
I pray that he isn’t because I know without a doubt that I’m catching feelings.
Chapter 15
