“Are you okay?” he asks, holding me tight.
Steam rolls from my lips as I sob with relief and hide my face in his jacket collar. It’s so cold out here, it’s taking a bite out of my red cheeks. “I am now, thank you. That guy… he just… he just came at me out of nowhere!”
“He tried to drive you off the road. I clocked him from half a mile back, but I wasn’t sure if he was just going in the same direction as you or tailing you, so I kept a reasonable distance, justin case.”
The fear clears somewhat, and I remember where we are and what I was doing. I pull away from Cole and give him a troubled frown. “Wait, what are you doing out here?”
“Keeping an eye on you,” he says, his voice low, his gaze darkened with concern.
“You were following me?”
“So was that guy, apparently. Only I was doing it to keep you safe.”
“Wow,” I gasp, not sure whether to feel flattered or annoyed.
Cole nods slowly. “After the Hell’s Kitchen episode, my brothers and I agreed to keep an eye on you at all times.”
“Don’t you guys have your own businesses and lives to take care of?”
“We can delegate where needed as far as the business side of things is concerned,” Cole replies with a casual shrug. The wind rises, icier than ever, and I’m starting to shiver in just my jeans and woolen, cherry-red sweater. “As for our life, you’re a part of it now, Willow. Of course, we’re going to do everything in our power to keep you safe and happy.”
Tears prick my eyes, because despite the madness, this is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. To think I almost married Terrence. Not a day goes by that I’m not genuinely thankful for that debacle.
“Come on, let’s get you back into the city,” Cole adds, putting his arm around my shoulders. “Grab your stuff; I’ll drive you.”
“But my car…”
“It’s pretty busted at the back. We’ll call AAA.”
“I still have a venue to see today for the Hamilton wedding, though. I was on my way there when this?—”
“Willow, I’m taking you home.”
But I insist because my business and my career matter to me. All I can do is hope Cole will understand.
“I just need to see the venue and then we can go home. I’ll send my report to the Hamiltons and not touch my inbox until after Christmas; I promise. My agency needs this wedding now more than ever.”
I almost expect him to argue, but Cole just nods. “Go on then; grab your stuff and lock the car. I’ll get the tow truck on the phone.”
16
WILLOW
After a cozy, yummy dinner and a whole night’s worth of steamy lovemaking on Christmas Eve, the four of us attend Christmas Day lunch at Thornwood Manor.
The festive spirit is evoked by the red, gold, and green ornaments, the twinkling lights, the gilded bows, and mistletoe hanging from every fixture; the smell of cinnamon and hot chocolate, the roast beef and rosemary potatoes, the mince pie and yule log slices; the glass reindeer and vintage teddy bears resting on the windowsills everywhere. All this, paired with the majestic Christmas tree in the foyer, has created a warm and welcoming home.
Everything else, however, screams at me to go back to Cole’s penthouse as Sheila takes her seat at the head of the table.
“I’m so glad you could all make it,” she says, smiling at the brothers as she straightens the fashionable apron over her dark red, knee-length dress with a white, embroidered collar. “You, too, Willow,” she says but forgets to add the fauxenthusiasm she had for Cole, Toby, and Asher. “Make yourselves comfortable.”
“We’re always comfortable here, Sheila,” Toby bluntly replies. “It’s still our home.”
That goes down with the bitterness of a lemon for their stepmother, but she smiles, nonetheless, determined to play the role of the gracious host.
“Where’s Dad?” Cole asks.
Katrina and Terrence sit next to Sheila. To her right, there’s an empty spot, presumably reserved for William, while the four of us are relegated to the other side of the table.
