“Can you grab it? It’s probably Gabriella or Georgia. Just tell them I’ll call them back,” I asked as I tipped my head upside down and dried my hair.
As soon as I was dry, I padded into the bedroom and started rummaging through my overnight bag sitting on the chair in the corner. Living out of a suitcase, or in my case, a duffle bag, wasn’t my favorite way to live, but I wasn’t complaining either. Being with Cole made it worth it.
I was just pulling on my panties when Cole appeared with a scowl on his face.
“Geez, what did Georgia say to you?” I teased as I reached for my bra.
“Who said it was Gabriella or Georgia?”
“I did. Gabriella can be a pain in the ass, but she doesn’t elicit that kind of reaction. Not just from a phone call anyway.”
“It wasn’t Georgia.”
“Cole,” I started to worry. “Who was on the phone?”
I set my hands on my hips and stared at him, waiting for his answer.
“Ben. He wants you to call him back.”
I gulped down my unease, but Cole pushed on.
“Apparently, he’s been calling and messaging you but hasn’t heard back. Is that true?” Cole asked pointedly as he tossed my phone on the bed between us. I stared down at it. It looked like a bomb just taunting us both, waiting to explode.
“Yes.”
“What does he want, Grace?”
“I don't know,” I answered honestly.
“You don’t know?”
“No Cole. I don't know. I don’t know because I didn’t read his messages or answer his calls. I don’t know because I haven’t spoken to him and I don’t particularly want to, okay?” I snapped. I’d let my frustration get the better of me and I snapped.
“Why not?”
Oh my god! Five minutes ago my day had started as a good day. I had coffee waiting, a hot man wanting to kiss me, and a cute calf who needed me. Now I was arguing over my ex-boss who fucked me over and hung me out to dry.
“Because all right. He screwed me over. He promised he’d take care of me and he didn’t. He didn’t fight for me. Hell, he didn’t even show up for me. So no, Cole, I’m not in a hurry to talk to the man who let me down and let his minions run me out of a job I loved.”
Cole prowled toward me. His jaw was set and there were wrinkles between his eyes. “Grace?”
“What?” I huffed already exasperated with this day and this conversation.
“Ben fucked up. He lost the best thing that could’ve happened to him. But I’m not Ben …”
“I know you’re not,” I declared, unable to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
“And if you want me to call him back and tell him to fuck off, just say the word,” Cole offered.
I sighed heavily and let the fight go out of me. Cole stopped in front of me, and I reached for him. With my hands on his hips, I let my forehead rest against the center of his chest. Cole smelt like home.
I gazed up at him, under no illusions that there weren’t stars in my eyes. “You really would do that, wouldn’t you?”
“In a heartbeat,” Cole declared without missing a beat. “You just tell me what you need. I got you, sweetheart.”
I burrowed against him, letting the warmth of his embrace cocoon me like a safety blanket. Cole bent down and kissed the top of my head. We must have looked like an odd couple. Cole in his green plaid shirt and Wranglers and me in my underwear.
“Coffee.”
