“That’s not true.There is no other woman in my life.”
“Well, of course, there’s not.You have a ...buddy.You don’t need to go looking.”
Cole sat down in the chair he vacated several minutes before to stalk her.He stayed silent as he tried to come up with the words he needed.He felt her slipping away, and he was terrified he wouldn’t be able to fix this.
“Could you come and sit with me for a minute, baby?”
“I don’t know what else needs to be said.”
“Please,” he said quietly.
Victoria hated to see the bleak emotions that swirled in the depths of his eyes.She sat down across from him and silently waited.
“I fucked up.I know that now.I should have been telling you how I feel and talking about the future I see with you.Frankly, all I can think about is you.Day and night.You wouldn’t believe me if I told you I loved you, so I won’t right now, but you can’t deny I have strong feelings for you.”
Victoria shrugged.“I know you care about me.I just don’t think it’s at the level of emotions I feel for you.”
He reached across the table, laid his hand down palm up, and waited.He breathed a sigh of relief when she tentatively put her hand in his.
“I’m thrilled to hear that.You haven’t said anything to me about how you felt.”
“Sex is different for most women than it is for men.I couldn’t be with you if I didn’t feel strongly.”
“Would you at least believe I have deep feelings for you?”
Victoria nodded.
“Good.”Tension filled and tightened his stomach.“Now here’s a hard one.Would you really throw away what we have because of two misunderstandings I’ve already explained?”
Victoria stared at him as his words swirled around her head.The questions were, what did they have?Was it enough to continue?
She looked down at their hands.His large, dark, rough one against her small, pale, soft one.It always made her feel safe to be with him, and she knew she slept better with him there.She really thought about what he said.
What he said was true.It didn’t explain the lack of dates or why he never invited her to his home, but that could change in time.She found love once in her life, and it was with Cole.Did she really want to give him up?They could work on the rest of it, but at that moment, she didn’t have a great excuse to break it off other than her fear.Her emotions had grown so much and continued to deepen.If it didn’t work out in the long run, it would tear her apart, but she’d survive.She was strong enough to take the chance.
She looked up to find his gaze zeroed in on her.
“No, I wouldn’t want to throw us away.”
Cole released the breath that had stalled in his lungs as he waited for her to decide.He stood, pulled her to stand, and then maneuvered her around the table and onto his lap, where he silently held her tightly against his chest.“Come here, baby.Let me hold you.”
Several quiet moments passed.
“Have you eaten?”
Victoria shook her head against his chest.“No, but I’m not hungry.”
“How about we make a few sandwiches?I haven’t eaten, and I’m starved.”
Victoria moved to stand, but he pulled her down, tilted her head back, and took her mouth.Several moments passed when the only sounds were their moans, the fridge, and a few steers out in the pasture.
Cole released her mouth and lifted his head.“We need to stop, baby.I want you to eat something.”She couldn’t afford to lose any more weight
She nodded.“You’re right.”
