“Could be good for you, too…” she sing-songs.
“Maybe.”
Maybe.
The rest of dinner is an absolute joy. I forgot how nice it is to open up to someone, to joke and tell stories.
I was sufficiently distracted, but when I get home later in the evening, I beeline to my underwear drawer and pull out the small velvet box that’s hidden there. Popping it open, I take the ring out, admiring how it sparkles even in the low light glowing from my lamps. Slowly, I slide it onto my left ring finger.
It fits perfectly.
Of course it does.
Maybe I can just wear it around the house. It’s too pretty to sit, untouched, in my drawer. Wearing it when no one is around can’t hurt, right?
Right.
It’s been two weeks and I have yet to hear from Cole after she kicked me out of her apartment on her birthday. Was it bold to propose when we technically aren’t even dating?
Honestly, I don’t think it was boldenough. My preference would have been to take her to the courthouse right then and there. But it’s probably good to take baby steps.
Though I don’t think Cole would consider buying a ring “baby steps.”
I wonder if she’s wearing it.
Regardless of the fact that I never got a firm yes, I’ve already started planning our first date. If five is all I get, I want to make sure I leave a lasting impression. I want her to see how good we are together. That all of the reasons we were rivals in high school are actually the reasons we could work as a couple.
We could challenge each other, push each other, and like I always have been, I’m perfectly content letting her shine.
I just need to get her to go on a date with me.
Date one should be lowkey. She’s already mad at me, I don’t want to piss her off even more.
Opening my laptop, I do a quick check on inventory at the coffee shop, look through my investment portfolio that I’ve not been paying enough attention to, and then I start googling. Surely there’s a serial killer museum or something that Cole would enjoy. On the other hand, maybe that’s not lowkey.
A spa? A bathhouse? She enjoys her baths, but I can’t imagine she would want to enjoy it in the presence of other people. Maybe I could rent one out for the day, so it’s just the two of us…
Actually, that’s an excellent idea. An hour and several phone calls later, I’ve got a spa secured near Boston next week. If I can get Cole on board.
I have the day off from the coffee shop so I decide to go see Cole in person instead of texting her, hoping she can’t resist me in my glasses and short shorts.
After showering and changing, I run over to Bardot Brothers Coffee Co. so I don’t show up to Cole’s empty handed. Taking a deep breath, I knock on her door, smiling to myself when I hear Ernest’s loud barking.
“Down boy!” Colette calls from the other side of the door. She flings it open, looking frazzled and not entirely pleased to see me.
“Yes, ma’am.” I smirk. When she stands there staring at me, I lift the drink carrier in my hand. “I have a peace offering?”
“It’s going to take way more than a cup of coffee to bring peace to our relationship.” Cole rolls her eyes moving to wave me in, and that’s when I notice it. A big onyx stone framed with diamonds sparkling on Cole’s left hand.
Shifting the drinks, I take Cole’s hand, holding it up in front of my face. Her eyes widen as she desperately tries to pry herself out of my grasp. “Hmm, what an interesting development, Red.”
“Fuck off,” she gasps, squirming as I back her into the wall.
“I don’t think I will.” Her chest heaves, breasts grazing me as she shakes her head. “I like seeing my ring on your finger, Colette.”
Her eyes flash up to mine from under her full lashes. They flip back and forth between blazing anger and fiery lust. I drag her knuckles slowly across my lips, kissing right under where the ring sits on her finger. When Cole whimpers, I nip lightly before finally letting her go to walk into the kitchen.
She doesn’t immediately follow me, and a glance back shows her leaning back against the wall, eyes closed. She fiddles with her ring, and my stomach clenches when she starts to pull it off.
