12
jenna
“Could I have an iced tea, please?” I stand at the bar, resting my armsonthe smooth stone surface as I wait for the bartender. The party’s been going on for at least an hour now, and I’ve yet to see or hear from Cole. I know he’s here, though.Everyoneknows he’s here. His homecoming is the hot topic of the evening, and I don’t think I’ve run into a single person who hasn’t mentioned it in one form or another. This outpouring of warm welcomes fills my heart with an indescribable amount of joy. I just hope Cole feels that way about all of this and isn’t too overwhelmed. He seemed so uneasy right before we left the house, and it took every bit of willpower I had to leave him in that state.
After receiving my drink from the bartender, I turn and make my way across the brick patio as I take a small sip from my glass. I pause at the top of the steps and glance around the property, trying to find Cole in the sea of dark suits with no such luck.
“Now what’s a pretty girl like you,” he says from behind me, and I take my bottom lip between my teeth as I smile, “doing up here all alone and not on the dance floor?”
“Probably because no one’s asked me to join them,” I reply and turn as he steps up next to me. Just the sight of him makes my insides spring to life.
“Well let’s change that, shall we?” Cole grins, sexy yet sweet, and extends his arm.
Resting my hand in the crook of his arm, I set my drink down on a random table as we walk across the lawn to the dance floor and follow in step with the other couples. Cole takes my hand in his as he turns me to face him and rests his other hand against my side. I shoot him a smirk and raise my eyebrow at his choice of hand placement.
“Just trying to keep things PG while we’re in public.” His expression morphs into that sly grin he uses when he’s up to no good. “Later, when we’re not in public, it’ll be a whole other story.”
My eyes widen and dart around the immediate surroundingarea,because he did not say that discretely. At all. “Cole,” I chide with a harsh whisper.
“Relax, baby,” he tells me as we continue to sway with the soft melody. “No one is paying any attention to us right now.”
I glance around again, shrinking against the ridiculous number of people that keep looking our way, before meeting his gaze. “Cole,everyoneis paying attention to us.”
“Let ‘em. They’re probably just wondering how I got lucky enough to dance with the most beautiful woman here.”
Amusementticklesthe corners of my mouth at his flattery. “Are you trying to butter me up for something?”
“Now why would I do that?” he asks, tilting his head to the side. It’s such an innocent move and—dare I say?—cute. I keep that comment to myself, because if I know Cole he’d immediately deny his cuteness and demand a more masculine description.
“Oh I don’t know,” I sayona sigh, my voice light and teasing. “One would think your sweet talking would strengthen your chance of sleeping with me, but I might remind you that that’s already happened. A lot.”
Cole releases a deep chuckle. “No need to remind me. My memory is quite good.” On the next slow turn, he pulls my body to his and lowers his voice to a sexy rumble. “Every moan. Every gasp. Every quiver and tremble. I’ve got it all memorized, baby, along with what prompted them.”
My jaw falls slack as my pulse spikes. Heat rushes throughout my body, and I feel my insides tighten as his words penetrate my core.
“Stay with me, Jenna,” Cole urges, and I realize I’ve stopped dancing.
Forcing my feet to move, I follow his lead and pick back up with the slow tune. Being in his arms is the only place I want to be. But after that last little statement ofhis,I’m having a hard time not jumping him right in front of everyone just to see how right he was about memorizing me. I crave his touch, more than just his hand in my hand and his palm against my dress. Goodness, I need to calm down.Think of something else. Change the subject.
“Are you enjoying the party?” Safe question. There’s no way he can spin that one.
“It’s okay.” He grins. “I can think of other things I’d rather bedoing,though.”
Well then. “Cole,” I sigh. “I’m being serious. There are a lot of people here, and I’m worried about you. You didn’t seem too confident before we left the house earlier, and I’m scared this playfulness is just a front. Are you doing all right?”
“I’m surviving,” he tells me, and his expression turns somber. “Everyone’s being overly friendly and telling me how great it is that I’m back. In all honesty, I wish they’d stop.”
“They’re just trying to be nice,” I tell him softly.
“I know,” Cole says. “But they don’t realize how much it hurts to hear it. It’s not their fault, though.” He smiles, barely, and it’s forced. “Like you said, they’re just trying to be nice.” His hand tightens on my waist as he pulls me closer to him. “Let’s just dance for a bit and not talk, okay?”
I nod, understanding and willing to just let him hold me as we slowly sway to the music. As one song fades another begins, and Cole and I are moving in sync to “Unchained Melody.” My heart aches as the lyrics seep into my soul—loneliness, need, time, love, wait, and coming home. It speaks to me on such a deep level that I’m almost brought to tears. I’ve waited for so long to feel the way I feel about Cole and to have someone return that affection. And he does, every day and every night. When the song intensifies, Cole’s hand slides around to my lower back and presses me further into his embrace. I’m overcome with emotion and fight hard against the warmth of tears gathering in my eyes. His silent request for the comfort of my body nearly does me in.
We slow our movements as the song comes to an end, and I lift my face to look at him. There’s so much going on behind his eyes, and I want to ask him, to urge him to talk to me so I can help. But he brings our interlocked hands down by our sides and uses his free hand to trace the outline of my face with a feather light touch.
“Jenna.” His voice is hushed as he tucks my hair behind my ear and holds my gaze.
There are at least a hundred people around us, all of whom can look over and see us in this very intimate moment, but I don’t care.
