“Our door…it’s open,” I breathed, pointingto our front door.
“What the fuck?” he rumbled, swingingoff the bike and stalking toward the building before I could stop him. “Staythere,” he ordered over his shoulder. Not something he had to tell me twice. Mymind whirled with the possibilities. Was it just a random break in or somethingmore? All of a sudden the gin and tonics weren’t sitting so well in my stomachas I wondered if my past had suddenly become my present. I hadn’t seen or heardfrom anyone in my old life since I’d left, but I’d always watched my back infear that my past would come looming up to haunt me.
It felt like hours, but it wasprobably only minutes before Cole was walking back toward the bike.
“Whoever got in there is gone now,” heconfirmed once he reached me, and I climbed off the bike feeling slightly shakyon my feet. “Granted, I haven’t seen your place before, but everything looksorderly,” he added.
I simply nodded looking over at mydoor.
“Yougonnacall the cops?” he asked.
I thought about that for a secondbefore I shook my head. I tried to fly under the radar, so I didn’t need apolice report circulating. Someone from Dad’s old crew might get wind of it,get worried, and decide it was time to check in despite my making it clear whenI left that such a visit would not be welcomed.
“Thank you for driving me home and forchecking things out,” I said quietly while taking the helmet off. “I’ll handleit from here,” I told him, trying my best to sound confident when I feltanything but.
“Darlin’,you would force a saint to lose patience, get back on the bike,” he insisted.
“What? And go home with you? No way,”I demanded as I shook my head.
“It’s either that or I’m coming inthere with you,” he answered simply with a chin lift toward my place. We regardedeach other for a few moments before he softened his approach. “Look, it’s trueI want in there,” he said, his eyes assessing me provocatively as my eyeswidened in turn. “You got something that I want a lot more of. But even if Ididn’t, I sure as fuck wouldn’t let you walk in there by yourself and spend thenight alone. I promise to keep my hands to myself, alright?” he asked. I wasstill stuck on his “wanting in there” comment, and it took me a minute to pullmyself together. “Alright?” he asked again.
“Okay,” I answered him, softlyclimbing back on the bike. The truth was, I couldn’t fathom walking into thatdark apartment by myself and being able to sleep a wink, so I decided to put myarms around Cole instead. It wasn’t a hard decision when it came down to it.
It was a short drive before we pulledup to a simple, single story house just on the outskirts of town. We pulledinto the garage next to what I assumed was his black F-150 truck. Clearly hedid well for himself.
Despite my current frazzled state, Itook a minute to look around. We’d walked in through the garage straight into alarge, open kitchen with wood counter tops and a beautiful island that lookedlike it had been custom made. His appliances were stainless steel, but nothingtoo flashy. The kitchen opened up to a large living room with hardwood floorsand high beamed ceilings. It was furnished relatively simply with black leathercouches, a coffee table, and a huge TV and entertainment system. A hallway tothe left looked like it led to the rest of the house.
“I have to call Kat,” I told him assoon as I’d put my purse down on his sofa.
He nodded while heading off to thefridge, and I soon found myself holding a cold, much welcomed beer as I let thephone ring. She didn’t answer, which didn’t surprise me, so I left her amessage and followed it with a text letting her know briefly what happened andthat she should sleep elsewhere tonight. I felt immediate guilt, hoping likehell it wasn’t me who caused this situation and that it was just random badluck.
Cole flopped down next to me on thecouch and crossed his legs at the ankle on the coffee table and flipped on theTV. I suddenly wished I was wearing more clothing and shivered slightly in theforced air of his place.
“Cold?” he asked quietly.
I nodded and he got up and handed me aHarley Davidson hoodie that I gratefully put on over my dress. It was huge onme, but it made me feel moderately more at ease.
“Thanks,” I sighed, sitting back onthe couch and propping my now bare feet on the edge of his table. He put an armaround me and pulled me into his side, surprising me.
“Just relax,” his voice rumbled when Iprotested slightly. I had to admit it was comforting to be close to him, andbreathing in the smell of him wasn’t half bad either. So I allowed myself tosink further into him and zoned out on the mindless home improvement show he’dput on.
Before I knew it, I was being gentlylifted and carried. “Hmm?” I muttered.
“Just putting you to bed sleepy girl,”his low voice answered me. I didn’t have the energy to protest or to wonderwhere I was sleeping. The night’s events had completely worn me out. The last thingI knew, I was being tucked into a warm, soft bed and I fell into oblivion.
Chapter Three
I woke up entirely too hot. It took meseveral moments to place where I was as my eyes adjusted to the weak lightstreaming in through the blinds. There was a warm wall of man tucked behind mewith a strong arm around my belly. All of last night’s craziness and the factthat I was in Cole’s bed came rushing back. It had been a long time since I’dbeen held, especially while I slept, and I allowed myself a few moments to appreciateit before I shifted.
He muttered something in his sleep,but he let me slip out from under his arm so I could take the sweatshirt offthat I’d fallen asleep in. I lay back down on my back without touching him andtook in the high-beamed ceilings of his bedroom and the simple bed, nightstand,and dresser that made up the room. I looked over at the man beside me and triednot to audibly suck in my breath. He was shirtless with a muscled arm nowthrown above his head. His body was more beautiful than I’d imagined, withtanned skin, firm pecks, and a six pack. My eyes turned to the inviting trailof hair that began past his belly button and led to places I couldn’t allowmyself to contemplate. A large tattoo spanned across his chest, some type of MCinsignia. It was the profile of the head of a medieval knight wearing armor.The knight was black and white with red flames that burst out from behind it. I’dalways loved tattoos and this one was particularly unique. I forced my eyesaway before I did something mortifying like lick him. His bed was comfortableand I realized I’d slept fairly well considering I’d slept in my clothes. Icarefully slipped from the bed to use the restroom. I brushed my teeth with myfinger before heading out to the kitchen. The least I could do was make himbreakfast to thank him.
He emerged not long after, lookinggloriously groggy with tousled hair and sleepy blue eyes.
“Hi,” he said, while giving me a pantydropping smile as I turned the bacon on the stove.
“Hi,” I said and smiled back.“Coffee?”
“Please,” he yawned as I poured him acup.
