I give Kurt a fierce hug. “I will see yousoon. Call me whenever, okay?”
“Okay, thanks again Katie.” He looks atCole. “You too, Private.” They salute each other and Kurt runs back into thecrowd.
My mother comes and gives me a hug. “Ithought you were going to change?”
“Oh well, yeah—we are excited to getgoing.” Besides, the bedroom, upstairs with all my clothes in it, is currentlyoccupied.
“I put a basket of goodies in the carfor you.”
“Thanks for everything, Mom, it wasamazing.” I hug her.
“I did it because I love you, and I’m sohappy for you and Cole.”
“Sorry Luann, but we’ve got to be going.”Cole sweeps me off my feet, carrying me around to the passenger side door.
“What? I don’t get to drive?”
“I’ll let you drive something else,that’s for sure.”
“Oh, gosh.” I blush, putting my head inthe crook of his neck. He sits me down, helping me in the car, making sure Idon’t shut any of my dress in it.
“You three.” I narrow my eyes at Cooper,Kit, and Race. “Defiled my precious car, be warned. Payback is a bitch.”
Cole starts the car and slowly pulls downthe lane. I sit on my knees, turning around waving. “I love you. Thank you somuch.” To everyone. When we turn the corner out of the vineyard, I plop down inmy seat and Cole takes my hand. “Cole?”
“Yes, baby?”
“I think we’re riding your hot redstallion into the sunset.”
“Oh, Cookie,” Cole growls.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
“Aren’t you worried about the car?” Iglance around at where we’ve parked it. We’re not in a terrible part of CrystalFalls, but we are downtown, and I hate to see it sit out here all night.
Cole shoulders my overnight bag, and hehelps me out of the car. “No, Luke said he’d come and swap it out a littlelater.” He takes my hand, ushering me into the hotel. It seems clean enough buthas a bit of a musty smell to it, and the furniture all looks like it camestraight out of the seventies.
“We’re checking in,” Cole tells the ladybehind the desk. “The reservation should be under Holt.” Cole runs his handalong my arms. His fingers slide up under my sleeves and glide down to mywrist.
The lady types on her computer, heroverly bushy eyebrows furrowing a few times. “What’s the first name?” she asks.
“Coulter.” Cole turns his attention backto me. His fingers flit up to my neck, caressing my jaw. He smiles, mouthing,“so beautiful,” to me. I bat my eyelashes, blushing.
The lady behind the desk coughs and weboth glance back at her. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have a reservation under thatname and we’re booked this evening.”
Cole glances at her name tag. “OkayDarlene. I know we have a reservation for tonight. It was a gift from my wife’sfamily. Why don’t you try Cook?”
“The first name?” she asks again.
“Kate.”
She crunches the keys on her computer fora few more minutes, looking a bit put out by the whole thing. “Nope, I don’thave a reservation for that name either.”
Cole clears his throat, trying to keephis cool. I’m sure he’s not used to being in this type of situation. “Thereisn’t a reservation under Cook?”
“Well…” Darlene hits another key. “Thereis, but it’s not for Kate Cook.”
“Who’s it for?”
