“Yeah.” I sigh. “It’s been intense, butamazing.”
“So, would you change anything if youcould?”
“No.” I say without thinking. But wouldI? The threats? They don’t really have anything to do with me. I just gotcaught in the middle. And my family? It wasn’t ideal, but I couldn’t imaginenot having Cole in my life on a daily basis. “No,” I say, firm in my answer.
“That’s good. Just keep that in mind, andyou’ll be all right.” Kent smiles at me.
I take a deep breath. At least I’m notcrying—yet.
Slowly officers have been coming in,taking the Elvis’ back to be processed. I’m not sure how long I’ve been inhere. My heart skips with fear at being processed and actually going to jail.
“Kathrine Holt.” I look up and a guard orofficer someone in a uniform is standing in front of me.
“That’s me.” I squeak, a lump forming inmy throat. She reaches down, undoing the handcuff around the chair, grabbing myarm to stand up. I wait for her to ask me to place my hands behind my back butshe doesn’t, instead she cuffs them in the front.
“Bye, little mama.” Kent smiles at me.
“Bye.” I whisper. My chin shakes. I’m notsure what’s going on, but I will not cry.
“Keep your chin up. Love will see youthrough.”
“Thanks, good luck to you.” Still holdingmy arm, the guard leads me through the same door, down the same long hallway,and through a couple of heavy doors that we’re buzzed through. At the last one,the guard stops me, un-cuffing my hands. I blink at her—taken aback. She holdsthe door open for me and I walk through into an office area. Standing at theend of the long corridor are two businessmen, Luke and Cole. “Cole,” I go tohim, but then stop glancing at the police officer next to me.
“Go ahead.” She smiles. “You’ve beenreleased. The charges were dropped.”
I pick up my dress and, with all the energyI have left; I run into Cole’s arms. He lifts me, holding me tight, and I wrapmy arms around his neck, squeezing like I’ll never let go. “Baby.” He breathesagainst my cheek. I sob into his neck, the weight of what’s happened undoingme. “Shh, you’re safe now.”
“Mr. Holt, Mr. Hayes, I’m very sorry forthe misunderstanding.”
“Thank you for your haste in this matter,Mr. Mayor. It won’t go unnoticed.” Cole picks me up, holding me. “Let’s goLuke.” I tuck my head in the crook of Cole’s neck and curl myself closer tohim. He turns around and follows Luke. The Escalade is idling outside the frontdoors. Cole slides me in and then he climbs in, taking me in his arms again.“Luke, why don’t you take us to the business entrance of the Upper House, andwe’ll use the private elevator up to the Lux suite.”
“You got it.”
Cole carries me all the way to the suite.I try not to think because every time I do; it makes my head hurt. I let thetears I’ve tried so hard to keep away finally fall. He sits me down on thesofa, but when he tries to walk away, I freak out a little. “No, no, no,” Icry.
“Shh,” he kneels in front of me. “I justneed to talk to Luke for a minute. I’ll be right back.”
I bite my lip, trying not to cry and nod.He gives me a quick kiss before walking to the door.
Get a grip, Kate. The only problem is:I’ve been holding everything in and now that I’ve started crying, thefloodgates are open and I can’t stop. I roll my ankles, looking at the bottomsof my feet. They’re disgusting, they’re black, and have bits of dirt and trashstuck to them.
“A bath or a shower?” I look up at Cole,who’s smiling at me with that tooth-paste ad smile. Only something seems off. Itilt my head to the side and see a bruise on his cheek.
“Cole, what happened?” I stand up,cupping my hand tenderly around his face. “What happened?” I say throughmoretears. Will they ever end?
He sweeps me off my feet. “I’ll tell youeverything and you’ll tell me everything, but first a bath or a shower?”
“A bath.”
He smiles. “Good choice.”
Cole helps me scrub my feet while thebathtub fills. “Yuck, I’m not sure my feet will ever come clean.” Then he helpsme take the tulle and lace jacket off and goes to work on the corset. He sweepsmy hair to the side, kissing across my shoulder blades. “This dress isbeautiful on you.” He tugs at the corset strings, loosening them.
“It’s supposed to be my wedding dress,” Isniff.
“Shh, Cookie enough tears, you’re safe,I’m safe and we are here together. In the place where we started.” With thecorset loose, the dress falls away and Cole helps me slip it off. I’m leftstanding in a pair of teal colored silk panties. Cole takes his suit off andcontinues until he’s standing in front of me, naked. “Your turn, baby,” hisvoice drips with seduction and a sly grin.
I draw down my underwear and step out ofthem. Cole just stares at me. “So beautiful,” he murmurs. I want him to touchme, I need him to touch me, and I need to touch him. I hold my hands out,reaching for him and he pulls me into his warmth, his lips finding mine. It’ssoft and sweet. He helps me into the bathtub, then slides in behind me. I curlinto him, sighing with contentment.
