“It’s nothing, just a side effect of theairbag.”
“The police are on the way.” Keatonstates.
Cole tries to get out of the car, but hisdoor is jammed. He curses, but it doesn’t deter him; he stands up in the seatjumping over the side. I undo my seatbelt, but before I can open the door, Colecomes around, opening it for me.
“Let me look you over.” He cups his handsaround my head, looking in my face again, and feels down my arms. “Nothinghurts? Your head, arms, chest?” His hand comes up to my sides, squeezing.
“No, I’m good.” I giggle when he squeezesa sensitive spot. “I’m fine.”
He pulls me into his arms, exhaling withrelief and kissing my forehead. “Good.” He holds me for a minute until we hearthe sirens in the distance. We walk around the front of the Ferrari, inspectingthe damage.
“Holy shit, look what those bastards didto our Ferrari.” The words are out of my mouth before I have time to think.After all that, the thing that makes me want to cry is that poor Fancy Shmancyis damaged. All three men just stare at me. “Sorry,” I say sheepishly. “Ijust—it’s just, I love this car.” My voice cracks, but I refuse to let thetears fall.
“It’s okay, baby.” Cole puts an armaround me. “We’ll get her fixed. She’ll be good as new.” Three police cars andan ambulance show up where we’re pulled over on the side of the road. “Keaton,will you help Kate to the Escalade?”
“Why?” Does he think I can’t handle beingaround police officers or something? Now that I think about it, the answer tothat question it is a resounding yes. Still, I don’t want to go sit in the car.I’d rather stay with Cole.
“It’s safe in the car, and I need yousafe while I deal with this.”
“Fine, okay.” I pout in defeat. Colekisses my forehead, and I follow Keaton to the SUV. He secures me in the carand then he has the nerve to walk back to the accident. Stupid men.
I watch for a while as the policeofficers talk to the three men, but soon enough I’m bored. I use my phone toemail Annie all the things Cole and I talked about at dinner for her to relayto mom.
After about an hour, a tow truck shows upto haul off our beautiful car. Anger tinged with sadness bubbles to the surfaceas I watch Fancy Shmancy being loaded onto the tow truck. My mind wanders backto my first meeting with Cole when he came to pick me up from the cardealership because the car I wanted to purchase was, as they put it, ‘no longerfor sale.’ I didn’t even know what brand of car the Ferrari was. I can laughabout it now, but at the time it made me mad. Oh, and Cole, the way he made mefeel and the way he makes me feel. My cheeks flush, and my body aches withwant. After all, it’s been three days since Cole has touched me. I neverthought I would crave a man the way I do Cole. He is truly my other half.
The doors to the Escalade open and thethree men pile in. Cole gets in back with me, Keaton in the driver’s seat, andLuke shotgun. “Kate, are you sure you’re okay?” Cole runs a hand over myforehead and face. “You’re all flushed and you feel hot.”
Oh hell, I get myself all hot andbothered thinking about Cole, and he just assumes I’m not feeling well.
“I’m great.” Entwining his hand withmine. “I’m not sick anymore.”
“Then why are you so warm?” I think theairbag knocked something loose. He’s being a bit dense. But then again, I havebeen sick the past two days, and we were just in a fender bender, so I willgive him a pass.
“Keaton didn’t leave the windows down orthe car running for me.” I mean it as a joke. The way you leave a pet in thecar. But it isn’t taken like that. Cole’s eyes narrow and the tension in thecar becomes so thick, if it gets any thicker, I’m going to suffocate. “Oh goodgrief, it was a joke. The three of you need to chill. I’m sorry Keaton, Ididn’t mean anything by that comment. I was perfectly fine in the car.” Keatonglances at me through the rearview mirror, smiling at me with a nod. I sit backwith a huff, looking out the window. Someday, Cole and I will be able to go outby ourselves and have an enjoyable time. Hopefully.
In the villa, I kick my shoes off, andlay across the sofa, turning the television on. Maybe I can find an Elvismovie. Cole makes a couple of phone calls concerning the Ferrari and then openshis laptop, finishing up some work—the moaning he promised me, forgotten. Aftera while, I give up, shutting the television off.
“Cookie.”
“Yes,” I say, turning, hopeful that hewants to play.
“Darius Edwards said both my mother’sinheritance and Alan’s estate inheritance are ready for you to sign. Ischeduled the meeting for tomorrow at one. Will that be okay?”
I slump my shoulders. This is not what Iwas hoping for. “Sounds great.”
“I’ll let him know. Goodnight baby, I’llbe in, in a while.”
“Goodnight.” I trudge to the bedroom,defeated for the second time tonight. I change into a t-shirt and shorts, thenwash my face and brush my teeth. When I come out of the bathroom, I find Colestanding on my side of the bed, clad only in his boxer briefs. “What are youdoing?”
“This.” He says with a drop-dead gorgeoussmile. He sweeps me off my feet, kissing me tenderly on the mouth.
“Mmm, you’re sneaky Mr. Holt. I thoughtyou forgot.”
“I would never forget a promise to you.”
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Cole comes home from the office aroundnoon, and we eat a quick lunch together. Afterwards, we head to the office formy meeting.
