Total pages in book: 183
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 874(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
I squeeze my eyes shut just thinking of the Goodwill Emporium Cole has just entered. I dread the look in his eyes, but he and my mother are already talking. I have to go in. I join them inside and shut the door to find Cole sitting at our kitchen table that is so small, while he is so big that he looks like he’s sitting at a kiddie table.
“I have this delicious chocolate creamer,” my mother says, grabbing it from the fridge. “Would you like some?”
Cole’s eyes meet mine, dark and still unreadable. “I’d love some,” he replies.
He hates sugary coffee but my mother hands him the bottle and he pours it in the steaming cup in front of him. “You, honey?” my mother asks, setting another cup of coffee in front of the empty seat next to Cole, which is obviously meant for me.
“Yes,” I say, moving to sit down as my mother does the same, effectively sandwiching me between her and Cole, the wall the table is against directly in front of me.
The minute I’m in the chair, Cole’s leg is pressed to mine, and heat radiates up my thighs, straight to my sex. My gaze shoots to his, and he knows what I feel. I see it in the arrogant glint in his eyes. “Lori tells me you’re a nurse,” he says, glancing at my mother.
“All my adult life,” my mother says. “It’s a crazy, satisfying job.” My mother doesn’t linger on her. She turns a question on Cole. “How long have you been practicing law?”
“You might as well say my entire life,” Cole says. “My father started talking to me about case law when I was in diapers.”
My mother smiles. “He must be proud of you; both of your parents must be proud.”
Cole’s expression doesn’t change, but I feel the flex of his leg against mine.
“Do they live here in New York City?” my mother asks.
“They’re gone, mom,” I say, trying to rescue Cole. “His father right around the same time as Dad.”
“Well then,” she adds, studying Cole a long moment, “you and my daughter have much in common. I’m sure that helps you work well together.”
“Indeed,” Cole says, his eyes meeting mine. “It does. We do.” Seconds tick by, seeming to hang in the air, with no words spoken until Cole breaks the connection. “I should go,” he says, giving my mother a nod. “Thank you for the coffee and the visit, Mrs. Havens.”
“Evelyn,” she corrects.
“Evelyn,” he says, his attention shifting back to me. “Walk me out, Lori.” It’s not a question.
I nod anyway, as if it was, and stand up, my belly clenching, chest tight with adrenaline and emotion. Now is the time when I face what he thinks of this place and me. Now is the time that I face the imbalance in our lives. Cole waits for me at the door and opens it, allowing me to exit first. I step into the hallway with him immediately behind me. The minute the door shuts, I whirl on him and explode, without even meaning to do it. “I told you not to come here and yet you went inside.”
He pulls me to him. “Move in with me. Leave this place and come home with me.”
“My mother—”
“Can come, too. We have an extra bedroom.”
We.
No.
“No,” I say.
“If you think she won’t come,” he says, “at least let me give you the peace of mind of getting her out of here and into a nice place.”
“No, Cole. I knew this is how you would react.” I shove on his hard, unmoving chest. “This is why I didn’t let you come here. Now you need to save me. Now it’s all about you saving me, not being with me. I don’t need to be saved. I can save myself. I, we, are not your charity case.”
“That’s not what this is,” he bites out, low and rough. “You know that and there are so many things I want to say to you, but not here in this hallway. Not like this.”
“Not like this is right,” I snap back. “Cole, it’s not our time. I was crazy to try to change that. You are not getting stuck with your employee and her mother.”
“Do you really think that little of who and what we are together?”
“That’s not it. I care about you. I care that much about you. I won’t trap you. I can’t do that to you. I don’t want to wake up one morning and realize that we’re different. That we’re that couple.”
“We won’t be. We can’t be, and you aren’t staying here. I won’t let you.”
“You don’t get to make my decisions.”
“You are not staying here. Let’s go somewhere and talk.”
“I haven’t even found out why my mother wanted to talk. That’s why I asked you not to come here.”