by Ava Walsh
“I’d like to. Eventually, I’d like to make it back to college, but this is good for now.”
“English major?” Cole guessed, and she smiled. “I saw that much.”
“Yes, English major. I was at the end of my first year when I had to…take a break. I guess I could take it up again somewhere here in Colorado.” Lauren shrugged as she looked outside.
“Here.” Cole offered her half of his sandwich and Lauren felt Jane’s eyes on her.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Lauren asked. “You’ve been working for hours.”
“It’s a big sandwich,” Cole assured her, and she smiled and took it from him. She took a bite as Jane grinned at her and settled back in her chair.
The guys went back to work and Lauren focused on finishing her profile and keeping Jane company at the table. She decided that she was ready to start working. This was admittedly different from her job at the Starbucks in town. Her father had left her some money from his job as a bank manager, so she could get by for a time doing this, but not forever. It wasn’t enough money to be called a trust fund or anything along those lines.
When she looked up to tell her friend what she’d been thinking, Jane was smiling brightly at her. “What has you all happy over there?” Lauren asked.
“He’s cute with you,” Jane told her, and Lauren rolled her eyes. “Cole had a hard time last year, Lauren. I didn’t tell you this part, but he lost his girlfriend in a car accident. They’d been dating for five years, since he was twenty. I’m pretty sure that he was going to propose soon.” She shook her head. “He shut down some, Lauren. When I knew that you were moving here, I couldn’t help but think that you guys could help each other. I believe you did, because he’s smiling again. So are you.”
“I suppose that I am,” Lauren mused as she looked back at the computer screen. “How did you and Adam meet again?”
“He was in Denver for this big rodeo, and he came into that little bistro that I worked at. Remember I told you about it?”
Lauren nodded.
“I guess we just clicked. He asked for my number, and we went to dinner, and six months later, I moved in. I know, it was a shock to me as well. At first, I didn’t know what to do with all of this peace and calm, but now I love it.” She smiled at her best friend. “Adam thinks you’d be good for Cole, too. He wants to see him happy again.”
“What am I going to do with the both of you?” Lauren asked, shaking her head. “Let me get used to the peace too, would you?”
Chapter Three
Lauren had a couple of jobs by the end of the week and she found herself craving the crickets at night now as she fell asleep. She started to want the coffee in the morning with Jane and the meals with the guys as they all grew comfortable together and laughed as they ate. She even started to let Jane teach her how to cook, laughing at her mistakes along the way.
One night, Jane and Adam had gone out to dinner and Lauren was surprised when Cole stopped by the house. She’d been there for over a month now and was starting to love her new home. “What are you doing here?” she asked as he opened the door.
“I knew that you were here on your own and I thought that you might like to grab some dinner with me,” Cole said in a soft voice, looking down at her.
“Cole…are you sure? They’re not here, so you don’t have to act like you want that,” Lauren told him. He frowned.
“Act?” Cole asked, as he made his way inside. “Listen, Lauren. I thought Jane was a little crazy when she told me about her idea a couple of weeks ago. I know that Adam wants me happy again, and she’s right beside him with her pom poms and I appreciate that. I wasn’t sure at first, but you make me laugh. You’re beautiful. You make me feel good again, for the first time since…just since last year.” Cole stared at her with his dark eyes and closed the door gently. “I want it to be us over dinner tonight. I want to give this a chance.”
“Wow. I didn’t think…I mean, I knew that we got along, but I didn’t know you felt that way.” Lauren blushed as she let a smile cross her face. “I’d love to have dinner with you. Give me just a sec to change.” She changed into a summer dress and pulled a green cardigan over her shoulders before she went to the door and found her sandals.
Cole took her to a sweet little steakhouse for dinner and she told him all about her father over the meal. Cole, in turn, told her about his girlfriend Kelsey and her tragic accident.
When they had to leave at eight because the restaurant was closing, Lauren couldn’t help but laugh. “It sure is different than back where I lived. Places stay open all night there sometimes.’
They walked out into the parking lot and to Cole’s car. “Do you like it?” Cole asked, turning to look at her. “Here, I mean?”
“I love it. The peace and it’s so beautiful and…I feel like I’m home here. I loved Georgia as well, but this place just soothes me.” He smiled as they reached his car. Their eyes locked as he stepped towards her.
“You soothe me,” Cole told her, as he stared down at her lips for a moment. “Can I kiss you, Lauren?”
“I have never been asked before,” Lauren answered with a hoarse voice. He smiled and looked into her eyes again.
“You’ve never been with a gentleman before.” Cole cupped her face and leaned down to press his lips gently to hers. The kiss was so soft and nothing like the awkward kisses that she’d shared with guys before. He kept the kiss light, but her knees were shaking and her heart pounded in her chest. Cole pulled away and slid his hands into her hair before he kissed her softly again. “Your lips are so soft, Lauren.”
“They are?” she asked. He pulled away and looked at her.
“Yes. What kind of men have you dated before?” Cole frowned as looked at her. Her face flushed a deep pink. It was dark outside now, but there was a street lamp, so she was sure he could see her face.
“I haven’t dated too much at all. The boys at my college didn’t really like me. They just tried to kiss me to make me…you know.” Lauren frowned, and he slipped his hands down to hold hers. “They thought that I was chunky and some called me fat.”
“You are beautiful,” Cole assured her, looking into her eyes and opening the car door for her. “They were fools.”
He took her home and kissed her goodnight in the truck before he walked her to the door. Adam and Jane were already home and looked a bit messy, as if they’d enjoyed their alone time. They had a movie playing and Jane looked up as they walked in. “Hi, you two. I was wondering where you’d gotten off to.”
“Cole took me to dinner,” Lauren said. Adam looked over at them with a knowing smile. She looked away quickly as Cole said goodnight and then left.
“It is about time. You guys have been so cute since you met,” Jane said. Lauren looked at her and sat down on the chair across from them.
“He’s not doing this because you guys wanted it?”
“Lauren, don’t be silly. Cole doesn’t date lightly.” Jane looked at Adam. “Tell her.”
“He’s only been with two girls, Lauren. One was his girlfriend for five years and the one before that for two years. I haven’t seen him smile the way he’s been doing lately,” Adam said. Jane squeezed his hand. “So yeah, Jane and I encouraged this, but he took that extra step. He asked you to dinner.”
“I suppose so.”
Adam excused himself to go to bed for work the following day and Lauren moved next to Jane on the couch.
“Are you okay?” Jane asked.
“He asked if he could kiss me. Who does that?”
“A cowboy,” Jane said. “Adam did the same thing with me. It’s their way.”
“It’s very sweet, but Jane? I haven’t had sex before. I’ve only kissed a few guys and I don’t know what I’m doing.” Lauren shrugged. “How do I tell him that?”
“It’s not like he’s had a lot of experience either. Two girlfriends, Lauren. I can tell you right now that he doesn’t do one-night stands. Adam knows him pretty well; they’ve kno
wn each other since second grade, just like us. Don’t you know me well?”
“I do.” Lauren looked at her.
“Listen to him about Cole then. Just let this thing with Cole move along. He might surprise you.”
Lauren took that thought with her as she dressed in pajamas in the bathroom. She walked into her room and stood by the open window. The fresh air was nice and she breathed it in as she thought about the kisses from earlier.
The stars were bright in the sky as she looked over the land and let herself miss her dad. She wondered what he would think about her right now and if he’d approve of Cole. Her father had always wanted her happy and for someone to love her like he had loved her mother before she had died of cancer when Lauren was just four years old. “Do you think that he could love me, Daddy?” Lauren asked in a whisper.
She lifted her eyes as a comet shot across the sky in a bright burst, and a tear slid down her cheek. They had gone to a meadow on nights when there were meteor showers and watched them all night long. Even when he had had to work in the morning, her dad would take her and she wondered if this was a sign or a response from him. She left the window open and lay in bed, watching the sky until she fell asleep.
The girls went into the city the following day to stock up on some food and piled the cart full before checking out. Lauren watched as Jane calmly loaded the belt with everything and stared at her when she heard the total. “We stretch this out for a couple of weeks, Lauren. I have become a pro since I can’t run to the corner store so much anymore.” She put the bags in the cart and smiled as Lauren helped her. “This is the real reason that I wanted you here. I feel bad dragging Adam here after work.” She winked, and Lauren laughed. They pushed the cart to the Jeep and loaded everything inside before Jane went through a drive through, simply because it was a treat for going this far out. That and she loved the food so much.
Jane drove the hour home and took a different way that led to a large farm. “This is where the guys work.” She jumped out of the car and walked over to a fence that overlooked everything. Lauren followed. There were a few men hoisting bales of hay from a flatbed truck as well as some working with horses and Jane searched them until she smiled. “There’s my man. He’s trying to tame that new mare and has been for two weeks.” Jane pointed and Lauren saw a shirtless Adam trying to ride a horse bareback as she fought against him. Lauren laughed and her eyes moved over to see Cole lifting his cowboy hat and, conveniently, shirtless as well.
“I always stop and enjoy the view when I’m going back home,” Jane said.
“I can see why,” Lauren replied, eyeing Cole’s lean muscles and the V that disappeared into his worn jeans. He was grinning as he cheered Adam on and it made Lauren smile. Jane looked at her.
“I think you can see what made me want to stay here.”
Lauren nodded. She was already falling in love with the easy way of life here, and she looked down as Cole glanced their way and said something to Adam, who looked over too. Jane blew him a kiss and he caught it before waving them. Lauren looked back at Cole as he raised his eyebrow.
She shyly turned away and walked back to the car, heat washing over her skin. She knew she wasn’t ready to be blowing kisses to any man, but mercy did Cole look hot out there. Jane laughed and ran up to Lauren, wrapping her arms around her. “No kisses for Cole?”
“After one date?” Lauren shot back as they climbed into the car and Jane started the engine.
“It happens fast around these parts,” Jane teased. Lauren shook her head. When they got home, they unloaded the groceries and stored a bunch of meat in the freezer out in the garage before loading the produce into the fridge inside.
They both did some work on their computers and Jane started cooking a couple of chickens in the ovens about an hour before the guys were supposed to come over for dinner. She cleaned up the kitchen and Lauren finished up an article before she submitted it and walked over to the fridge to get a cold bottle of water.
Lauren wandered out onto the deck and looked over the land, taking it all in.
She must have gotten lost in thought, because she jumped a little when she felt someone slide their arms around her. “Enjoying the view?” Cole asked. She relaxed and settled back against him.
“I am.” Lauren breathed in the scent of sweat and dirt and smiled.
“How about earlier?” Cole asked her, and she flushed. “I liked that you were out there watching us.”
“Jane was. I just happened to be along for the ride.”
Chapter Four
“I haven’t dated since the accident,” Cole told her as they watched the sun begin to set. “I haven’t even so much as kissed anybody because that’s not my style. I do relationships.”
“I can tell that about you,” Lauren said. She kept staring at the clouds.
“I know this seems convenient with the way our friends are, but I do see something in you, Lauren.” Cole began to stroke her arms and she shivered. “I am not going to rush you into anything since this is all so new to you. I would like to date you for a while, Lauren. Is that okay?”
Lauren turned in his arms and looked up at him. “I’d like that.”
He slipped his hand down to take hers and led her to the house. “There’s some supper in that house that smells too good to ignore. Let’s go get some.”
They all sat down around the table and ate the chicken and roasted vegetables that Jane had fixed as they talked about the upcoming rodeo. Lauren was interested to hear that both of the men rode the bulls and she asked how dangerous that was.
“We take a chance every time we’re out there, but it’s a rush,” Adam told her. Cole nodded.
“Sexy as hell too,” Jane added, grinning.
“We do a couple of other events too. The bull riding is the main one, though. That draws the crowds,” Cole said. She watched his eyes light up. He obviously loved what he did. She looked down at her plate and remembered the guys from her college who had had no motivation whatsoever. Cole was so different.
He asked her to walk him to his car that night and Lauren followed him to the truck, looking up at the sky as they went. “I used to watch the stars with my daddy before he died. They’re so beautiful here.”
“That they are. I know a great place by the creek that we can go to some night. We can have a picnic and just watch the sky until we fall asleep.”
“The creek? Is that close by?” Lauren asked, and he nodded.
“Close enough.” Cole looked at her and smiled. “Can we go to dinner tomorrow night?”
“I’d like that,” Lauren replied, looking into his eyes. He leaned down and kissed her, deepening it this time as she moaned softly against his mouth. It made her feel things she never had before, and Lauren stared at him as he pulled away.
“I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon for lunch.” Cole cleared his throat and stepped into his truck. She watched him leave. Lauren turned to go back into the house and found the living room empty. She glanced down the hallway. Sometimes she felt as if she was imposing on the couple, even though Jane was so happy to have her here.
Lauren sat down on the couch and watched some late night television before bed as she thought about Cole. She wanted him in ways that she’d never wanted another man, and it terrified her. Seeing him at work that way, bare and genuine, had sent her hormones running. Lauren shook her head. Cole seemed to be a wonderful man, but she was still dealing with moving and losing her father. Was she fit to get involved with anybody right now? More than that, was she enough for a man like him? Cole was handsome and could have any woman that he wanted. She didn’t even know whether she was his type. She’d never seen photos of his ex-girlfriends and she didn’t want to.
Lauren made her way to bed and slept late the next day. She was up in time for lunch, showered and dressed in some shorts and a tank top. She went out into the kitchen when she heard voices and watched as the guys sat down at the table with bowls of soup and buttered bread while Jane tal
ked to them from the kitchen. Lauren looked at her and remembered the girl that couldn’t cook and just went along with life as it came along. Here she was in the kitchen cooking and taking care of a house and a man, a man that was nothing like any of the guys that she’d dated back home.
“Hey, sleeping beauty,” Jane said as she looked up and smiled. “Tired?”
“I suppose so,” Lauren told her, running a hand through her hair. She got some coffee and heated it up before she took a seat with the guys at the table. “How’s work today?”
“Great,” Cole told her, looking at her with warm eyes. “How are you?”
“I’m looking forward to tonight,” Lauren told him, as she smiled and met his gaze.
“Me too.”
“Should Adam and I plan a date night?” Jane asked, as she sat down and smiled at her boyfriend.
“That would be a great plan,” Cole told them, and the couple smiled at each other. When they had finished their lunch and Cole and Adam had gone back to work, Jane turned to Lauren.
“A second date?” Jane asked, and Lauren nodded.
“I need to give this a go. I feel good about him,” Lauren said. Jane nodded. “I don’t want to be scared of what he thinks of me or what anybody thinks of me anymore. Georgia is behind me.”
“Good girl. I was so glad to get you out of there. I think you’ll flourish here,” Jane assured her as they cleaned up after the meal.
“You sure have,” Lauren told her, and Jane looked at her. “You used to have trouble deciding on a movie. Here you are living in a house with a cowboy and cooking. You’re cleaning. You’re happy.”
“I truly am,” Jane agreed, as she set the last plate to dry in the rack. “Simple is good.”
They worked through the rest of the afternoon and then Lauren went to her room to dress for her six o’clock date. She didn’t know what Cole had planned, so she dressed in a long cotton skirt and a loose t-shirt with some sandals. She put on a little makeup but too much just didn’t feel right here. She wanted to feel natural.
