by Alex Wolf
I walk into the lobby and it’s just how I envisioned it in my worst nightmares. The brothers, my uncle David, and Dad are eyeballing the shit out of Cole. He’s standing there trying to play it off like it’s not awkward.
I walk out and stand next to Cole, and they all decide to mean mug me too. Assholes.
I start to say something, when Donavan says through his teeth, “So this is happening?”
Before I can respond, Paisley smacks him in the chest. She keeps her other hand on her belly because she’s due in like another month or two. Donavan stares down at her and immediately goes from looking pissed off to remorseful.
I take a step away from Cole and square off at all of them. Fortunately, Dad looks more relaxed than anyone. I walk over to him and say, “Come with me.”
Dad follows and I walk back to Cole.
“Dad, this is Cole. We’re dating.”
Cole’s eyes get big. You wouldn’t think a world-champion MMA fighter could look scared, but there’s a first time for everything. There’s something about when a man meets the father of the woman he’s dating that can put fear into the biggest badasses on the planet. It’s like some sort of man code or something, but this whole thing is ridiculous and fucking with my life entirely too much.
Dad pretends to glare at him, and I want to smack him because I know he’s joking right now. Then, he breaks into a smile. “Yeah, I know who he is. How are you, son?”
I glance back and all my cousins’ eyes go wide, like they can’t believe Dad’s being nice to the enemy.
Dad reaches out a hand and Cole’s eyes dart down to mine like is this a joke?
Finally, he shakes Dad’s hand.
“I’m shaking the hand that knocked out Philip Martin. This is incredible.” Dad looks at me and smiles like a boy. He’s a big fan of Cole’s, and I’m surprised they’ve never met, as much as our families get together.
I grin.
Cole relaxes a little and says, “It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.” He whispers something in Cole’s ear, then leans back like everything is normal.
Cole’s eyes get big again.
I glance over, and Dex is still glaring right at Cole, even with Abigail giving him her toughest stare, which is probably hard for her. She’s maybe the sweetest girl in the family, her and Jenny.
I walk up to him. “Is there a problem?”
He shakes his head, jaw clenched. “Nope.”
Abigail looks like she wants to be anywhere else right now, like she hates this conflict and tension.
“No, get it out, Dex. If you have a problem, say what you have to say.”
Everyone else turns to us.
“I’m not doing this here.” Dex stomps off.
I knew he’d be the toughest one to win over. He and Cole have been best friends since like high school or something. He probably does feel a little betrayed, but he can get over it. We’re adults, not children.
I chase after him because fuck that. He’s not dictating the terms of this conversation. Everyone else looks like they’re on board now, especially after Dad seemed to give his blessing.
I grip Dex by the arm when we’re out of earshot of everyone else. “What the hell?”
He spins around, almost up in my face. I’ve never seen him look like this before. His face is red, and his fingers tremble. “Anyone. You could have your pick of anyone. Why Cole?”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Why does it bother you?”
“Because he’s my best friend. I’ve known him since high school.” He shakes his head, looking away at the wall.
“You think I’m stealing him away from you or something? I don’t get it. It’s not like I’d tell Cole who he can hang out with. Why the fuck would I ever tell him not to be friends with you anymore, even if I was a bitch? You’re my cousin and one of my best friends.”
“It’s not that.” He keeps shaking his head.
“Then what is it?”
“You’re too good for him, Harlow. You don’t know how he is with women. You’re too good for any of us. You deserve…”
My heart squeezes tight in my chest when his words trail off.
I exhale a deep breath. “He makes me happy, Dex. I want to be happy. Don’t you want that for me?”
His shoulders slump a little. “Of course I do. You know that.”
“Maybe he was a player, or still is. But you were too, weren’t you? Before Abigail?”
“We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about…” He still can’t look at me when he says it.
I grip him by the wrist and try to force him to look down at me. “He’s a good man, isn’t he?”
Dex doesn’t respond.
“Isn’t he?” I raise my voice a little.
He finally sighs. “Yes, he is. I wouldn’t be best friends with him if he wasn’t.”
“Do you think he’d risk you reacting this way if he didn’t really care about me? If all he wanted was to treat me like all the others?”
Dex shakes his head, his hands balled into fists. “No.”
“Okay, then.”
About that time, we both hear, “Fuckers!” and Wells Covington comes strolling into the waiting room.
“Would you rather I end up with someone like that?” I gesture to Wells.
Dex laughs, finally. He laughs hard. “God no. I feel sorry for the woman who ends up with that asshole.”
“I didn’t plan for this to happen, you know?”
Dex looks down at me.
“I’m serious. I tried so hard to stay away. I didn’t want a relationship right now. I have too much going on, but it’s just happening, and it’s still early.”
Dex sighs. “What happens if you two have a falling out? Have you thought about that? I know it’s new and you think it’ll last forever, but what if it doesn’t? I don’t want to choose between you two, Harlow. I’ll pick you every single time, and I’ll fucking hate him, but he’s been my best friend for fifteen years. I don’t want to hate him for hurting you.”
All the air sucks out of my lungs. Of course I’d thought about it, but not while looking at Dex, seeing how devastated he would be firsthand if he lost Cole as a friend. Shit. I finally shrug to try to lighten things up a little, make things a little easier. “Maybe he won’t hurt me. Maybe he will.”
Dex’s jaw clenches.
I squeeze his wrist a little harder. “But I would never make you choose. Ever. I mean that. What happens between him and me is between him and me, and I’d never put you in the middle.”
He finally nods. “Okay.”
“Dex, I love you like a brother. You know that. All of you, you guys are my life. I wouldn’t do that to you, make you choose. If something goes wrong, I’ll just… We’ll figure something out, okay?”
“Okay.” He says it but I can’t tell if he means it.
I give him a hug. Everything is better after a hug, and I rarely give them to anyone but my cousins, so I know he appreciates it. He wraps his arms around me.
“We good now? I don’t like us being like this.”
He pats me on the head. “I don’t like it either, short stack.”
“I’ll still kick your ass.”
He laughs. “Oh, I believe you. Let’s get back before shit gets weird.”
“Agreed.”
We walk over and everyone hangs out and talks about anything other than Cole and me. Things seem to be a little better, which is great. Cole still looks a little awkward, but he plays it off well. He’s probably used to wining and dining executives and stuff, so he’s a pretty good actor.
I walk around the corner with him to the elevator.
“You want a ride to your car?”
“Nah, I’ll have Dad take me.”
“Everything good with you and Dex?” He fidgets with his fingers when he says it, and glances over in Dex’s direction.
“It’ll be fine. Better than it was.”
“Okay.” He
kisses me, but not before he looks around to make sure nobody is watching.
I kind of enjoy, in a morbid way, how nervous he is around all of them, when it comes to public displays of affection anyway. Good, it’ll keep him on his toes.
“Fuck, I’ll miss you.” His hands go to my hips, and I just want to fall into him.
I glance up at him and I can tell he means every damn word. His fingers dig in and they tell me he doesn’t want to let go. It’s so possessive and hot.
I need to just give in and enjoy this new part of the relationship, these foreign experiences I’ve never had. I know it won’t last forever, that we’ll eventually go our separate ways or get comfortable with each other, but right now it’s perfect, the push and pull, always wanting to be in the same room, missing him the second he’s gone.
“I’ll miss you too.”
“What’d my dad say to you?”
Cole jolts a little. “Huh?”
“I saw him whisper something to you. What was it?”
Cole shakes his head, trying to play it off. “Nothing.”
“Oh bullshit, tell me. I wanna know.” I grin. There’s no telling with Dad.
Cole glances around like someone might be watching us, then leans down. “He said I might be an MMA champion, but he’ll still fuck me up if something happens to you.”
I try as hard as I can not to grin, and keep a serious face. “He means every word, you know?”
Cole shakes his head. “This fucking family, I swear.” He steps on the elevator, but not before one more kiss that takes my breath away. “I’ll call you in a bit.”
I nod. “Okay.”
When the doors close, and he’s out of sight, the world feels cold again. Colors aren’t as bright. The thing that scares me the most is I really do miss him, almost instantly. Fuck, what am I getting myself into?
I walk back over, and everyone is cracking up, making jokes. I love my family so much. We all complement each other so well. I love Paisley and Tate and Quinn and Abigail too. They’re all perfect for my cousins.
The conversation quickly steers toward business, thank fuck.
“Harlow’s killing it,” Dex says to Dad. “We’ve had a thirty percent bump in new client consultations. I had to hire three new associates last week, might even need another partner, especially with Paisley having the baby.”
“I can still work remotely.” Paisley takes a step toward us, like Dex might forget she’s part of the firm since she’s pregnant.
“Like hell.” Donavan glares at her, and his hand has not left her stomach once that I can think of in the last seven months I’ve seen them together.
Decker walks up to me and motions for Donavan to follow. Donavan doesn’t look like he wants to leave Paisley, but eventually he sighs, kisses her stomach and walks over.
We head around the corner.
Decker looks at me and says, “We want to talk to you about doing more work for the firm. Engaging your services for all our departments.”
Donavan nods. “Absolutely. We have some thoughts about aiming at some out-of-state clients too. Specifically, New York. We want you to plaster their Facebook feeds with our services, some eye-catching ads, and some good marketing copy.”
I make a show of cracking my knuckles. “It’s about time, fuckers.”
They both get devilish grins on their faces.
I agree to come in for a meeting soon to talk strategy.
Life is so damn good right now. I don’t know how it could get any better. I’m killing it with work, crushing my personal life. I may have to hire some more people before all is said and done and I can picture the principle on my loans going down with every hour I get to bill.
One thing I notice more than anything, though, is despite all the professional success, the one thing that seems to make me happier than anything else…
Is Cole Miller.
Chapter Nineteen
Cole Miller
I drive over after I leave the office. I can’t believe I’m doing this shit. I did promise Dex, though, and Harlow looked really excited when I asked her about it.
I glance up at the sign when I pull up to the curb.
Romano Custom Tailoring.
Fuck my life. Harlow pulls up at the same time and parks next to me. She’s grinning from ear-to-ear. There’s not much I hate more than shopping for clothes, and yet I’m smiling like an idiot. How does she do this to me?
There are all kinds of designer names on the window: Tom Ford, Brioni, Armani.
The names sound like gibberish to me. I know Dex and his brothers wear this expensive shit every day, but I worked my ass off for what I have, and I’ll be damned if I don’t dress how I want to.
Harlow steps out of her car onto the curb. “Don’t look so excited to be here, Miller.” She struts toward me in only the way Harlow can strut. It’s so fucking sexy, and the walk, everything is just, her. It’s the only way I know how to describe her.
She’s one of a kind. Unique.
I give her a quick peck on the mouth and I immediately want more, but I know she won’t have it right now. “I am happy to see you. This shit,” I gesture to the building, “not so much.”
“Come on, ya big baby. It’ll be fun.”
We walk inside and an Italian man greets us immediately. He’s obviously wearing a suit and everything about it looks flawless, pristine. It’s what I’d expect. It’s his damn job, right?
He doesn’t even bother pretending I’m some random customer off the street. He starts right over to us and holds out his hand. “Massimo Romano, you must be Mr. Miller.” He flashes Harlow a wink.
I want to grip his tie and let him know nobody winks at my woman, but Harlow might not like that, and I’d rather enjoy getting laid later. It still bothers me.
“Nice to meet you.” I give him an extra squeeze when we shake hands, and his damn face almost turns purple.
He won’t wink at her again.
“Harlow, good to see you.” He almost sounds like he struggles to get the words out, and he’s doing his best not to pamper his hand.
“You guys know each other?”
Harlow looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Of course. Who do you think helps Dex pick his suits out too?”
Well, now I feel like kind of a dick. I thought he was just winking at her for the hell of it. It doesn’t matter. He still needs to watch his fucking winks when I’m around.
“What can I do for you? Dex said you need a lot of help. He also said you need multiple suits.”
“Did he now?”
Harlow jabs an elbow in my ribs like play nice.
I shoot her a stare that says okay, I will, but only because I want you, so let’s speed this shit up.
She walks over with Massimo, and they start looking at different things. I glance around the place. They need a damn bar or some TVs. How the hell are you supposed to kill time during this boring-ass shit? I pretend to browse through some jackets like I know what the fuck I’m doing.
Harlow keeps glancing over at me, smiling. I think part of it is because she really likes me, and part of it is because she loves how uncomfortable I am in here.
Becoming wealthy was never my end game. It’s never been my goal. I just want to make a difference, and I like to compete. I like seeing other people reach their goals. That’s the best part about Curve, seeing women tell us we changed their lives, knowing they’ll get extra years to experience their grandkids, special occasions, that they’re actually out living instead of just getting by. All because they found our gym and made some changes in their life.
Or seeing Pedro accomplish everything he has. Watching him break my records and loving every second of it. It’s that drive that makes life worth living.
Now, it’s seeing Harlow happy. That does it for me. I can’t explain it, but it does. When she smiles I feel it in my soul.
They finally call me over.
“What’s the verdict? You guys find some stuff?”
&
nbsp; They look at me like I’m insane.
“What?”
“It’s barely begun, Miller. Brace yourself.”
What the hell?
Massimo leads me over in front of a mirror and breaks out a tape measure. He’s flying all over the goddamn place, and I swear I think he even measures my dick. I can’t be sure. He called it an inseam, but I know what the fuck he was doing.
Harlow lounges back in a chair, thoroughly amused.
I can’t help but notice how Massimo is flying through jackets, throwing pants around, measuring. It’s like he was born to do this job, and he seems to really enjoy it. Like I can see when he gets a certain idea in his head, then he springs into action, like he’s an artist painting a picture or writing a story.
Finally, he sends me into a dressing room.
“Feels like one of those makeover shows, doesn’t it, Miller?”
“You owe me for this shit.” I holler the words out while I put this suit on.
“Dex did this to you, not me. Your irritation is misplaced.”
I laugh. “I don’t think it is. And I think you’ll feel the brunt of it when we get home.”
“Oh, sounds promising.”
I straighten up for a second and adjust the collar on my shirt once the jacket is on. Holy shit. This suit feels kind of nice, not like the one I always wear. I can move around in it, but it still fits pretty snug.
“Here I come, don’t laugh or I’ll kick your ass.”
I walk out of the small fitting room. Harlow and Massimo turn to me at the same time, and both their eyes get big at once.
I look around. “The fuck? I put it on wrong or something?”
Massimo shakes his head.
Harlow still looks like a deer in headlights, then says all monotone, “Nope, you got it just right.”
She turns slowly to Massimo, then holds up a fist and they bump them.
She walks over and spins me around slowly, eyeing it from every angle, looking me up and down. “You are a goddamn magician, Romano. Shit.”
I lean down and whisper, “So, is this good?”
She moves like she needs to tell me a secret, smiles against my ear, and whispers, “You wear this suit home, and I’ll fuck you so hard you can’t walk straight tomorrow.”
