Nick gave me a look like I’d lost my mind and shook his head, grinning.
“What you two have is special,” Nick continued. “Cole knows it, and he wasn’t about to let you get away from him again.”
I propped my elbows on the table and stared at Nick, feeling that familiar sensation of being watched.
“Then why haven’t I heard from him over the last couple of weeks?” I glanced around Norma’s and didn’t see Cole.
“Just promise me you’ll keep an open mind,” Sophie said. “I know you’re not the best with surprises…”
“What is going on?”
They remained silent, but I felt his energy. I knew Cole was here.
“You okay?” Sophie asked as I stood up.
“Totally. I just thought I heard someone.”
“Cole?” she whispered.
“Yeah. I guess I can only hope so long before my condition turns clinical and hospitalization is required. Now if one of my best friends would only tell me what was going on, it might not come to that…”
The front door of Norma’s opened and in walked Cole. The sight of him was enough to do me in. Sophie followed my gaze, followed by Nick. I was frozen in place, and it wasn’t until Cole took a step forward that I knew he wasn’t a figment of my imagination.
Cole looked drop-dead gorgeous.
And he was here.
And for once, I was going to get my hopes up.
“Why are you still standing here? You should be over there,” Sophie whispered.
I almost fell forward, catching the look of Nick, who flashed a big grin in my direction. He knew. How did he know? Nick gestured for me to continue forward, but I couldn’t.
It felt like high school all over again, but this time my heart filled with anxiety about where we would go from here. I didn’t want to read too much into this, but I already was.
I sucked on the inside of my lip to hide the smile that threatened to reveal every single emotion charging through me.
Our very first date had been at Norma’s. It had been planned as a group date so my parents allowed it, but everyone took off the moment Cole walked inside.
Just like now.
Nick and Sophie both gave me quick hugs and left the table vacant as Cole walked slowly in my direction, his eyes boring into mine.
With every step closer, I knew something was about to change. For better or worse, I would know where I stood.
“There were a few things I had to take care of,” Cole said, his eyes taking me in.
He held out his hands, and I found myself drifting into his arms.
“Like what?” I looked into his eyes.
“This time is different, babe. I’m not leaving and there’s nothing that will come between us. I want to be in your bubble.”
I smiled.
“So you did get the email?”
He nodded, hiding a smile. “And it took everything I had not to come rushing over.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I heard the pain in your voice, I knew I had to make life changes, Natty. I knew where I wanted to be. Where I was meant to be.”
I looked into his eyes, trying to understand what all he was telling me.
“We’ve screwed this up before with distance, and I took care of that problem.”
“I thought you were mad at me for not answering your messages,” I told him.
He shook his head, his hands sliding into mine. “Not at all. It just made it crystal clear where I needed to be.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Do you want the clean version or the messy version?”
“I say go big or go home… so messy,” I chuckled, thinking back to Sophie’s advice to always take the clean version.
Oh, well.
“I had two clients who both got themselves into trouble. I assigned my two best reps to the tasks, and then I got an email from my attorney. He’d been contacted by Charlotte’s people.”
I glanced around the restaurant. There weren’t many people inside, but maybe we shouldn’t indulge their fantasies. I eyed Cole and he grinned.
“Right. We’re on Fireweed.” He led me outside to his car.
I climbed in and took a deep breath smelling everything Cole. A light scent of his cologne lingered in the air, and I let it wrap around me.
He shut the driver’s door and looked at me.
And here we were so many years later sitting in the parking lot of Norma’s.
“Anyway, I’d only met Charlotte once and it was through Cynthia. First I had the task of convincing my attorney that there was no sex tape. And yes, that’s where we’re at today in LA. People are more inclined to believe you have one than not.”
I chuckled, feeling slightly better.
“When I explained things about Cynthia, and Charlotte’s people confirmed we’d only met once and no tape existed, my attorney was on it. Obviously, Cynthia wanted one last blaze of glory and she got it.”
“The magazines retracted the stories, but Cynthia got what she wanted. A temporary wedge between us.”
“Why would she care? It’s not like she was faithful.”
Cole let out a deep breath. “I think she was jealous. It’s always been about that with her. This time, she happened to be right.”
“About what?”
“I’d never fallen out of love with you.” His eyes darkened.
His admission made my entire body fill with a feeling I never knew existed.
Never-ending love.
He shifted in his seat. “After I heard you on the phone, I told my attorneys to handle Cynthia, and I began looking for property here.”
“Property?” I asked.
He nodded.
“I’ve got a good team in place. I’m rarely needed.”
“Like property here?” I asked.
“Is that okay? I know it’s your island and all…”
“It’s more than okay,” I whispered, looking at Cole in awe.
“I didn’t want you to talk me out of it so I’ve stayed hidden on Fireweed, and it has been so difficult to stay away from you.”
“Why would I try to talk you out of it?”
His brows furrowed and I started laughing.
“Right. Because it’s me.”
“Do you want to see my place?” he asked, turning on the car, and my heart started racing. “You might recognize it.”
I nodded, completely in a daze.
“You’re like riding a rollercoaster,” I whispered, watching the restaurants and shops leading the way to the homes overlooking the water.
“I remember you always talking about this one home.”
My heart literally felt like it was about to implode.
“Seriously? You were the one who bought the Warrens’ home?”
“Two week close and everything, babe.” His smile made my entire body succumb to the love I’d had for Cole Hill for my entire life.
“Do you realize I think I’ve loved you since I fell on you.”
“Those are the most sexy words I’ve ever heard.” He smiled. “But that’s when I fell in love with you. Nothing like getting dirty with a girl.”
I smiled, allowing all the memories to flood my veins.
And right before my eyes, my dreams continued to turn to reality.
“Still has the SOLD sign on it,” Cole said, pulling into the driveway.
“I can’t believe you bought this.”
“I hope you’ll be spending a lot of time here,” he said, turning off the car.
Cole Hill was moving to Fireweed Island.
Correction.
Cole moved to Fireweed Island.
For me.
He opened my door and helped me out of the car.
“I’m sorry for so many things, Natty Jennings. I’m sorry it took me eight years to follow my heart. But I’m here now, and I hope that is enough.”
He pulled me into his arms, and his mouth pressed against mine. Cole held me de
ep in his arms as his tongue pushed between my lips. With every stroke of his tongue, the heat ran through my veins at an unstoppable rate.
Everything was worth the wait.
I felt the first of many raindrops as he held me tightly, kissing me as if we were both afraid we might never have this again. Time had a way of making things messy.
But I was learning to love the mess.
I was learning how to love the freedom of the mess. I no longer needed to know what the conclusion would be to enjoy the ride. Cole’s lips slowly broke from mine.
“You’re trembling,” he whispered.
It was pouring rain.
“The weather got away from me.”
“Me too,” I chuckled, feeling a closeness I’d never understood until now.
He pulled me to the front door and pushed it open, flicking on the lights.
“You’re kidding.”
The family room was fully furnished.
“I only had time to get the family room and bedroom stuff.”
“The important places,” I laughed.
“Kind of my thought,” he murmured, stripping his wet shirt off before pulling mine over my head and tossing it on the slate floor.
I ran my hands along his pecs, feeling the dips and curvatures with my lips following right behind. I was letting my vixen take over, a soft groan escaping his lips as I softly kissed a trail of happiness down his abdomen.
“This is too tough,” I whispered, my hands working to remove his wet jeans.
“Let me help,” he said, kicking his jeans right off, but before I had a chance to do what I’d planned, he slid my skirt down my legs.
Scooping me into his arms, he carried me down the hall and to the bedroom and laid me slowly onto a sleigh bed.
“Nice choice,” I said, sliding my hands along the gray comforter.
“Glad you approve,” he said, crawling over me, his towering presence igniting everything in me like never before. “You’re so amazingly beautiful. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since I left for LA. And coming back and not being able to…” Desire flicked through his gaze and I smiled.
“I was only a few miles away,” I reminded him, motioning for him to pull off his boxers.
“I think this will be well worth the wait,” he murmured, teasing my neck with his tongue as he quickly worked to unfasten my bra.
My breath caught, and I felt him smile as his lips moved along my flesh.
He brought his mouth back up to mine and began softly kissing me as my hands slid down his waist. As I worked his arousal to my advantage, his kisses consumed every part of me as he moved down my body. He began slowly working his way across my hips, and my body shuddered with anticipation as his tongue teased me endlessly.
I threaded my fingers through his hair and pulled him up to me, begging him for more kisses. He slid his tongue along his lips, and I pulled him into me as he slid my panties down.
“I can’t wait any more,” I whispered, pushing my hips toward him.
He growled a little moan and nipped my breast, sending an amazing shock through my system as his tongue continued to tantalize and sweep along my bare skin. My body rocked toward him, silently pleading with him. Pulling me into him, his eyes connected with mine as he wrapped his arms around my body.
“Please don’t make me wait,” I begged, his eyes darkening as he entered me, my body spinning into an endless tangle of emotions.
Lifting my hips up, he began a rhythm that spun our world into one and I couldn’t imagine my life any other way.
“See how amazing we fit,” he murmured as my head tipped back in an ecstasy I never knew possible.
“Yes,” I whispered, knowing my night with Cole Hill had barely begun.
Pickles had been rolling around in the clean clothes, and my allergies were a mess. It didn’t matter how much I blew or snorted the tickle was unbearable. I’d just gotten out of the shower, and my hopes had been completely squashed that the water would rinse away what I’d become, a mess of allergies unable to cope with life.
I bent forward and flipped my head down, wrapping a towel around my wet hair. The tickle in the back of my throat had become insane so I snorted in as hard as I could without damaging my eardrums and pulled in one more for good measure before flipping back up. Totally naked and shocked to see Cole standing in front of me, I gasped and laughed completely horrified.
“You already had me at the first snort,” Cole laughed, coming into the bedroom. His eyes traveled along my naked body, and he looked like he wanted to do something to me that had to be illegal in some states.
“Sorry,” I said, laughing harder.
“I think it’s cute.”
“Well, I thought you were outside.” I reached for my robe and he shook his head.
“And miss this? I only get so many opportunities to drink you in.”
“Drink me in?”
“Oh, yeah. Every ounce of you.”
I smiled and batted him away. “We have less than an hour before Sophie shows up. Not to mention your brother is downstairs.”
That’s right. Did I forget to mention I’d moved in with Cole and rented out my little house?
Well, that was what happened.
Cole and I moved in after three months of him living on Fireweed because, let’s face it, this relationship was long overdue, and we loved spending time with each other.
After all, we had eight years to make up for, and Pickles somehow worked her way back into the home. But she promised me that she wouldn’t put me in the ER ever again, and I believed her. She’d mellowed. Maybe it was her age or maybe it was because things were finally right in our universe.
We’d be celebrating our sixth-month anniversary tomorrow, and I had a feeling something big was on the horizon, but no one would tell me a thing.
Like usual.
But I was okay with it. I liked not trying to figure everything out. It was refreshing.
Things were going good.
Actually, not good.
Amazing.
Cole pulled me into his arms again and began spreading soft little kisses along my bare shoulders.
“You’re in so much trouble,” I whispered.
“Promise?” he growled, lifting me onto the bed.
“We can’t.” I swatted him, but it was too late. He’d already started kissing my belly and working his way up. “I’m telling you, they’ll know and then this whole thing tonight will just be awkward.”
Cole groaned and rolled off me.
“I’m still not sure setting Sophie and Anthony up is a good idea,” he said quietly.
“Well, they don’t know it’s a setup. Only we do. So if it doesn’t work, no hurt feelings.”
“It’s crazy they’ve never met.”
“It is, but I guess when you’re busy touring…” My brow arched.
“I know. I know. The life of a rock star. But where was I?” Cole asked, rolling back onto me.
“You’re insatiable.”
“And you love it.”
“Possibly.” I ran my fingers along his arms and smiled, admiring the man Cole had become so many years ago.
Right when I changed my mind and decided on a quickie, Cole rolled off and left me wanting.
“I’ll be downstairs.”
“That’s so cruel.” I tossed a pillow in his direction, but he blocked it with the door and laughed.
I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. Things were incredible, all because we got a second chance at first love. Don’t get me wrong. Things weren’t always perfect, but I don’t think we wanted perfection. We wanted each other.
I climbed out of bed and wandered to the closet. Since I’d be in the presence of rock royalty, I decided on a cute summer dress. Quickly tugging it over my head, I shimmied it into place and went to the bathroom to do my hair.
I heard Cole’s laughter all the way up the stairs, and my stomach filled with joy. I never really did see the side of Cole
that Anthony had mentioned. I still wasn’t sure if it existed, but I was grateful that the side of Cole I knew and loved hadn’t gone away. I blow dried my hair and twisted it into a loose knot, fastening it with a few pins.
I glanced in the mirror, making sure Cole didn’t sneak in, and grabbed my nose spray out of my drawer. There were some items that were okay to keep private. This was one of them. As I stuck the point up each nostril and sniffed in, I prayed my allergies would recover before Sophie arrived.
I heard the doorbell and dabbed some mascara on my lashes. This would be fun. I hopped down the stairs and walked down the hall to the family room.
It wasn’t until a room full of people yelled surprise that I almost fell backward in shock. The good news was that they scared the sneezes right out of me. The bad news was I wasn’t sure we’d ever find Pickles again.
I looked around the room in stunned silence at all our friends and family. I had no idea what was going on until Cole pushed his way through the crowd and walked toward me. It was like everything had gone into slow motion. Cole caught my gaze and a squad of butterflies hijacked my senses.
His smile really was the death of me as he stood in front of me.
“All I need in life is your hand in mine. I need to wake up to your smile every morning and hear your laughter throughout the day. That’s my idea of perfection, Natalie Jennings.”
My breath caught as I watched Cole get down on one knee, and my heart literally fell to the floor with him. He pulled a box out of his pocket, and you could hear a pin drop as he opened the box.
His eyes locked on mine and my heart raced with excitement and awe. I never imagined this was how my night would be.
“Natty, will you be my wife. Will you be my everything forever and always in this life and the next?” He licked his lips, and I couldn’t help but smile, noticing how nervous he seemed.
“Yes,” I whispered, as Cole took my hand. “Absolutely. Yes.”
“What was that?” my dad asked.
“She said yes,” Cole shouted, hopping up as he attempted to slide the ring on. Seeing the joy in his eyes made my life complete, and I couldn’t have wished for anything more perfect.
“The Cole Hill has finally proposed to Natty,” Sophie squealed.
Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Island County Book 2) Page 20
