Break Away (The Moore Brothers Book 4)

by Brooks, Abby

  “Hey, you.” She pulled her pen and paper out of her apron. “What’re you eating tonight?”

  Cole leaned back in the booth and drew his eyebrows together. “Why do you still ask that every single time I come in here? Are you telling me you haven’t memorized my order yet?”

  “Of course I’ve memorized your order. You’re gonna ask for the Bubba Burger, no onion with a side of fries and a side salad with ranch. You’re also gonna want an iced tea that you slurp down as soon as I walk away so I have to be back here with a pitcher before I’ve even had time to check on my other tables.”

  “If you know all these things, why do you ask?”

  “Because I’m building habits around the things I do. Some really smart guy I know told me that. I think he’s a fisherman or something like that.”

  “A shrimper.”

  Lilah shrugged and gave Cole a sly look. “Maybe. Whatever he is, he’s really smart.” And gets better looking by the day.

  “You still coming by tonight? It’s time for our weekly financial update.”

  “Yeah,” she said, drawing out the word and looking at her feet. “I’m coming.”

  “Don’t look so excited about it. You might hurt yourself.” Cole sat back in the booth and crossed his arms over his chest. His muscular, so very pretty, and very easy to press your head against when you’re feeling sad, chest.

  “Oh yes. Being shown just exactly how totally unprepared I am for adult life is my favorite. I love being made to feel inept.”

  All the humor drained out of Cole’s face. “I don’t make you feel inept, do I?”

  “No. It’s not you. It’s just the process of being shown exactly how much I don’t know about … well … everything that makes me feel like a total loser. You’re very cool about the process and never say anything that hurts my feelings.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.” She twirled her pen between her fingers. “You’re gonna be proud of me, though.”

  “I don’t doubt it. I’m already proud of you. You’ve really been pulling your shit together.”

  Lilah beamed. “Well, you’re gonna be extra proud of me when you see my account tonight.”

  “Yeah? You making good progress?”

  Hell yeah she was making good progress. With Cole’s help, Lilah had gotten caught up on all her bills and was even building a little wiggle room in her account. And most of the changes hadn’t even been that hard. She had complained so much about giving up cable and once it was gone she realized she didn’t even watch TV that much in the first place. The hardest part was dealing with her obsessive-compulsive desire to collect beauty products.

  “I’ll show you tonight,” Lilah said and went to put in Cole’s order and check on her other tables. Her tips had been getting fatter and fatter with each passing week and she actually felt like she was getting the hang of things at the diner. Even Lou had complimented her on her progress. Well, if you count ‘way to not completely screw things up tonight’ and ‘you’re still the worst waitress I’ve ever seen but I don’t regret hiring you anymore’ as compliments.

  While she worked, she kept sneaking peeks at Cole. He might be the prettiest man she had ever seen. No, pretty was the wrong word because his rugged cheekbones and storm-thrashed-sea eyes definitely didn’t fall into the pretty category. But handsome didn’t do him justice either because that made her think of refined suits and expensive hair and all kinds of things that Cole was not. Some people might even think that his sun-bleached hair was too white against his super tan skin, but not Lilah. The more she looked, the more she wanted to keep looking.

  So, considering Lilah pretty much did whatever she wanted, she just went right ahead and looked. Cole caught her more than once. The first time, a lazy smile stretched across his face. The second time, he dropped one eye in a wink that sent a delightful surge of desire catapulting through her body. The third time, he cocked his head in a question, his eyebrows knitting together in uncertainty.

  “You keep staring at me,” he said when she came back to refill his iced tea for the fifth time.

  “You keep catching my eye.” Woops. Maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say to a serial dater like Cole Bennett. The last thing he needed to know was that she was definitely feeling more and more physically attracted to him.

  “Of course I do.” Cole ran a hand through his hair and shook his head in a dramatic impersonation of a shampoo commercial. “I’m easy on the eyes.”

  “You just keep telling yourself that.”

  “I don’t have to keep telling myself that. The ladies keep doing it for me.”

  The ladies. As in, more than one lady. As in, Lilah could never date Cole because he wasn’t the kind of guy who did girlfriends. As in, she needed to stop looking at him as anything other than a friend. Like, not even as a super hot friend because apparently even that would end up with her head going to places they didn’t need to go to. Like wondering what he looked like naked. Or how it would feel to be the focus of his flirtations.

  “Great,” she said, hoping her smile hid the slight blush working its way across her cheeks. “Just what you need. More ego.”

  Cole laughed. “Hey,” he said as she turned to walk away. “Mom asked me to invite you for dinner tomorrow. Sounds like she’s going all out on the preparations.”

  “Well then, I’m sure to leave about five pounds heavier than I showed up.”

  Cole had never come right out and told Lilah why his mom had moved in with him, but between him and Maggie, they had dropped enough hints that Lilah had pieced together the fact that Maxwell Bennett was a first class asshole. An abusive drunk who never deserved having these two wonderful people in his life in the first place.

  “She’s looking for a place, by the way.”

  “Is she really? Good for her!”

  “Yeah. I’m really proud of her.” The look on Cole’s face said he was way more than proud of her.

  Lilah couldn’t even begin to understand the courage it took for Maggie to untangle herself from her husband and to start building her own life. All she knew was that some women never managed to leave.

  She put her hand to her heart and smiled. “You should be. You’ve got one heck of a mom.”

  “I’ll tell her you said that,” Cole said as Lilah gathered his empty plate onto her tray. “What time you coming over tonight?”

  “I’m off here in an hour. Figured I’d shower and come by after that. Sound good?”

  “Fine by me.”

  Lilah smiled and headed back towards the serving station, pretty damn sure Cole was staring at her ass. She put a little wiggle in her walk, just in case. He had to know that she couldn’t keep her eyes off him. It’s only fair play to do what she could to return the favor.

  15

  Why was it so hard to figure out what to wear? Why, after so many nights of visiting Cole and Maggie, so many different dinners where she couldn’t care less what she put on, why was tonight different? Lilah stood in front of her closet in nothing but a bra and panties—her prettiest bra and panties nonetheless—and absolutely nothing in her closet seemed good enough for the evening.

  Cole had seen her in everything she had. In all the different combinations of shirts and shorts and skirts and dresses she could possibly come up with. And for some reason, tonight, none of the stuff that seemed good enough. She didn’t understand why, but Lilah really wanted to watch Cole’s eyes light up when he saw her. Wanted to see that tiny quirk of his lips that meant he liked what he was looking at. And sure, it was dumb because yes, it was Cole, but no, that didn’t seem to matter.

  Sighing, she yanked the pink dress she had worn to the very first dinner Maggie had invited her to off its hanger and pulled it on. She hadn’t worn it since that night and she felt really pretty in it. It was almost the exact same color of her cheeks when she blushed and it drew out the color in her eyes. But of course, she didn’t have her straightener and her hair was going to be a poofy disaster
and…

  Lilah took a breath.

  Get a grip, Moore. Whatever reason you think you have to be freaking out about how you look is sure to only get you in trouble. It’s Cole. No big deal.

  But for some reason, it really did feel like a big deal. Or at least a medium deal.

  When she first showed up in these apartment sans straightener and expensive smoothing products, Lilah had been mortified about walking around with untamed hair. But, her waves had grown on her in the last few weeks. She took one last look in the mirror, smoothed a few errant hairs and touched up her light makeup. Lilah pulled on her sandals and made the short trip across the thin strip of grass to Cole’s apartment. It was still hot as hell and twice as humid. Late August in South Carolina was anything but forgiving. Her hair was probably poofing up into something that would only look good on the cover of Teen Vogue circa 1995. She smoothed it back before she knocked on Cole’s door.

  Even standing on the doorstep, she could smell Maggie’s cooking. It smelled like fried chicken and mashed potatoes and Lilah could just bet that Maggie had made a salad with her famous raspberry vinaigrette. Lilah’s mouth watered as she heard heavy footsteps get closer and closer towards the door. Of course, for whatever reason, as those footsteps got closer, her heart beat faster and faster.

  Get a hold of yourself, Lilah thought. There is absolutely no reason for all this crazy nonsense. It’s just Cole.

  But then, ‘just Cole’ swung open his apartment door and leaned against the frame. His eyes raked over Lilah’s body and she could have sworn that they lingered on her hips, boobs, and neckline just a little longer than necessary. And, was it the lighting or had he shaved? His traditional light dusting of blonde stubble was most definitely missing. And his shirt looked new and his pants looked fresh out of the wash.

  Had Cole Bennett taken extra time getting ready for her just like she had taken extra time getting ready for him?

  “Damn,” he said, his gaze finally settling on her face. “That is some mighty big hair.” And just like that, there was that little quirk of his lips.

  Lilah’s mouth flew open and her hands went to her hair, even as she combatted a smile of her own. Damn this humidity!

  “You look awfully well groomed for an evening with your mom,” she said with the patented Lilah Moore super sarcastic and dismissive eye roll. If he was going to be rude then he had better get used to rude coming right back at him.

  “Actually, I got this gussied up for someone looking mighty fine in her pink dress and big hair.” There was that shit-eating grin, sliding its way across Cole’s face. The one that meant he was being charming as all hell and knew it.

  Lilah felt the blush flaring out across her cheeks and instead of looking down at her feet, she let her eyes smolder into his. She had chosen this dress for how well it worked with her flush. If he was going to flirt like crazy, then so was she. “Are you going to let me in, or are you trying to impress me with how much your shoulders fill up the doorway.” She sat back on her heel and cocked a hip. “Because if you are, it’s totally not working.”

  Except it totally is, she thought to herself, appreciating just how broad those shoulders were.

  Cole stepped aside and made a sweeping gesture with his hand and finished with a mocking bow. “Please come in, your highness.”

  Shaking her head and laughing, Lilah stepped into the now familiar apartment. She bounded through the living room and into the kitchen to get her traditional hug from Maggie. “Hey gorgeous,” she said. “It even smells good outside.”

  Maggie turned and created this broad smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Not in the least. It certainly wasn’t Maggie’s normal smile. “Hey you.” She opened her arms and gave Lilah a squeeze. “You sure look pretty.”

  Lilah had to hold her breath. The scent of liquor on Maggie’s breath was enough to take down a bear. That wasn’t like Maggie. Not at all. In fact, Lilah couldn’t remember ever seeing Maggie drink.

  Dinner was delicious, if not slightly awkward due to the weird chemistry sizzling between Cole and Lilah—he’s a player he’s a player he’s a player she kept reminding herself—and Maggie’s odd surliness and continued drinking.

  “I’m sure I gain five pounds every time I come over here for dinner,” Lilah said as she pushed her plate back wiped her hands on her napkin. “Oh!” She turned a huge smile to Maggie. “Cole said you found a place. That’s so exciting.”

  Maggie sucked in her lips and gave a funny little bobbing nod of her head. “Yep. I’m finally all grown up.”

  Cole scowled at his mom. Whatever was wrong with her had him worried, too. She could see it in the little crinkle in his forehead.

  “Does that mean our little family dinners are coming to an end?” Genuine disappointment surged through Lilah. She had really come to enjoy the easy friendship and sarcastic humor during her visits with the Bennetts.

  Maggie frowned. Deeply. And sighed. Just as deeply. “You guys don’t need a worthless old woman around to have your fun together.”

  Cole and Lilah sat in stunned silence while Maggie took a long drink. That was her second drink since Lilah had gotten here. And her breath had already stunk of whiskey when she showed up.

  “Here Mom,” said Cole, his chair bumping back over the carpet as he stood up. “Why don’t you have a seat on the couch and Lilah and I will get things cleaned up here.” Cole grabbed several plates while Lilah stood and grabbed a few glasses. Maggie tried to protest, but Lilah held up a hand.

  “Hey. You worked hard on the meal itself. You deserve to sit down and kick your feet up.” That strange hunted look was back in Maggie’s eyes, the one that used to live there all the time. Lilah hadn’t even realized it was gone until it was back again.

  Cole’s kitchen was small, exactly like Lilah’s. It most definitely wasn’t designed with two people working together in mind. They danced around each other, trying to figure out a rhythm in the small space. Whether it was intentional or not Cole kept brushing against her, the skin of his arm leaving little sparks of electricity on hers, his hand on her lower back sending butterflies surging through her stomach. But the long trailing fingertip across her shoulder, that was clearly intentional and sent a ripple of goosebumps across her skin.

  “That’s the dress you wore the first night you came to dinner,” Cole said, his eyes trained on the last few dishes in his hands.

  What a weird thing to say. And what was even weirder was that it made her almost giddy that he noticed. “Yep,” she said just because it was getting weird with the silence stretching out between them.

  “You should wear it more often. It looks really pretty on you.”

  He’s a player. He’s a player. He’s a player. He’s a player. Lilah did everything she could to keep that thought in her mind, but she was getting dangerously close to not caring.

  “Guys?” Maggie called from the living room. “I’m going to head on up. It was good seeing you, Lilah.”

  Both Cole and Lilah peeked out of the kitchen to say good night and then went back to getting the kitchen put back together.

  “You think your mom’s okay?” Lilah asked. Too much sexual tension in a tight space? No problem. Ask a question about a troubled parent and everything will be okay.

  Cole grit his teeth together and gave her a long look that she couldn’t read. “I think she’s worried about living on her own. She’s tough, but in all the wrong ways.”

  “We’ll have to help her not feel alone once she moves in. Maybe bring dinner to her a few nights,” Lilah said.

  Cole’s face softened and he touched a finger to Lilah’s cheek. “I think that’s a great idea,” he said while Lilah tried to ignore how much she liked being this close to him.

  Just remember the redhead and the walk of shame, she thought, even as she leaned into his touch ever so slightly.

  Thing was, if it wasn’t for the whole ‘Cole Bennett doesn’t do girlfriends’ thing, Lilah would love to let the little flirtations
turn into big flirtations. Love to acknowledge the electricity that was growing between them. Would love to let him take her in his arms and press his lips to hers. Hell, judging by the tightness in her lower muscles, she would love to sleep with him, to know what it was like to be with someone who was such a man’s man, yet so sweet and protective at the same time. Well, sweet and protective when he wasn’t being a sarcastic ass.

  Cole pulled open the fridge and hit Lilah with a questioning look. “So, where are they?”

  “Where are what?” She was so caught up in her head, trying to talk herself into and out of acknowledging her attraction to him at the same time, that she had no idea what he was talking about.

  “The cookies.” Cole peeked into the fridge again. “Tell me you didn’t forget them again!”

  Lilah laughed. “I’m pretty damn sure you forbid me from making them ever again once you saw how much the ingredients cost.”

  “Well hell, Lilah. You’re a smart girl. I’m sure you could use less expensive ingredients and they’d still come out real good.”

  “Oh sure. You say that now, but if I’d shown up with them and they weren’t as good, you’d never let me live that down, either.”

  Cole clucked his tongue. “Well then you should just make sure that they were as good as the first batch. See? I’m easy to please.”

  And just like that, Lilah’s mind was off on a little rampage of thoughts about how good it would feel to please Cole Bennett on a regular basis and all the little ways he might like to be pleased. Was he dirty? Was he domineering? Did he know what he liked and didn’t have any qualms about telling her? And most importantly, was he generous?

  Lilah found herself staring at Cole’s lips and came to the realization that he was fully aware she was staring. Her chest heaved. Cole leaned in. His hands snaked up her back and into her hair as his lips pressed against hers. His kiss was surprisingly soft and tentative, his lips supple and warm. She pressed into him, her body conforming to his hard edges, her curves molding against his strength.