“What?” she said, her voice small.
You know what they say about things that seem too good to be true, she thought. A sick feeling settled over her as she considered fleeing the pub before Cole arrived.
“Yeah. I’m not surprised, it’s not like a guy that hot just sits around by himself all the time. There’s no ring on his finger, so he’s fair game. I’ve pulled men with girlfriends before.”
“Layla ... are you sure he has a girlfriend?” Emma said, hoping her wavering voice wasn’t giving her away.
“Pretty sure. Anna said he brought her to a dinner party at a partner’s house a few weeks ago. She doesn’t remember her name but she’s gonna try to find out for me.”
“Oh.” Emma thought she might cry with relief as she realized it was her. Cole had introduced her as his girlfriend that night. She exhaled deeply, not hearing whatever Layla was saying.
“Can you do that?” Layla asked.
“Sorry, what? I missed that.”
“I said I got a great bonus at work, and I want us to go to my salon Saturday for the works. Cut, color, blowouts, mani/pedi and facial. It’s my early Christmas present to you.”
“I’d love to. That’s so nice of you,” Emma said.
“You’re my sister, Em. No one gets me like you do. The rest of the world thinks I’m a psycho bitch.”
“Sweetie, I think that, too, I just love you anyway,” Emma said, smiling. Her breath caught when Cole walked through the door to the pub. “I have to go. Oh, you know what? I’m leaving for California Saturday. Can we go to the salon the next Saturday?”
“Sure. I’m fucking jealous, you know. It’s polar here, and you’re off to California. See you soon.”
“Alright. Love you,” Emma said, hanging up as Cole arrived.
“Should I be jealous?” he asked, leaning down to kiss her before sliding into his side of the booth.
“That was Layla. How’d it go with her?”
Cole shrugged as he scanned the menu.
“Okay. We had a drink while I went over the cases for Advocates for Hope and got out of there as soon as I could. How was your day?”
“Good. I had a nice time with Dani, and I got all my work shipped for the show in California.” Emma took extra time looking at the menu, finding she didn’t feel like talking. The churning in her stomach over the image of him sitting across from Layla over drinks hadn’t gone away.
As Cole talked about his day, Emma’s mind wandered to how much they must look like a couple to anyone who saw them. But they weren’t, really. With every passing day, she grew more attached to Cole, and she worried that it wasn’t the same for him.
“Em,” Cole said, trying to get her attention. “What’s up? You don’t seem like yourself.”
“Just tired, I guess,” she said. “And I haven’t had much time for painting the past few days, which always puts me in a mood.”
“Are you pissed that I met with Layla?”
Emma was caught off guard by his accurate assessment. Was she that bad of a liar, or did he just know her better than she thought?
“I don’t know,” she said, sighing. “I guess. Yeah, I am.”
“You know you have nothing to worry about, right? I have no interest in her.”
“But you used to.”
“That was forever ago, Em. I think we should put this whole thing to rest and just tell Layla we’re seeing each other.”
“I’m not ready,” she said. “I just need to clear my mind in California and I’ll feel better when I get back.”
Cole’s expression changed, and Emma felt guilty that her mood seemed to be rubbing off on him.
“If you don’t want to me stay tonight, I can just go home,” he said.
“I want you to stay.”
“Okay. You should paint when we get home if you want. I’ve got stuff I can do.”
“Thanks, I might,” she said. “It’s nice having you there.”
“Speaking of painting, I’m taking the one you made for me.”
“Cole,” Emma said, smiling shyly, “You don’t really want that, do you? It’s just a mess of brush strokes.”
“Of course I want it. I’m hanging it up at my place. I’m hoping my friends will ask me about it when they’re over so I can tell them about my hot artist girlfriend.”
The warmth in his blue-gray gaze made Emma forget her hard feelings. There was something about hearing Cole Marlowe refer to her as his girlfriend that made it impossible to feel anything but giddy.
Chapter 13
Cole read through the motion Layla had prepared for the Advocates for Hope case, raising his eyebrows with surprise. It was good. Great, actually. She knew her stuff, and had made points he hadn’t even considered.
He was back at Porter’s, where they’d met for drinks to discuss the case last time. He hoped meeting over lunch would keep the meeting professional. It was Wednesday, the fifth day of Emma’s trip, and he missed her. He’d been short at the office that morning because everything seemed to easily annoy him.
So this is what dependence feels like. It fucking sucks, having my mood reliant on someone else.
He’d been catching up with friends over drinks and working out in his off-time, but every night when his head hit the pillow, he wished he was in Emma’s soft double bed with her body molded against his. He loved falling asleep with his face against her soft, sweet-smelling hair.
“Hey,” Layla said, interrupting his reverie about her sister as she took the seat across from him. “How are you?”
“Good. You?” he said, pulling paperwork out of his briefcase.
“I’m good. Having a busy week at work, though.”
“You did a great job on this motion,” he said. “I know it’ll help our case.”
“Thanks. I finished it at 1:30 this morning, so I hope it all makes sense.”
“It’s perfect. I’ll file it, and I can handle the meeting with Melanie next week since you did so much work on this. I’ll just email you the details.”
“No, I’ll go with you,” she said, smiling sweetly. “Don’t you like having me around?”
“No, it’s not that …” he said, shifting uncomfortably.
“You seem really tense, Cole,” Layla said, laying her hand across his. He pulled his hand away, running it over his hair.
“Uh, no, I’m okay,” he said, wishing the waitress would come interrupt them.
“I’m really good at relieving tension.” Her voice was loaded with meaning, and Cole sighed heavily.
“Layla, I have a girlfriend,” he said.
“I won’t tell if you won’t.” A sultry smile played on her lips.
“I’m not that kind of guy. Look, if you offered to help Advocates for Hope because you thought we’d be sleeping together, we won’t.”
Layla gave him an icy glare.
“That’s your loss, Cole,” she said. “I offered to help Advocates for Hope because I have to log pro bono hours for my firm. And there are plenty of men who like me more than you apparently do, so let’s just move on.”
“I think a lot of you, Layla, really. We were always friends when we went to school together. I wouldn’t cheat on my girlfriend with anyone. You’ll find someone you feel that way about someday and then you’ll get it.”
A note of hurt crossed her face before she gathered her belongings to leave.
“Just email me about the case,” she said. “I still want to work for them, but it would be good if we saw as little of each other as possible from here.”
Cole shook his head with frustration. He didn’t want to have a hostile relationship with Emma’s sister.
“Layla, I don’t want us to stop being friends over this,” he said.
“I’ll be fine. I just need to clear my mind and then I’ll feel better.”
Her words reminded him so much of Emma that Cole felt a surge of missing her again. He let Layla leave the restaurant, relieved he could tell Emma he’d set her sister straig
ht.
After his solo lunch, Cole’s mood was still sour when he returned to his office. He texted Emma, hoping it would improve his spirits.
How are you?
She wrote back immediately, and his pulse quickened when he read her words.
Good. Sunbathing at the beach. Miss you.
He adjusted himself, picturing her in a swimsuit as he wrote back.
What are you wearing?
His mouth dried as he stared at the phone, waiting for her return message. Instead of a text, it was a photo of Emma waving in a black bikini. From her round breasts to her flat stomach, the image reminded him what she looked and felt like when they were in bed. He didn’t want to share her sensual, alluring body with anyone who happened to be at that beach.
Christ, woman, cover yourself up! I’m hard right now just looking at that.
He was still staring at the photo when her next message popped up.
There’s no one here but me, and I’m leaving anyway. Have to be at the gallery soon.
Cole wished he could hear her voice, which made him remember what she sounded like when she said his name all breathy and excited when she was about to come. He sighed as he wrote back.
Miss you bad. Let’s have lunch when you get back Friday.
He saw Jen heading toward his office as he read the next message from Emma.
Forgot to tell you I don’t have to be here for that Friday meeting now. Rescheduled my flight for tomorrow night.
The thought of seeing her sooner made him grin just as Jen walked in.
“Having a good day?” she asked playfully.
“Uh, yeah, I guess so. Just found out my girlfriend’s coming home from her business trip early.”
“Smart girl,” Jen said, raising her eyebrows. “You should never be left unattended.”
Cole ran a hand down his face as she adjusted her blouse. Jen was a knockout, no doubt about it. She always looked polished, but seemed to leave a visual hint of her sensuality in a different way every day. Today it was the blouse, which had one too many buttons open on top.
He knew he should avert his eyes, but as Jen leaned over his desk to sort through a stack of files, Cole couldn’t help staring at her ample breasts. She lingered, and he wondered if she knew she had his attention.
The hard-on caused by Emma wasn’t going anywhere, and he worried that Jen would see it and feel encouraged. He scooted his chair under the desk when she walked around to lean against it, looking out the large window with an expansive downtown view.
“I wish I had someone to miss me if I took a trip,” she said thoughtfully. “My boyfriend and I broke up seven months ago, and I’ve missed him every day since.”
Cole listened without looking at her, aware that she was just inches from him.
“Maybe you should try putting yourself out there again,” he suggested.
“I thought I was,” she said, sighing. “I’ve tried, you know, to show interest in guys here … including you …”
Cole glanced over as her face reddened with embarrassment.
“I have a girlfriend, Jen,” he said.
Fuck. I’m turning down hot women left and right today. This is a first.
“I know,” she said, looking away. “But you didn’t when I first … tried.”
Cole sighed deeply, considering. Jen seemed like a nice girl, not an attack dog like Layla, who he just wanted to throw off his back.
“You come on too strong,” he said. “And you make it seem like all you want is sex. You have to make a guy work for it. We want to.”
Jen raised her eyebrows, surprised.
“Okay,” she said with a small smile. “Do you need any help with work so you can get out of here?”
“No, I’ve got it covered. I’ll get everything caught up tonight since Em’s coming home tomorrow night.”
“She wrapped you around her little finger quick,” Jen said. “How long have you guys known each other?”
“12 years. We were neighbors growing up. But I don’t think I really knew her back then. I knew her sister better.”
“Her sister?” Jen said, looking amused. “Is that … as awkward as I’m imagining?”
Cole ran a hand over his hair as he chuckled.
“You have no idea,” he said.
*****
After she fastened her seat belt, Emma stared out the window nervously as she waited for takeoff. She never liked that part, but once the plane was in the air, flying wasn’t so bad.
She accepted the piece of watermelon gum offered by the woman next to her, smiling. During college in Paris, she’d dreamed of traveling the world to paint as many landscapes as she could find. But the appeal had faded. Right now there was no place she wanted to be but home.
Thoughts of Paris made Emma laugh lightly as she remembered Layla visiting her there before she started law school. It was the first time they’d been together because they wanted to, and it was the start of the friendship they now had.
Then – Four years earlier
The knot of nervous excitement in Emma’s chest disappeared the moment she saw Layla’s broad, dimpled smile as her sister ran toward her. Airport bystanders grinned as the two women embraced tightly, squealing happily.
“I can’t believe I haven’t seen you in almost two years!” Layla said. “You look amazing, Em! Like a different person! You’re gorgeous. I mean, you always were, but you know – there’s something different about you.”
Layla pulled back and admired Emma’s hair, now sleek and straight, and her fitted sleeveless black shirt and jeans.
“Thanks,” Emma said, looking back at her sister. Somehow she looked even more beautiful than Emma remembered. Her naturally wavy hair was straight now, too, and its warm brown color was complimented by the glow of a tan.
“I’m in Paris!” Layla exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air.
“I’m so glad you’re staying a month,” Emma said. “Mom and Dad only stayed ten days last year, and it went by so fast. How are they?”
She reached for one of Layla’s bags and they headed for the exit of the massive airport.
“They’re good,” Layla said. “Mom’s relieved I’m going to law school in Illinois. They miss you.”
“I miss all of you, too. I wish I could come home to visit, but it’s so expensive.”
“I know.” Layla nodded. “I’m on a budget, too. I couldn’t have come on this trip if Mom and Dad hadn’t paid for my ticket. So what are we going to do while I’m here?”
“There’s so much I want to show you,” Emma said. “We can see some other countries, too, if you want.”
“Yes! And I hear the food here’s amazing.”
“It is,” Emma said. “We’re meeting some of my friends at Barbershop tonight, and they have great food. You’ll love it.”
They went to the downtown bar after a day of sightseeing, and Emma’s friends commented on the resemblance between the sisters, which took Emma by surprise. No one back home had ever thought they looked alike.
Layla was quiet, seeming to take in the atmosphere of the trendy bar, with art for sale on the walls and hip-hop music being performed on a stage. Emma noticed her sister listening closely as she and her friends switched between French and English. It was the first time she’d been with Layla and not felt outshined.
A long arm reached between Emma and Layla and sat two shot glasses full of amber liquid in front of them. A bristled beard brushed across Emma’s cheek as a man kissed it. She looked up at him and smiled.
“Clive, this is my sister, Layla. Layla, this is Clive,” Emma said.
“Bonjour,” Clive said, grinning at Layla. He gave Emma a secret wink before heading to a table across the bar.
“He’s hot,” Layla said, craning to watch him. Emma had been quickly drawn to his shaggy pale blond hair and bright green eyes, too.
“He’s not bad,” she agreed. “He’s a photographer.”
“I bet he’s good in bed,” Layla murm
ured, still looking at him.
“He is,” Emma said, tipping the shot glass to her lips.
“You mean, you’ve…” Layla raised her brows at her sister appreciatively. Emma nodded silently as she sat the glass back down on the table.
“Who’s that?” Layla whispered to Emma, her gaze now locked on a tall man at the end of their long table with dark hair and a broad chest.
“Oh, that’s Paul,” Emma said, smiling. “He’s a writer.”
“Nice. What does he write?”
“Short stories and poetry.”
“Poetry?” Layla asked, turning to Emma with a grin. “That’s kinda hot.”
“Yeah.” Emma sighed.
“Why do you look all dreamy?” Layla asked. “Do you have a thing for him?”
“Sort of. But it’s no big deal. Do you want me to introduce you guys?”
“No.” Layla shook her head emphatically. “You called him.”
“I didn’t call him.” Emma laughed. “He’s fair game.”
“You liked him first. There are plenty of other men for me.”
“Layla, it’s fine, really.”
“No,” Layla said. “Besides, I’m here to see you, not hook up with a Frenchman.”
“That’s true. We have a lot to do while you’re here. Oh, here comes our tiramisu, you’re gonna love it.”
Layla grinned broadly as she looked at Emma.
“My little sister is way cooler than I am,” she said. Emma laughed and gave her a playful shove.
“Paris is cool, not me,” she said.
“No, really, Em. I admire you for making your way here. I’m not as brave as you are.”
Emma shook her head and rolled her eyes at the compliment, but inside she warmed. Praise from Layla had always been rare, and it felt good.
*****
Emma’s jet lag faded as the familiar Chicago skyline came into view from the window of her train seat. It wasn’t the sight of the city that energized her, but knowing that he was there.
California was fun, but she’d missed Cole. They spent most nights together now, and going to bed at her hotel every night without him was lonely. She’d thought about inviting him, but it was such a last-minute thing, and she knew he was swamped at work.
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