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“What the—"
Holy crap. It was Cole.
To my shock, he was wearing the same yellow, US Navy T-shirt he’d been wearing all those years ago. It fit him just as deliciously as it did back then. Oh my god, he was so tall! How had I forgotten that? He stood in the doorway, between the two girls, with a confused expression.
Then, suddenly, understanding spread over his face like a sunrise. “Elara? Is that you?”
“Uhhh,” I said. “Yep. It’s me.” I reached up and pulled off the sheet. Somehow, I just knew that right then, my hair was doing something unspeakable.
“Well, holy shit,” Cole said. He crossed his arms, making his shoulders and biceps bulge, and for a moment it looked like the T-shirt might tear.
I tried not to stare, I really did. But how could I not?
A slow grin tugged at his lips. “There was a ghost in here, after all.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Cole
When Dad mentioned Elara was back in town, I didn’t expect to cross paths with her so soon. And I definitely wasn’t ready for her to jump out at me, bare-legged, wearing a sinfully tight ghost costume.
As she’d whipped off the white sheet, I’d held my breath, half-terrified she was naked underneath. She wasn't of course, but those denim shorts and that snug white tank top were almost worse, my eyes drifting to dangerous territory with every glance.
Get it together, man, I chastised myself. You're way too old to be ogling her like some creep.
"Sorry if the girls were bothering you." I swear, I'd never worked so hard to keep my eyes on someone's face.
Lexi huffed. "We were hunting her."
"Last I checked, hunting counts as bothering."
Elara smiled and my heart damn near stopped. "Nope,” she said. “No bother."
Nothing could have prepared me for the vision she'd become. Golden hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, exposing the elegant lines of her neck. Vibrant green eyes sparkling with mischief and warmth. One word echoed in my mind: sunshine.
I turned to my daughters. "Bother or not, I asked the two of you not to leave the yard. I think we can all agree that this is not the yard."
Lexi opened her mouth, undoubtedly to argue, but Elara interjected, "You know, it would bother me if you didn't listen to your dad."
That was unexpectedly thoughtful. I shot Elara a grateful look before facing the girls. "See girls? You've got to listen to me. You heard the lady."
"Sorry, Daddy," Rhea said, then a moment later, her sister echoed her.
"It's good to see you, Cole," Elara said, standing a little awkwardly, cradling her elbow.
"You too." Suddenly, I felt self-conscious in this moth-eaten old shirt. I always wore my Navy PT shirt when I did yard work. It was a vain attempt to remind myself that I had been young, once upon a time. "I'm so sorry about your dad. And for missing the funeral."
"Please, don't apologize."
"I wanted to be there. Stephanie, my ex-wife, was meant to have the girls but she got sick last-min—"
"Cole, really. I understand." She paused, biting her lip. “I’m sorry to hear you and Stephanie separated."
I snorted. "Ancient history. We split custody—I get the girls on weekends and she takes them in the week. Works out since Steph doesn't exactly have a packed schedule."
Elara cocked her head. "I had no idea you were married, let alone a dad."
"Right," I nodded, looking at the girls. They were distracted petting Elara’s dog. Quietly, I added: "It all came as a bit of a surprise to me, too. Got married pretty quick after getting back from the Navy and then she got pregnant almost straight away. I was a romantic back in those days. Thought I could make it work by sheer force of will."
