Page 70 of Blush Crush

I want to lie because I don’t know what this feeling really is. I’m embarrassed, but it’s more than that.

“I guess I’m having a hard time reconciling that you’re still the Cole I know, but you’re also the same guy I talked to on the phone. It’s like my brain refuses to believe they’re the same person.”

He’s quiet for a moment, his eyes on the road, one hand resting loosely on the wheel. I watch his jaw shift slightly.

“Which one do you prefer?” he asks finally.

I blink, a little thrown by his question. “What?”

“The Cole you know.” He glances over briefly. “Or the Cole on the phone. The one who helped you come. Which one do you prefer?”

“That’s not—I didn’t mean it like that.” Heat spreads across my chest. “It’s not about liking one more than the other.”

“Is it because I talked a little dirty to you? Because I think you liked it.” He smirks.

I want to melt into my seat and disappear forever.

He chuckles, reaching over and rubbing my thigh like he’s trying to put me at ease. “It’s okay to like it. You contain multitudes, Ariana. You can like romance and hearts and flowers and still want your man to be absolutely filthy with you.”

Your man.

He did not just drop that so casually. I mean, I guess he kind of is, but it’s still weird to hear out loud. How am I going to survive acting like we’re a real couple when I have a mini panic attack anytime he says something that sounds too boyfriendy? There’s no way we’re going to pull this off.

“Relax, doll. I can see you freaking the fuck out. Everything is going to be okay.”

When my only response is to nod, he glances down at my bag on the floorboards. “You got a book in there?”

My brows pinch together. “Yeah, why?”

“Well, whip that baby out and read it to me. We’ve got an hour and a half to kill.”

“You want me to read you one of my books out loud? You know they’re romances, right? I highly doubt you’ll like them.”

“Yeah, but you like them, and good boyfriends, even fake ones,” he winks, “show interest in their girlfriend’s hobbies.”

“Okay,” I drawl. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I pull out the well-worn paperback that I’ve reread countless times. It’s my go-to historical romance where a sharp-witted heroine and a scandalous nobleman clash until eventually falling in love. A true classic. There’s no way Cole is going to like it.

I spare a glance at him and find him eagerly waiting for me to start.

I suspect he’s trying to take my mind off things.

It’s actually kind of sweet.

Who knew Cole Benton could be sweet.

CHAPTER 22

Cole

RIGHT WHERE I WANT YOU

Two hours in a car with Ariana and I don’t know how I’m not supposed to touch her after hearing her come. I’m starting to wonder how I’ve survived knowing her this long without touching her. Because apparently that’s all I want to do, and I spent the entire drive talking myself out of it.

She hasn’t worked at Novel in over a week and she still smells more delicious than anything that’s ever come out of that kitchen. The inside of my truck has been infiltrated by her scent and I’m kind of hoping it lingers for a while.

The drive was already proving to be difficult, and then I decided to further torture myself by having her read that book aloud.