“And then the accident happened and it got ugly. You weren’t there in that hospital waiting room. It was awful.”
Cole sighed. Everything came back to the accident. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say. If I had been there, I would’ve told them to stop. I would’ve told them it wasn’t right.”
Dani shrugged and looked off in the distance, shaking her head. “I guess I just need to get over it, but it’s hard.”
“I understand. I’d appreciate your willingness to put up with them for a little while today.”
“I’ll do my best.” She started to walk toward the RV. “Plus, there’s no way I’m getting the boys out of here until they’ve had a chance to swim in your pool.”
* * *
After spending several hours with Cole’s parents, anybody could’ve knocked Dani over with a feather. Bonnie and Gus hadn’t just been nice or pleasant. They’d gone out of their way to be kind. Dani almost asked Cole if his parents had been abducted by aliens.
They’d spent a few hours sitting out by the pool while Cole swam with the boys. Cole had bought the fixings for sandwiches and a fruit salad for lunch, and Bonnie not only deferred to Dani’s expertise in the kitchen, she applauded it, declaring the herb aioli she made “divine.” Now that it was getting to be late afternoon, Dani was ready to head home. The boys were tired and she was, too, even though she’d had an incredible day.
“Cole, do you mind taking the boys and me home?”
Cole hopped up from the couch, where he was sitting with the boys and his dad. “Yeah. Absolutely. I’ll grab my keys.”
Bonnie pulled Dani aside. “It was really nice to see you today, Dani. I just want to tell you that I’m sorry for the way I acted with you when you and Cole were together. And especially for the things I said after the accident.” She placed her hand on Dani’s shoulder. “I hope that maybe now that you’re a mom you can understand a bit of what makes you feel protective. That’s all it was. Me going overboard with being a mama bear. I’m not proud of it. And I do regret it. Please accept my apology.”
Dani could hardly believe what she was saying. And, she had to admit, she did understand what Bonnie was saying. She had her hyperprotective moments, too. “Thank you, Bonnie. I appreciate that. I really do.”
“Now that you’re back in town, I hope that you and Cole can spend some more time together.”
“We’ll see. We’re getting reacquainted right now.” Dani didn’t want to say any more.
“Ready?” Cole asked.
“Yeah. I think the boys already ran outside.”
“Of course they did.”
Cole got the boys, the booster seats and everything else loaded into the truck, and off they went to Dani’s house. Despite their busy day, the boys were a flurry of conversation. Cole stayed quiet, so Dani did, too. She needed time to think about today. She’d had a good time, even with his parents, which she had not thought was possible. And to think, just that morning she’d been dreading seeing Cole. She still didn’t like the way she behaved around him, acting as if she had no common sense. She didn’t like that he still had that kind of control over her, whether he realized it or not.
When they got to the house, Cole asked if he could come in and see her new place. It was against Dani’s better judgment, but it was so hard to say no to Cole, especially after he’d gone out of his way to make their day so special.
Of course, once the boys realized Cole was coming in, they weren’t about to let him leave.
“Can he stay for story time?” Cameron asked.
Dani had very little resolve at this point. “Sure. But you both need a bath first. I don’t care how much time you spent in that pool, you’re both filthy.”
Just then, Cole received a phone call from one of the FBI agents, and excused himself, walking into the kitchen. He’d gone for hours without working, so that was no big surprise. He was front and center for story time, though, listening to Dani read one of the boys’ favorite books about trains that could talk. She glanced over at him at one point while she was reading and couldn’t help but notice the way the boys wanted to be near him. It created the strangest feeling in her chest—both happy and sad. That was the way things should’ve been. The way they could’ve been.
“Can Mr. Cole read us a book now?”
Dani wasn’t sure she could take any more sweet and tender moments between the boys and Cole. It was too strong a reminder of how the life they could’ve had together never materialized.
“Maybe some other time, honey. It’s late. You both need to get some sleep.”
Dani closed the door on the boys’ room after tucking them in. Cole was still by her side. It had been the most incredible day—the horses, the time spent laughing in his kitchen and watching the boys swim in Cole’s enormous, over-the-top pool. She’d certainly had her pangs of guilt over not telling him about the boys all these years, but that was a scenario of Cole’s design. She’d never wanted to break up. She hadn’t wanted to leave Royal, that was for sure.
“Heading home?” Dani half hoped he wasn’t, even when she knew what a bad idea it was for him to stay. She had so little willpower when it came to him.
“I’d love a glass of wine if you’re offering.”
She owed him that much for such a wonderful day. “Absolutely. Let’s go downstairs.” They descended her sweeping staircase and trailed into the kitchen, where Dani pulled out a bottle of cabernet and opened it. She sniffed the cork and handed it to Cole. Working at the Glass House gave her access to some incredible wines, most of which were private reserve and difficult to find.
