He nodded in concession, his smile pursing to the left. His eyes sparkled. “Touché. I guess Alberta and Louis are equally hard to forget.”
A laugh bubbled up from my middle. Maybe it came from the thought of our old friends. Or maybe it was the way his eyes glittered just like one of my aquamarines.
“How is Louis these days?”
His smile broke loose. It was a smile I’d last seen that long ago night, and it made my breath catch.
“Happily married to Bree Baker and living the life of a supremely lucky hippy in Austin, Texas.” Cole raised his glass to his lips, thankfully shielding me from the force of that smile. Needing a shield of my own, I lifted my glass and drank deeply.
The tea was cold, sweet, and perfect. I swallowed and cleared my throat. I needed him to keep talking so I didn’t have to be the center of attention. Those eyes of his were merciless. His focus was merciless.
“What’s he up to?”
Cole lowered his glass and rested it on his knee, giving me an amused roll of his eyes. “Bree’s parents opened a Flour Power in Austin, and Louis and Bree run it. They make a killing.” Cole shook his head. “He’s the luckiest bastard I know.”
I laughed again, and this time I saw Cole’s eyes flare. He quickly lifted his tea and drained it. Shaking the ice in his empty glass, Cole stood.
“Anyone need a refill?” His voice sounded tight. The muscles in his jaw stood out, as did the tendons in his neck. It looked as though he were holding something back.
“Not me,” Ava said.
I shook my head. “No, thanks.”
Cole just nodded and walked back to the kitchen, but the way he moved made me think of a caged animal. A jaguar. Or a wolf. As though his muscles held a restless energy that bucked to break free.
I made myself stop staring, but as soon as I did, I found Ava’s eyes on me, watchful and cautious. She looked back over her shoulder at her brother.
“Is it time to start the pasta?” she asked.
In response, Cole turned toward the stove and lifted the lid from the stockpot on one of the front burners. Immediately the tempting aroma of marinara filled the room.
“That smells amazing.”
Turning, Cole gave me a sheepish smile over his shoulder. “I’ll tell Newman’s Own you approve,” he muttered.
Avatskedbeside me. “Don’t listen to him. His sauce may start in a jar, but he dresses it up like you wouldn’t believe, and he has homemade meatballs in the oven.” She raised her brows, giving me a serious stare. “Now, those arekiller.”
My stomach might have growled in response.
She glanced back at her brother. “You starting the pasta?” she asked again.
Cole gave her a playful scowl. “You hungry?”
“Yeah, I’m hungry,” Ava teased back. “I’m sure Elise is too.”
Cole’s smiling eyes came back to mine. He held my gaze for a moment. It was quick, but the room seemed to fall completely silent while it happened.
“Then I’m starting the pasta.”
“Great.” Ava shot to her feet. “While you do that, I’m going to show her the rest of the house.”
Before Cole or I could respond, Ava was grabbing my hand and tugging me off the couch. “Come on. The house isn’t big, but it’s so cute.”
“O-okay,” I stammered, tripping after her.
Cole took out another stock pot and set it in the sink to fill, but his eyes followed us with open suspicion.
“Quit looking at me like that,” Ava scolded. “I can give our old friend a tour if I want to.”
