“He was a perfect gentleman, until Iforced him not to be,” she said.
“Good for you,” I said.
“He is amazing in bed, Scar. LikeAMA-zing,” she emphasized.
I nodded knowing all too well what shemeant.
“He’s having a thing at his housetonight, you’re coming,” she said, pointing a finger at me.
“I’ll see if the warden will allowit,” I muttered.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
I sighed and gave her a brief recap ofHenry’s visit.
“God, Cole must want to kill thatbastard,” she said when I was done.
“He’s not pleased,” I agreed.
“What about you, how are you?” sheasked, concerned.
“I’ve been better,” I admitted. “Allthe more reason for you to distract me with Sal stories and for us to go havesome fun tonight,” I said as I grinned, lightening the mood.
“Sounds good to me,” she said as she smiled.Then she reached over and grasped my hand. “I like this new Scarlet.”
I had to admit despite all the rest ofthe bullshit, I did too.
Kat joined me at the gym and we had agood workout. Wes picked us up without muttering a word of complaint, despiteboth Kat and I feeling a bit awkward about it. I’d been getting to know Connieeven better over the last few weeks and I had begun to consider her a goodfriend. It felt odd to have my friend’s boyfriend playing bodyguard. Hebasically told us to can it after we thanked him for the ride the third time.
I fired off a text to Cole before Iheaded to work. He said he’d pick me up after work and we’d head to Sal’stogether. I was looking forward to it.
Connie and I got ready in the bathroomtogether after work, laughing and gossiping. I decided to walk on the wild sidea bit and wear fairly short black shorts, a very tight fitting and low cut tanktop, and my kick ass ankle boots. I dressed it up a bit with a chunky necklaceand tamed my hair into a French braid of sorts that I was wearing over myshoulder. Wes was picking Connie up and we were all meeting Kat there. When weemerged, Cole and Wes were posted at the bar with beers.
“We thought you might be a while,”Cole surmised correctly as I ducked under his arm and kissed his neck.
“Good thinking,” I said as I smiledagainst his neck.
“You look hot,” he whispered in myear.
I grinned, pleased.
“You about ready?” he wanted to know.
I nodded and we headed out. There wassomething so thrilling about roaring off on the back of Cole’s bike with Wesand Connie behind us. In that moment I felt so strongly that I belonged rightwhere I was, something I hadn’t felt in my entire life. I squeezed Cole’s torsoin a silent thank you for being such a large part of creating that feeling forme.
Sal lived in a little bungalow not farfrom Cole’s. I saw quite a few bikes parked out front as we pulled up behindKat’s Corolla. Cole grasped my hand and led meinside,lifting his chin to almost everyone we passed through the crowded house filledwith music. The house was so full I could barely take in what the place waslike, aside from the fact that it was sparse. He grabbed us beers from thefridge and led us outside to a folding chair where he promptly pulled me intohis lap.
I laughed at his possessive hold.“Well ok then,” I said and grinned, looking down and kissing him.
He gave me a crooked grin in returnand squeezed my neck in that gesture I had come to love.
The backyard was plain. It had a largeconcrete patio and some simple landscaping bordering it. The whole yard wasenclosed by a high fence that provided a sense of privacy, but it obviously didnothing for the noise of the rowdy crowd. I assumed that if he had these get-togethersoften, either his neighbors hated him or they had some sort of understanding.
A cute brunette with curly hairapproached almost immediately. If it weren’t for her welcoming smile I’d worrythat she was one of Cole’s past flings.
“Hi, Scarlet, I’mEttie,”she said and grinned.
I gasped and smiled back. “So youdoexist,” I said as I laughed.
