AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why not?”
He shook his head. “Those guys are gone more than guys on deployment. It wasn’t worth it with a new baby.”
I tried to picture Cole holding an infant. It made him instantly hotter.
“Anyway, I signed up for a design class and one of the professors sort of took me under his wing and introduced me to composite material design. Basically, we try to find ways to use the best materials that create the most energy, cost the least, and work. I saw a lot of programs like that in the Middle East. Work the most out of the little you have.”
I smiled. “Sounds a lot like Dune Scape.”
“Yeah, but on a different level.”
I was impressed.
“It’s kind of like a puzzle. I like trying new materials together to see what happens.”
“Like what kind of things?” I asked, liking the way his eyes lit up when he talked about engineering.
“I’ve been focusing on the composite of wind turbines. There are some grants in the works to start a wind power program for the island. I thought I could stay in South Padre and work for the company who lands the grant. It would be the perfect fit.” He lifted the sangria. “I can run the Dunes on the side. I can Grayson in a preschool. I think it will work.”
“It does sound perfect for you.” I tried to imagine Cole concentrating on blueprints and windmill specs instead of busted shower parts. “It had to be hard to put something on hold that you’re so interested in to take care of your grandfather. That couldn’t have been easy.”
Cole exhaled. “No, but
I wouldn’t change it. He needed me. I can work on that program anytime.”
I edged closer to the table. “But will you? Are you going to finish it?”
“You have lots of questions tonight. What about you? What are you going to do with all of those accounting skills? What happens now?”
If he had asked me a week ago, my answer would have been the standard cookie cutter one I gave everybody about applying for jobs in business and waiting a year or two before entering the MBA program. Tonight, staring into Cole’s eyes under the string of lights made, all the realities of life back home fade into the farthest parts of my mind.
I couldn’t imagine anything other than spending my life with him and Grayson.
“I—uh—I haven’t sorted it out yet.” I dodged his doubtful stare.
“I guess that makes two of us.” He finished his sangria.
The mariachi music from the restaurant filtered onto the patio. It was soft and slow. Cole stood from the table and walked toward me with his hand extended.
“Dance with me?”
“But you don’t dance.”
“Your dress has convinced me to make an exception.” He winked, pulling me from my seat and spinning me into his arms.
I gasped as my body collided with his, and he pressed his hand into the small of my back. He had been holding out on me—he could dance. I searched his face for an explanation, but he laughed and spun me again before aligning his frame against mine.
We swayed to the distant music. With every second that passed, our dance form diminished until we were so tightly wrapped around each other that I could feel Cole’s heart beating against my cheek.
“Cole?”
“Mmm-hmm?” He held on a little tighter.
“Can we stay here like this and forget everything else on the other side of the border?” I wasn’t being completely silly. Maybe I could live in a border town.
“For now we can, darlin’. For now.”
I closed my eyes and bit back the words that were on my tongue. I wanted tomorrow to be the farthest place from us. As long as Cole held me, maybe the rest of the world would stop turning.
