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We were bonding over shopping, a common girl practice, but I didn’t think I could share with Sasha all of the little things Cole did that stole my breath. Like the way his eyes could change from stormy to sexy when he was trying to figure out how to fix something, or how he kissed the side of my neck and stirred the heat under my skin, or how he was so worried about me he followed me to Bottoms Up. I covered my mouth, realizing I had sighed audibly .
“Cole’s a good guy. He’s just hard to get to know sometimes. He can be sort of stubborn .”
“Tell me about it.” I thought about how many tries it took for me to convince him to let me help with the financials and how he held off giving in to the attraction between us .
“He’s a total sweetheart. However, he’s dealing with a lot right now. I think he just takes everything so seriously. It’s like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. To be honest, I haven’t seen him smile much since his grandfather died. It hit him really hard .”
I ducked into the dressing room with the dresses I had pulled from the racks. I thought about a world where Cole didn’t smile. That was an utterly depressing thought .
“Since your families are already close, I guess you’ve met Grayson?” she asked .
I shook my head. “Not yet. But maybe soon .”
I didn’t know how that would work. I didn’t know how to bring up what his policy was with women and his son. And who was I? Uncle Ryan’s sister? Did that make me an honorary aunt? My head spun .
“You ok in there, Kaitlyn? You got really quiet .”
I still held the dress in my hands and realized I needed to try it on. The zipper opened on the side, I stepped in and shimmied it over my hips. I pulled back the curtain and flattened the fabric on the strapless black dress .
“Oh, you are definitely buying that one. Whatever is going on with you and Cole, he is going to love that on you.” Sasha raised her eyebrows. “Hottie .”
“Really?”
“Yes. Get that one. Are you about ready? I have to get back to the resort. I hate to leave you but reality calls .”
I was happy with the selections I had tried on. “Yep, I just need to check out .”
* * *
S asha dropped me off in front of room twenty-three. Cal and Lance’s truck was missing, and in its place were two piles of freshly cut lumber. I wondered what construction project Cole had planned for the lumber .
“Let me know if you want to go shopping again. I’ve got to get to work before the other spring breakers wake up.” Sasha laughed. “And have fun with Cole .”
“Thanks for going to Tassels with me, and for the Cole advice. It’s nice to have a friend here .”
“Anytime, Kaitlyn. See you later.” Sasha waved as I hopped out of the truck. I was quickly learning that everyone in Texas preferred to drive a truck .
I watched as she turned on to Gulf Boulevard in the direction of the Wave Oasis .
“Early morning shopping?” Cole stood behind me. My shoulders felt the tingle of his presence before I whipped around. How did he always appear like that ?
“Yeah, I think I’ve given up on my luggage appearing this week.” I held up three bags. “The airlines haven’t returned my calls. I think it’s a lost cause .”
“Are you going to give me a private fashion show later?” His eyes were all mischief .
I stepped closer to him, reveling in the heat building between us. “Maybe.” I winked before ducking under his arm and into my room .
“I left a cup of coffee for you on the desk,” Cole called through the door. “See ya .”
“Thanks.” I hugged the bags against me .
I had been nervous about seeing him after the night we spent together. This was my first official fling and I didn’t know how we were supposed to act around each other. The whole point of a fling is not having to think about it, but there was no way I would stop thinking about the line Cole and I had crossed .
* * *
I t had been at least six hours since Cole had dropped off coffee in my room. I had worked straight through lunch and my stomach was growling. I stretched my legs and reached my fingertips toward the ceiling, easing the cramp that had started to form in my right shoulder .
There were twenty-four rooms at the Dune Scape, and there were twenty-two pending reservations that all started this weekend. I had placed calls to all twenty-two of them and confirmed each one was planning on a three o’clock check-in Friday. Cole needed the reservations, but I wasn’t sure the Dune would be ready or that he could handle the onslaught of visitors .
