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Chapter Twenty-Eight
Sophie
“Shit! Tibby, please pick up. I think I killed him.” Mad but scared, I paced towards Cole, who was lying out on my floor unconscious. Picking up my phone to redial Drake and Tibby, he let out a moan. Bending down with the black bat still in my other hand, he looked up at me. His eyes were those perfect shade of root-beer color, and he lifted his hand to grab his head.
“Ouch!” he groaned as he fingered the cut on his forehead. Kneeling beside him, I reached to see the cut as I didn’t notice how bad it was until his fingers turned red from the blood. He quickly grabbed for my bat, and I stood snatching it away.
Pointing the tip in his direction as he stumbled to stand up back on his feet, my mood went from worried to mad. “What are you doing here, Cole, and how did you break into my loft?”
He stumbled back and took a seat on the end of my bed. He slurred, “Can you put the bat down so we can talk like normal people?”
“Normal people?” My voice was a bit harder than I expected. “You mean like someone who could be arrested for breaking and entering.”
He chuckled and his head fell back. I kind of missed this laughter. He grazed his head again. “I’m pretty sure you assaulted me, and that’s the last thing the media would want to see right now.”
Dropping my shoulders, I kept the bat in my hand heading for my bathroom. Taking a washcloth, I washed it with cold water and made my way back to him. He flashed a smile before I promptly swabbed the side of his cut with the cold fabric.
He whined in pain. “Empathy is not your strong suit, is it?”
Pressing the cold cloth harder on his head, I snapped, “not to lying, con men who break into my house.”
He paused, and I could see my words cut through him. After giving him a few seconds and still standing with the bat in my hand, he stood up. The air filled with his scent, and I could feel my body reacting to him. “Listen, I know what Miles told you, and I think you should hear my side as well.”
Cutting him off with anger in my voice, I shrieked, “Did he lie to me, Cole?”
He looked down, and his body language answered the question for me. My eyes filled with tears, but I did everything in my power to fight them. He was not going to see one teardrop.
“Just let me explain” he moved closer to me, but I stepped away and pointed my bat back in his direction. He held his hand up and stood. “It was all before I met you, and I didn’t know that Jamie was in on the plan or even what the plan was. He offered me money to keep you distracted while he ran the fitness business.”
He was turning away as I wiped the tears from my eyes. Fuming with anger, I stormed for my safe and grabbed stacks of cash. Throwing it at him, I started to roar, “You want fucking money, here have it. Take it all. All I give a shit about is keeping what I built.”
He blocked the money as it floated through the air in his direction. His face filled with anger. “I don’t want your money, Sophie.”
“Bullshit. You’re like everyone else. Only care enough for a payday.” My body saddened as the words left my mouth in a whisper. The tears fell because I was exhausted of being used and hurt by everyone. He stood for a moment as I cried in his presence. Instantly his hand cupped my face, and he kissed me hard and deep with passion. Trying to pull away, he reacted with his body backing me toward the window. He continued to kiss me, not allowing me to speak.
It felt amazing, and I relaxed as his hunger filled my mouth. Letting out a moan, I started to kiss him back. He felt like home, and even though the entire situation was fucked up, my sex ached for him. His tongue drifted out of my mouth and softly licked away my tears. “Sophie, I found the one thing I need more than money.”
I paused and moved to the side. He leaned on the window with his forehead, and I walked toward the door. Opening it, I turned to meet his face. “I’m not for sale. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a board meeting I need to prepare for.”
He approached the door and treaded to the staircase. Then, looking back at me, he said the words that crushed my soul. “No amount of money could buy the love I have for you.”
I watched him walk down the stairs and out of my loft. My chest stung with pain, and I slid down the door before meeting the floor, balling in my loneliness.
