AllFreeNovel
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I hold my arms out like a field goal and pump it up to the ceiling, making Cole roll in laughter. It’s by far my favorite thing to do these days.
“Holy shit. Should I also hire security to babysit you? Make sure you don’t get too crazy?”
“Crazy is fun, Cole; don’t spoil my fun, join me,” I say, wagging my brows.
“Aaand what type of fun are we talking about here, Lyla?” he says in a whisper while leaning in close to my face, and instantly it raises my temperature.
“The good kind of course. The only kind I know,” I whisper back, and my eyes drop to his lips when he pulls in his bottom lip between his teeth.
“Alright, we are out of here,” Marcus announces, sending my back rail-straight and causing my eyes to bug out. Cole, of course, laughs. The two make their way down and Harmony gives her backpack to her dad who helps her put it on. It’s so cute to watch them together. He did her hair today in tight pigtail buns, but her hair is so much softer than his, so she already has a few flyaway strands that slipped out. She looks adorable as always, bouncing on her toes in her Moana bathing suit. They both hug me goodbye, and Cole picks her up in a bear hug and swings her around.
“Have a great day with your pops today, sweetheart.”
“Come with us, buddy.”
Cole chuckles and sets her down. “I can’t today, but maybe next time. Is that okay?”
“Sure. Love you, byeeee.” She shrugs and heads out the door with Marcus.
I turn back toward my sketchpad and make a note to myself to pick up samples from Janice who I’ve been emailing with about the warehouse retail space. We meet the owners, Sam and Elliott—yes, they also happen to be fans of the famous actor cowboy we all love—this week, and I know I’m going to love them.
We talked a lot this week on Skype so they could show me what their style was like, and it’s bright and beautiful and perfect for San Diego. They told me they started small in mom-and-pop-owned resort boutiques and are expanding to beaches all over the world, offering the most high-end resort and beachwear for the entire family, small dog accessories included. I can feel Cole come up behind me, but I don’t say anything.
I’m working on my fifth sketch for my presentation, but I’m not sure if it will make the cut or not. The inescapable scent of Cole fills the air around me. It’s something woodsy and clean, like sexy lumberjack meets exotic waterfall.
“Is this for the retail warehouse?” He looks down over my right shoulder, and his face is so close to mine I can almost feel his beard against my cheek. White-hot heat is radiating from him and surrounding me.
“Yeah,” is all I’m able to breathe out. Lost in my lustful thoughts I clear my throat and hand him my sketchbook, then bend forward to grab my coffee mug.
“This is great too. The guys are gonna have a hard time deciding. Did they send those color samples yet, or are they just going to bring them at this point?”
“They’re bringing samples and a lot of different things, but I still need to get the floor samples before our meeting Monday. Which is going to be where, by the way? I’m sure they’ll want to see the site, but they also need to show us a lot of fabric, and we don’t even have a chair on site yet.”
“Umm. That is a really great question and is one of many reasons I keep you around.” He winks and takes the seat next to me and pulls his phone out of his pocket.
“No problem.” I giggle. Giggle like a stupid schoolgirl. Who the hell have I become? How can one man have more power over my body than I do? It’s absolutely infuriating, but I have zero control. “I’m out. Gonna shower and all that jazz.”
I shake my hands as I walk away, fanning away all the dirty images I’m creating and taking deep breaths of non-Cole-smelling air so I can breathe and think at the same time.
Heading up the stairs, I mentally start prepping myself for tonight. It’s going to be epic and I’m going to look and feel the same, so I have to go shopping. Upstairs I grab my cell phone from the charger by my bed and text Charlie.
Lyla: “What are you doing right now? Besides listening to music or writing it.”
Charlie: “Um, confused emoji?”
Lyla: “Did you just type out an emoji, Charlie?”
Charlie: “I couldn’t find one that really captured the state of my emotion. Lol.”
Lyla: “Okay, dude, come shopping with me.”
Charlie: “I don’t really care for shopping. You’ve seen my wardrobe and as much as I love you, I would rather jump into a volcano overflowing with lava and fire sharks than surround myself with people and ugly overpriced merchandise.”
Lyla: “Eye roll emoji. Babe, just come help me find a dress for tonight. I need someone who will be honest when something looks terrible on me.”
Charlie: “Make Cole take you.”
Lyla: “No! It’s hard enough for me to keep my hands to myself. I can’t be modeling sexy dresses for him. I’m bound to end up straddling him just for smiling at me. I’m a fucking mess around that man, Charlie. You have no idea.”
