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My mother is right—something I never would have believed. I've been foolish. I only knew Cole for two days, and look at me. I'm crying like we were in a fifteen-year relationship. I'm such an idiot. I'm sure he's moved on without me.
I wish I could go back to work, but I still have vacation time. I curse myself for agreeing to take the vacation in the first place. My mother bailed on me and then did a complete one-eighty by acting like the concerned mother. It's a wonder I don't have whiplash.
I sniff and wipe my eyes when I hear a knock at my door. I sigh. The only person who knocks on my door is my next-door neighbor when he's run out of Earl Grey and wants to borrow some from me.I’m not in the mood to chat with old Mr. Peterson, but I trudge to the door anyway. I'll let him borrow whatever he needs and tell him I'm going to bed.
My eyes widen when I open the door. It's not Mr. Peterson.
“Cole?”
His hazel eyes blaze down at me. “Emily.”
He removes the hat and shifts on his feet as he holds it in front of him. His sandy hair looks disheveled like he's run his fingers through it a bunch of times.
I stand there staring at him in shock.
“Can I come in?”
His deep voice rocks me to my core, and I bite my lip before I step back to let him in.
“What are you—?” I don’t get to finish my question because he grabs my face and kisses me ardently.
My heart starts pitter-pattering into overdrive as my hands find purchase against his hard chest.
“What do you mean, what am I doing here, darlin’?” he growls. “The question is, what are you doing here?”
My brow furrows in confusion. “I live here.”
He scoffs. “I know, little lady. I mean, why did you come back without telling me?”
I shake my head and push away from him. His frown deepens with every step I take back from him, but I need the distance to keep my head clear for what I'm about to say. I lick my lips nervously. “What we had was nice, Cole, but it was never going to last. I'm a city girl, and you hate the city.”
Cole makes an animalistic sound. “Is that you or your mother talking?”
My mouth falls open as I stare at him.
“Is that what this is about?” he goes on.
“I—”
“Am I just a fling to you?”He cuts me off.
“What?” I sputter. “I…I…that's what I am to you!” Pain pierces my heart at speaking the truth out loud.
He grabs me and pulls me to him, and a growl rumbles in his chest. “Where in the world did you get that idea, little lady? Did you not hear me when I laid my heart on the floor at your feet? What did you think I meant when I said you were mine and I was never letting you go, woman?”
My heart beats erratically as Cole stares at me, waiting for an answer. I lick my lips, and his eyes darken. “I don’t know,” I finally whisper. “I thought you were just saying it in the heat of the moment.”
“Bullshit,” he snaps. “Don't lie to me and tell me you don't feel this insane connection pulsing between us like a live wire. And know this, Emily.” He grabs my face between his hands and looks directly into my eyes, searing me with his intensity. “I will never tell you anything I don't mean, so when I said I was keeping you, that’s exactly what I intend to do, woman.”
My heart melts, but then my eyes fall on his black cowboy hat discarded on the floor. “We live in two different worlds, Cole.”
“No, we don't,” he tells me adamantly. “Not anymore. Because the only world I want to live in is the one where I have you. If that's in the city, then sign me up.”
Tears gather in my eyes. “You would do that for me? Leave the country that you love so much?”
“Emily, darlin’. I would do anything for you. Nothing is more important to me than you. When I looked into your pretty blue eyes, I saw my entire world. You're all I'll ever need, and if you want to live in the city, then that's where we'll live. I don't care where we go. I don't care what we do—so long as we're together. Don't ever run away from me like that again, woman,” he growls before smashing his lips onto mine and kissing me possessively.
Our chests are heaving when he finally pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. “What's going on in that pretty head of yours?” he asks as he strokes his thumb along my cheek.
