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Stop overthinking. Your hazy brain can’t keep up.
“Addi, you in there? Did I lose you?” Cole’s deep sexy voice jars me from my thoughts.
“Sorry. Got lost in thought.” I reach out and touch his forearm, the veins popping out under his taut skin. One finger follows a single vein, and I resist the urge to lean down and use my tongue instead.
He watches me, his gaze never wavering, and I quiver on the spot, immediately squeezing my thighs together to stamp out the ache. “Can I ask what you were thinking about?”
“How fucking hot you are,” I blurt out and then slap my hand over my mouth. It’s too late, though, that shit already came fucking flying out.
Cole laughs, a big deep laugh, and I can’t help but beam with pride.
I’ve made him smile, and now I’ve made him laugh.
“You’re pretty damn cute yourself, beach cutie. Come on, let’s go.” He grabs my hand again, and we take off down the beach, leaving the festivities behind us. I concentrate on walking, one foot in front of the other, though I swear, the sand is playing tricks on me, making me lose my footing.
Cole only holds on to my hand tighter, and after what seems like an hour (but was probably only about five minutes), we cut across the beach, away from the water and up over a small rocky hill. A quick left down a narrow dirt road, and we come upon a small bungalow-type home.
It’s cute, cozy, and perfect all tucked back here in its own little world of privacy. Cole opens the door to the right, and before I see him, a big furry dog jumps up and almost knocks me over.
“Rocky, no! Shhh! Shhh!” Cole steps inside the doorway, reaches in, and grabs what looks to be a leash. He clips it on the dog seconds later and then hooks it onto another long cord.
The dog takes off and pees on the nearest tree. “That dog. I’m sorry, Addi. Are you okay?”
I nod and giggle to myself. “Don’t worry about it. I love dogs.”
“Really?” Cole’s face lights up. Aha, found one of his sweet spots. He waves me inside, and I follow him in, the door closing softly behind us. “Rocky can be a bit much sometimes, but he’s just very friendly. He loves people and loves attention.”
After a short walk down a dark hallway, Cole takes a right and flicks a switch, illuminating the kitchen in soft light. “Thirsty?”
I nod and slide onto the barstool Cole just pulled out for me. It’s a cute little kitchen with an island in the middle serving as the table. There are several barstools surrounding it, the dark gray cushions matching the granite marble looking top.
It’s nice for a bachelor’s pad, clean and neat.
My room looks like a paint shop threw up all over it.
“You like?” Cole offers me water or beer, and I opt for the water. I think there’s enough alcohol in my bloodstream.
“I do. Kitchen islands are the best. I’ve always wanted one.” I sip my water and watch Cole pop the top off his beer with a bottle opener on his key chain, the pop sound quickly followed by a guzzling noise as he downs the brown frosty liquid I just refused.
Maybe I should’ve chosen the beer. Or is it the way he’s drinking it that turns me on?
Whatever it is has me squirming in my seat.
I feel his heat as his body leans close to me. He’s so close, so close I think he might brush those sexy lips against mine, yet he doesn’t. He pulls a barstool closer and sits down, leaning his leg out in front of him.
My body naturally turns toward him, and I smile as I eye him up and down, his long form spread out in front of me to enjoy once again. “Tell me …” I bite my lip before I continue, sucking the bottom into my mouth and letting it pop back out. “Your biggest regret.”
Cole sits up straight and looks away. A longer piece of light brown hair from the top of his head falls down, covering his face. I can no longer see his expression, but my feeling is my question bothered him.
Damn, Addi. First question and he’s out.
I reach out and place my hand on his knee. “Sorry, I didn’t mean—”
His head turns my way, his eyes, a now midnight shade of blue, locking on mine. “No, don’t apologize. That question is tough for me.”
I squeeze his knee and pull my hand away, but he grabs my arm and places my hand back where it was.
“My shop,” Cole mumbles.
