AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I have to take a conference call this morning over at the Hilton with Luke.”
“Okay, I’ll be here when you get back.” This is the wrong answer because he runs his hand down my naked body until he gets to my butt, squeezing it, jolting me awake.
“Shower with me. I need an extra good start to my day.”
How can I possibly say no to that? Hmm—oh yeah—I can’t.
After one of the most enjoyable showers I’ve ever had, Cole gets ready, and I head to the kitchen. I pull my coffee maker out from the back of the cupboard. I’m more of a diet soda, energy drink kind of girl. But I keep the coffee maker around just in case. I open the freezer and pull out a small package of gourmet coffee I got from a co-worker last Christmas. By the time Cole emerges from the bedroom, I’ve gotten the coffee brewing and made toast and put Grandma Alice’s homemade peach jam on the counter.
“A suit, for a conference call?”
“Business is business, Cookie. I’ve got to look the part.”
I shrug. “Okay. Do you want some coffee? All we have is toast, but my grandma’s jam is really good.” Cole looks at the food and then up at me. His face doesn’t really show anything, but that he hesitates tells me everything. “Sorry,” I exhale, “I’ll go to the grocery store today.”
He gives me a crooked smile, then sits down at the counter. “Are you going to eat with me?”
I smile back, sitting next to him. He drinks all his coffee and eats both pieces of toast. I can’t tell if he likes it or not. But my heart swells at the fact he’s willing to eat what I fixed, regardless. This feeling of being loved will never get old.
“Will you walk me out?” he asks.
“Sure.”
We walk out into the garage, and I hit the open button for the garage door. Cole grabs me, dipping me as his lips meld with mine and, as always, I’m a goner.
“Have a nice day at work, dear,” I say when he sits me back up with a cheesy grin.
“Love you, baby,”
“Love you too.”
“Kate.” Cole pulls me back to him. “Don’t forget to make a doctor’s appointment.” Before I can roll my eyes, he kisses me again, then playfully swats me on the butt. “I should only be a few hours. When I get back, we’ll go shopping for a new bed.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I sigh inwardly. I am one lucky girl.
I watch Cole from the door get into his car and pull out onto the driveway. I wave goodbye until he disappears down the street.
I clean up breakfast and finish getting ready for the day. After that, I grab my phone and pull out the number for my doctor. I take a deep breath and dial. Ten minutes later, I have an appointment for today, thanks to a cancellation. Lucky me.
I text Laura asking what her plans are for the day and if she wants to hold my hand at the doctor’s because I don’t want to go alone. She texts back, saying she’s picked up a half shift, but she’ll try to meet me there. It makes me feel a bit better, but not much. Better to concentrate on what my stomach wants.
I try to make a grocery list, but I do not know what Cole likes to eat. Every meal except for this morning’s, we have eaten out, and truth be told, my last name may be Cook, but I suck at it. I give up and decide to just go to the grocery store and hope inspiration will hit me.
Suddenly I realize my Uncle Bud never called me back about work, and I panic. I hit speed dial for the carpet store.
My Uncle Bud answers, “Swenson’s.”
“Bud, it’s Kate. Did you get the message I left you on Friday? I never heard from you.”
“Kate, hey.” There’s a nice long pause on the other end of the line.
“Bud, are you there?”
“Yeah, Kate I’m here. You’ll never guess, Jill ended up coming home for the summer. Isn’t that great?
“Oh well, yeah, that’s really great.” Ah shit, Jill—my cousin, my nemesis.
“The thing is; she needs some extra money for school in the fall. She wants to be a lawyer, you know. She’s going to be working at the store for the summer, and I can’t afford both of you.”
