Page 116 of Marked

Sophia grimaced. She needed to remember to choose her words more carefully around her daughter. “We’ll see, okay? For now, I’ll be home with you for a while.”

Bella beamed, temporarily satisfied. “Great. Guess what?” Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

Sophia narrowed her gaze. “You know about the surprise, don’t you?”

Bella gasped. “What? No! Tell me.”

She laughed and caught her daughter’s hand. “Since tomorrow’s your birthday and we’ll be so busy with your party, I thought we’d do dinner and a movie tonight.”

“Yay!” Bella clapped.

Sophia thanked Natalie and picked up Bella’s backpack, and they crossed the park to her car. As she buckled Bella into her car seat, the back of her neck burned. Goosebumps raced over her flesh as she stood and shut Bella’s door. She scanned the fenced-in playground and sidewalk for the eyes making warning bells ring in her head.

Nothing. No one.

Just paranoia. She hadn’t been able to shake it. Of course she was on edge after what had happened. Maybe Bart was right and she should consider therapy. Even though he knew only the vaguest of details about what had happened, he was picking up on her anxiety and often asked if she was okay.

Sighing, she rounded the car and got in the driver’s seat. Tonight was about Bella and her. Nothing else mattered. If only she could distract herself every waking moment of the day, maybe, just maybe, she could live without Cole.

***

Déjà vu settled over Cole as he sat in the chair by the window in the corner of Sophia’s room. It was nearly midnight and, just like the last time, she was in the shower. He scrubbed the scruff on his jaw. Had Bella told her mom about him? Surely she had.

Would she be happy to see him? Nah, she’d probably be livid that he’d lied and hidden from her. He rubbed the corners of his eyes, fatigue making him impatient. Screw it. He wasn’t going to wait. Standing, he stalked across the room and opened the bathroom door.

Sophia stood in the glassed-in shower, her dark hair soaking wet and hanging in a long curtain down her back, damn near touching her ass crack. Desire surged through him.

The fact that he’d gone without her sweet body for two weeks was accomplishment enough. The fact that he hadn’t filled her space with another warm female was another story.

A story he now had to face.

She didn’t turn around as he approached. Catching the metal handle, he pulled open the door. Steam billowed into his face and the hot spray sprinkled his cheeks.

Sophia gasped and whirled around, clamping her hands to her chest. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes froze on his face, shock stealing all emotion from them. Her bottom lip trembled. “C-Cole?”

Her hands dropped, and she closed the distance between them, catching his face in her wet palms. “Oh my God,” she sobbed. “You’re alive.”

His heart jumped. He caught her waist and pulled her against his body. Her arms circled his neck effortlessly, and murmurs of disbelief mingled with pitiful cries. “I can’t believe this. Oh my God. Oh my God.”

He closed his eyes and bent his head to her moist neck. “Jesus, I missed you,” he said. Her breasts were pressed against his ribs, her lips kissing his jaw.

Caressing her spine, he held her.

Then her body stiffened and she drew away several inches. “You lied to me.” Her words were tight. She brought her hand to her chest. “How could you?” she whispered.

Pain pulled at his chest. He brought his thumb to her cheek and wiped away a drop of water—or maybe it was a tear. Either way, the look of betrayal in her eyes caused him to question everything he’d done.

“I take it Bella didn’t tell you?”

She frowned. “Bella knows?”

“I saw her at the park today. I think you need a new sitter, but we’ll talk about that later.”

Sophia clapped her hand to her forehead. “She had something to tell me, but I interrupted her with a surprise.” She lowered her hand and shook her head. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Her lips compressed. “How could you do this to me?”

Suddenly, he felt his explanation—I did it for you—wouldn’t cut it. Worse, it’d probably make her angrier. So he bit back the words, took a step in retreat, and stripped.

Sophia said nothing as he kicked away his clothes and entered the shower. She allowed him room to join her, but her neatly shaped eyebrows met over her nose and her perfectly lush mouth held contempt.

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