Page 20 of Unlocking Hope

Zoey had already fallen for Cole, and his words made her fall a little farther. She was done waiting. She wanted him almost as much as she wanted her next breath. “I would tell you if I wasn’t ready.”

“Really?” He ran his finger over her tight nipple. She had changed into a white cami and shorts, opting for no bra, and her nipple poked through the thin material.

“Yes.” The word came out breathlessly. He was barely touching her, and her body wanted more.

“Like this?” He ran his thumb across her nipple again, and she could hardly take the little bit of touch he was giving her.

“More.” She wanted his hands all over her body.

He quickly flipped her to her back, and he was propped up above her, using his forearm to hold up his weight. He loweredhis head, brushing his lips across hers. “Did I tell you how hot you looked tonight?”

Not saying a word, Zoey nodded.

He pressed his hip against her, and his hard member pushed against her. “I’ve been hard as hell since you walked out of the bedroom wearing that black dress and now here with this white cami. I can barely control myself.”

“I want you, Cole.”

Those must’ve been the words he wanted to hear. He pressed his lips to hers, demanding entrance. She was so lost in the kiss, she almost didn’t even realize he had her in his arms and was heading down the hall. He kicked the door to his bedroom then gently placed her in the middle of his bed.

9

ZOEY

Last night was more than Zoey could ever have wished for. Cole had taken care of her like she was the most important person in his life. Tonight, she was meeting Brock, the man who’d saved Cole. Zoey was nervous about meeting Jessica—she sounded so strong and empowering.

Bella had reassured her a million times that Jessica would like her. She still couldn’t shake the nerves, and they planned to meet downtown, near where Zoey used to live on the streets. Tonight, she would walk by the alley where Al had died. He’d lost his life because of her. Paul and Cole tried to tell her it wasn’t her fault, but it still bothered her.

Zoey took a couple deep breaths and looked in the mirror. Her lips were swollen from kissing Cole the night before. She’d never experienced that kind of passion, and she couldn’t wait to spend another night with him. He’d been so in tune with her body. No man would ever make her feel the same again, and she didn’t want to be with anyone other than him. Zoey knew she was falling fast and deep for Cole and last night she had almost blurted out that she loved him. Luckily, she’d kept her mouth shut. She didn’t want to scare him away by telling him too early.

This morning, he had brought her breakfast in bed. He’d made her french toast and bacon with a side of fruit. She’d once told him as a joke that she wanted breakfast in bed for her work on the house. Her jaw had dropped as he walked in with a serving tray and her food. Each bite had been delicious. The man wasn’t only sexy as hell, he could cook.

Tonight, they were going to a local Irish pub called The Muddy Pub and Grill. It was a place Ian and Cole liked to hang out. It was laid-back and had good beer and even better food.

Zoey held Cole’s hand as they walked toward the entrance of The Muddy Pub. She didn’t realize how hard she was squeezing his hand until he stopped and pulled her in his arms. “Brock and Jessica will love you.”

Before she had time to respond, he pulled back and opened the large wooden door to the pub. He placed his hand on her lower back and nudged her through the door. “I hope you’re right,” she mumbled as she stepped through the open door.

“Stop worrying. You and Bella have become great friends. I don’t understand why you think Jessica or Brock won’t like you.”

Everyone had talked so highly of the couple, she was worried she would make a mistake or that they wouldn’t like her. She didn’t want to do anything to affect Brock and Cole’s friendship. “You’re right. I’m probably being stupid. I just want them to like me.”

Her heart beat a mile a minute as they walked through the pub. Cole’s hand on her lower back helped calm her nerves. She wasn’t the best at making friends, but now that she had Bella, she didn’t want to do anything to mess it up. Cole’s friends liking her meant a lot. She took a deep breath as he walked her to the large table at the back of the pub.

A couple sat with Bella and Ian. They laughed at something the other man at the table said. The woman sitting next to the man rolled her eyes before laughing along and placing her handon his. He turned and smiled at her, and the expression held so much love.

A waitress walked up to the table and pulled out her pad. She was a few inches taller than Zoey’s five-eight. Her blond hair was pulled back into a long braid down her back. She rested her hip against the table and laughed at something Ian said. Bella held out her hand and the waitress shook it.

“That’s Amanda. She served two tours in the navy. Last year, her unit drove over an IUD, and it took out her convoy. She’s trying to work herself back into society. It’s not always easy and she struggles a little more from the accident.”

Zoey’s heart went out to her, and she immediately wanted to pull the woman into her growing circle of friends. When the woman turned and smiled at Cole, it wasn’t flirtatious. It was a smile to a friend, and Zoey couldn’t help but smile back. As she walked closer, Zoey noticed a big red scar down the side of Amanda’s face. It didn’t take away from her beauty, but Amanda reached up and ran her hand over it self-consciously.

“Hey! I was just grabbing their drinks. What can I get you?”

Cole leaned forward and gave Amanda a one-armed hug as he still held onto Zoey’s hand. “You look good, Amanda.”

She huffed. “You mean the scar doesn’t look so Freddy Krueger-ish today.”

Cole narrowed his eyes. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

---