Page 42 of Honey Bee Library
My stomach grumbled. I inwardly celebrated for the break in our conversation as I wrapped my arm around my waist. Stress had kept me from feeling hungry all morning, but now my body was ready to eat.
“Are you hungry?” Cole asked as he stepped toward me.
“Apparently,” I said and gave him a weak smile.
“Is your luggage out yet?” He turned toward the suitcases now circling the carousel. Jasper was cheering every time a new one came down the chute and slid to a stop at the lip.
“I didn’t bring any luggage.”
Cole glanced over his shoulder at me. “You didn’t?”
I shook my head. “I figured we would just head back.” I tried not to notice the way his expression fell as he processed what I said.
“Oh,” he said.
Guilt coated my chest. I didn’t want to upset him. Truth was, I didn’t know what I wanted. Half of my head was begging me to run far, far away while the other half was begging me to run into his arms. I needed him to hold me and tell me that everything was going to be okay, like a fish needed water.
“But I don’t know when that will be, so…” Was I presumptuous to think that he wanted to spend time with us?
His gaze met mine. “Really?”
“If you don’t mind us tagging along.”
“I don’t mind.”
I blinked, not expecting that. “Oh, okay.”
“Okay.” His half smile emerged, which caused my knees to weaken.
Blast that man.
Needing a break from Cole and the way he was staring at me, I turned my attention to Jasper, who was trying to help an elderly man get his luggage off the carousel. “Bubba,” I called as I hurried over to help.
Just as I reached forward to take the handle from my son, a masculine hand appeared, brushing my skin in the process. I pulled back as I whipped my gaze to see Cole standing next to me, my shoulder pressed to his chest.
“I’ve got this,” he murmured.
The heat between our bodies mixed with the depth of his voice and caused shivers to ripple across my skin.
All I could do was whisper, “Okay,” before I moved to get out of his way.
With the man’s luggage on all four wheels, Cole shook the man’s hand while I wrapped my arm around Jasper’s shoulders.
“Such a sweet boy, you must be proud of your son,” the man said as he dropped Cole’s hand.
Cole glanced over at me, and my entire body stilled while I waited for his response. He didn’t seem offended, which made my heart soar in a way I hadn’t expected.
“We are,” Cole said as he turned his attention back to the man and smiled.
I helped guide Jasper away from the carousel. Cole followed close behind as we walked through the sliding doors. The warm, sticky morning air hit us with a whoosh as we exited.
I slowed and let Cole guide us to where he’d parked. Once we got to his car, he beat me to the passenger door and pulled it open for me. He held the top of the door while I climbed inside. He gave me a once-over to make sure I was in before he gently shut the door. Jasper was already inside and buckled.
I watched as Cole rounded the hood of his car and pulled open the driver’s door. Once he was situated, he started the engine and pulled out of the parking spot. Jasper was telling me all about the place they stopped at for breakfast as Cole drove out of the airport and merged onto the freeway.
The sun was bright and warm as I stared out the window. Jasper had run out of story and was staring out his window as well. I’d never been to Florida. The palm trees were tall and swayed in the wind. Ten minutes down the road, the bright blue ocean peeked between the buildings as we drove past.
“So, this is where you live,” I whispered. The city was large and mixed with the backdrop of the ocean. What a stark contrast between Miami and Harmony. The ocean was the same, but the feel was different.
