Page 67 of Honey Bee Library
The man sputtered. But with one look from Cole, his security team started approaching the man. He must have realized that I wasn’t worth the fight and disappeared into the crowd, muttering under his breath.
With him gone, I had Cole’s sole attention.
“I was worried about you,” he whispered as he stared down at me, the air around us filling with electricity.
I steeled my nerves as I raised my gaze to meet his. “I’m sorry,” I said. And that was truth. I was sorry about so much. I was sorry that I ran away when I should have been stronger. I was sorry that I let Cole into my life when I knew better. And I was sorry that this was going to be one of the last interactions I would allow myself to have with him outside of our business relationship.
“Willow?”
I wanted to close my eyes and bask in the sound of my name on his lips, but I couldn’t. I needed to be stronger. “I was weighing my options.”
Cole frowned. “Options?”
I sighed, and my strength wavered with each word I spoke. If I didn’t get out of here right now, I was going to fall back into old habits. “Please, take me home.”
He paused. “What are you saying?” He wrapped his hand around my arm and dipped down, forcing me to meet his gaze.
Strength, Willow. You can do this.I took in a deep breath. “Cole, we’re kidding ourselves. This”—I waved between his chest and mine—“was never going to work. The sooner we accept that, the better off we’ll be.”
“That’s not tr?—”
“Please, take me home,” I interrupted. I didn’t need him refuting my decision. I needed him to realize that I was immovable in this.
Cole grew quiet and I risked heartbreak as I glanced over at him. He was watching me, and the ache in his gaze was palpable and took my breath away.
“I can’t leave. This is my club. I need to be here.” His voice was deep, and I could hear the hurt in his tone, but I couldn’t let it change my resolution.
“Then I’ll get a taxi,” I said as I started to dig around in my purse for my phone.
“Don’t.” Cole held up his hand. “I’ll get a car to take you.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
We waited outside for a slick black Lincoln to pull up. A friendly looking man got out of the driver’s seat and greeted Cole. They spoke in hushed tones, and I didn’t wait to hear what they were talking about. Instead, I pulled open the back door and climbed inside.
I watched them shake hands, and then Cole stepped up onto the sidewalk as the man got back into the car. He stayed rooted to his spot as the engine started. Cole didn’t move as we began to pull away.
His gaze was trained on the car until we took a left, and then he disappeared.
21
COLE
“Ladies and gentleman,welcome to the Costal Carolina Regional Airport where the time is currently 10:16 a.m. We want to thank you for flying with Delta and hope you consider us for your future travel needs.”
“Jasper, we need to pick up your crayons,” Willow said as she reached over and pulled him away from the window.
I let my gaze linger on them for a moment before I sat back in my seat.
Willow had been cordial in our texts back and forth last night after I let her know Maddie was getting us tickets to fly back to Harmony in the morning. She’d kept our conversations short and to the point when we got to Miami International in the early hours. And she’d offered me a few weak smiles throughout the flight. But that was it. No longer was she engaging with me.
Her words from last night rang more true with every interaction I’d had with her since. Whatever had happened between us at my house was over. We were back to Willow and Cole, co-owners of the Sunny Side Up Diner.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the headrest. I took in a few deep breaths as Jasper and Willow’s conversation flooded my mind. I loved the sound of Jasper complaining to Willow that he didn’t want to clean up. And I loved the sound of Willow telling him he had to.
When I was with Willow and Jasper, I felt alive. I felt like I was home. My life had been so quiet and boring before I met them, but now I couldn’t imagine going to back to Miami alone. I didn’t want the bachelor life anymore.
I wanted Willow.
