Page 81 of Honey Bee Library
“I love you so much. I came back because I needed you to hear me say those words. I’ve never felt for anyone the way I feel for you. You are the air that I breathe. The sun on my face. You are the person I want to see when I wake up in the morning and kiss when I go to bed at night.”
I wanted to speak. I wanted to say something, but all of my emotions had lodged themselves in my throat, making it impossible for me to get any words out. Instead, a tear slipped down my cheek as a shy smile emerged.
He reached out and caught the tear with the tips of his fingers. “Please, let me love you. You’ve spent your life caring for others. It’s time you let someone take care of you.”
I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. There was no need for words. I was going to show this man just how much I loved him.
His hands found my waist and I was yanked to his body, his lips crashing over mine. Everything we wanted to say, we said in that kiss.
My lips were swollen and throbbing when I pulled back. “I love you, too,” I whispered as I glanced up at him through my lashes.
“Really?” he asked, the smile that emerged made my heart swell. “Then why did you want me to leave?”
I pulled back slightly. “I was scared. I didn’t want you to realize how different we were. I didn’t want you to wake up one day and regret the choices you made. I come with baggage. I’m a single mom. Being with me would mean giving up the life you have.”
He stared at me like I was an alien with two heads. “Do you think a life alone is better than a life you with and Jasper? That kid is my best friend.” His voice broke. “The only regret I would ever have is not locking you down and making you my wife.” He grabbed my hand and lifted it so he could kiss my knuckles. “You two are all I need.”
“But, I’m not…” I couldn’t bring myself to say what I needed him to hear. I’d seen the women at his club. They were tall, tight, and elegant. I was none of those things.
“You’re not, what?” He leaned in, catching my gaze as if he wasn’t going to let me go until I shared the worries that were plaguing my mind.
“I’m not skinny. I’ve had a baby,” I whispered.
Cole studied me for a moment as he brought his hands to my thighs. His palms were warm on my skin as he increased the pressure at his fingertips. “Damn you woman. Do you not know how much you’ve haunted me since the night I saw you in the hot tub?” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to the hollow of my neck. “You’re perfect. You’re exactly what I desire.” He pressed kisses from my neck to the soft skin behind ear. “I want to show you how much I desire you,” he said as he nibbled on my ear lobe.
My entire body warmed at his words. Was that true? Did he want me like I wanted him? I pulled back so I could look into his eyes. I needed to see for myself that he wasn’t lying.
He held my gaze, open and unabashed. He didn’t pull back. He didn’t look away. He stayed.
All of my fear, all of my doubt, began to melt away. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. He responded but didn’t push me further. Instead, he allowed me to pull back once more.
“I will prove my love to you every day if you let me. You will never doubt the feelings I have for you.”
I cradled his face between my hands and then slowly dragged my thumb across his bottom lip. Heat flashed in his gaze, but he didn’t move. Instead, he waited for me to open the door and let him in.
And so I leapt. I took off the parachute I’d used as a lifeline to keep me safe and allowed myself to fall.
For the first time, I knew someone was going to be there to catch me. Someone was going to be there to protect me. Love me.
And that someone was Cole Watkins.
25
SABRINA
I was in the kitchen,dancing with Samuel to the latest Drifter song and waiting for the water to boil for our spaghetti dinner, when Abigail came barreling into the apartment. Her eyes were wild and her hair disheveled. She looked like she had just seen a ghost and was running from a bear at the same time.
I stopped dancing to stare at her.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, my heart rate picking up speed. If there was danger, I needed to know,now.
Abigail shut the door behind her and then turned with her phone outstretched. I glanced at the screen, hoping it would tell me what was going on, but all I saw was a picture of Cole’s mom and her date sitting at the diner last night.
“What?” I asked. And then realization hit me. Cole’s mom. The diner. Last night…
Abigail pulled her phone back and began expanding her fingers against the screen. I didn’t need her to do that to know what she was freaking out about.
She knew about my coffee date with Liam.
