Page 17 of Falling for Cocky Cole
"Because of whatever this is between us?"
I shake my head. "No. I mean, that's a bonus." I smile. "But we legitimately need someone with your skills. Think about it. No pressure."
She looks thoughtful. "Thanks. I will."
We finish processing the apples, strain and bottle the juice, and bag the leftover mash. Half the juice will be sold at Saturday's farmers' market, and the rest will be fermented into hard cider.We clean the equipment thoroughly and wash our hands at the old sink in the corner of the barn.
When we're done, Ivy grabs two clean mason jars from a shelf and fills them with fresh cider.
"We should at least try our handiwork," she says, handing me a jar. "Quality control."
I take the jar, our fingers brushing. "To quality control," I say, and we clink our jars together before taking a sip.
9
IVY
We sit side by side on the worn wooden bench against the barn wall, sipping the cider. It's sweet and tart at once, crisp and fresh in a way store-bought never is. Cole makes a small sound of appreciation, his shoulder pressing against mine in the narrow space.
"This is really good," he says, taking another sip. "Best cider I've ever tasted. Probably because I made it."
I roll my eyes but can't help smiling. "Sure, Cole. You're a natural after one lesson."
The barn is quiet except for the occasional creak of the old wood settling. Through the open door, I can see stars appearing in the darkening sky. We finish our cider quickly, but neither of us makes a move to stand up.
"Thank you," I say finally.
Cole turns to me, eyebrows raised. "For what?"
"For helping. For the business proposal. For..." I gesture vaguely. "For being serious about it all."
"I told you I was," he says, his voice softer than usual. "Thank you for giving me a chance to prove it."
"It doesn't seem to be up to me," I reply. "You've charmed my parents already."
Cole grins, but there's something different in his eyes—something more vulnerable than his usual cocky confidence. "I can leave if you want me to, Ivy. Just say the word."
We lock eyes, and something electric passes between us. I shake my head slowly, not trusting my voice. I'm making another mistake, I know it, but I can't help myself. I scoot closer and press my lips to his.
Cole responds immediately, pulling me to him. His hands find my waist as the kiss deepens, his tongue sliding against mine. He tastes like apples and cinnamon from Mom's pie. I shift until I'm straddling him on the bench, my knees on either side of his hips. The barn door is still open a crack, but I know my parents won't come looking for us. They'll be glued to their show for the next two hours.
I know I'm making another mistake, but I can't convince myself to stop. Cole has been behaving like a different person—sincere, serious, attentive. Not at all the playboy I remember. I can't make myself believe it's all an act. The way he's spoken about my work, my skills, my future—it feels real.
And it's flattering, if I'm honest with myself. Cole Carter—Silvercreek's golden boy, the town charmer—is trying to win my heart. What did I do to deserve his attention? I'm not even that pretty, not compared to the girls he usually dates. What does he see in me?
Maybe it's because I left—because I had the courage to try making it on my own. Except I haven't made it. I've failed, more or less. Yet here he is, making me feel like that failure isn't the end of the world. Like I still have options, still have value.
Whatever the reason, I want to give this—give him—a chance. Nothing serious, just friends with benefits like he suggested. Why not? I've had that kind of relationship before, right before leaving Portland. It wasn't so bad. No strings attached, no expectations, no disappointments.
Cole's hands slide down to my hips, then cup my ass, pulling me closer against him. I can feel how hard he is through our jeans, and it makes me throb with want. The way he touches me makes me wish for more—makes me impatient for skin on skin.
I break the kiss just long enough to unbutton my shirt, letting Cole push it off my shoulders. His eyes darken as he takes in the sight of my plain cotton bra, nothing fancy but apparently enough to make his breath catch. He peels the straps down and unclasps it with surprising dexterity, then brings his mouth to my breast, sucking and teasing until I'm moaning and grinding against his erection.
"Cole," I gasp, my fingers threading through his hair. "I want you."
He pulls back, eyes searching mine. "Are you sure? What about your parents?"
"They won't come out here," I assure him. "They're watching their show."
