Page 41 of Second Chance Wedding
“Don’t be vague. Did you kiss? What?”
“No. Well, yeah, he kissed me but not on my lips.”
“Anna,” Quinley said with a mockingly shocked and mildly irritated tone.
“He kissed a bruise,” she said, leaving out everything else. “But it was sweet and surprisingly hot and made me want to melt into the kitchen floor because all these memories came flooding back. But then he brought upbusiness,and I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Friday, huh.” Quinley sank her teeth into her lower lip and chewed softly. “Okay, so we are going to toss around some ideas for his business worthy of the money so you don’t feel like you’re indebted to him. That’ll level the field. But you are going to have to figure out whether you want this to be a date before Friday.”
“What if I don’t know? A business event could be…fine, I suppose. I mean, there’s Ben to consider, and things are complicated enough as they are right now without…you know, throwing fuel on the fire.”
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Ana. Mr. Surly doesn’t rule your life. And youneeda life which is why come Friday, you are going to knock Cole’s socks off and make him forget all about business,” Quinley said in a firm voice. “Now ring me up so I can go get started on those limo ideas.”
ChapterTen
Cole glanced up from his phone when the chime on the door sounded. Ben stalked in looking red-faced and ready to implode.
Cole slowly stood and slipped the phone into his pocket, bracing his palms on the counter in front of him as he took in the teen’s glassy eyes. “What’s got you so fired up?”
“Nothing,” Ben growled. “And stay away from my mom.”
Cole straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. He’d taken Monday through Thursday off to look at some homes for sale as well as work on a few repair projects inside the garage apartment he occupied located next to Brooks’s house.
Brooks, Allie and their brood of four lived in the original Blackwell family home where all nine of them had grown up. Over the years, Aunt Rose had moved into the home’s garage apartment for privacy and to give Brooks and his growing family space as the only married sibling at the time.
Rose currently enjoyed an extended visit with friends in Florida until spring, so it didn’t make sense to rent a place when the apartment sat empty. But he needed to find a place before Rose returned.
Every day that week, Alec and Brooks had texted to let him know the boy had shown up for work looking like his dog died.
Cole figured the teenager was finally realizing he had a lot of hard work ahead of him, but this seemed like something more. “Your mother and I are old friends.”
“I know you used to date. And that you asked her on a date tonight.”
“Iaskedher to discuss business.”
Ben’s nostrils flared, and he fisted his hands at his sides like he wanted to punch something. Cole held Ben’s gaze and waited the boy out, but when he didn’t speak, Cole shrugged. “Alec needs you in the store to price merch. Go get started.”
“Leave my mom alone.”
Cole stiffened at Ben’s irate tone. “I don’t take orders from you, Ben. And you’d better get it through your head right now that you are not in charge. Our discussion is a way for her to pay off some of the debtyouput her in. Your mom is smart, and I’d like her opinion on some things.”
“You think sex with my mom is worth that much?”
Cole rounded the surfboard counter and had Ben shoved up against the outer door of the rental building in a matter of seconds.
“Cole,” Alec said in a low, warning voice.
Cole ignored Alec’s sudden appearance and pinned the teenager to the door when he tried to break his hold. “Don’t youevertalk about your mother like that. Do you hear me? You do not have the right to abuse her or any woman. Only weak cowards abuse women. So I’m going to ask this once, and I want the truth. The bruise on her collar bone, Ben… Did you do that to her?”
It was pure speculation on his part, but Cole watched Ben pale to the point he looked like a television vampire who only had color in his lips and his red-rimmed eyes.
“Cole.”
Cole heard Alec shut the door normally open between the buildings during business hours before he came to stand at Cole’s side.
Alec’s hand squeezed Cole’s shoulder, a reminder not to lose control and a soothing gesture combined.
Ben held Cole’s gaze before looking away.
