Page 42 of Second Chance Wedding
It wasn’t an admission, but it wasn’t a denial, either.
Fury engulfed him. He’d wanted so badly to be wrong. For the bruise to have been what Ana said it was—from a box she’d carried.
Ben didn’t say a word, but he acted like he knewexactlywhat Cole referenced. And even though Ben didn’t admit to anything, Cole knew Ana had lied to protect her son. “That’s what I thought. Ben, your mother is a smart, capable woman who obviously loves you to her detriment, but she isn’t your punching bag, verbal or otherwise.”
He lowered his head and tightened his grip. Ben’s eyes widened.
“And if I ever hear you say—if youdo—something like that to your mother again, I will smile in my mug shot knowing I’ve taught you a lesson you won’t forget. Do I make myself clear?”
Angry tears filled Ben’s eyes and reddened them even more, but after a long moment, he swallowed and nodded. “Yessir. I’m sorry.”
“Good. Now go get to work.” Cole released him.
“Tell Ky to show you what to do,” Alec ordered. “I’ll be in shortly.”
Cole braced his hands on either side of the door and stared out at the street while trying to get control of his anger.
Ben hadhurther, and she’dliedto protect him.
“Cole…”
“Go keep an eye on him,” he said to Alec. “I wouldn’t put it past him to have walked in there and out the front door.”
Alec hesitated, obviously wanting to say something.
“We’ll talk about this more tomorrow,” his brother said before following Ben.
Cole glared out at the businesses across the street and then locked up his side of things an hour earlier than planned.
The Marine ball was tonight, and he needed to go home and shower and don his dress blues before heading to the hotel to meet Ana. Maybe by the time he got there, his anger would be down to a slow simmer.
For her sake, he hoped so.
* * *
Sasha picked up Ben from school on her way to work and dropped him off with the Blackwells before coming to Coastal Couture for her shift on Friday.
Ana had planned to work until closing, but Quinley had insisted they take a few hours in the spa prepping Ana for her “meeting” with Cole.
Ana ran her gaze over the printed pages of notes Quinley had kindly provided, amazed at her friend’s brain. Quin had truly come up with a masterful plan of social media posts, premade video templates for the various platforms, and even a couple of print ads if Cole wanted to go old school. All of which were conveniently on a drive ready to download. “This is amazing.”
“You said he wanted something similar to the boutique’s ads, so I figured why not evoke a little nostalgia and focus on those moments we don’t always think about?”
She glanced up at Quin. “How much would all of this have cost if he’d walked into your father’s firm as a client?”
Quinley lifted her elegant hand and waved it in the air, flashing the magnificent diamond Rhys had given her a year ago.
“More than twenty-five hundred dollars. Trust me, Cole is getting his money’s worth and then some.”
“Quin…I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You already have. Besides, think of it as my way of pitching in to help the Mr. Surly screw up.”
She lifted the pages and waved them. “Still, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Lachlan knows, by the way. It wasn’t me. Security apparently heard about the commotion from some of the employees and reviewed the footage. Once they saw what happened, they were required to send it upstairs. Lachlan’s been out of town all week, but he saw it earlier today. I’m sorry.”
Ana winced. "I should have gone straight to him and told him. Was he angry?”
