Page 67 of Second Chance Wedding
Sasha had no problem keeping an eye on Ben whenever he hung out at Coastal Couture, but Ana couldn’t ask a college student to keep Ben overnight. That was just weird. And unprofessional.
So her choices were take Ben with her to New York City where God only knew what kind of trouble he could find if he wanted to—or stay home. She voted for the latter, even though it meant hurting Quinley. But surely she’d understand?
Ana rolled out of bed and went to the bathroom, imagining she smelled bacon. Just more proof of how foggy things were, she mused as she trudged down the hallway to the kitchen.
Coffee. She needed coffee, and maybe then her brain could function enough to come up with a plan that didn’t involve a surly teenager or a pissed-off best friend.
She pressed both hands over her face and rubbed hard, groaning out her frustration. What made someone crave bacon so much theysmelledit?
“Something bothering you, sweetheart?”
Ana stopped in her tracks and found Cole in her kitchen looking fresh as a daisy and good enough to eat.
Just like the bacon he fried in the pan on her stove.
“I like the view, baby girl.”
She gasped and lowered her hands to yank her open robe closed over her form-fitting tank top and shorts. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”
“I let him in,” Ben said from behind her.
She turned and watched as Ben sidled through the narrow hallway past her. He’d already showered and dressed, making her feel like more of a slouch. “Why are you up? Why is he cooking? What’s going on?”
The boutique didn’t open until ten, and she was supposed to drop Ben off on the way. Normally she woke up before her alarm, but after Cole’s visit last night and the kiss— It had been hours before she’d gone to sleep, and when she had finally slept, she’d dreamed of him, just like he’d wanted her to. To say she felt muddled was the understatement of the year.
“Cole offered to pick me up.”
“And since neither of you have eaten…” Cole said, motioning toward the stove.
Cole’s gaze glittered with amusement as he stared at her, and Ana lifted a hand to her hair,feelingthe rat’s nest at the back that undoubtedly left her looking a mess.
She finger brushed and flattened her hair as best she could while Cole’s attention refocused on the bacon.
“I made coffee,” he said in his deep, rumbling voice. “Want some?”
“Are you kidding? Mom lives on coffee,” Ben said, shoving one of his textbooks into his backpack.
Like he planned to study. When he didn’t have to.
Shehadto still be asleep. “Are you taking that with you?”
“Yeah, I told Cole about my big test, and he said I could study when it’s slow. I might even do some of the extra credit I never do and see if I can get my C to a B.”
Her gaze shot to Cole since Ben should be working during that time frame, but Cole simply winked at her and served up the bacon.
“Sit down, Ana. I got you.”
She watched, dumbfounded, as Cole removed a mug from the cabinet and poured it for her before snagging her creamer from the fridge. He sat both on the island for her and then swerved back to plate scrambled eggs, toast and the bacon. All of which looked edible.
Yeah, so still dreaming.
“Eat up,” Cole said when he set the plate next to the coffee.
Her legs trembled when she climbed atop the higher bar stool and watched while Ben and Cole divided the rest of the food between themselves. Ben took his to the couch to eat while Cole stood opposite her at the island and stared at her, munching on a piece of the crispy bacon.
“You have something to say, sweetheart?”
She doused her coffee with much-needed creamer and took several fortifying sips. Coffee tasted better in her dreams. Or maybe it was that Dream Cole made it stronger than her norm?
