Page 20 of Chasin' Cole

Chapter 7 – Dark and Delicious

I take a sip of punch from a clear, plastic cup and eye Cole from across the room. He’s talkin’ to a group of people he went to high school with. I’m sure he’s regalin’ them with stories about his travels over the past couple of years. Adventures in foreign countries, close encounters with wild animals and sights mostly unseen by the rest of the world. While they’ve all been collectin’ kids and divorces, Cole’s been collectin’ adventures.

“He’s very handsome, isn’t he?” I hear beside me.

My eyes dart to my sister-in-law, who’s starin’ at me like she can see straight into my head and read my thoughts. She’s almost as bad as Pastor Frank.

“Who?” I feign innocence.

“Rose,” Lacey grins, “you’ve never been a great liar. In fact, I can’t think of a single time you’ve lied and it ended well for you.”

“Everyone knows he’s handsome,” I hitch a shoulder. “That’s no secret.”

“Is that the only reason you’re staring at him?” She arches an eyebrow. She’s worse than Pastor Frank. She’s going to meddle.

“No,” I answer honestly. “I was thinkin’ how all his friends have families now and he’s still plannin' his next big adventure.”

Lacey laughs. “Has it ever occurred to you that he just hasn’t met the right woman yet? The woman he’d be willing to give up the adventures for?”

Has it occurred to me? A million times over the last month. Every time I kiss him. Every time we say goodbye under the cover of darkness. Every time I think about him leavin’ soon. But every time I think about that, I also think about how Cole would have to give up a life he loves for a life he’s never really wanted. If he wanted to settle down—if he wanted to have a wife and kids—Cole seems like the type of man who would do that. He hasn’t yet.

“I doubt anythin’ will keep him from doin’ what he loves,” I sigh with resignation.

“There’s someone I want to introduce you to,” Lacey gives me a wry smile. “His name is Jordan and he’s new to town. He just started going to our church two weeks ago and I thought you two might hit it off."

“I’m not interested,” I shake my head.

“Why not?” she scrunches her face.

Because I’m in love with Cole. Because he keeps kissin’ me in secret places and I can’t get him out of my head. Because even though I know he won’t, I pray every night I’m the woman he gives up all the adventurin’ for.

“Focusin’ on horses right now,” I offer instead of the truth. It’s not a complete lie. I am focused on growing my boarding business. Cole may love his adventures, but I love my small-town life.

“Come on,” Lacey insists. “It’ll be fun.”

“It’s never fun when you say those words,” I grumble as I reluctantly follow behind her.

When I peer over my shoulder, I notice Cole’s charcoal eyes are on me. Somethin’ dark and delicious trickles down my spine as we gaze at each other from across the room. All I want to do is to walk over, stand next to him, and slip my hand in his. Tell the whole town he’s mine. That I’m the girl he wants to spend his time between adventures with.

Between.

Not give them up for.

Mama always says a man is doing either two things: plottin’ a life or passin’ through.

Nope, I’m not thinkin’ about this. I refuse to. I can’t think about it. I can’t think about him leavin’ and takin’ all the parts of me that belong to him already. Fine, the one part that belongs to him.

My heart.

It’s going to be wrecked and left for ruin the moment he packs his bags and leaves me behind.

“Rose, this is Jordan,” Lacey’s voice cuts through the sudden realization that my time with Cole has an expiration date and it's fast approachin'.

I push the thoughts aside and grip the cup of punch in my hand. “Hi.”

Jordan holds his hand out. I know it’s rude to decline a handshake, but his isn't really the hand I want to be touchin'.

He seems to sense my hesitation and withdraws his arm. Lacey squeezes my shoulder gently, urgin' me on.

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