Page 7 of Chasin' Cole

"You're sweet, Rose," he says, his dark eyes begging for understanding. "And as much as I liked kissing you, there will never be a you and me. I travel too much, and you're tied here. There's no use in breaking both our hearts."

Never say never, Cole.

"When do you leave next?"

"Rose—"

"Cole," I raise my eyebrows at him.

"There's no future for us."

"We'll just have to see about that," I smile as I reach behind me and grab the doorknob.

"I'm serious, Rose," he runs a hand through his hair, his black locks a disheveled mess on top of his head. "That wasn't a challenge."

I wink at him. "You know how much I love a good challenge, Cole."

"I know you hate hearing it, but the answer is no. There is no future where we could be together."

"You sure about that?" I quip as he slowly moves closer to me. I don't even think he's aware. He's not aware how magnetic we are.

"Rose," he raises his dark eyebrows as the moonlight bathes his gorgeous face in a milky glow.

"Cole," I smile.

His body is inches from mine as my hand stays locked on the doorknob.

"You have to get it out of your head," he whispers as his dark eyes dart from my eyes to my lips.

"Get what out of my head?"

"You," he inhales sharply, "and me. Us."

"I like the sound of you and me," I admit quietly.

"Your brother," he exhales. "He'd never accept it."

"And you travel a lot," I add.

"You're tied here," he says as his fingers slip a strand of wavy blond hair off my face.

"There's nothing that could tie you here?" I ask him.

He clears his throat, noticin' how close we are to one another.

"I won't bother you at the creek again," he promises, stepping back. I don't like the way he's fightin' against this.

"I wouldn't mind if you did," I tilt my head to the side, my heart aching to be near him again. I want to breathe the same air again.

"I can't do that to Brock."

"Thanks for bringin' by my boots," I say as I push open the door and step inside the house.

Before I close it, I take one last, longing look at him. He's standin' there, his face unreadable.

I might not be able to read him, but all I can see is my future in his eyes. He has a list of reasons why we can't be together. But he likes me.

That's not much of a start, but it's a start.

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