by Daria White
“Goodnight, Celeste,” Cole said and cleared his throat. “How long has that been going on?”
“What? She left?”
“Yes, it was Celeste. What’s going on with you two?”
Seth chuckled. “Nothing, Celeste is nice.”
“Only nice?”
“Yeah, nice. We talk a few times. Even if there was something, I need to figure out what’s going on with Leah. I think I’ve given her enough time to think.”
“Maybe you can ask her—” Cole’s eyes bugged.
There Leah stood with another man. He didn’t recognize him, but the way his eyes gazed at Leah made his blood boil. He swallowed hard, ignoring the hitching in his chest. He then recalled Leah telling him about her hiatus. Did she change her mind?
Cole exhaled deeply. Even though years had passed, Leah still wouldn’t pull the rug from under him. He should have called her after the wedding. Their almost-kiss still reeled in his head. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“You still there, Cole?” Seth asked.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
His eyes followed Leah. She entranced him once more. Thank goodness he was sitting, because if he stood, he would tumble to the floor. Despite his knees wobbling, his desire grew to erase the distance between them. He stared longer, noticing she sat with the man perusing her menu.
“I’ve got an early day tomorrow, so I’ll talk to you later,” Seth said.
“Still not going to tell me what you’re up to, huh?” Cole asked.
“You’ll find out, eventually. Goodnight.”
Cole hung up with Seth and brought his phone to his lap. Then he texted Leah.
7:18 PM… Cole: Sorry I haven’t called
He noticed her beaming face at his message. He didn’t expect her to text him back, but to his surprise, she did.
7:20 PM… Leah: Sorry 2
Cole let out a deep breath as she raised her chin. At the sight of him, her eyes lit up. Then she motioned for him to come over. Cole stood, but as he approached Leah’s table, his heart banged in his chest. To his surprise, she stood and hugged him. He held her close for a moment, but since they weren’t alone, he released his grip.
“Have you met Craig?” Leah’s eyes diverted to Craig. “This is Cole Parsons.”
“Your last name sounds familiar. I think I’ve met your brother. You’re Seth Parsons’ little brother, right?” Craig said, displaying a grin.
Cole’s neck stiffened, but he rubbed his brow to ward off the tension. “Yeah, nice to meet you.” He and Craig shared a handshake.
“Same here. Leah and I were hanging out. Would like to join us?” Craig pointed to the empty seat next to Leah.
Cole pulled back slightly. “I don’t want to interrupt. I can take something to go.”
Leah grasped his hand. “Stay, Cole, please?”
Locking eyes with hers, his heart fluttered. “Only if I’m not intruding.”
“Not at all,” Craig said. “Leah here was helping me understand how women communicate.”
Leah laughed. “All I said was if Joanna asked you to dinner—”
“She didn’t exactly ask, but she hinted that she could make a mean meatloaf.”
Leah sat back in her seat. “Joanna eats meat?”
“That’s what I said,” Craig said.
Cole relaxed in his seat. Definitely not the night he expected. “Who’s Joanna?”
“My Pilates instructor who asked my friend Craig here on a date,” Leah explained.
Craig slurped from his glass. “Again, she didn’t ask.”
“Why don’t you?” Leah asked. “You like her?”
“We work together. I don’t know if it’s a good idea.” Craig eyebrows knitted together.
Cole nudged Leah’s shoulder. “You’ll never know unless you try.”
Craig gestured between Cole and Leah. “Have you two known each other long?”
Leah’s eyes sparkled. “Cole was my best friend in high school.”
“And you dated his older brother?” Craig asked.
“My junior year.”
Cole swallowed. “Seth left to play football in Georgia.”
Craig grinned. “Yeah, I heard he put Piedmont Valley on the map. I was sorry to hear about his injury. How did it feel having a celebrity for a brother?”
He had heard the question too many times growing up. Even after a career of his own, one that by now had far eclipsed that of his brother, Cole still sensed the stiffness in his neck. He’d made a name for himself. With his photos seen all over the world, why did the approval of his hometown mean so much?
Cole cleared his throat. “It was surreal, but we’re very proud.” Would the answer suffice?
Craig directed his attention back to Leah. Cole’s eyes diverted to her too. She looked stunning as always. She could rock formal wear and casual, and tonight her simple jeans and low ponytail were perfect. Cole’s hand rested on his thigh. Feeling the sweat surface on his palm, he ran his hand up and down on his pant leg.
When his phone buzzed inside his pocket, he reached for it. Who was calling now? “Sorry, I’ve got to take this.” Cole stood and stepped away from the table. To his surprise, it was his mother.
“Cole, I need your help at home,” his mother said.
He needed to talk to Leah. “I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
“With Seth out of town, I need help to make the rest of these cookies before Sunday for the church,” his mother said.
“I’ll be there soon.” He hung up with his mother and approached Leah’s table. “It looks like I have to call it a night.”
Craig extended his hand. “Nice meeting you, Cole.”
“You too.” He looked over at Leah. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Leah’s eyes stared back at him. “I’ll see you.”
****
Cole dusted off the front of his shirt free of flour. He grabbed a dishtowel and wiped his hands clean.
“Thank you so much for coming,” his mother said.
“I can’t tell you no, can I?” The corners of his mouth curved up.
She wagged her finger at him. “Never. The only reason Seth’s not here is because of his trip.”
“Any idea what’s going on with him?”
“No clue, but I always find out, eventually.”
Cole swallowed and kneaded his shoulder.
“You know something, don’t you?”
“Like what?”
His mother’s forehead furrowed. “I know you won’t rat out your brother. I always wanted you two to trust each other, but is he alright?”
“I think he will be.”
“And what about you? You never told me how the wedding went?”
He sat at the barstool. “It was nice. I should have Holly and Josh’s pictures finished by—”
His mother dismissed his answer with a wave. “I mean Leah. How did things go with her?”
Cole drew his bottom lip between his teeth. “It didn’t.”
His mother wiped her own hands with a dishtowel. “Now you know I never meddle in your personal life—”
“But you’re going to.”
Her eyes narrowed at him, but her smirk gave her away. “Is there a reason you haven’t told her?”
“Mom, I’ll figure it out.”
She tilted her head toward him. “You don’t have to tell me, but I will say I want you to be happy.”
“I know you do.”
“And I remember how much it hurt you when Leah dated Seth.”
He felt a twinge of pain in his chest. “Mom, I—”
“All I know is time has passed and Leah is a grown woman. If you’re honest with her, I know she’ll understand.”
Cole stroked his stubble. “She looked so happy when she told me about them. I felt like her second choice, as if I would be her back-up plan in case he left or hurt her.”
His mother’s eyebrows furrowed. “Why would you think that? Leah would never—”
/>
“I’ve always felt like that, Mom. Seth was the town hero, and I was Seth Parsons’ little brother.” His breath caught. He rose from his seat. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Cole, I—”
He came over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be fine. I’ll talk to you later.”
He didn’t say another word, but let the door close behind him.
****
“So… are you going to ask Joanna out?” Leah asked.
Craig drove her home, and now they stood on her front porch. He ran his fingers down his head. “I’m thinking about it. We’re friends and she works for me, so it feels weird to think of her as anything more.”
“But you admit that you like her?”
“Yes, I like her.”
Leah gave a half shrug. “Don’t wait too long, because I hear Clayton likes her too.”
Craig’s eyebrow shot up. “Will’s little brother?”
“He’s a nice guy. He and Joanna would make a cute couple.”
Craig rubbed at his brow. “Can’t be. Word around town is he’s been in love with Hope Phillips since kindergarten.”
“Never know.” She moseyed to the front door.
“Thank you.”
Leah twirled around to face him. “For what?”
Craig stepped closer, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “I came to Piedmont Valley to start over. After my divorce, I knew I needed a change. I didn’t expect for this town to embrace me the way it has, much less me caring about… someone.”
She gazed at him with focus. “I never knew you saw me like that.”
Craig continued. “I would see you at church, but I never felt ready to open up again. Then when you came to the gym regularly, I had to say something.” He inched closer, taking her hand in his. “Even if there’s only friendship between us, Leah, thank you for helping me see I can open up again.” He chuckled. “I might even get the courage to ask Joanna out.”
Leah pulled him in for a hug. Her heart bubbled with joy. “I’m glad I could help.”
“I’ll see you next week?”
“You will. If Joanna is not in a good mood and takes it out on our class, I’ll know you had something to do with it.”
He laughed. He took hold of her hands in his again, pressing a kiss to them. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, Leah Morris. The man who wins your heart is the luckiest man alive.”
Her heart melted. “Thank you.”
“And if my observations are correct, I’ve already met him.”
Leah’s mouth fell open. Craig kissed her cheek again and backed away. Her breath caught as she stood on her porch. Was it that obvious? Cole eased his way into her heart. She walked through her front door, her lips parting.
She sat on her couch and removed her light jacket. What if her plans changed? Would it be wrong to give in to her feelings for Cole? Perhaps Gemma was right. He had to have felt the same about her. Leah could still feel the heat from his stare at the table with Craig. Even Craig noticed.
Chapter 21
Leah clutched her pencil. She sketched out a mermaid silhouette for April’s dress, drawing dots and lines to the sketch to indicate the beading and seams. April informed her she would be wearing her hair up, so Leah included it in her drawing to give herself an even better visual.
She licked her lips as she worked, grateful to be thinking about something other than Cole. Why couldn’t she stop thinking about him? They hadn’t talked since she spotted him at Mack’s BBQ, and it was probably a good idea. Was it though? She missed him. She missed him even more than when they parted ways for college.
Was he thinking of her? Leah refocused on her drawing, switching from pencil to ink so she could harden her lines. Once she finished outlining, she dragged her eraser over her paper to remove the initial tracing. She couldn’t wait to select the materials. It was her favorite part outside of making the pattern. While the work did take time, April would love the result.
Then her eyes drooped as she sat at her desk. Perhaps a walk would help. Fresh air was always a good way to recharge. She closed her large notebook and grabbed her purse and phone. Giving Amber a signal, her store manager understood her boss was taking a break.
Leah inhaled deeply once she exited her store. From there, she paced down the sidewalk. Then the library caught her eye. Before she could change course to go inside, her phone rang in her purse. Sighing slightly, she answered. She hoped that Amber could handle the growing traffic, at least giving a few minutes to re-energize herself.
“Hello?” She answered her phone.
“For the record,” Leah’s father replied. “I’m not checking up on you, but your mother insisted I call since she doesn’t want to bug you.”
A smile broke through on Leah’s face. “I’m fine and sorry I didn’t stay that long after dinner on Sunday.”
“No need to apologize, sweetie.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She raised her chin as she looked up at the library. “I’m taking a quick break.”
“I’m proud of you, but if you’re at the library, that’s not a break.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Dad, I—” Then his chuckle filled her ears. “You and your jokes.”
“My little bookworm could never resist the library.”
“Fine, Dad. I’ll cut back on the reading.”
“Kidding. Take your break, and I’ll tell your mother I did my part and called you,” he said.
“She really has you checking up on me?”
“You know your mother. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye, Dad.”
Stifling her grin, she hung up. Once inside the library, she paced up and down the aisles. She passed the children’s section with picture books on the shelves and beanbag chairs on the floor. Finally, approaching the classic section, Leah searched for another one of her favorites. If only a woodsy cologne didn’t tickle her nose. Her eyes then searched for the source. Was he there?
****
While brushing his fingers against the pages of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Cole listened to the quiet flip as he turned the page. The classics had been keeping him company for the last couple of days. Seth had barely talked to him, so he gave his older brother space. Leah, however, still embedded his thoughts.
After leaving his parents’ house abruptly, he went to sleep off his annoyance. Craig seemed like a nice guy, but his “older brother” and “hometown hero” comments struck a nerve. Cole’s jaw clenched, but he answered as best he could.
Today, he stood inside Piedmont Valley’s library. Sturdy bookshelves surrounded him, lining the walls, marching across the floor, and curling around reading nooks and study areas. Senior citizens sat flipping through newspapers in cozy chairs, while other patrons used the computers for research and web surfing.
Though his brother didn’t hint his need to move out, Cole wanted a place of his own. Now he settled into a routine at work, his next task included finding a place to call home. Thankfully, Jeremy was a real estate agent, so he would give his friend a call soon. Once he got a better idea of what he wanted, he would set up a meeting.
Cole’s nostrils filled with the smell of crisp paper, along with the scent of pencil shavings. He lost count of the times he found Leah here, her head buried in a book. He even caught her sitting on the bleachers on the football field, a book in her hand engrossed in a story. He would kid that she never had fun, but she never took offense. In their friendship, he found a haven.
He could share everything with her. He never pictured his best friend being a woman. While other friends came and went, Leah remained constant. Time didn’t even tear them apart. The corners of Cole’s mouth quirked up.
“What’s funny?” a sweet voice asked.
He pivoted to find Leah smiling up at him. Her lashes were like fans upon her cheeks. Her rich and vibrant voice, like the middle notes of a cello, echoed in his ears. Cole clutched his book in hand. “Not much. Just checking to see what this book’s about.”
She rea
ched over, clasping his book between her thumb and forefinger. “The Scarlet Pimpernel?” Her eyebrows shot up, and she released her grip. “Nice choice.”
“What did you pick?” He gestured to the book she held in her hands.
“Emma.”
“They made a movie on that one, right?”
Leah covered her mouth, though her giggle slipped out. “Yes, but I prefer the book instead.”
Cole swallowed. “How are you?”
“I’m great. How are you?”
“Better now you’re here.”
“Are you okay? You left the restaurant pretty quickly.” She threaded her fingers through her hair.
“Yeah, my mother called. She needed me to help with some baking.”
Leah’s lips tightened as if to hide a laugh.
“What? I can cook.”
She waved away his comment. “I don’t think so.”
“I’ve come a long way from a grilled cheese sandwich.” His voice slightly raised in defense.
Leah pressed a finger to her lips. “Not too loud. We’re in a library.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “You started it.”
She extended her hand to his. “Okay, truce. You can cook, and I’m sorry for saying otherwise.”
He took hold of her hand, loving the touch of her smooth fingers. “Truce. What have you been up to lately?”
Leah slipped her hand from his and backed up to where she leaned against the bookshelf. “Why? You missed me again?”
He drew closer. “Would it bother you if I did?”
She shook her head. “No, it wouldn’t.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you after the wedding. There’s a lot—”
“I know, Cole. I’ve been busy too.”
“I wanted… I wanted to ask if…”
She lowered her head for a moment. “Are you referring to what almost happened at Holly and Josh’s wedding?” She then lifted her chin.
Cole’s heart thudded inside his chest. “I don’t want to pressure you. I know you’ve had a lot going on. You have things you want to do on your own.”
Her smile grew. “I do.”
“And…”
“And what?”
“I don’t want to hurt my brother.”
Leah rubbed her head. “I’ve been meaning to talk to him. I’ve been trying to sort things out.” Her gaze met his once more. “I don’t know what to do with what I’m feeling, Cole.”