Cole dropped his eyes for a second, and when he lifted them, he filled a wineglass for Leesa and held up his own. “To my first and last bachelor auction.”
“Presumptive, aren’t you?” Sammy asked.
Cole pointed at him. “You are in deep shit, little brother. I never should have been up on that auction block.”
Sam snickered as Cole slid his hand from the back of Leesa’s chair and onto her shoulder, surprising her with the intimate touch.
“Thankfully, Leesa saved me from the vultures.” He smiled at her, and she felt her cheeks heat up.
“Vulture. Singular,” Shannon said. She tucked her long dark hair behind her ear. “For a woman scorned, she was willing to pay big bucks to go out with you again.”
“That’s only because she’s been texting and asking me to get together with her.” Cole’s jaw clenched, and his grip on Leesa’s shoulder tightened. “Can we please not discuss this right now? This beautiful woman just spent a thousand dollars to go out with me—which reminds me.” He caressed her shoulder, all the tension in his hand and face faded to sweet seduction. “When are we going on our date?”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Shannon interrupted. “I want the details first. How did you two meet? How long have you been dating?”
“We’re not dating,” Leesa said quickly. The disappointed look in Cole’s eyes cut her to her core.
“But you just paid a thousand dollars to go out with him,” Tempe pointed out.
“Yes, but…That was to save him from his ex-girlfriend.” She swallowed hard, feeling boxed in by the partial lie. She hated lies and quickly tried to backpedal. “I mean. It started out like that. To save him.”
Cole smiled.
Sammy cleared his throat and eyed Cole.
“So, you aren’t dating?” Shannon asked.
“Not yet,” Cole answered with alluring confidence.
“Ah,” Shannon said with wide eyes.
“I’m not looking for a boyfriend.” Ohmygod. She couldn’t believe she’d said that out loud.
Open mouth. Insert foot.
“That’s okay, honey.” Maisy patted her hand. “Our family can be a little overwhelming. You don’t have to explain anything to us. We’re just glad you’re here with us.”
“I’m glad I’m here, too. Thank you.” Leesa felt Cole’s fingers brush lightly over her shoulder and come to rest on her back.
They talked for a long while, and by the time she got up to leave, she felt like she’d grown up with the Bradens. Cole’s siblings teased one another with reckless abandon, and he gave it right back to them. Although she sensed him being more careful than the others, never stepping over any lines that might cause them embarrassment and obviously very aware of his sisters’ feelings in particular. His parents joked just as easily. They were a loving group, and Leesa found herself wondering what it would be like to be one of their inner circle.
“Thank you for letting me join you tonight,” she said as she stood and slung her purse over her shoulder.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Cole said, rising beside her.
The rest of his family stood, and one by one they embraced her. Leesa was a touchy-feely person and hugging people she’d only just met didn’t surprise her, but the type of hugs did. There were complimentary hugs that people extended to strangers. Those felt a little tense and cold. And then there were hugs of affection. These were the latter and made her feel like she was already part of their close-knit group.
“Maybe we can get together for lunch tomorrow. I’m only home for a little while, but I’d like to get to know you better while I’m here,” Shannon said.
“Um, sure. Okay.”
“Can I join you guys?” Tempe asked.
“I don’t work until late tomorrow, so if you don’t mind one more person, I’d love to join you,” Jewel said.
“Wow, really?” Leesa could hardly believe that they wanted to get together so quickly. “That would be fun.”
“Why don’t you girls have lunch here?” Maisy suggested. “You can eat outside on the deck while the guys work on the boat.”
Ace put an arm around his wife. “Honey, they may want a break from us and from this place.”
“Oh, right. Sorry.” Maisy waved her hand. “Go wherever you’d like.”
Tempe and Shannon exchanged a shrug.
“I think that sounds great,” Shannon said. She turned to Cole, Sam, and Nate. “Are you guys working on Dad’s boat tomorrow?”
Leesa caught Cole staring at her with that look in his eyes again, the one that sent shivers from her head to her toes.
“I’ll be here, helping Dad,” he said directly to her.
“I’ve got a big group coming in at Rough Riders. Sorry I can’t be here, Pop,” Sam said.
“That’s okay, Sam,” his father said.
Nate pulled Jewel against him and kissed her forehead. “I’ve got a few things to take care of at the restaurant in the morning, but I’ll be by to help out by lunchtime.”
“Good. Then we’ll meet here around noon?” Shannon suggested. “Is that okay with you, Leesa? Or do you want to escape your workplace for an afternoon?”
“Oh no, I appreciate you guys letting me join you for lunch.”
“We’re joining you,” Jewel pointed out. “It’ll be fun.”
They exchanged cell numbers, and then Cole walked her out to her car. The night air was cool and crisp, awakening all of her senses.
“I hope you didn’t feel put on the spot back there.”
“Not at all,” she said honestly. “It’s nice to be surrounded by people who actually want to be with me. Your family is so friendly. You’re very lucky.” She unlocked her car door, trying to ignore the nervous fluttering in her stomach, but all she could think about was the kiss they’d shared and the way it had left her craving more. She hadn’t kissed a man in weeks, hadn’t had time to think about anything more than making it through each day. Could she allow herself the freedom to enjoy herself a little? Surely she deserved that after everything she’d been through. She was an intelligent, well-educated woman, and on a cognitive level she knew damn well that she deserved to enjoy a date with Cole. But a nagging voice reminded her of why she was here in the first place, and the weight of what happened in Baltimore pressed in on her. A painful reminder of Chris and the way he’d chosen his career over her. The pain of that choice still stung more than she’d like to admit. Cole had a lot on the line career-wise.
“Thank you, but more importantly, when would you like to collect on your auction winnings?” He smiled and stepped in close, bringing with him a heat wave and a reminder that she’d not only used six hundred of his dollars to pay for the auction, but she’d forgotten to give the balance of the thousand dollars to the girl who’d collected the donations.
“Oh, gosh. I have to go back inside. I forgot to pay the additional four hundred dollars. I gave the girl who was collecting the money your cash, but I was going to get the rest from the ATM and I got sidetracked by a customer.”
“I already took care of it.”
“You—”
He pressed a finger over her lips. “Shh. I asked you out, remember? Twice.”
“Cole,” she said against his finger, fighting the urge to take that finger into her mouth and swirl her tongue around it. She pressed her lips together to keep from doing just that.
“Tomorrow night? I’ll pick you up at Tegan’s about six?”
She felt herself nodding, and when he leaned forward, placing a hand on her hip, and pressed a kiss to her cheek, she closed her eyes and soaked in the weight of his palm, the feel of his moist lips, the heat of his breath whispering over her skin. She had a feeling that this sweet, seductive man was going to test her resolve of invisibility, and she reminded herself that he had a lot to lose—and if she were honest with herself, so did she.
Chapter Six
SUNDAY MORNING COLE awoke before sunrise. He showered, did a quick Google search to find
out Tegan’s address, since he’d forgotten to ask Leesa for it last night, then worked out in his home gym. He had more energy than he’d had in months, and he knew it was because of Leesa. When he set out for his run, he hoped like hell he’d cross paths with her during her morning run. He ran with Jon only on Saturday mornings, which meant he was on his own—just the way he wanted it.
The sun peeked out from behind a fluff of clouds as his feet hit the sand and he ran down by the shore. He loved the beach any time of day, but early mornings were his favorite, before the town came to life, when birds scavenged and waves kissed the untouched sand. He ran farther than usual, passing the pier and running up a commercial street, then heading down Main Street toward Second. His nerves pushed him faster than usual, and when he hit Second, he slowed his pace to read the house numbers until he came to Tegan’s home. It was a cute ranch-style home with well-tended gardens out front and a bright red front door. He wondered if Leesa was up, or snuggled in her bed still asleep.
He smiled with the thought. Of course, in his mind, she was lying in his bed. Naked.
Great, now he was aroused, and he felt like a stalker.
What was he thinking? That he’d time it just right to catch her as she left for her morning run?
He ran past the house and continued toward the beach, thinking about what an idiot he’d been. He was acting more like a teenager than a guy in his early thirties.
A few minutes later he crossed the road and hit the beach again, heading toward home. He pulled his shirt off and used it to wipe the sweat from his face as he slowed to a walk. At least he’d had a solid run.
“Hello?” Leesa came around the side of his house carrying a bag from Jazzy Joe’s and two to-go cups, her neck craned as she peered up at his deck. She wore a sexy blue sundress that stopped above her knees, and her hair fell over her shoulders in gentle waves.
His hands instinctively opened and closed with the desire to tangle his fingers in her hair and kiss her again. He watched disappointment fill her eyes as they swept over the empty deck and down to the sand.
He jogged the thirty feet or so up the beach as she turned to leave and called out to her, “Leesa!”
She turned with a surprised look on her face as he joined her in the side yard.
“Hi.” Her gaze traveled down his bare, sweaty chest, and her eyes heated. “I, um, I thought I’d bring you a little something as a thank-you for paying off my debt last night.”
He wiped the sweat from his face with his shirt and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You didn’t have to do that, but I’m glad you did.” He glanced up at the deck. “Join me to watch the day roll in?”
“Sure.”
He followed her up to the deck. “Do you mind if I rinse off quickly?”
“No, not at all.”
She set the coffees on the table as he went inside and showered, returning a few minutes later in clean shorts and a T-shirt. He found her spreading two napkins on the table and setting a cranberry walnut muffin on each.
“How did you manage this?” he asked as he took the seat beside her.
“I’m not above begging, and luckily, Jasmine seems to have a soft spot for her favorite doctor.” She held up her coffee. “Cheers.”
He touched his cup to hers and sipped the warm liquid. “Another favorite.”
“I figured a thousand-dollar date better be worth it.” She gazed out over the water, fidgeting with the edge of her dress, suddenly seeming more nervous than just moments before.
“I usually donate much more than that anyway, so please don’t feel like you owe me anything.”
She smiled, but her eyes dropped to her lap. “I…um. I wanted to talk to you about our date before we actually go out, in case you want to change your mind.”
He set his coffee on the table and gave her his full attention. “Why would I want to do that?”
When she lifted her eyes to his again, they were clouded with worry. “Cole, last night was wonderful. Your family is so kind, and you’re, well, I can tell that you’re a real gentleman, not to mention handsome and obviously well respected and successful.”
“My ego’s liking your train of thought, but I hear a but coming.”
“Yes.” Her lips curved up in a nervous smile. “I’m a really honest person, and as much as I want to go out with you, I can’t do it in good conscience without explaining what brought me to Peaceful Harbor.”
“I sensed there was something more behind your move, but I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.”
Her brows drew together, and knowing that whatever she had to say was weighing so heavily on her tugged at his heart. He couldn’t imagine what would make her worry so much that she’d make a special trip out to his house.
“Ready or not, I want to tell you.” She drew in a deep breath, and he noticed her hand was shaking.
He wanted to reach out and comfort her, but he had a feeling that might make her more uncomfortable.
“I’m not sure how long I’ll be here or what I’ll end up doing long-term. Tegan wants me to move here, and it’s an option, but not a given. So, that’s the first thing you need to know. I might only be here a short time. But more importantly, I might never have left Towson if it weren’t for what happened there.” She swallowed hard and met his gaze head-on. “I was accused of…Holy cow, this is much more difficult than I thought it would be.”
Accused?
She gulped in air and blew it out slowly.
“You don’t have to tell me anything,” he assured her, despite his now piqued curiosity.
“Yes, I really do. It wouldn’t be fair for you to find out some other way. Besides, I really don’t have anything to hide. It’s just terribly embarrassing. Life changing.” She ran her finger along the edge of the table, concentrating on it as if it held the answers to some unspoken question. “Okay, maybe I do have something to hide, but only because of people who will judge me before they know me.” She rose to her feet. “You know what? Never mind. Let’s just cancel the date and—”
He stood and reached for her hand. “Leesa, whatever it is, I’m not going to judge you because of it. You can trust me.”
“That’s why I’m here. I got the impression that I could trust you, but I’ve trusted before and was sorely disappointed with the outcome.”
“Maybe you trusted the wrong person. I’ve done that myself,” he said, thinking of Kenna. “And I know how badly it can hurt to have your trust broken.”
“Cole, this is very different from a cheating girlfriend or—”
“Mackenna didn’t cheat on me.” He was surprised at how easily that truth came, when he hadn’t even shared as much with his family. But he was so drawn to Leesa, and the thought of her carrying around something that was obviously torturing her made his gut ache.
“Oh, well…”
“She wanted to,” he explained. “She wanted an open relationship, threesomes, and that’s not something I’ve ever been into.” He stepped closer to try to ease the shock on her face.
“But don’t all guys dream of that? Two women touching them, or watching two women make out? I thought that was every guy’s fantasy.”
“I don’t share well,” he said as he took her hand. He didn’t want to talk about Mackenna, or his past. He wanted to help her through whatever was weighing her down. “I don’t know what you were accused of, but there’s a difference between accused and convicted, and I’m here if you want to talk about it. I’d much rather talk than have you walk out of my life over how you think I might react.”
He searched her eyes and saw her resolve softening. He didn’t know why he felt this strongly about her so quickly, but it had been forever since he’d felt anything this powerful that he wasn’t about to let her go without trying.
“Give me a chance to hear you out. If you don’t like my reaction, you can walk away and never look back, knowing that whatever you share with me will go no further than this deck.”
***
> LEESA HAD KNOWN the minute she woke up this morning that she had to be honest with Cole about her past before they went out rather than after, or even during, their date. The way her body reacted to him whenever he was near told her that even one date would bring them closer together. She wasn’t a glutton for punishment. She didn’t want to put herself in a position to be hurt again, and it wasn’t fair to keep something that had the power to taint his career from him.
Now, standing here with her hand in his, his eyes pleading with her for honesty, and his promise of understanding vibrating through her, she fought for the strength to follow through.
“Okay,” she finally managed. “But promise me that if I am honest with you, you’ll be honest with me, too. If you want nothing more to do with me, you have to let me know, regardless of whether you think it’ll hurt my feelings.”
He nodded. “I promise.”
They sat again, and Leesa drew her shoulders back, summoning the courage it had taken for her to get through the investigation. With her gut in a knot, she explained. “It’s a strange feeling to know that I moved away so no one would recognize me, only to find out that I’m not the type of person who can live a lie.”
“That says a lot about you.” Cole reached for her hand again and she let him hold it for a few seconds, but her nerves were frayed. Even though he seemed understanding now, that didn’t mean he would remain so after he heard the rest of the story. Rather than make him uncomfortable, or feel stuck, by holding her hand, she slid hers from his grip and rubbed her hands together.
“Thank you. Okay, well, here goes. In Towson, I taught seventh-grade English, and I loved it. I taught at the same school ever since I first became certified, and I got to know the kids really well. You know, kept up with older siblings when younger ones entered my classes and all that. I had a great group of peers, a wonderful principal, and all in the town where I grew up. In the middle school I had attended.”
Surrender My Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens): Cole Braden Page 6