False Impressions

by Marianne Rice

  Doing what he does best, Cole cast his fishhook grin her way and said, “If I told you that you had a great body, would you hold it against me?”

  Chapter 16

  The rest of the weekend had been fun. They ditched the guys soon after they crashed the hot tub party, and the girls spent Saturday on the massage table being pampered.

  No one asked about Cole and Sam’s poolside conversation, which made her want to tell them even more. When Meg dropped her off Sunday afternoon all Sam said was, “We’re friends. That’s all, and that’s okay with both of us.” Meg gave her a knowing smile, but Emma raised her newly-waxed eyebrow and bit her lip, obviously holding back a retort.

  The following week was fairly uneventful. She stopped avoiding Cole and filled him in with the work she’d done around the other apartments during their “non-commutative” weeks. Levi asked for him constantly, and she distracted him with superhero small talk.

  Honored to have been asked to attend the rehearsal dinner, Sam declined and said she’d see the bride at the wedding. The less interaction she had with Cole, the easier it would be.

  Well, okay, not easier but every time she saw him she couldn’t help but reminisce about their time together. Whether it be side-by-side at a worksite, on the farm, playing with Levi, or cuddled up on the couch and making passionate love together, she missed him. Missed everything about him. Torn between her heart and her loyalties, Sam was more confused than ever. She really wanted to talk with Meg, but she was busy being the mother of the bride. But if anyone understood the weight and guilt, it would be Meg.

  Assuming she was still up, unable to sleep the night before her daughter’s wedding, Sam sent her a text.

  Thinking of you. Hope u get some sleep tonight. Thanks again for our talk.

  It was a stupid text, but she didn’t know what else to do. Her cell vibrated.

  Can’t sleep. Sitting in my hot tub alone. Call me if u need to talk

  Without hesitation Sam called Meg.

  “I’m so sorry to bug you tonight.”

  “Are you kidding me? Connor is snoring like a lumberjack, Emma is at Paige’s house, and I’m all alone. I’m so glad you called. What’s up?”

  “Oh. Nothing. I wanted to see how you were doing.”

  “Me? I’m feeling old, my baby is getting married tomorrow. But how are you? You sounded…sad in your text.”

  Sam actually laughed. “How did that sound sad?”

  “A mother knows these things.”

  “Yes.” Sam sighed. “How did you know to follow your heart?”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, Connor is quite pushy. And convincing. I ran and ran and ran, but he kept chasing me, convincing me to trust him.”

  “Cole hasn’t exactly been beating down my door.” Sam sank deeper into her covers and reached out to the empty spot next her. It had never been filled. She and Cole never made love in her bed, and Adam hadn’t been a part of this house with her.

  “No, he’s different. Cole doesn’t trust himself. If I were to guess, I’d say his argument is that you are too good for him.”

  Sam snorted. “How is that possible? He’s the kindest, most caring man I’ve ever met. You should see how he interacts with Levi. And loyal and honest and he treats me like a…” Sam closed her eyes and sighed. Honest. Yes, she knew he was honest to a fault. He didn’t keep his past a secret to hurt her.

  “Thanks, Meg.”

  “Thanks? I haven’t done a thing.” She sniffed.

  “Are you crying?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Why? Are you okay? Do you want me to come over?”

  “I’m crying for you, honey. I want you to have love in your life again. You don’t need me to tell you what to do. Follow your heart.”

  * * * *

  “But how did the Joker get to be the Joker? Why does he wear makeup?”

  “He was being chased by police officers, and he fell into a bucket of acid.”

  “What’s acid?”

  “It’s a chemical that can burn your skin. It kind of melted half of his face into a pretty ugly-looking dude, so he wears makeup to cover up all of his scars.”

  “Like when I wear a Band-Aid to cover up my boo-boos.”

  Yeah, like the one I have over my heart.

  Cole ruffled Levi’s hair and stood. He’d been squatting next to the shorty for twenty minutes talking Star Wars and Batman and every other action hero and villain, waiting for his mommy to come over, but she kept busy on the dance floor with the other women. His knees ached; partly due to the squatting, partially from her smile and laugh. Even if they weren’t directed toward him, he was happy she was having a good time. Happy she could move on; she deserved it. Deserved a whole hell lot more than he could provide.

  When the DJ played Faith Hill and hubby Tim McGraw’s duet, the women grabbed their men and slow danced. Sam walked off the dance floor, her sexy pale green strapless dress billowing in the light breeze and trailing behind her. A man Cole recognized as one of Mason’s tech geeks walked up to her and asked her to dance. The man put his hand on her bare shoulder, skin that should not be touched by anyone but him, and Cole tensed.

  Unused to feeling territorial and jealous, Cole shifted from foot to foot, unsure what to do. Sure, he tried to keep his distance from her these past few days. Keeping their conversations to work and casual flirting; he really hadn’t anticipated another man swooping in on his property. No. She wasn’t property. Definitely wasn’t his property. He’d been doing the responsible thing and giving her space, letting their lust fizz out.

  Only it was more than lust. Just a few weeks ago they professed their love for one another. And now…

  And now another man wanted to dance with the woman he loved. The woman he wanted to dance with at his wedding. The woman he wanted to make babies with. Damn he was an idiot.

  “Is it cake time yet? Does Anakin Skywalker eat cake?”

  “Yeah, big guy, Anakin loves it. Why don’t you go ask Ms. Mimi when the bride and groom are going to cut the cake?”

  “Who’s the bride and broom?”

  “Emma and Mason.”

  He felt bad brushing off Levi, but once he got the kid’s mother back into his good graces he’d be spending a lot more time with him again, bonding over superheroes. Cole pointed out his parents across the lawn and watched Levi run up to them. Connor hosted his own wedding on the lawn overlooking the lake a few years ago. Now Mason’s. If everything went according to plan, there’d be another wedding out here real soon.

  * * * *

  They were stiff and awkward as they danced. Saying no to the first two slow dances didn’t deter Ryan from asking again. Looking like a lost puppy, she caved and led the nice man to the dance floor. There wasn’t anything wrong with him. He just wasn’t…Cole.

  The wedding wasn’t the right time to tell him that she wanted him back. Maybe tomorrow. She felt selfish thinking about herself on someone else’s wedding day, but her body glowed and hummed, her sensitive spots now hopeful they’d be touched soon, now that she allowed herself to love another man, sans the guilt. Just like there was no guilt in having another child, and hoping someday to have another girl. No one could replace Abigail. Never would she want someone to. No one would replace Adam. He and Cole were so different from one another it was almost laughable to compare.

  Being free from the guilt, she’d let loose and danced with the girls on the dance floor. The slow songs brought her back to her relationship mess. A mess she would soon clear up. Meg and Connor’s story was different. Connor had needed to chase after Meg to make her see he was different from the man who raped her. Cole didn’t need to chase after Sam, instead she needed to chase after him and make him see she had let go of the past, could forgive, and move on.

  Bringing her attention back to her dance partner, she smiled at him then looked at her son, deep in conversation with Betsy and George. The warm, familiar, callused hand on her bare shoulder sent tingles down her spine. R
yan scowled at the person behind her.

  “Mind if I cut in?”

  “Uh…” Ryan looked at Sam for a signal. She shrugged, giving him the opportunity to accept or decline. “Okay,” he stammered.

  Grateful that he caved, a strong arm looped around her waist and spun her around.

  “So, what do you do for a living besides making all the men excited and warm all over?”

  She tipped her head back and laughed. Something she hadn’t done in a long time until she met Cole. The song ended before they even started dancing, but the DJ played Brad Paisley’s Then and Cole pulled her body in closer to his. Never had a tuxedo looked as mind-blowing as the one that graced his strong shoulders and nice, firm butt. Yes, she had been checking him out all afternoon.

  Draping her arms around his neck, she daringly looked into his dark eyes and could feel him looking deep, deep into her soul. They didn’t talk during their dance, only held each other tight, gazed and listened to the words of her new favorite song. His dimple never made an appearance, but the hardness of his groin told her he was happy. Very happy.

  * * * *

  Talk about starting over. This was painful. More painful than the five months it took to convince Sam to go out with him the first time. The day after Mason and Emma’s wedding, Sam called him and asked if he’d help her plant a garden in her backyard.

  And that’s what they did. He, Levi, and Sam piled in her truck, made a trip to town, and then loaded up on seedlings and manure. Not exactly the magic rekindling of their relationship he envisioned. Still, the three of them had fun working in the sun, reuniting with the land. Growing fruits and vegetables together could be metaphoric for what was to come. They started out with something small, and with enough sun and water—love and trust—something magical would bloom. At least, that was his hope.

  Their relationship didn’t pause or fast-forward, instead it rewound to where they were a few months ago. Sam was hesitant, scared of the hurt and betrayal that overtook her heart, and he couldn’t blame her. He’d been a bastard keeping his past a secret. But they both wanted the same thing. To forgive and move forward in their relationship. Their days consisted of work, mostly apart, and Sam called Cole nearly every afternoon inviting him to dinner.

  To an outsider looking in, they seemed like the perfect little family laughing at the table, eating roast chicken, potatoes, and vegetables. Always vegetables. Sam still insisted he eat a large portion with every meal. He and Levi rolled their eyes but ate every last bite she dished up.

  After dinner, Levi played in the tub. The first time he asked Cole to give him his bath was a bit awkward—more for him than the other two—but that too fell into a routine. After bedtime he and Sam would cuddle on the couch and make out like a PG movie. He didn’t want to push her any further, hoping she’d tell him when she was ready to get naked again.

  Sometime around midnight, he’d head home and take a cold shower. The schedule had worked for a few weeks, but he wasn’t sure how much longer his manly parts could handle the torture.

  * * * *

  Her girly parts couldn’t handle the torture any longer. If Cole Robert Tucker didn’t make his move soon, she’d have to break her code and jump his bones on her couch. At first she thought their routine to be sweet. Exactly what she needed to be sure their relationship didn’t spiral down a warped path again.

  They didn’t talk much about their past but focused on their future. Sam hadn’t figured out if that was an avoidance tactic or a wise move. She’d forgiven Cole for his dishonesty, but she didn’t think he had forgiven himself. She couldn’t be responsible for his sobriety. Granted he had been sober for a few months before he met her. The fact that he didn’t relapse during their rocky break-up was a good sign.

  Knowing another Saturday night would leave her sexually unsatisfied, she didn’t stress about not having time to do laundry. Slipping into her comfortably white cotton underwear and denim shorts, she whipped up a pasta salad and helped Levi get ready for the McKay-Tucker Fourth of July barbeque. The festivities started early and ran until the last man went home…which meant when Levi’s eyes started drooping.

  Sure to be exhausted as well, Sam knew she and Cole wouldn’t have an opportunity to be too romantic. They would have fun though. She always had fun with him and his family. Levi looked forward to swimming in the lake and going for a boat ride.

  To add to the excitement and the stress, her family was coming up from Connecticut as well. It would be their first time interacting since Levi’s birthday party in early April. She only hoped her brothers minded their manners and weren’t too harsh on Cole.

  After packing the pasta salad and taco dip in the truck, she dragged Levi away from the Nintendo DS Cole bought him on a whim, and they headed over to Connor and Meg’s.

  “Hey, little sis.” Barrett hauled her into one of his infamous bear hugs and kissed the top of her head. “Where’s the guy?”

  “With Mom.” She nodded behind her where Evette pushed Levi on the swings.

  “Not the little guy. The big guy.”

  “No interrogations, Bear. You promised.”

  “Hey, innocent until proven guilty. I want to see what his intentions with my baby sis are.”

  “Ha. I bet. Anyway, Cole’s last lesson ends at three. By the time he puts the horse away and cleans up it will be pretty close to four before he gets here. Maybe four-thirty.”

  Barrett laughed. “I didn’t need a play-by-play. You’re in so deep.”

  “What? Am not.”

  “Hey, it’s not a bad thing. I think it’s kinda cute you’re watching the clock every five minutes waiting for your guy. I’d love to have a girl waiting for me.”

  “Yes, let’s talk about you. Who’s the flavor of the month?”

  Flipping her over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold he carried her to the deck where the rest of her family lounged. She screamed and beat at his back, but the stubborn mule wouldn’t set her down.

  “Uncle Bear is making Mommy scream!” Levi laughed from the swing-set. He jumped down and ran to the deck where Cole’s family and her family mingled. “Mr. Tucker did that to Mommy one time but she was in her jammies.”

  Barrett set her down and Sam’s face turned a deep crimson. “It’s not what you think…” She tried to rustle up a counter argument, but it actually was what people thought.

  Her loins heated up her cotton underwear and she racked her brain for a diverting topic as eleven pairs of eyes questioned her. Her friends smirked, her brothers scowled, and her parents stood expressionless.

  “Anyone up for a game of horseshoes?” Connor asked, coming to her rescue.

  The men followed dutifully behind Connor, the kids following in their footsteps to watch, as the women sat on the deck enjoying the first real weekend of summer.

  “Emma, I hear your wedding was absolutely gorgeous,” Evette said, breaking the uncomfortable spell.

  The newlywed glow shone brighter than the sun. “Yeah, it was magical. We’re really happy.” Emma sighed and turned her head toward the mass of testosterone on the other side of the lawn.

  “And Paige, you’re newly engaged?”

  Geesh. Bring on the sunglasses. The rays coming out of detective Walker’s cute and bubbly soon-to-be bride were enough to blind her. But really, she was happy for Paige.

  “I’m planning a Christmas wedding. I always thought a winter wedding would be so romantic.” Her gaze, too, migrated toward the manly muscles chucking horseshoes.

  “And Sam—ˮ her mother began.

  “Mom,” Sam warned.

  Evette tsked. “I was going to ask you when you expect Cole to arrive.”

  Right on cue, Cole’s black truck turned down the long dirt driveway and the eleven pairs of eyes that were turned on Sam not so long ago, were now focused on the sexy man climbing out of his truck.

  His gaze swept across the lawn and up at the deck and then turned and looked behind him. “What?” he hollered.

&nb
sp; The men all directed their attention toward the deck and the women turned their attention back to Sam. This is uncomfortable. She supposed her nosey family, as well as Cole’s, had a reason to be so curious. They had yet to venture out in public as a couple, but their families knew about the rekindled relationship.

  His dimples exploded and he did nothing to hide his fishhook grin. Without missing a beat he waved to the men and made a beeline for the group of ladies. Sam didn’t have time to think or react as he took the stairs two at a time and moved into her personal space.

  “Hi.” He smiled down at her. “I missed you.”

  Before she could respond he lowered his mouth to hers, wrapped his strong arms around her, and dipped her back. The catcalls from below and romantic sighs from the women nearby were barely heard as Sam enfolded her arms around him and opened her mouth to his, careless to whomever could see their PDA.

  Gasping for air, Cole pulled his lips away but kept her in a dip. “You are the reason men fall in love,” he whispered softly so no one else could hear. He finally righted her, winked, and turned to hug her mother.

  “Evette. I didn't know that angels could fly so low.”

  “Oh, Cole.” She swatted at his chest as he kissed her knuckles.

  Was her mother flirting with her boyfriend? Cute, but she wanted some flirting action going her way. She crossed her arms and pouted.

  “Stop pouting, dear. You’ll get wrinkles,” her mother teased.

  * * * *

  Never had a family barbeque seemed to drag on. Sure the family was fun to be around. He had a great time bringing the kids for a boat ride with Connor and Mason, but he really wanted to spend the day sitting next to Sam. Or rather her sitting on him.

  Damn. He sounded like his brothers. He guessed that was only natural. Being in love and all. Frankly he was tired of playing it slow with Sam. And if he read her signs right, she was ready to kick things up a notch. Hopefully that meant naked in his bed every night and every morning. Well, no time like the present. If he was going to dive in, he might as well do it head first.