Rae

by E. R. Wade

  He draws me closer to him with an arm around my waist, and tilts my chin up with a finger. “Yeah?” He doesn’t wait for an answer. His lips claim mine in a hungry kiss. His kisses are always so perfect. I open my mouth to deepen the kiss. I’ve never been one for PDAs until Cole. Now I’m eager to kiss him anywhere and everywhere.

  “Let’s go home,” he murmurs. I can only nod. His kiss has temporarily robbed me of speech.

  We stop the first empty taxi we see, and Cole gives him his address. When we get to his townhouse, we go straight to his bedroom.

  “You called me your man.” My response is to stare at him. “Was that for his benefit or did you mean it?”

  “I meant it,” I say honestly.

  “Does that mean you’re officially mine?” His thumb is stroking my lips, making me want to suck on it.

  “Do you want me to be?” I ask nervously.

  “Sweetheart, what have I been telling and showing you for weeks?”

  He’s right. Cole has been nothing but perfect and consistent. I trust him.

  Pressing my body closer to his, I say, “I’m yours. All yours.”

  “Rae,” he says, his voice soft and filled with emotion. “I’m never letting you go. You know that, right?”

  I know he doesn’t mean forever but my heart sings with joy at his words. “I’ll never want you to.”

  “Good.” Cole covers my mouth with his, and we spend the night showing each other how lucky we both are.

  ***

  The next morning, I see a missed call and two messages from Ana. The messages are about Luke. Again. In the first one, she asks if I know how hard it is to find a man half as sexy as Luke in the city. In the second message, she tells me that I had better tell my boyfriend to tell his friend to call her about our double date if I want to keep our friendship. Of course, I know she’s joking – not about Luke but about our friendship. I should just talk to Cole now before it skips my mind again. I go in search of my boyfriend and find him setting the breakfast bar for breakfast. He looks up immediately I walk into the kitchen.

  “I was going to give you a few more minutes before I woke you up,” he says, smiling at me.

  I kiss him on the lips. “Good morning, baby. I woke up about thirty minutes ago, took a quick shower and came to find you.” I kiss him again because I can’t resist him. “When did you get up?”

  “It’s been a while. I went running.”

  “How many miles?”

  “Five,” he says, and I almost shudder. Why would anyone willingly run that distance?

  Noticing my reaction, he says, “You said you’d go running with me soon.”

  I don’t know what I was thinking when I agreed to it. “I did.”

  He doesn’t miss the reluctance in my voice. “It’ll be fun. You’ll see. We’ll start with short distances.”

  I grimace and sit on the bar stool.

  “Ana wants us to go on a double date.”

  “Sounds good. We’re in,” he says. He’s smiling like the thought of going on a double date is the best thing he’s heard in a long time. Someone’s eager.

  “She wants you to invite Luke.”

  The smile vanishes from his face. “Ana is the blonde?” I nod.

  “Yeah. That’s not going to happen.”

  “Why? Does he have a girlfriend?”

  “No.” He doesn’t provide any more information.

  “So why can’t he come?” I’m not asking because I want us to go on a date with Ana and Luke but because Cole suddenly backtracked on something he was clearly eager to do.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea. It should just be the two of us on all future dates.”

  Now, I’m really curious.

  “Is there something wrong with your best friend and business partner?”

  “No. Luke is solid.”

  “Cole, tell me what you’re hiding because it seems to me that you don’t trust him.”

  He groans. He knows that if he doesn’t tell me the truth, I’ll think his best friend isn’t trustworthy.

  “When you said that she wanted us to go on a double date, I thought it was with her and her boyfriend. It’s not a good idea to get Ana and Luke together.” I raise an eyebrow and he quickly adds, “He’s a great guy. I’ve known him for a long time and it’ll be hard to find a better friend and partner.”

  “So . . . ?”

  “Luke doesn’t date. Well, he goes out on dates but they’re never serious.”

  “Oh. I’ll tell her that he isn’t interested then.”

  “The problem is that he is.”

  “What?” Ana will be thrilled to hear that.

  “If I ask him, he’ll say yes. The other night at the bar, he said Ana is – and I quote – ‘fucking hot’.”

  “Really? That’s interesting because she thinks he’s the most gorgeous guy ever with his green eyes with gold flecks.” I roll my eyes. “That’s just ridiculous.”

  Cole pulls me to him. “I’m glad you think it’s ridiculous. I think so too.”

  “I think if they want to be together, we should let them. They’re both adults. But I’ll give Ana a heads-up about not expecting anything serious to happen. What do you think?”

  “That’s fine by me as long as it doesn’t affect us.”

  I furrow my brows in puzzlement. “Why would it?”

  “Just promise me that whatever happens between them won’t affect us now or in the future. Even in thirty years.”

  Thirty years? Must be a figure of speech.

  “I promise.”

  Later that night, I’m lying in Cole’s arms sated and sleepy when he mentions that he has an early morning meeting with a tech team from Italy in the morning.

  “I’ve never been,” I say sleepily.

  “What?”

  “I’ve never been to Italy.”

  “Seriously? We have to do something about that.” He hops off from the bed, startling me.

  “What are you doing?” I ask warily.

  “Planning our first trip as a couple,” he says, not looking at me. He’s standing by the bed and scrolling through his phone, intermittently tapping the screen. “Can you take next Thursday and Friday off? We can leave for Venice on Wednesday evening and be back Sunday evening, before sunset.”

  I sit up. “Cole?”

  “Yes, baby.”

  “Are you for real?”

  He looks at me with those beautiful gray eyes. “Why not?” I’m suddenly not so sleepy anymore. “So can you take those two days off?”

  “Yeah,” I say, feeling really happy at the prospect of spending four days in romantic Venice with him. I don’t need to check my calendar. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make it happen.

  Cole grins at me. “Awesome.” He turns his attention back to his phone. Moments later, he says, “Done. Tickets and hotel sorted.”

  “You’re a fast worker,” I murmur.

  “I know what I want and there’s no point wasting time,” he says, dropping his phone on the nightstand and coming back to bed.

  TWELVE

  Rae

  Over the next couple of weeks, Cole and I spend every free moment we have together, and I’ve never been happier. Ana and Mia have been teasing me about being head over heels in love with Cole, and how they never see me again. I always respond by reminding them that I see them every day at work and we have drinks once or twice a week after work or on weekends, but I never respond to their comments about being in love with Cole.

  It’s Saturday night, and Cole and I are in his house. We’ve just finished watching a movie and I’m nestled snugly in his arms.

  “Baby, what are we doing for Thanksgiving? I know it’s in a couple of months but I was thinking we could decide now.”

  “I haven’t thought about it. What do you want to do?”

  “I was thinking about going back home. We could take two weeks off and spend a week in Seattle with my family and the second week in New York with yours,�
� he suggests.

  Stunned, I ask, “What?”

  “Why are you surprised?”

  “You’ve told your family about me?”

  “Of course. You’re an important part of my life. And I’m close to my family. They can’t wait to meet you.”

  I shake my head, as if that would erase what he’s just said. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  He looks puzzled. “Why not, Rae?”

  “I’m not spending Thanksgiving in Seattle,” I say.

  “At least tell me why,” he says reasonably.

  “How blunt do you want me to be?” I ask, needing to be honest with him.

  “Very,” he answers, looking serious. His entire attention is on me.

  Okay, here goes. “I’m black and you’re white, and I’m five years older than you.”

  An indecipherable expression flashes across his face. “You think my family cares about skin color?” He sounds deeply hurt. “And why does our age difference matter?”

  “No, I didn’t say that they’d care about the color of my skin. What I meant was that I’m going to be incredibly self-conscious about it, and I’ll probably be paranoid that they’re only putting up with me because they love you. It’s going to be an uncomfortable week for me. I don’t want to put us through that.”

  “I don’t believe this, Rae. You obviously have a problem with the fact that we’re from different races. And I thought we were over the age thing.” Cole looks disappointed in me, and that makes me feel awful.

  “We are. I promise,” I assure him.

  “So what’s this really about?”

  Another truth. “I just don’t think I’d bear it if they don’t like me.” I don’t want to put any pressure on our relationship. I’m happy with him, truly happy.

  “They’ll love you, I promise. How can they not? You’re an incredible woman.” He pulls me to him, and the solid warmth of his body engulfs me. I gratefully sink into him. “Rae, you know I won’t let anything or anyone come between us. We’re good, okay?”

  Cole hits the nail on the head. He knows what my insecurities are. “Okay. If you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure, sweetheart. So we’ll spend the second week with your family in New York?”

  “No, I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s just my sister there, and we’re not very close. I don’t want to spend an entire week with her.” Since her husband left her for another woman, Kalina has been the exact opposite of a ray of sunshine. She doesn’t know when to stop with the hurtful comments.

  “Okay. We can decide what to do with the second week. If you like Seattle, we can spend more time there, or we could just visit some other places.” He hasn’t mentioned Chicago. I know he wants to meet my dad but only when I’m ready.

  “We could spend two or three days in Chicago. I’ll check with my dad and see what works.”

  He beams at me. “That would be great.” I've definitely made him happy. He knows this is a big step for me.

  ***

  The next day, I’m sitting on the couch in my apartment engrossed in a new romance novel I’ve been looking forward to reading. Cole is in the bedroom. I left him there when his mom called. I wanted to give him some privacy. He tried to get me to stay but I evaded his hold. We’d been spending the Sunday lazing in bed.

  “Rae? Baby, come back to the bedroom.”

  I smile at his request, drop the novel on the coffee table and walk to the bedroom. He’s sitting up in bed, holding his tablet. He’s put on a T-shirt. I need to get it off and feast on his perfect body.

  “Does my man need some love? Did you get lonely?” I ask, fully intending to seduce him.

  “Come here.” He stretches an arm out to me.

  “Sweetheart, why are you dressed? I wanna see you naked,” I murmur sexily as I slide in next to him, my hand slipping under his T-shirt and stroking his smooth skin.

  He grins at me, and pulls me closer, kissing me on my cheek. “Later, baby. First, you need to say hi to my mom,” he says happily. He moves the tablet in his hand, tilting it towards me.

  “Your mom?” Confused, I turn my face to the screen and I see a pretty blonde-haired woman with beautiful brown eyes looking at me in amusement. “Shit.” I clap my hand over my mouth. Fuck! I said that out loud.

  Oh my god. Oh my god.

  I quickly sit up straighter. “Mrs. Mardsen. Hi.” Oh. My. God.

  “Hi, Rae. It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you that I feel like I already know you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you too.” I honestly don’t know what else to say. I’m still too stunned.

  Somehow, it dawns on me that I’m wearing a thin green tank top, and I’m braless. There’s no way his mom can’t see my nipples. I am beyond mortified. I glance at my boyfriend and I silently promise him a slow, painful death. He just winks at me, grinning.

  “Cole wasn’t exaggerating when he said you’re beautiful.”

  My tongue is stuck in my mouth.

  “She’s beautiful inside and out. She’s an amazing woman,” he says, holding me tighter and dropping a kiss on my hair.

  I look up at him, and my eyes lock with his gorgeous gray eyes. All the embarrassment and awkwardness of the situation drains away, replaced by happiness . . . and love. At this moment, looking at my boyfriend’s smiling, handsome face and with his mom watching us, I finally admit to myself that I’ve fallen in love with him. My heart is bursting with love and need and tenderness for him.

  Cole must have seen the emotions on my face because his eyes soften. Not looking away from me, he tells his mom, “Mom, we’re going to have to call you back later.”

  “No, Cole. Don’t even think about it. You know how much I’ve wanted to talk to Rae.”

  Cole looks away from me. “Mom –”

  I tear my gaze away from him, and turn to the screen. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Mardsen. I had no idea I’d be meeting you today. I would have made the effort to look more presentable,” I say apologetically.

  “You look lovely, dear. And please call me Lynne.”

  “Thank you, Lynne."

  “I’m so happy that you’re both coming over for Thanksgiving.”

  “I’m looking forward to it. Cole has told me so much about all of you,” I say honestly. “I can’t wait to meet everyone.” It’s true. I’m no longer anxious or worried. I trust Cole and I know how much his family means to him.

  “I wish you both didn’t live so far away. I would have come right over and given you a hug.”

  “Mom, you can give us as many hugs as you like when we come home for Thanksgiving, but right now, I really need to talk to Rae.”

  She gives him a stern look. “Hush, Cole. You can talk to her later.” She clearly doesn’t believe that Cole and I are going to be doing any talking. If I wasn’t feeling embarrassed again, I’d be laughing at her comment. She moves her brown eyes back to me. “So, my son tells me you’re a style editor and a writer.”

  Beside me, Cole grumbles that he should have known that calling his mom was going to be a huge mistake. His mom doesn’t bat an eyelash. I try hard not to laugh, and focus on my conversation with his mom.

  Twenty minutes later, we say our goodbyes with promises to stay in touch.

  “I like your mom. She’s so friendly and sweet,” I tell him as soon as we end the video call.

  “She likes you too.” Dropping the tablet beside him, he asks, “So what do I owe you for putting you on the spot like that?”

  I kneel on the bed, placing my knees on either side of him. “Baby, you don’t owe me anything but I owe you,” I say and my lips take his in a deeply passionate kiss, “for being so wonderful.” I pull away so that I can take off his T-shirt, and I spend quite some time showing him in so many ways how much he means to me.

  THIRTEEN

  Rae

  There’s a knock on my front door. It must be Cole. Did he forget his key? A few weeks ago, we exchanged keys to each other’s homes
.

  “Baby, did you forget your key?” I ask, as I open the door.

  Only it’s not Cole standing at my front door. It’s my ex-husband, Jaden.

  I stand at the door staring at him in shock. How did he find me? No one knows my address. Sure, my sister and dad know I moved to London but they know better than to tell him. Who let him into the building?

  “Hello, Kenzie.”

  I find my voice. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  He’s not bothered by my tone. His light brown eyes are gazing intently at me. He always had this look in his eyes that used to make me go weak at the knees. Thankfully, that silly reaction ended years ago. All I feel now is irritation. What gives him the right to think he can just turn up at my front door? I made it clear to him years ago that I never want to see or speak to him ever again. I have no time for liars and cheats.

  “I came to see you. I’ve spent a long time looking for you.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “No one seemed to know where you were so I hired a private investigator,” he admits.

  He did what?

  “I have nothing to say to you.” I start to close the door, but he puts a hand on it to stop it from closing.

  “Kenzie, please. I came all the way to London just to see you. The least you can do is give me a few minutes of your time. Please.”

  “I never asked you to come. I would have preferred it if you didn’t.”

  “I had to see you. It’s been years, and I’ve missed you.”

  “Get your hand off my door. Now.”

  “Kenzie, please let me come inside. I need to talk to you. Five minutes of your time. That’s all I’m asking for.” His six-foot frame is blocking my doorway.

  “That’ll be five minutes of my life down the drain,” I say acerbically.

  “You didn’t always hate me, you know,” he says softly. His expression is gentle. That’s the thing about Jaden, who’s half Venezuelan and half African American, he looks exceedingly gentle and kind, and he’s handsome. It’s just unfortunate that he’s an all-around deceitful guy.

  “That’s before I found out who you really are.”

  “I just want to talk. Give me two minutes and I’ll be out of your hair. I couldn’t take more than a few days off work so I’m going back to New York tomorrow.”