by tj dell
Chapter Four
Sandy’s doorbell rang at 5:25. Not only was he punctual, but he was early. Sandy found herself hoping he was at least a huge slob or maybe remote hog as she went to answer the door. It was positively sinful for him to be so damn perfect. It had only been about 24 hours since he’d dropped her off the night before, and of those 24 hours she’d spent approximately eight minutes not thinking of him, or of kissing him, or of the promise in his voice when he reminded her that Hannah wouldn’t always be around to keep them in check.
Jingle Bells was growling determinedly at the door before Sandy even got there. When she did open the door Hannah didn’t even spare her a glance. She was on the floor rolling with Jingle Bells before she’d even taken off her hat or boots. Sandy didn’t care. “He told me he was missing you, so I thought I’d bring home with me for tonight and you two could visit.” She laughed as she peeled Hannah’s coat off her while the girl wrestled with her new four-legged friend. “The lasagna is baking. I was just going to put a salad together.” She said as she took Cole’s coat from him and hung them both in her hall closet. It looked a little strange to see the tiny child’s coat hanging between Sandy’s rain coat and her heavier winter jacket.
“Great. I can help with the salad. Chopping and tossing I can manage.” Cole followed Sandy around a corner into her kitchen. Both her feet were barely on the linoleum before Cole spun her around and pressed her to the wall next to the chalk board she used to keep track of her shopping list. He kissed her slowly. As though they had all the time in the world and as though there wasn’t a five year old girl not ten feet away from them. “Goodnight.” Cole whispered low in her ear when he finally pulled away.
“What?” Sandy was still struggling to recapture her mental faculties.
“That should have been our kiss goodnight yesterday. I’ve been thinking about it ever since.”
“Me too.” Why had she said that? Why was it so easy for her to say whatever popped into her head around Cole? In high school she hadn’t ever been able to think of anything to say around him. Now when she needed to keep a more guarded watch, she was experiencing some sort of truth hypnosis brought on by eyes that burned right through her.
Cole didn’t comment on her admission. He only moved easily to the counter where he found a cutting board next to a bowl of tomatoes and cucumbers. By the time the table was set, and the salad finished Hannah and Jingle Bells joined them. “Does Jingle Bells get pasta too?”
“Nope. He gets his own dinner. He gets special food just for puppies.” Sandy showed Hannah how to measure out a scoop of dog food and put it in bowl for his. “See? He likes it. Don’t you Jingle?” Sandy reached out to scratch the dog’s ear as he dove head first into his bowl.
Cole sighed audibly and shot Sandy a look. “You know, Hannah. Now that I get a good look at him I don’t think that name really fits. He looks more like a ‘Butch’ or a ‘King. What do you think of ‘Bruiser’? That’s a great dog’s name.
Hannah didn’t look convinced. “They don’t sound like Christmas names.”
“No, I don’t suppose they do.” Cole turned back to the table and scooped some salad onto his daughter’s plate.
“Mmm!” Hannah scooped the last bit of sauce and cheese into her mouth. In the process she dropped a bright red blob on her chin. Now her chin matched the rest of her face. And her hands. And several spots on her shirt. “This is better than spaghetti! The noodles don’t even stick together, like when Daddy does it. Mrs. Lawrence’s noodles didn’t stick either.”
Cole lifted his shoulders, but he didn’t comment. This was definitely better than what he was capable of.
“Mrs. Lawrence?”
“She used to watch me.” Hannah answered. “When Daddy was at the hospital.”
Sandy jerked her face to Cole. Had he been sick? He looked healthy. No obvious scars.
“Working.” Cole supplied when he saw Sandy’s face. “But it’s nice to know you care. I was an EMT in California.”
“I thought you were a teacher.”
“Is that a question? Are you interested?” Cole teased her with his eyes before continuing. “I went to school when I first got to LA, but I got restless. A friend of mine talked me into emergency medical training. It was exciting and I was doing something worthwhile. When Hannah came along I knew I couldn’t keep driving ambulances forever. The hours are too crazy for kids. I went back to school, and got a teaching degree. Mrs. Lawrence is a sweet lady from our building that helped me out with child care while I was working and going to class.
“Oh. That’s great, Cole.” Sandy couldn’t ask the questions she wanted to with Hannah right there. How long had her mother been gone? How could anyone leave such a precious little girl?
“An earthquake couldn’t wake the two of them.” Cole was propped against a wall looking down at where Hannah and the puppy were curled up together on Sandy’s couch snoring loudly.
Sandy nodded her agreement as she pulled a spare blanket out of the hall closet and quietly covered the little girl. “I hope you don’t mind, but I think Jingle is going to be an ‘on the furniture’ kind of guy.”
“Aww, Sandy. You aren’t helping my cause any. What do you think of ‘Buster’? or ‘Gunner’? Ooh—how about ‘Maverick’?
“They don’t sound very Christmassy to me.” Sandy answered with her most serious face.
Cole’s mouth quirked up into her favorite lopsided smile. “Why don’t you give me a tour?”
“Of the house?”
“Yes, Sandy, of your house.” Cole stalked towards her.
“I don’t know. That sounds a lot like a line.” Sandy back up.
“That’s because it is one, but that doesn’t mean I don’t really want to see your home.” What was it about her that made him want to scream and laugh at the same time? Cole thought as he followed her down a hallway. She was perfect for him, and for Hannah. He was so sure of it. She clearly loved kids, or at least Hannah—and she was the only kid that mattered. Sandy was warm and loving and she belonged with a husband and kids. So why was she fighting him? What was all that crap about not wanting to get involved?
“Well this is it. There is an office back there.” Sandy waved half heartedly towards the end of a short hall where Cole could see a corner of a slightly messy desk through an open door.
“What’s upstairs?” Cole was already taking the stairs two at a time.
“Just the bedrooms.” Sandy followed him more slowly.
Cole was already opening one of the doors when she joined him. Inside it was completely empty. Four plain white walls and a closet door. The only differences in the next room he opened were the butter yellow walls and a few storage tubs stacked in the corner. “How long have you lived here?” He turned to face her.
“Almost five years.”
“And when were you planning on unpacking?”
Sandy didn’t crack a smile. “They are bedrooms. I am only one person. So I don’t really use them.”
Cole’s eyebrows crumpled together. “So, why buy a three bedroom house?”
“Why so nosy?”
“You didn’t but this house for just one person.” All semblance of humor left his face and he reached out to touch her wrist. “Who were the other bedrooms for?” Sandy didn’t answer him. “Okay. So the next one is yours, right?” Cole turned towards the last door. So she hadn’t always been so disinterested in relationships. Whoever he was he must have hurt her pretty badly to make her so skittish. All at once Cole wanted to punch the asshole for causing her pain and shake his hand for leaving her and giving him a chance.
The last bedroom was much more what Cole expected. The big master bedroom was painted a pretty pale blue with curtains only a few shades darker covering each window. A big girlie sleigh bed dominated the room and was covered with a pink flowery blanket. Cole flopped backwards onto the mattress and bounced lightly. “Comfy.” He lifted himself up onto his elbows so he could look at her where she was f
rozen in the doorway. “We’ll have to invest in some new bedding though.”
“What are you talking about?” Sandy took a few tentative steps into the room.
“When Hannah, and I move in. Men don’t sleep on flowers—it’s a rule.”
“What makes you think you are moving in?” Sandy had to get this guy out of her house. The way he talked she kept finding herself believing him.
“Well I’ve been doing a little house hunting, but I’m starting to think there isn’t much point—this time next year what’s mine will be yours and vice versa. You’ve got plenty of room and a fenced in yard for the kids and the dog.”
“Oh, Cole.” Sandy dropped down on the bed next to him and covered her face with her hands.
“I like that very much.” Cole pulled her hands away and slid sideways until he was lying next to her. “Say it again.”
“What?” Sandy couldn’t remember how to breathe, let alone a good reason to call a halt to this.
“My name.” Cole nuzzled her neck. “Say ‘oh Cole’ again.” He whispered close to her ear before closing his lips around her ear lobe. She moaned out his name. He curled his body around her and dragged his hand down her side. Pushing up her tee shirt, Cole filled his hand with her perfect breast. With a moan Cole rolled himself completely on top of her and supporting himself with a hand on either side of her head he looked down into her eyes. She reached up to kiss him, but he pushed her back down. “Tell me again why you aren’t interested in a me? Because this seems very interested.” Cole dropped kisses between her breasts and down to her belly button.
His five O’clock shadow tickled her sensitive skin and she giggled. “I’m—I’m not interested.” Her voice was sexy and breathless even as she tried to remember that what she said was the truth. Cole groaned and rolled away. “We’re stopping? What happened to all your determination?” Sandy practically screeched.
Cole stood up and pulled her to her feet as well. “Oh, I’m determined. But I also have a five year old asleep on your couch, and I don’t need her to wake up and come looking for us.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and even that chaste action sent a shot of hunger into her blood stream.
Down stairs Sandy poured them coffee, opened the box of Mrs. Pennington’s chocolate chip cookies and they sat across from each other at her kitchen table. Another hour passed while they discussed things like the weather and the possibility of a white Christmas or Christmas specials and why would Cole rather watch Charlie Brown than Miracle on 34th street. It was sixty minutes of mundane words that Sandy would never be able to recall accurately due to the fact that Cole’s foot was brushing against her calf beneath the table.
“It’s getting late. Hannie and I need to get home.” Cole finally stood up when they’d exhausted all the non sexy conversation topics he could think of. “I’m taking her to the Christmas Bazaar at St. John’s on Saturday. Will you come with us?”
Yes! Sandy screamed in her head. “I’m not sure, Cole.”
“It’s a church… I’m not going to jump you in a church. Although that is probably the last place left on earth where your virtue is safe from me, Sandy. You are all I think about lately.”
“Of course I’ll go with you.” Sandy tried to act like this was a normal conversation. Like his words weren’t ping-ponging around inside her stomach.
Cole smiled slowly and ran one finger down the length of her arm. “Okay, I’ll see you Saturday.”
***
“Will they have bopping for apples?” Hannah was the only one unaware of the intense sexual tension filling the cab of Cole’s truck.
“It’s Bobbing, pumpkin. And no, that is just a Halloween thing.”
Sandy hadn’t spent so much time getting ready to leave the house since Todd. She wanted to look sexy, but not too sexy for a place crawling with nuns. And not so sexy as to give the wrong impression to poor Cole who had no idea what he was getting himself into. Finally she settled on the most expensive pair of jeans she’d ever bought—the ones Allie had cut the tags off of as soon as they were paid for so that Sandy wouldn’t be able to return them. It turned out that Allie was right. Sometimes you get what you pay for, and what Sandy had paid for made her legs look long and her butt look great. A red sweater that would be low cut if not for the camisole she’d managed to dig out of her seldom used ‘date-wear’ drawer finished off her look.
“There will be games though.” Sandy offered. “And cider and candy canes.” Hannah looked satisfied enough to let go of her bobbing for apples disappointment. Cole shared a look with her over his daughter’s head. ‘Thanks’ his eyes said. Then his eyes said something slightly inappropriate about her sweater. Sandy grinned.
At the church Cole and Sandy each took one of Hannah’s hands as they wondered around looking at the craft booths and taking their turns at different games. She’s incredible, thought Cole. Sandy‘s hair was loose from her pony tail today, as tall as he was he couldn’t help getting a peak at something lacy under her shirt. This was definitely the first time Cole had ever felt… tempted… while strolling through a church.
But it wasn’t just the way she filled out her sweater. Sandy smiled and waved at about four different people every minute. When she stopped to chat with someone she always knew exactly what to ask. Mrs. Peterson had a bad cold last week—she was feeling much better now, thank you. Mr. Gilbert was looking forward to seeing his grandchildren for Christmas, and yes little Jacob had really enjoyed peewee football. Sandy had a light inside her that people were drawn to. Cole was drawn to it. Hannah was drawn to it. And Cole was just going to have to find a way to convince Sandy that he could be a part of that light.
“They are so pretty!” Sandy was holding Hannah up to look at a display of beaded jewelry. They had wandered a little ahead of him while he was lost in thought. “I like that one too.” Sandy was clearly agreeing with Hannah’s favorites. “Why don’t you go ask your daddy if we can get some hot cocoa?” Hannah skipped over to where Cole was watching them.
Over her head Cole could see Sandy smiling brightly as she paid for the bracelets and slipped them into her purse. Well that had to be a good sign. You didn’t buy gifts for the daughters of men you weren’t interested in, right?
They found a table to sit down at with their hot cocoas and the popcorn Cole bought for them. “Cole Pennington!” Sandy cringed when she heard Laurie’s voice. Why had she told her friends about her plans for today? Why did her friends hate her so much? “Cole Pennington, is that really you?” Laurie, Lynn, and Allie were all pulling out chairs to join them. “Sandy—you didn’t tell me you had plans with Cole Pennington today.”
Cole twitched a look in Sandy’s direction that made her very sure he didn’t believe Laurie about that. Great. Now, Cole was going to think she’d been gossiping about him to her friends. Which of course she had been. “Lynn, right? Lauren, Allie.” Cole shook each woman’s hand and gave them that stupid charming grin. Sandy was considering excusing herself to go hide out in the ladies’ room, but it was a bad idea to leave poor Cole and Hannah alone with her nosy friends.
“So, are you back for good then? I didn’t think anything could get the notorious Cole Pennington back to Pony Valley.” Allie never really had much tact. At least she had the courtesy to blush when Hannah wanted to know what ‘notorious’ meant.
“Daddy’s friends are just teasing him, pumpkin. Notorious means a lot of people know who you are.” Cole answered. Allie mouthed the word ‘sorry’ in Sandy’s direction. Sandy ignored her completely. “We are back for good.” Cole was still talking. Hannah and I are staying at my mom’s until we find a house and after the holidays Hannah will be starting at the elementary school.”
“We are either looking for a house or a mommy. Daddy says if we get the right mommy than we won’t need a house.”
Cole was the one blushing. “Thanks a lot, kid.” He muttered at her.
“Sandy has nice house. Have you seen it?” Laurie asked with only slightly more ta
ct than Allie. “A nice yard too. Carl used to mow the lawn for her; he’s away at college now, right Sandy?”
Cole caught on immediately. “I am pretty good a pushing a lawn mower.”
Lynn, Sandy’s last hope, joined the fun. “She has the prettiest Christmas wreath this year, but no lights. Sandy doesn’t hang Christmas lights because she doesn’t like ladders and well—you know…” Lynn held her hand only a few feet off the floor exaggerating Sandy’s height deficiency.
“I’m tall, and I’ve never had much of an issue with ladders.” Cole was having way too much fun. New friends. That was what Sandy wanted for Christmas. Faithful ones.
“Did you know that Sandy…”
“Enough.” Sandy interrupted Allie. Knowing her, Allie was about to cross about six lines of propriety. “Hannah and I want to go play some games. Are you coming Cole?”
“You guys go ahead. I’m in the middle of something here.” Cole was teasing, but he stopped as soon as he saw Sandy’s very not teasing face. “Right. Yes ma’am.” He leapt out of his seat and slung an arm around Sandy’s shoulders. “Enjoy yourselves ladies.” He gave the other women a playful salute as Sandy dragged him away.
“Your friends like me.” Cole said quietly to her later as they watched Hannah try and toss ping pong balls into fish bowls.
“My friends are idiots.”
“I don’t know. I think they seem pretty smart. They want you to be happy. I want you to be happy. You are the only one not onboard with the whole ‘make-Sandy-happy’ plan.’
“And you think you are the one that can make me happy?” Sandy teased half-heartedly.