No Second Chances

by Beverley Hollowed

  Without another word she turned around and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door hard behind her. She quickly stripped and climbed into the shower. She was so angry with Cole right at that moment. She closed her eyes and stood under the shower trying to calm herself down as she let the hot water rain down over her body.

  She washed her hair quickly deciding she was going to get dressed quickly and just leave. She wasn’t ready for another show down with Cole.

  All cleaned up and mind firmly decided, Ally turned off the taps and opened the shower door. She froze when...she saw Cole standing there leaning against the vanity unit with his arms crossed across his chest and he eyes locked on to Ally. She instinctively covered herself with one arm as she quickly reached for the white fluffy bath towel and pulled it from the towel rail and wrapped it around her body. She cautiously stepped out of the shower, quickly dropping her eyes from Cole’s.

  She wordlessly picked her clothes up off the floor from where they were left the night before when Cole stripped her and stormed toward the bedroom. But before Ally could make it to the door she was stopped in her tracks by Cole's tone.

  “What are you doing?” Ally cringed. She didn’t want to fight with him.

  She took a deep breath and swallow lump that had formed in her throat. She was determined she wasn’t going to cry.

  “I am getting my things together,” she replied trying to sound a neutral as she could. But the quiver in her voice gave her away. He knew immediately she was trying her hardest not to cry.

  “Ally, look at me,” He said but this time the edge was gone from his voice. But she didn’t look, she knew the minute she did she would lose her resolve. She just needed to get her belongings and go.

  “Jesus, woman!” He sighed as he reached down and taking her by the shoulders, pulled her too him so that she was almost face to face with him. She dropped the bundle in her arms and covered her face with both hands. “Look at me!”

  Slowly and reluctantly she pulled her hands down and allowed her eyes he meet his. “I’m sorry,” He whispered softly as his eyes searched hers, waiting for her response. “I love you. I am sorry I upset you.”

  She didn’t reply, instead she again covered her face, pressing her fingers on her eyes in an attempted to prevent the tears she knew where building. But she failed and the tears broke free and trickled down her face.

  “Please don’t cry, gorgeous girl,” He pleaded as he brushed away the tears from her cheek with the back of her hand. “I love you, Ally, I am sorry I keep screwing up. I have never felt like this about anyone before and it drives me crazy. “

  “You can’t wrap me in cotton wool, Cole.” Ally cried looking pleadingly into Cole’s eyes. She cupped his face in her hands. “I can’t go back to that suffocating feeling I had for most of my relationship with Jason. I could barely breathe when I was with him. You have to trust my judgement. I was always going to tell you about the text. I promised you I would. But I didn’t want anything to spoil our night together. Last night was the best night of my life.”

  “I am just so scared this guy is going to do something stupid.” Cole sighed. “I know how he must feel. I can’t imagine how I would ever survive if I were to lose you.”

  “You are not going to lose me.” She breathed against his lips. “I love you, Cole. But you have to learn to trust me.”

  Cole kissed Ally softly before he led her back into the main bedroom. He gave her the bag Rosie had packed with her clean clothes before he returned to the bathroom to gather up the rest of their belonging.

  As Ally dressed, she jumped as Cole’s phone started to ring on the bed side table next to the bed. She reached for it to pick it up and bring it into Cole when she noticed the number that was on the display. And she felt a little confused. The ringing stopped.

  “Cole,” she called and turned to him as he emerged from the bathroom his arms full of clothes. “You’ve missed a call.”

  “I’ll check it out now,” he said and smiled as he dropped the clothes down on the bed.

  “Yeah, but it’s weird,” she said looking from Cole back to the phone and back again at Cole. “I knew the number.”

  “You did?” Cole looked at her a little puzzled by what she had just said. He took the phone from her and looked at the number from the missed call. He frowned and looked up at Ally. “You know whose number this is?”

  “Yes,” she replied suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable. “It’s my number.”

  “Yours?” he exclaimed, confusion etched across his face.

  “Well, my old number,” Ally replied before she continued. “It from the phone I lost a few weeks ago. Remember the number Caitlin gave you by mistake. That’s the number.”

  “This damn number has been calling obsessively since last Sunday, but no one ever speaks.”

  “That is weird,” Ally said looking from Cole to the phone.

  “And too much of a coincidence,” Cole replied. “I rang this number again and again last Saturday. That’s obviously how this idiot got my number.”

  “But why would someone keep ringing you?” Ally said feeling very confused. Who the hell had her phone and why would they be ringing Cole? A sudden thought crosses her mind. She couldn’t possibly be right, could she?

  “What is it?” Cole asked.

  “I… I sure I am wrong,” but even as she said it she knew in her heart she wasn’t. There was no other explanation. And suddenly her stomach flipped and she thought for a moment she was going to throw up.

  “Do you know who is calling?” Cole asked, he voice snapping her from her thoughts. She looked at him and to her horror tears pooled in her eyes again. “Ally, sweetheart what’s wrong.”

  “I didn’t know,” she replied, her voice barely a whisper as the tears trickled freely down her face. “I swear I had no idea.”

  “Please, don’t cry gorgeous girl.” Cole said, as he drew him to her and wrapped her in his strong arms. “You can tell me.”

  “I think it could be Jason,” Ally whispered as she pressed her face into Cole’s chest as she began to sob a little harder. Saying the words out loud just made it seem so much worse. But it made perfect sense.

  “What makes you think that?” Cole asked trying his hardest to sound calm but he suddenly tense body betrayed him. “How could he have gotten your phone?”

  “The night I lost it, he had shown up in the pub,” Ally explained. ”I had gone to use the rest room when he just turned up. He had demanded to talk to me but Caitlin told him exactly where to go. Said I had nothing to say to him, which was of course true. I had left my phone on the table that night. When I got home I noticed my phone was missing. I called the pub to see if I had left it there but they said no one had handed it up.”

  “But if he took it?” Cole said as he continued to stroke Ally back reassuringly. “Why did he suddenly start ringing me from it?”

  “I honestly don’t know.” Ally sighed as she struggled to try and make sense of this. “But last Saturday, when I thought you had stood me up. He called me and pleaded with me to come around and said something, which at the time made no sense, but now it does. He obviously got all your messages and knew I had met someone else. And he didn’t like it.”

  “What did he say?” Cole asked as he leaned back and looked down at Ally.

  Ally looked at Cole and took a deep breath. He face was filled with so much concern and worry, it truly touched her heart.

  “Please tell me,” he pushed her.

  “He said he couldn’t bear the thought of some asshole touching me,” she said nervously. “That I belonged with him. And he would make me see it too.”

  “Ally, I will not let this lunatic hurt you,” Cole said as he pulled her tighter to him once again. “I promise, I will take care of everything. I love you so much.”

  Ally closed her eyes and pressed her face into Cole hard chest and breathed in his glorious scent and she felt safe. God she love this man so much.

  Cha
pter 15

  Cole and Ally headed straight back to Ally’s apartment and gathered some clothes for Ally for their night out and a few extra bits and pieces, before they headed back to Cole’s house. Rosie had dinner waiting for them when they arrived.

  After dinner, Ally went to Cole’s room to get ready for their night out, and tried to push all thought of Jason from her mind. Cole said he had a few calls to make and that he would follow her up to his room once he was done. When she emerged from the shower, she found Cole standing again the double sinks with a strange look on his face.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, instantly a small wave of panic washed over her. She knew whatever he was about to say, she wasn’t going to like.

  “I called a friend of mine.” Cole began, his eyes meeting hers and the worried expression in them instantly alarmed Ally further. “Nathan, he is an ex detective.”

  “Okay...” was all Ally replied.

  “I had a chat with him about Jason.” Cole continued and took a deep breathe. “I am afraid there isn’t much we can do about him. Not unless he actually threatens you and we can prove he took your phone, or that he is even making those calls.”

  “I see,” Ally replied, unsure of how she should feel about what he just said.

  “But you have nothing to worry about,” he said as his ran his hand up and down her arms reassuringly. “I have gotten the number blocked. And I have gotten you this.” He handed her a brand new phone. Ally looked at it for a moment before she looked up at Cole.

  “I can’t take this,” she sighed. She wasn’t comfortable with him buying her thing like this and this phone looked expensive.

  “Sure you can,” he said suddenly sounding all enthusiastic. “It’s the very latest Windows Phone. They are pretty cool actually and very simple to use. Just tell everyone you give your new number to they are not to give it to anyone else.”

  “Cole, this is really sweet,” Ally said as she stared back down at the phone. ”And I really am grateful, but I can get my own phone. You don’t need to keep buying me things.”

  “I know I don’t need to, but I want to.” Cole replied as he took her by the chin and tiled her head up so she was looking at him. “Please let me do this.”

  “Thank you,” Ally said and smiled, deciding just to go along with it for the time being.

  “You are most welcome.” Cole smiled as he leaned forward and softly kissed her lips. When he pulled back, he took and deep breath and Ally knew there was more. “I do have one more request.”

  “Okay,” Ally replied hesitantly, not sure if she was ready for any more requests.

  “I want you to stay here,” he began, his beautiful crystal blue eyes staring deeply into hers.

  “Cole…” Ally began to protest but he pressed his finger over her lips and continued.

  “Please, just hear me out,” Cole spoke, his tone strict and serious. “When I spoke to Nathan he said these things usually end up in one of two ways. Either he accepts that you have moved on and leave you alone...” He stopped for a moment and took a deep breath before he continued and Ally took a deep breath, too.

  “Or?” She asked nervously.

  “Or he can become dangerous,” Cole said keeping it simple. The truth was Nathan had told him these things can often end really badly. Nathan told him a few stories that had made Cole’s blood run cold and he decided no matter what Ally said, he was keeping her close and was damn sure he would let nothing happen to her.

  “I don’t think Jason would hurt me,” she replied shocked by what he said.

  Cole’s eyes immediately dropped to the now faint bruises on Ally’s arms and he sighed.

  “But he already did,” Cole whispered as he let his eyes meet hers once again. “He broke your heart Ally. And he marked you and scared you. Please, let me do this. Let me keep you safe.”

  Ally stared at Cole for a moment and her heart soared. This man truly loved her. It was written all over his face.

  “Okay,” she replied simply and smiled brightly at him. She wasn’t sure what she had just agreed to but she didn’t care. She wanted to please Cole and nothing else.

  *******************************

  Two hours later, holding Ally tightly by the hand, Cole led her through the crowds in McGowan’s, to Hannah and Caitlin, who were in the pub already.

  “Hey,” Ally said brightly when she and Cole reached her friends. Both Hannah and Caitlin squealed excitedly when they spotted their friend. Both girls jumped up and hugged Ally in turn before they each gave Cole an almost shy, smile.

  “You remember Cole?” Ally said and then added with a giggle. “The sex God.”

  Cole laughed loudly as the two girl’s burn brightly with embarrassment.

  “Consider that pay back for last week,” Ally laughed as she slipped into a seat next to Hannah followed closely my Cole.

  “You’re not mad at us, are you?” Hannah asked as she settled back into her seat.

  “No, Hannah,” Ally sighed and looked directly at Cole and couldn’t help but smile brightly at him before she added. “I am not mad at you. Not at all.”

  “Yay,” Hannah exclaimed and clapped wildly, in her usually excitable way. One of the things Ally loved best about Hannah was her sweet innocent ways. Hannah was the epitome of the girlie girl. She was delicate, feminine and sweet... and full of confidence.

  Caitlin on the other hand was more the sex kitten kind a girl. She was self-assured, confident and even little cocky at times. Guys fell over her but she would just brush them off like they were something she stepped in. To see her in action was to see a master at work.

  Ally wished she were more like either of her friends, but she wasn’t. She was never confident with men. She was always known as the tomboy one of the group. Always shy and a little bit boring. More offend than not guys wanted just to be her friend.

  But with Cole she didn’t feel like the boring one or the shy one. He made her feel beautiful and sexy. She never felt more alive than she did with Cole.

  Cole order a round of drinks as the three friends chatted happily between themselves. Ally decided not to mention Jason because she didn’t want to ruin their night.

  They were in the pub about an hour when a tall, well built, gorgeous guy walked up to their table, smiling brightly at Cole and the three girls.

  It took a moment for Cole to register the guy standing there but when he did, he instantly smiled back at the guy and stood up greeting him warmly with a hardy handshake and a slap on the back.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Cole exclaimed, as the three girls sat in silence and watched the two men interact.

  “Well, I was in the neighbourhood” the guy replied. “And when we talked earlier, you said you were coming here tonight. So I thought I would drop in to see if I could find you.”

  “Ladies,” Cole said turning his attention back to the girls. “This is my good friend Nathan Anderson. Nathan this is Hannah and Caitlin.” Nathan shook both Hannah and Caitlin’s hand as Cole introduced them. Ally couldn’t help but notice Caitlin blush and swallow hard as Nathan took her hand.

  Cole then turned to Ally and with the biggest smile on his face added.

  “And this beautiful lady, is Ally,” Cole smiled as he bent down and soft kissed Ally in the lips.

  “Nice to meet you, Ally,” Nathan said as he shook Ally’s hand and smiled warmly at her. “I have a heard a lot about you.”

  “Nice to meet you, too,” Ally replied with smile but she felt a little uncomfortable. This was the detective; she knew he and Cole had been discussing her.

  Cole order yet another round and the five sat and chatted comfortably with each other, well as easy as you can over the pounding of the music blaring on the sound system in the pub.

  Ally notice Caitlin seem a little quieter than usual. And every time Nathan directed a question towards her she blushed. Ally couldn’t help but smile. This was not the Caitlin she was used to.

  ‘Wing’ by Lit
tle Mix, filled the speakers, and Hannah, who was a huge Little Mix fan, squealed with excitement,

  “Let’s dance,” Hannah screamed to be heard over the music. Before anyone could reply Hannah was on her feet and dragging Ally with her followed closely by Caitlin to the dance floor.

  The girls blended into the crowd and began to move in time with the beat of the song. Hannah lost in her own world of love for Little Mix and Caitlin busting her best moves and Ally smile when she realised just why Caitlin was giving it everything she had.

  When Ally glanced back over her shoulder she could see Cole and Nathan. Cole gave her a heart melting grin but Nathan’s attention was completely focused on Caitlin, When Ally turned back to Caitlin she realised Caitlin was sneaking glances back at Nathan, too.

  The sounds of Little Mix faded into Rihanna’s ‘Where Have You Been’, Ally’s favourite song. She cheered and closed her eyes and began to really move and she sang along at the top of her voice along with Rihanna.

  She could sense Cole before she could feel him. His arms slipped around her waist and pulled her close to him and began to move with her. She allowed herself to lean back into him and breath in his amazing scent. In his arms had fast become her favourite place in the world. Grabbing her by the hand, he quickly spun her out in to the dance floor before pulling her back into his arms this time they were face to face.

  “Hey,” he said when Ally’s eyes met his.

  “Hey yourself,” Ally laughed.

  “If you keep it up, I'll be in the cardiac care unit at the hospital.” Cole grinned back at her, pressing his entire body against hers.

  “Oh,” Ally said raising her brow. “How so?”

  “You have every guy in this place watching you shaking you perfect backside,” he whispered breathlessly in her ear, she could feel him smile against her cheek.

  He leaned forward and claimed her lips with his, pulling her closer to him, their bodies moving as one to the music. Ally knew exactly what he was doing. He was claiming her for every guy in the pub to see. And she loved it. The beat of the song vibrated through their bodies and Ally closed her eyes and moved with it.