by Xyla Turner
“Hello,” the man’s familiar voice seemed to calm my nerves with just one word.
“Hi,” I greeted.
It wasn’t meant to be coy, but he really did unnerve me with the simple Hello.
“Ms. Wade?” he said with a smile in his voice. “You used my number.”
How did he know it was me?
“It seems I did.” Then I asked, “Do you have a minute?”
“For you, Ms. Wade, I have lots of minutes.”
That made my chest warm over, but I didn’t let the feeling linger.
Feelings were fleeting just like the wind. One minute it swayed this way and then another. This is what I tried to teach Brittany about people in general. I wanted her to be a good observer of people, but she was like her father. He saw the good in everyone. Maybe, to his dismay, that’s why he stayed with me so long. Maybe that was why he didn’t want to fight for our marriage or my love. Those were my internal thoughts but then I figured he must have had a side thing going on and wanted to be free to pursue her or him. These days, one could never know.
“My daughter, Brittany, like I told you, left to follow the roadie–” I opened my mouth to continue, but he interrupted me.
“Where are you? It’s pretty noisy in the background,” Cole asked.
“At a bistro downtown.” I scanned the area in search of a quieter place.
“Which one? Mind if I join you. I can be there in ten minutes,” he offered.
With no hesitation or even a bit of reluctance, I answered. “Sure, that would be nice.”
“Good. Now, keep telling me the story until I get there.” He chuckled.
“Uh, okay.” I smiled and told him the rest of the story including the part when my ex-husband called me to guilt me into helping her.
He asked a few basic questions and as I was about to go into why Bryce called me heartless, a shadow loomed over me and I smelled the familiar aroma glide up my nose. My head jerked up, and I nearly dropped the phone.
“Oh,” I laughed at myself. “You’re here already.”
“I’m here.” Cole was smiling brightly when he leaned down and lightly kissed me on the cheek.
It was almost as if we’d met so many times at a restaurant and that was our normal greeting. I wasn’t turned off or even remotely shocked he greeted me in that manner. Technically, I should have been, but it was so familiar. Like us. I’m telling the man about my daughter and ex-husband and he comes to see me. Who does that?
“So, why does he think you’re heartless?” Cole sat down across from me and picked right back up with the conversation.
He was dressed in jeans, a plaid shirt, but instead of running shoes, he had on brown loafers that were probably more expensive than his whole outfit. Cole reminded me of many of my clients. They were very wealthy, but it wasn’t flashy or even noticeable unless you counted the tens of thousands of dollars in watches or thousand-dollar shoes, the way they walked, carried themselves or even the grade of their clothes. It was usually subtle and not intentional.
I crossed my right leg over my left and smiled politely before answering, “He calls me heartless because he wanted a divorce and I gave him one. I think he wanted me to fight it or try to figure out why he wanted it in the first place. It’s been seven years and I still don’t think I really know.”
Cole nodded as if mulling over his next thoughts.
“Why didn’t you fight it?” He asked me as he picked up the menu with a squint of his eyes.
“Why didn’t he?” I replied with a question to his question. “Why am I the one that should keep everything together? He wanted to divorce, then so be it. He didn’t think our marriage of fifteen years was worth fighting for, then who was I to stop the inevitable?”
He placed his menu down and those pale blue eyes pierced into mine causing all sorts of atomic matter to course through my body.
“What do you do for a living?” He lifted his hand and shifted it down signaling to what I was wearing. “This is my second time seeing you in a tailored suit.”
“I’m a lawyer,” I replied wondering why he was asking me the question when we were talking about my divorce.
Cole nodded before he said, “You fight for a living. Take it that’s something you’d rather not do at home. Even with you daughter.”
This time, it was my eyes that pierced into him. That was an acute assessment, which was also very true. The sides of my mouth turned up as I acknowledged his move, “Good eye, Jetti.”
That caused him to laugh out loud, which sent me into another place of wanting. He was already beautiful but the hearty laugh from his belly…was gold.
“You’re cute,” Cole commented. “I like you. A lot.”
“I like you too but it hasn’t been three dates. Have you been on your three already?” I asked.
Cole gave me the side eye as he picked his menu back up, squinting again. I gathered from his expression he either hadn’t enjoyed his dates or didn’t even bother going on them.
“This Le One.” He shook his head. “My first date had to be around your daughter’s age and I swear she needed to star on Sweet Valley High’s Lifetime Special. She probably did star on the show and I had to call it a loss. The second one, well, she was older than twenty-three, but she wasn’t my type. I think I scared her. Shit, maybe she even scared herself. I don’t know, but at this point in my life, I’m too old trying to figure out other people’s issues.”
Those words sounded like a breath of fresh air. I extended my arm to him and pointed an index finger when I exclaimed, “Exactly. That’s exactly how I feel.”
He gave me an easy smile. His eyes narrowed before he asked, “What’s good here? This font is too small.”
The laughter burst out of me as I snatched the menu away from him.
“Cole, I hope I’m not the first person to tell you this. You need glasses.” I continued to laugh. “This font is almost at a fourteen.”
His face paled then he put his hand on his chest. “No shit?”
“No shit,” I was laughing and shaking my head at the same time. “At least fourteen-point type.”
“Damn, I’m getting old.” He squeezed his eyes shut and blinked a few times. “Should I get round ones like Roger and perch them on my nose?”
I nearly screamed, “Oh, God no!”
At that point, I was hitting the table and laughing so hard my side began to cramp.
“Ohhh,” I exhaled as I started to die down. “I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.”
“Then, let’s skip these third dates.” Cole leaned in with a mischievous smile. “Let’s have this be our third date.”
I shook my head. “Oh no, Mister.” I held up my finger. “That won’t work. We must see the process through.”
“I forgot you were a lawyer, by the book.” He nodded.
“Yup. By the way, what do you do?” I asked.
“Now, a few things. I work at a charity over on the east side, crowd-funding for new entrepreneurs and sit on the board of directors for a couple of non-profits.” One side of his mouth and shoulder raised at the same time, then he sat back.
“So, then you should be by the book as well?” I pointed out.
“For business, definitely. Personal, I’m usually by the book. You, well that’s something different.” He corrected me which sent frilly chills down my spine and I almost picked up the phone to cancel the damn date.
A flash of Brittany’s face kept my hand still and my voice even.
“Cole, you’re tempting. I’ll give you that but we’re both one date away. When is yours?” I asked. “Mine is tonight.”
“Same. I wanted to get it over with.” He chuckled. “Okay, I’m hungry, Wade. Are you going to tell me your first name?”
That comment caused me to laugh as I answered, “Bethany. It’s Bethany. I suggest the tuna sandwich or the melt or my favorite, the turkey club.”
Cole lifted his arm, signaling for the hostess to take his order.
“Yes, sir?” The woman smiled and appreciatively looked him up and down disregarding the fact I was at the table.
“Honey, is this our waitress?” Cole held out his hand across the table and turned to look at me.
The corner of my mouth lifted as I instinctively reached back and grasped his outstretched hand.
“Uh, no, dear. Ma’am, do you know where Richard is?” I asked her forcing her gaze away from him so she was facing me.
“Oh, yes. I’ll get him for you now.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. The woman turned on her heel and walked away.
“Well played,” I nodded with an admiring smirk.
I went to pull my hand back but Cole kept a hold of it before he said, “You’re really going to make me sit through another date?”
It was hard not to laugh at the man. He was beyond witty and very charming.
“Last one.” I nodded. “It may be the woman of your dreams. That’s good.”
“No, it’s not.” He pulled my arm, causing my body to come forward and lean over the table. He met me half way. “I think I’m looking at her.”
“May I help you?” Someone interrupted my trance and the direct line of Cole’s words to my pulsing center.
Without moving his head, only his eyes, he said to Richard, “I’d like the Turkey Club with a lemonade.”
“Right away, sir,” the waiter answered and rightly made himself scarce.
“Cole,” I pulled his arm toward mine. “One more date, then we will see if what we think we can’t have now is something to explore. Fair enough?”
He didn’t say anything but those blue eyes stared into my soul. To say I didn’t shutter a time or two under that gaze, would have been a fib. It was like the man was memorizing me just in case he lost the sight of me. Then he blinked, the intensity lifted and he let go of my hand.
“So, what do you think your daughter or ex-husband’s next move will be?” he asked, effectively changing the subject.
Grateful he didn’t press anymore, I smiled and said, “Well, we’ll see.”
Chapter 4: The After Dates
Cole Magon
Bethany and I finished talking, laughing, and she even ordered dessert, while I ate my turkey club. God, she was a breath of fresh air. Something I hadn’t even known I needed in my life. Not like that, anyway.
When it was time to leave, I paid the bill for both of us and held out my hand for her take as she rose from her chair. In all her gracefulness, her small hand fit right into mine and I led her outside of the restaurant. Bethany pointed to where her truck was parked, so I walked her there. Before she got in, drove off and met the man of her dreams, I, without any thought, pulled her into my body and kissed her lips.
It wasn’t chaste nor sloppy but enough that I was able to get the opportunity to taste her and more importantly, my taste would linger on her. The woman’s curvy body molded right into me as if it was supposed to be there and her fingers ran up the back of my neck. Waves of heat seemed to pour over me as I held her tighter and took my fill of the tall drink. I didn’t want to overdose on the intoxicating woman, therefore I slowly pulled away from her and found us both breathless.
She returned her arms back to her sides as she stared at me with a new look. One of expectation. Hopefully of what was to come.
“You have my number already,” I stated as I pulled out my phone from my back pocket. “Now, here’s my address. Just in case you ever want to use it.”
Pressing the street address and security instructions into my phone, I hit the blue send button and looked up to her. On her face was a smirk I couldn’t read until she asked, “You think I’m the type of woman that goes to strange men’s houses?”
On that note, I moved back into her personal space, so our noses were side by side.
“One,” I stated softly. “I’m not strange. Roger is a good friend of mine. He’ll vouch for anything I am, do or say. Two. I do take you for a woman who may not want any sort of man coming to your house, so this was the best of the alternatives.”
She turned to look at me, which put my lips right over hers, and then it was her who kissed me. Nothing in me wanted her to stop. This time, I let the woman take her fill until she pulled back. We both panted for breath, our chest moving up and down at a rapid pace.
“You’re entirely too tempting for me,” Bethany said as she patted me on the chest. “I need to go.”
Those brown eyes were begging me to keep holding her but that mouth said she had to leave. I granted her verbal wish and took a step back.
“Bethany.” In the most gallant of ways, I bent at the waist to bid her farewell. “Hope that date is horrible. I already know mine will be.”
“Oh my gosh,” she exclaimed with a roll of the eyes. “Be nice, Cole. I’ll talk to you later.”
“That you will.” I kept backing away with both hands on my chest.
***
To my utter surprise, my third date, Maggie Holmes, was more than what I anticipated. She was a child actress that decided early on, she didn’t like the show business of the industry. I completely understood and explained I was in the same situation. She was pretty enough, worked with a charity for kids with dyslexia and came off as sane. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her but at the end of the dinner, she said, “Wow, Cole. I never thought I’d say this but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with you. You’re ideal but it seems your eyes are set somewhere else.”
At first, I just stared at her as a smile crept on my face.
“Is it that obvious?” I asked her. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not that obvious, but it is noticeable.” She smiled to me. “Well, who is she or he?”
Something must have flashed in my eyes because she quickly followed up by saying, “You never know.”
“She’s someone I recently met and everything just seems right. That’s crazy, right?”
“No,” she said right away. “My first husband and I were like that. I think we would have found our happily ever after if he wasn’t killed in a car accident.” A shadow passed over her face. “Everything fit. It was almost love at first sight. We were married for six years, had two kids and then he was gone. We fussed and went through our shit, but I haven’t found another like him. Where everything was right. So, it’s possible, and if you think you’ve found that, then you should definitely not let her get away.”
Holding up my hand, I signaled the wait staff to get us the check with a smile on my face. Maggie turned out to be just the date I needed. Le One, might be on to something after all. We walked out of the restaurant after I paid. I bent to give her a kiss on the cheek and a big thank you.
As I raced to my car, I text Bethany to see how her date was going, only for her not to text me back.
Various sorts of murderous thoughts assaulted my mind as I pulled into the gateway to my housing community. I was stopped short by another vehicle in front of me. Val was talking to the person, but he wouldn’t let them inside.
“Val,” I called from my car. “Everything alright.”
He shook his head and started walking toward me. I cut off my car and exited to meet him halfway. The person in the car in front of me got out of their car as well but Val was blocking my view of them.
“Everything alright?” I asked again.
“No, sir. It seems that Miss—” He turned toward the woman who interrupted him.
“That’s Miss Wade.”
I heard the voice and my heart nearly stopped as I looked over Val to make sure my ears weren’t failing me as well. Good God, it’s her.
“Bethany?” I called as I ran up to her standing inside her car door.
“He’s the person I’m here to see,” she said to Val and pointed to me.
She was about to say something else, but I cut her off with a kiss of her lips, a little rougher and more demanding but she stayed right with me. She pressed her fingers in my hair again as I pressed her curvy body against the side do
or of her car.
“I take it she’s with you, sir?” Val asked after I finally released those lightly swollen lips.
“Yeah, she’s mine,” I said to Val, but my eyes were on Bethany.
“Yours?” she mouthed.
“Yup!” I nodded. “Come on.”
“Val this is Bethany Wade, she’ll need access from now on,” I told the loyal attendant. Then I asked Bethany, “Do you have your truck’s VIN number? He’ll need to register both of your vehicles in the system and take your picture.”
“Okay, yes. I have both VIN numbers in the car,” she answered.
“Val, can we handle the registration in the morning or is this your last shift until Monday?” I asked with one arm around Bethany’s shoulders and the other on her open driver’s side door.
Val nodded his head and said, “Yes, sir. We can do it in the morning.”
“The morning, Cole?” I heard the surprise in Bethany’s tone.
I looked at her when I confirmed, “Yeah, sweetheart. Morning.”
My lips met hers in a kiss again. Softly, this time.
“I’ll drive around and then you can follow me,” I told her, then I walked back to my car and yelled, “Thanks Val. I owe you.”
We pulled up to the front of my place where I parked in the circle driveway leading to the mansion. Bethany parked behind me but she had enough room to get around. The driveway was the width of three cars, circling a large patch of neatly manicured grass with a baby gargoyle squirting water to its twin a couple of yards away.
Once we entered my place, hand-in-hand, she stopped in the doorway and would not budge anymore. This caused me to turn around to see what the issue was.
“Uh, okay. This is a bit overwhelming and I think you have explaining to do.” Bethany noted with raised eyebrows.
“Yes, let’s go to the living room, get a glass of wine and we can talk all you want.” I tugged her hand. “How about that?”
She nodded and followed me into the sunken living room, where she sat on the love seat and put one leg over the other, effectively not allowing me room to join her.