“Hey, Cole.” I turned away from him, my giddy high evaporating. He looked way too sexy standing there in his black slacks and white shirt; the dressy-casual style suited him. He looked like a movie star out for a night of fun, ready to dance and turn girls' hearts to marshmallow.
“You look really beautiful tonight.”
I pressed my lips together, wishing he wouldn't say stuff like that to me.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped around to face him, my tone sharper than I meant.
He gave me a soft smile, his eyes tender and sweet. “Well, as you know, I really like this kind of music.”
My lips stretched into a smile before I could stop them. I glanced down to the bar top and tucked a curl behind my ear.
With a huff, he stepped into my space. “I can't keep doing this, you know.”
I looked up, meeting his steady gaze and feeling myself weaken.
“Not talking about it? It's not working for me.”
“Cole, I can't—” I tried to back off, but he took my arm, gently holding me.
“Look, just let me say my piece, and then I won't ever mention it again, I promise.”
His gaze was so sincere, I had to say yes. “Okay.”
I relaxed in his grasp, and he let my arm go. Leaning against the counter, he gave me a sad smile. “We both know it's complicated, and I...uh...know that I'm not gonna get what I want out of this equation. I've accepted that. You're with David, and I respect that one hundred percent, but I just...” He tutted and shook his head, turning to me with an earnest look that made my spine tingle. “I want you to be happy.”
“I am.” I couldn't look him in the eye. “David's good for me.”
“Is he?”
“Don't do this, Cole.” I tried to back away, panic sizzling through me. He snatched my wrist, softening the move by rubbing his thumb gently over my skin.
“I'm sorry. You're right. It's not my place.” The sad torture cresting over his expression made me want to cry. He had the world's kindest eyes. Why the hell did he have to be so amazing?
He let out a shaky sigh, and a small grin touched his mouth as if he was reminding himself of something. “I know you love him, and you don't want to hurt him. Ella, you're a really good person, and he's lucky to have you.” The fact he was giving in stung, but it was such a huge relief. I didn't want a fight, not with Cole. In spite of that, I couldn't help my deflation as he gave me a stiff nod and let me go, shoving his hand into his pocket. I thought he was about to give me a curt goodbye and walk away, but he pressed his lips together and forced a smile. “Look, can we just maybe...be friends, at least?”
My neck muscles were straining as I tried to shake a no. That was what I was supposed to do, right?
Cole leaned into my space again. “David knows something's up with you. Don't think he hasn't noticed. If you don't stop acting so weird around me, he's gonna start making his own conclusions. Incorrect ones.”
I swallowed and ran my fingers down my drop earring.
“So for David's sake, can you please just be my friend?” He followed up his emphatic look by sticking out his hand, asking me to accept what he was offering.
I knew I should have walked away, but I didn't want to. I wasn't some dumb, immature kid who couldn't control herself. I could do this. Cole was right. I couldn't have David thinking the wrong thing.
With a tight smile, I clasped Cole's hand and gave it a little squeeze.
“Thank you.” He really meant it.
My smile grew to full beam. It felt good and not as hard as I thought it might have been.
Cole turned his back to the bar and leaned against it. I joined him, deciding to wait for the bartender to head this way before catching his attention.
Without knowing it, my foot started tapping, and I noticed Cole grin at me.
“’Steppin' Out.’ It's one of my favorites too.”
I chuckled. “How can it not be? It's such a great song,” I yelled to him as the music grew louder.
He leaned toward me, making my skin ignite. I tried to ignore the feeling and just listen to his words.
“Can you dance?”
I glanced up at his face and shrugged. “Can't most people, to some degree?”
“No, no.” He shook his head with a grin. “I mean, can you really dance?” His eyebrows rose. “Like Fred and Ginger dance.”
My lips twitched as I tried to hold back my grin. “Maybe.” I peered at him sideways.
His laugh was deep and rich as he grabbed my hand. “Come on, my little friend, you gotta show me.”
With a laugh, I let him pull me onto the floor.
I glanced over at Morgan and Jody, giving them a little wave as I started to jive around the floor with Cole. Morgan's eyebrow arched high in question, and I looked away just as Jody leaned toward her with wide eyes and pointed at us. Yep, my little sis was about to find out all about Cole.
I glanced across at my handsome partner. Man, he could really move. Pulling on my hands, he swung me around, taking the lead with confidence. He knew what he was doing, and it brought back memories of dancing in the living room with my dad. The giddy high returned and my cheeks started hurting from smiling so hard. When he threw me up over his shoulder and let me flip to my feet, I thought my heart might fly right out of my chest. I was dipped, twirled, lifted, and spun until I was out of breath with laughter.
We finished the song, both chuckling together and clapping our hands for the band.
I wanted to stay in the moment forever. I was having so much fun. I could tell Cole was, too. His eyes were like Christmas lights.
“Who taught you how to dance?” I asked.
“Nina. You?”
“My dad.” My shoulder hitched up in a half-shrug.
“You're really good, you know. Why the hell are you studying literature? You should be dancing.”
“I could say the same thing to you. Business studies?” I made a face.
He laughed. “It's all for a reason, Ella. I enjoy dancing, but I've got bigger dreams.”
I did know. Dreams I wanted to be a part of.
I swallowed back the thought and nodded, my smile evaporating.
“Well, I guess I should get back to my friends.” I pointed over my shoulder and turned to leave, but he grabbed my fingers and tugged me to a stop.
His expression was like melted chocolate as he held up his finger. “Just one more?”
I bit the corner of my mouth and looked over my shoulder at the girls then back at Cole. I couldn't resist his sweet gaze, so I stepped back into his space. “Just one.”
His smile grew as he pulled me into his arms and a woman stepped up to the microphone. Her husky voice oozed through the sound system and my heart hitched as she began Peggy Lee's “Fever.”
Cole's eyes locked with mine, and I couldn't have looked away if I'd wanted to.
His strong arms held me tight, guiding me around the floor, and everyone else in the club disappeared. It was just me, him, and a sultry voice singing about every feeling Cole sparked inside of me.
I spun around Cole, being drawn back to his body and relishing the fire sizzling through my veins. I couldn't take my eyes from his. We were locked together in a moment that was out of our control.
He dipped me, his hand skimming up my thigh and pulling my knee to rest against his hip. As he pulled me straight, he kept his fingers tucked beneath my knee, holding me to him, and I couldn't resist.
My hand snaked around his neck and I reached for him. He met me halfway, our lips sparking together, igniting a fire that swept through my body. My fingers wove into his curls as his hand spread over my bare back and then moved up to my shoulders. His hot tongue skimmed my lips and I opened my mouth to him, his taste turning my insides to molten lava.
I wanted him. I wanted all of him right now.
My eyes snapped open as if coming out of a daze.
I jerked away, touching my lips with shaking fingers before wriggling out
of his grasp. We both stared at each other, bug-eyed, wondering what the hell just happened.
“I'm sorry.” I stumbled back, nearly tripping. Righting myself, I turned away from him as the song came to a sizzling end. I made it to my table out of breath.
The girls both stared at me, mouths open, eyes wide.
“So, that was freaking hot,” Jody finally said.
I grabbed the shot glass sitting in the middle of the table and looked at them. “Cole's the shower guy.” I threw back the shot and slammed it onto the table. The alcohol seared my insides, burning a trail through my system as I took in their shell-shocked expressions. Grabbing my bag, I sniffed at my tears and fled toward the exit.
CHAPTER THIRTY
COLE
I watched Ella down her shot, wince, and then run for the exit. It hurt to watch her, mostly because all I could do was stand there, paralyzed on the dance floor.
I swear when I'd asked her to dance, I had no intention of kissing her, but having her body move beneath my hands had sent me to another kind of heaven...one where I had no control. She felt exquisite beneath my fingers, and the way her eyes locked with mine was hypnotic. When she moved her lips to mine, I was pulled by a force greater than myself.
My stomach coiled as I relived the kiss. My tongue still burned, aching for more.
Someone accidentally bumped me from behind as the song “Anything Goes” came to a finish. She was very apologetic. I forgave her with a tight smile and left the floor, making my way swiftly out the exit. I couldn't stay here now. I was glad I'd come to hear the band, and I would text the two lead singers to see if they wanted to do a light acoustic set at Quigg's. I could picture it all perfectly, the stage set-up and the song list I'd request. Nina would love it.
So would Ella.
My hand bunched into a fist, and I resisted the urge to punch the door before swinging it open.
“Hey, man. Leaving so soon?” Brad's white smile was blinding.
“Yeah, I...uh...”
“I just saw the girls shoot out of here. Something go on inside?”
My lower lip popped out as I shrugged my shoulders. “No idea.”
Brad chuckled. “Girls, right?”
“Yep.” My laughter was hard and forced. I slapped Brad on the shoulder and quickly moved past him, knowing I couldn't hold it together for much longer.
I couldn't help scanning the street for three fleeing women, but I didn't see them anywhere. I wondered who the young blonde had been with them. My guess was Morgan's little sister; they looked similar.
Kicking the curb with the toe of my shoe, I decided to head back to the dorm. I guessed Ella wouldn't run into David's arms tonight. She'd been pretty edgy around him lately...probably only in the times I was around. I knew David thought something was off, but he seemed pretty absorbed in his studies so wasn’t really taking the time to figure out why. He was also excited about his twenty-first birthday. The party was next weekend, and I knew Ella couldn’t avoid me then.
We had to figure out a way to make this work.
Running my hands through my hair, I gulped back a groan.
If she wasn't so damn intoxicating, I could do this.
Maybe I should keep encouraging her to break up with David, but not just because of me. In my opinion, they weren't right together, and she obviously wanted me as much as I did her. But what right did I have to say that to her? How could I, in good conscience, encourage her to break my friend's heart?
David was a good guy. A little obsessive, a little controlling, but his heart was in the right place.
I crossed the road, jumping into a run as a car came around the corner. I hopped back up onto the curb and kept heading for the dorm.
There was no way I could sit down and tell David how I felt. The guy would feel completely betrayed. No, I just had to sit this one out and let Ella make the next move. Damn, that was gonna be hard; watching from the sidelines was not my style.
In spite of how bad I felt about the kiss, I couldn't keep a smile from cresting over my lips as time gave my emotions a chance to settle. She'd kissed me. She'd wanted me. I had felt her hunger, and it was a comfort to know the feelings were mutual.
Surely she was sitting with her girls right now, talking through this dilemma.
I knew I couldn't make up Ella's mind for her, but maybe our little tryst on the dance floor had been exactly what we needed. She'd be lying if she told me I didn't affect her.
Hyde Park was upon me, and I felt a touch lighter as I walked through the darkness and reached my dorm. I knew there was a mire of shit to wade through before I reached this higher ground Nina talked about, but for the first time since meeting Ella, I could almost picture her on the other side, waiting for me. We could do this. It wouldn't be without its heartache, and I didn't know how we'd get around the David factor, but if we were patient, wounds would heal and maybe we could be together.
The idea was so thrilling that a grin broke out on my face as I pushed my dorm room door open.
David sprung from the couch the second I stepped in. At first I couldn't read his expression, and I was worried that maybe Ella had swung by and confessed all, but there was a skittish excitement lurking in his eyes that made me rule out that scenario.
“What's up, man?” I shoved my hands in my pockets, trying to read him.
David grinned, his dimple popping into place as he gave a shaky nod. “I'm gonna do it.”
“Do what?”
Sucking in a quick breath, David leapt around the couch and lifted a small box out from between the cushions. My heart plummeted through my body as he came toward me, gently popping the lid. Inside was a ring with a sparkling diamond perched on top.
“I'm gonna ask Ella to marry me.”
My tongue felt like sandpaper and stuck to the roof of my mouth when I tried to speak. My eyebrows rose and I blinked twice.
“I know I was gonna wait until after I graduated, but Ella's been really edgy the last couple of weeks, and I just want her to know that in spite of all my study and the fact I'm not seeing her as much as I thought I would, I'm still really committed to her.”
“Are you—” I scratched the edge of my mouth. “Are you sure that's why she's edgy?”
“Come on. It's Ella.” He made a face. “She needs security. Ever since getting here, she hasn't been quite as relaxed, and I think she's worried that maybe things are changing between us. I want her to know that the plan is still in place.”
The fucking plan. I hated that damn thing.
I pressed my lips together and managed a small smile. “You guys are still pretty young, you know. Are you sure you're not rushing into this?”
“I know what I want, Cole. Rearranging the timeline a little won't make a difference. It's not like we'll be walking down the aisle this summer or anything, but I like the idea of being engaged to her. We can get married next summer, after I graduate.” He snapped the box closed. “Mom will insist we get married in L.A. We'll probably go for a reception at the club or something. I’ll have to invite Ella's whacked-out aunt.” He made a face before rushing on. “And I know she'll choose Jody and Morgan for bridesmaids.”
I nodded, keeping my mouth closed against the bile rising up my throat.
“And, of course, I'll be asking you to be my best man.” His smile was so broad, he looked like a giddy school kid, and it turned my heart to charcoal.
I punched out a laugh that felt more like a sob and nodded. “Of course, man.”
He opened the box again, admiring the diamond inside. “So, I'm gonna ask her at my birthday party.”
My mouth fell open. “In front of everyone? Do you think Ella will like that?”
I knew she wouldn't. She'd hate it. Even if she planned on saying yes, she wouldn't like the pressure of everyone around her. Hell, I'd be there.
What would she say?
This was going to shock the shit out of her.
“Don't you think it'd be better to wait for a more in
timate moment? You asking will be a massive surprise for her.”
“She'll get a kick out of it. It'll be great. All our friends will be there. We can celebrate right away.” He closed the box. “I know it's supposed to be my night and everything, but I don't mind sharing the limelight for this.”
My eyes stung as he let out a giddy chuckle.
“You gotta swear you won't tell her though, okay? Don't tell anyone. I want it to be a really big surprise. Promise me, man.”
I had no good reason not to promise him.
Well, I did. I had one freaking gigantic reason, but David didn't need to hear that.
Maybe it would have been better to just tell him right then, but I didn't say a word. I just gave him a big smile and nodded.
There was no guarantee on this planet that Ella wouldn't say yes. It wasn't my right or my place to tell him about our connection in the shower or the kiss on the dance floor. That was Ella's job, and my biggest fear now was that she wouldn't have the guts to do it.
“Only one week to go!” David spun around and vaulted back over the couch.
Yeah. One week.
Damn, it was going to be a week from hell.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
ELLA
I pressed my lips together and wiped the edge of my mouth, making sure my pink lipstick was as neat and perfect as possible. I didn't usually wear this color, but it matched the dress David bought me for my nineteenth birthday, and I knew he'd want me to wear it tonight. He had been buzzing all week about his big birthday party. I knew his twenty-first was a big deal, but it was also just a birthday. I had no intentions of having a big birthday party for mine. Ultimately, I'd love to just go out with my girls and dance my ass off.
A smile twitched my lips as I remembered jumping around the floor with Morgan, losing myself to Chaos's intoxicating beat. My mind inevitably jumped to a different dance floor and a very different beat. That memory was never far from my mind. I didn't think I'd ever be able to listen to Peggy Lee's “Fever” again. My fingers shook as I slipped my lipstick into my makeup bag and zipped it closed.
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