Hard to Hold (The Hold series Book 2)

by Arell Rivers

  Grinning, he shakes his head. We both laugh as he resumes his normal speed, passing the old lady. When I turn around in my seat, I verify that Wills’s car is pulling in behind the broken-down one. Good.

  Returning to face forward, I say, “You did a good thing.”

  Cole continues driving for another few minutes before we come upon a sign pointing to a scenic overlook. We pull over and park to wait for our bodyguard. Turning off the ignition, he says, “Let’s take a photo while there’s still a little light left.”

  We climb out of the car and perch on a huge boulder overlooking the mountains. So tranquil. We’re taking a selfie of us kissing when a raindrop hits my nose.

  Cole tucks his phone into his back pocket. “Wills should be here soon. Let’s get back into the car before it starts to really rain.”

  As we climb in, he asks, “How long before you can make an honest man out of me?”

  Giggling, I respond, “I don’t know. A year?”

  His hand crosses his broad chest. “You’re going to kill me. No way. One month.”

  “Six?”

  “Okay.” He sighs dramatically. “I’ll wait six weeks. Then my ring is going on your finger.”

  He kisses my left hand. “Incentive.”

  All I can do is shake my head and smile.

  Checking his rearview mirror, he says, “Ah, I see Wills coming now.”

  We pull back out onto the road and drive slowly so that Wills can catch up. When he’s close, we pick up the pace. Wills speeds up, pushing us, right on our tail.

  “What’s going on?” I look back. My heart seizes. “Cole, that’s not Wills!”

  A muscle tightens in his cheek. “Hold on.”

  Cole passes fifty miles an hour on this now dark, twisty road with a posted speed limit of thirty-five, pushed ever faster by the car behind us. The rain makes the roadway slick. We skid around a turn, but Cole keeps control. My hand flies to my mouth, stifling any sounds that might distract him.

  The car behind us makes contact with our bumper, jolting us forward. I grab the dashboard, my heart racing faster than our car.

  “What the fuck?” Cole presses down on the accelerator.

  The car behind hits us again, harder, just as we go into a hairpin turn.

  Our car fishtails. Cole tries to correct our skid, but with a stomach-turning screech, we head directly for a tree.

  “Cole!” I scream.

  “Rose!”

  I reach out for his hand, but come up empty.

  Jerked to a sudden stop, I register the impact as my vision fills with white.

  Then, black.

  Starr

  I HOPE COLE and that namby-pamby bitch Rose are enjoying their last meal. I gave him plenty of opportunities to come around. The interview I gave to that rag was his last chance. Since he turned his back on me, the world needed to know what I alone have known for months.

  When Cole and I were together in Las Vegas, he should have understood that we belong together. He was all over me. He wanted me. At least I had the smarts to install that GPS tracker on his cellphone after he passed out.

  They’ve been in that restaurant, the Inn of the Seventh Ray, for well over an hour now. If I know anything about my errant husband, it’s that he hates to see someone in distress. This will be the last helping hand he extends.

  I park on the side of the road, then circle my car and pop the hood. A glance in the side mirror reveals my appearance is exactly as I’d hoped. The grey wig completely covers my hair, and the MuuMuu I’m wearing over my jeans completes the effect. Perfect. I look like a helpless grandma with a broken down car.

  I check the app on my phone. Cole is on the move and his car will pass mine soon. I take the gun and hide it in my waistband. I’m ready. Come and get me, Cole.

  Headlights come toward me. He’s slowing down, just like I knew he would. The world will soon know that you can’t treat Starr Manchester like a piece of garbage.

  I wave my hands in the air, all pathetic-like. Oh, please, my sexy Cole, stop and help a poor, defenseless old woman with a broken down car. As soon as you step out, I’ll teach you a lesson. And when your simpering girlfriend comes to save you, I’ll put a bullet in her head, too.

  Cole veers my way. Just a few more minutes. Be patient Starr. His Starr.

  What the fuck is going on? Where is he going? How dare he drive away from me. He thinks he can send his schmuck of a bodyguard to help me? Oh, hell no.

  The tall, blond muscle-head gets out. Lumbering toward me, he asks, “May I help you, ma’am?”

  I need to get rid of this loser and catch up to Cole. In my feeblest voice, I say, “My car just stopped running. Can you take a look for me?”

  The idiot walks over to the engine. “Let’s see what’s going on.”

  I don’t have time for this. Cole needs to pay. Now. The dolt leans over the engine, and I pull the gun out from my waistband. The weight of the weapon in my hand makes me feel powerful. Without hesitation, I shoot. He crumples to the ground immediately, blood everywhere. The dummy didn’t even know what hit him. Whatever.

  I rip the awful wig off my head. Racing over to the hood, I drop it down and then jump into the driver’s seat. Cole wouldn’t go very far without his Neanderthal bodyguard. I bet he pulled over somewhere to wait for him. Checking my phone, my tracker shows that Cole is stopped just a half mile up ahead. I knew it.

  He won’t get out of the car for me, though, and I can’t drive and shoot at the same time. Bastard. I toss the gun into the passenger seat, on top of the wig.

  Peeling out of the roadway’s shoulder, I drive to where my husband waits. Sure enough, Cole’s car gets onto the highway when I approach. He’s driving slowly, waiting for me–slash–his lackey to catch up. Keep on waiting, my husband.

  As rain starts to hit my windshield, I approach and he accelerates to the speed limit. No one else is on the road, and it’s a dark and rainy night. It would be a crying shame if the celebrity songbird and his geranium were in an accident. A smile creeps across my face. Yeah, I’m adaptable like that.

  I press on the gas, pushing Cole to drive faster. This is fun.

  Laughing, I get right up into the tail of Cole’s car and watch as he skids around a turn. Pretty good driving, Cole. Let’s see how you handle a little love tap. I surge forward and ram his bumper.

  He zooms forward. Oh, not so fast without me, baby! The road sign shows an upcoming hairpin turn. Now things are getting interesting.

  Keeping pace with Cole, I hit his car again right when he’s in the middle of the turn. He fishtails. C’mon, hubby, I want to play some more.

  He loses control of the car and meets a tree head-on.

  Bummer. I guess playtime is over.

  Slowing down, I do a perfect three point-turn and creep past the wreckage. Yup, both airbags are deployed and neither my husband nor his bitch are moving. The car is as crumpled as my reality show contract was after the assholes at the network cut me.

  Buh-bye, husband dearest. If I can’t have you, no one can.

  TO BE CONTINUED . . .

  Read the final installment of Rose and Cole’s story in

  To Have and To Hold, Book #3 in The Hold series, available now!

  For information, go to http://bit.ly/HardToHold.

  Rose at 19

  MY ROOMMATE MCKENNA raises her glass, “Happy birthday, Rookie!” Sarah and I join her for the toast, clinking our glasses filled with beer purchased courtesy of our fake IDs.

  We’re crowded around a small table in Above The Bar. Students from NYU don’t come here too often, as it’s usually packed with older people already out in the workforce. But my girlfriends couldn’t deny my birthday wish of seeing Cole Manchester perform. Again.

  He’s on stage now, singing “Prowling.” I’m glad I’m not standing, because the rough honey of his voice makes me weak in the knees.

  “I know what you’d like for your birthday,” Sarah teases.

  She and I a
re both studying communications, and have been in several classes together this year. Her boyfriend is out with the guys tonight, but she’s meeting up with him later.

  Tearing my eyes away from the god on the stage, I reply, “Don’t you know it.”

  McKenna giggles. “Well, you deserve a night with that beast. I bet he doesn’t need to stop for directions.”

  My gaze returns onstage, intently zeroing in on Cole’s fingers as they make love to his guitar. My lower half clenches picturing him playing me like that. Not that I expect a guy like Cole would make me his girlfriend. It’s common knowledge that he doesn’t do girlfriends. But for one night, my birthday, I could let loose with him. He would rip off my shirt, and—

  Snap, snap. Sarah gets my attention. “You have it so bad for him. Did you hear that he screwed Callie at the gym? She bragged that she couldn’t walk right for a whole week afterward.”

  “Rose could use some of that,” McKenna says.

  “I certainly wouldn’t complain.” I look back at Cole. His legs look so strong. Clearly, he knows what he’s doing. No fumbling with him.

  Cole finishes his last song and leans into the microphone, “Thank you.” His eyes lock with mine.

  Oh. My. God. He’s staring directly at me. More like devouring me. I lick my bottom lip, catching it between my teeth. He smiles at me. At me! Our connection breaks when Dan O’Connor walks over to him. Although I’ve never met him, everyone on campus knows they’re the best of friends.

  “Did you see that? He was looking right at me.” McKenna and Sarah beam at me. “I mean, he was looking at me, right?” Please tell me it wasn’t all in my head.

  “Oh, he definitely saw you today, Rookie.” I smile at McKenna. Sarah nods.

  I take a sip of the beer I’ve been nursing all night. Better not drink too much, as I want to remember every second of this amazing night. Assuming it turns into something totally memorable.

  Cole leaves Dan and turns in our direction. He advances toward our table with his usual, self-assured stride.

  McKenna states the obvious. “He’s coming over here!”

  My stomach flips in anticipation. My eyes never leave his frame. Traveling upward, they land on his green eyes when he stops in front of us.

  In his awesome tenor, he says, “Good evening, ladies. I hope you enjoyed the show.”

  My insides tighten when he leans down and whispers in my ear, “I need to catch up with my buddy, and then I’m going to rock your world. Wait for me.” He nips my earlobe and walks away.

  My hand immediately goes to my ear. My breath hitches. Two wide-eyed girls look at me, mouths agape. His words replay in my mind.

  “What did he say to you, blushing girl?” McKenna asks.

  I take another sip of my beer. Am I blushing?

  “He said, uhm, oh God.”

  My friends lean in to me, motioning for me to spill. Clearing my throat, I say, “He said he’s going to catch up with Dan, and then he’s going to ‘rock my world.’” I use air quotes around the last three words.

  McKenna grins from ear-to-ear. Sarah asks, “So, are you ready for him?”

  “What do you mean? Of course, she’s ready for him. She’s been following him all over New York since the name Cole Manchester first crossed her orbit.” McKenna looks at me. “I should know. I’ve been right there with her most of the time.”

  “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean that she’s ready to go all in, so to speak.”

  “Sounds like he’s ready,” McKenna smirks and tips her drink to her lips. “I can’t think of a better way to end your dry spell than with him, right Rookie?”

  Whereas McKenna has had a steady diet of men, my love life has been nonexistent this year. Ever since my high school boyfriend, Marco Ricci, cheated on me and royally screwed with my head, I’ve listened to Mom and concentrated on schoolwork. Boys aren’t to be trusted long term. But one night with a man like Cole Manchester would be mighty fine. I finish my beer.

  Without waiting for me to respond, McKenna stands. “Let me get us another round.”

  As soon as she disappears toward the bar, Sarah’s eyes fill with concern. “You don’t have to do this, you know. You’ll just be another notch in his bedpost.”

  Sighing, I reply, “He finally picked me out of a roomful of women. He’s been the one I’ve compared every guy against all year.”

  “I get that. But sometimes the reality doesn’t live up to the hype.”

  “That’s not what Callie said.”

  “Well, true. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  Doubt starts to creep in. I’ve only slept with Marco, and Cole’s been with so many women. What if he tells me that I’m a bad lover? My shoulders slump.

  In a small voice, I say, “I don’t want that, either.”

  Sarah nods.

  McKenna returns with a tray containing three shots of a dark amber liquid and three glasses of a sweet smelling drink. “What’s this?” I ask.

  “Jagerbomb.” She picks up the shot glass, and Sarah and I follow suit. McKenna continues, “Drop the Jagermeister into the Red Bull and chug.” Like lemmings, we do as instructed and drink.

  I grab a napkin and wipe the sides of my mouth where some of the drink escaped. Giggling, I exclaim, “Wow. That tastes delicious. Another?”

  “Only one for you, Rookie. Lightweights with dates don’t need any more.”

  “I have a date!”

  Sarah places her hand on my arm. “You’re sure you want this?”

  I look at my roomie. “Do you think I’m making a mistake?”

  McKenna scowls at Sarah. “Of course you’re not. What’s the worst thing that could happen? You have a banging good time?”

  “Or he says I’m terrible,” I mutter.

  “If you feel that way, you can back out.” Sarah glances at the door. “Whatever you decide, I’ve got your back. My boyfriend just got here, though, so I have to go. Call me tomorrow.” Sarah gives both of us hugs before walking away.

  “Listen, Rose, do what feels right for you. I’ll only say this: you’ll kick yourself tomorrow if you don’t seize the proverbial bull by the horns tonight.” She giggles.

  A very tall, good-looking guy approaches our table and bends down to talk with McKenna. With her outgoing personality and fun-loving attitude, this happens all the time. Soon they’re deep in conversation. Should I go with Cole? He did come over to me, so he must like me. He’s so talented. And hot. But I don’t want to be the laughingstock of NYU if I fail to satisfy him.

  McKenna leans to me. “I’m going to leave you to your evening with Cole. Happy birthday, Rookie.” She kisses me on the cheek and disappears with Mr. Basketball Player, their wildly different heights making me smile.

  I’m alone at the table. It’s the moment of truth. A huge part of me wants to be with Cole, but it could also be a mistake of epic proportions. I grab my purse and head toward the door.

  On the pavement, I pace. What am I doing? I’ve been swooning over Cole Manchester for months. Today is my birthday. McKenna’s right—I will regret this forever if I say no.

  I step toward the bouncer, who raises his eyebrow at me. “In or out, miss?”

  Taking a deep breath, I say, “In.”

  Returning to the bar, I look toward where Cole and Dan were sitting. Their table is empty. Maybe he’s already found a new willing partner for the night. I guess it’s for the best. I could never live up to his standards anyway.

  I’m about to turn around and leave again, when I see him. He’s striding toward me. My heart flutters.

  He stops in front of me. “You left?”

  Unnerved, I reach up and run my finger over my hoop earring while I reply, “I, uhm, it was getting late.”

  Cole extends his arm and gently pulls my hand away from my earring. Although calloused from playing the guitar, his touch is gentle, almost tender. Pitching his voice lower, he says, “But you came back.”

  Heat rises up my neck. Crap, I’m bl
ushing. He doesn’t seem put off by my reaction, so I nod. I inhale deeply, only to be rewarded with a large dose of Cole’s musky scent. I’m a goner now for sure.

  Raising my hand—which he never released—to his lips, he kisses it. Looking deeply into my eyes, he asks, “Do you still want me, darlin’?”

  “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you for a long time, Cole.” I swallow. “I don’t want to miss out on tonight.” I never imagined he would be this sweet and caring.

  “Do you have your own apartment?”

  “No, I live in the dorms.”

  He nods. “Are you in Hayden?”

  “Yeah.” I clamp my mouth shut. He now knows that I go to NYU with him, but I don’t want him to think I’m a stalker.

  “I have the perfect place for us to get to know each other. Intimately.” He whispers the last word into my ear, causing me to shudder.

  I follow him through the bar and up the back stairs to a small room with a sofa. At least it’s clean in here. Looking around, I see a guitar case leaned up against a wall. The lucky guitar I was jealous of tonight. Well, now it’s my turn to be played by Cole’s hands.

  All thoughts scatter as he spins me around so that my back is pressed to the door. Bracing his arms on either side of my head, Cole leans forward and stares at my lips. Caged in by his amazing body, I tilt my head and close my eyes and wait for my first taste of Cole.

  A split second later, his lips covers mine in a kiss of possession unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. He thrusts his tongue into my mouth while his knee nudges between my legs. I moan at the need he’s unleashing in me. I bring my hands up his chest, then wrap them around his broad back.

  He kisses a trail from my neck up to my ear. “I think we’re both overdressed for this party.”

  If this is what he does to me fully clothed, I’m in big trouble. His fingers grab the hem of my shirt and suddenly it’s on the floor. Praise all that’s holy, I’m wearing my matching ice-blue bra and thong set, a splurge from Victoria’s Secret.

  But I need to hear my name out of his luscious lips. “Rose.”