by J. L. Drake
Suddenly, I am on my back and my legs are hiked up over his shoulders. He pushes into me, taking me hard. My eyes close and I smile—I love how dominating he is in bed. Ha! He’s dominating outside the bedroom too. I do love how I got him to this point, knowing he would take over.
“Look at me, baby.”
I open my eyes—he’s inches above me, his eyes showing me how worried he is. “Right here is where you belong,” he says as he slams hard, making his point and taking me over the edge.
I’m lost in a sea of colors as I scream out his name, my orgasms coming in waves.
He covers my mouth to muffle my screams as I feel him quiver, finding his bliss right after mine. He flops down and rests his head on my stomach as I run my fingers through his damp hair. “I want to do that to you every morning,” he says as he kisses me above my belly button right before he rolls off, pulling me back onto his chest. “Next time, I want to take it slow, make it last for hours.”
I don’t have any words for the way I feel. Instead I lean up, kissing him once under his chin.
I wake again at seven. This time, Cole doesn’t budge when I slip out of bed. I pull the blankets over him, making sure he’s warm before I jump in for a quick shower. I manage to get dressed without waking the poor guy.
“Good morning,” Abigail says, handing me a cup of coffee. “You get any sleep?”
“A little.” I sigh, feeling a bit sore. Two times with Cole, and I should be sitting on a donut ring. “Cole is still sleeping. He’s really tired. Can you make sure no one wakes him?”
“Of course. And Frank arrived twenty minutes ago. He’s outside with Daniel if you want to speak with him.”
“Yes, I do. Thanks.”
She comes around the island and gives me a hug. “Please don’t leave us. We all love you.” She sniffs, letting me go.
My eyes prickle. “I love you too, Abigail.” And I do. Wow, I really do care a lot for this woman.
I pull on my coat and boots and head out. It’s snowing lightly as I make my way over to Frank and Daniel at the stables.
“Good morning,” I say, coming up behind them.
“Hello, Savannah,” Frank says. “Have you made your decision?”
Daniel takes off his knit hat, slips it over my head, then grants me a Logan smile. “I’ll see you indoors.”
Cole
Cole opens his eyes, feeling like something is off. His hand quickly does a swipe of the bed, and he jumps when he notices she’s gone. Shit! It is quarter to eight, and Frank was supposed to arrive at six thirty. He flips down the panel on the wall, enters the code, and races toward his bedroom. He needs to get some clothes.
Running down the stairs and into the kitchen, he finds his father and Abigail looking worried.
“Where is she?”
“Out by the stables,” Abigail says. “They’ve been talking for over an hour.”
Cole moves over to the window and spots them. Savannah has her back to the house, and Frank is nodding.
“Why didn’t someone wake me?” he asks, trying to think clearly.
“Savi wanted you to sleep.”
Of course, she did. He flops himself on a stool, thinking he can barely remember the last time he slept past seven a.m.
“There’s nothing you can do but wait,” Daniel says from behind him. “Looks like they’ll be a while, so go have a shower. You look like hell.”
After taking his Dad’s advice and grabbing a brief shower, he joins them back at the kitchen table. His mother hands him a plate of bacon and eggs. He rubs his head. This waiting is killing him.
“How did she seem last night?” his mother asks, sitting across from him.
“Confused. I can tell she doesn’t want to go.”
“She doesn’t,” Keith states, joining them. “She told me when we were walking out of the woods. She asked, ‘what if I don’t want to leave, what happens then?’”
Cole sags into his seat.
“She’s leaving because we’re all in danger,” Daniel says into his coffee mug. “She cares about us so much she’s willing to risk her own life to make sure we’re all right. She’s a pretty amazing woman.”
“We’re always in danger,” Keith huffs. “Never stopped us before.”
The front door opens, and they all stop talking. Savannah comes around the corner first, shivering from the cold.
Cole quickly pours her a cup of coffee. “You didn’t wake me.”
“You needed to sleep,” she says, reaching out and squeezing his arm. Her fingers are like ice. Just as she takes the mug, Frank enters the room.
“Well, your girl puts up one hell of a fight,” he says, pulling off his hat and sitting at the table. “I’m mentally fried.”
Cole leans back and holds onto the island as his stomach bottoms out again.
Frank makes a show of checking his watch. “I have to run into town. I’ll be back this evening with my men to transfer Agent York back to Washington.”
Savannah steps forward and shakes his hand. “Thank you.”
Everyone is quiet. After they hear him leave, all eyes are on her.
“Well,” she sighs, “I guess you’re stuck with me.”
Cole sags against the counter as everyone hurries to hug her. It feels like his feet are welded to the floor.
She turns and pushes up on her toes, whispering into his shoulder, “I didn’t want to leave this house, these guys, or you.”
The corners of his mouth lift as he leans down. “I wouldn’t let you, even if you tried.”
She turns toward him. They are so close he can feel her warm breath on his cheek. Cole glances around and sees everyone is busy. He leans in, giving her a light peck on her lips.
She tilts her head, surprised, but grants him a smile that reaches her eyes. He’s fallen.
Chapter Sixteen
Savannah
I push the cart slowly through the aisle.
“Okay, so, silver and gold?” Abigail asks as we enter the third Christmas store in a row.
Since I decided for a second time to stay at the house, I thought it was about time to decorate.
Abigail and June normally do a Christmas tree, but that’s about it. Not this year. If I’m staying, we are decorating just like Lynn and I did back in New York. Winter wonderland.
“And red,” I add as Abigail holds up a package of white, sparkly snowflakes. “Now, those are perfect. How many in a package?”
“Umm, twelve—oh, look, gold ones too.”
“Perfect. Grab three of each.”
She laughs and drops them into the cart.
“So, do you know how Melanie and Mark are doing?”
Abigail holds up some thick red ribbon. I nod while selecting boxes of ornaments and a red velvet tree skirt. “They’re doing really well, actually.” She beams. “He’s even talking to me about her now. He wants to invite her to the light show in town when we all attend.”
“Wow, kind of like meeting the family officially…again!” We break out laughing.
After three more stores, I am more than impressed with what we got. Paul shakes his head each time we come out with a cart full from each place.
“I’ll take you to Zack’s once I know you’re settled,” he says. “I’ll take off to the grocery store to save some time.”
“Okay…” I hesitate before giving him my list.
“What?”
“Just don’t substitute things.”
He smirks at me; we’ve been down this road before.
“When it says—”
“I know.” He snatches the list out of my hand. “When it says sharp cheese, don’t get medium cheese. Oh, I remember.” He chuckles and waves me into the SUV.
Zack is more than happy to see us. Our impromptu shopping trip didn’t allow us to give him a heads up that we were coming, and he falls all over himself with glee. Adam, remembering last time, seats us by the fireplace.
“Ladies! What an unexpected pleasure,” Zack sa
ys warmly. “Are you in town to do a little shopping?”
“Savannah wants to spread some Christmas cheer throughout the house, so we needed to buy some decorations.” Abigail smiles as she removes her coat.
“I think we bought the town,” I joke.
“Well, isn’t that fun!” He snaps his fingers at Adam. “A bottle of my personal favorite.” Adam rushes off toward the back. “You two sit back and let Zack take care of you.”
I smile. That seems to be his line with us. I am more than willing—he always makes the best food.
“Can I ask you something personal?” Abigail takes a sip of her water.
“Sure.”
“Who taught you how to play the piano?”
I clear my throat around the lump that comes whenever anyone mentions the subject. “My mother.”
“I thought so.”
“Why’s that?
She thinks for a moment. “You have a lot of emotion when you play. Would you tell me about her?”
“She was wonderful.” I shrug, then seeing she’s really interested, continue. “She was the kind of mother who would drop anything and play with you. She taught me how to bake, how to ride a bike, how to sing.” I can’t help but let out a chuckle. “She was the singer in the family. I just play the piano.”
“What about your—” she starts, turning red and fanning herself.
“Abby?” I look around the restaurant.
“No, look at me,” she says. “We’re just talking.”
“Yes, that’s what we’re doing.” I laugh, puzzled. Then I realize what’s putting her into a state.
“Hello, Savannah, Abigail. You both look lovely today.”
“Thanks, you too,” I say. “What are you up to today, Dr. Roberts?” I eye Abby, whose face is finally starting to return to her normal shade.
“I had to pick up some packages then decided to have a bite of lunch.”
“Please say you’ll join us,” I ask as Abigail’s eyes widen.
“Thank you, that sounds nice.”
Adam rushes a chair over for him. He must have been watching us.
“It can get lonely, eating every meal by yourself,” he admits as he settles in and glances at Abigail, who has yet to say anything. “That’s a lovely blouse, Abigail. It makes you shine.”
“Thank you.” She smiles coyly. “And I see you’re wearing your red tie.”
This time it is Doc Roberts who blushes. “Yes, well, it is my favorite.”
My jaw nearly drops when I realize they must be referring to last summer’s romance.
“So, Dr. Roberts, do you have any plans tomorrow night?” I feel badly that I’m breaking up their moment, but I am about to grant them another.
“I do believe I’m free.”
“Wonderful. Please join us for dinner. It’s Abigail’s night off—” She looks at me, puzzled. “And I’m in charge of cooking. Her sister, June, is in town, and I understand you’ve never met.”
“You have a night off?” He smiles at Abigail. “Well, how can I refuse?”
I have to press my lips together to hold back a yelp of joy. “Well, that’s great! Be there at five?”
He nods, and I see Abigail trying not to smile.
“Can you excuse me a minute? I need to use the restroom.” I decide these two can use a little private time.
I head for the restroom but get sidetracked by a newspaper sitting on the bar. I glance at the front page then begin reading the local news about the light festival.
I hear a chiming noise outside and look out the window, and I notice someone across the street. There is something familiar, but then he is gone. I freeze in place. Pushing the newspaper away from me, I squint, but it’s bright out with the snow. The moment I think I see him, a trolley comes by and he hops on, turning so his back is to me.
I open the front door and step outside. My mind is racing…his blue coat, red hat, blue coat, red hat. Continuing down the narrow, snow-covered sidewalk, I round the corner and see the man getting off at a bakery. I hurry across the street so quickly a car has to slam on its brakes. The driver shouts at me, but nothing registers in my urgency to follow this man. I slip into the bakery and look around at all the faces, then I see a blue coat draped over a chair, but the guy isn’t there.
“Umm, did you see the man who owns this jacket? Did you see what he looks like?” I ask the couple at the table next to the coat, but they both shrug, shaking their heads.
I turn to two women behind the cash register. “Where is the man who owns that jacket? Has he ordered yet? What does he look like?” I repeat urgently.
“Umm,” one of the young women stumbles, “I-I’m not sure. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, just think. Where is he?” I nearly shout at her. The whole place is looking at me when the bathroom door opens and a man comes out, checking his belt.
“That’s him,” the girl at the table calls out.
“It that your blue jacket?” I ask the man.
“Yes,” he answers.
Oh, God. I rub my head. What the hell was that, Savi? Talk about freaking out. I shake my head, feeling stupid.
“I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.” I start toward the door but look back.
“Excuse me,” I call out to him, “are you wearing a red hat today?”
“No, green.” He holds it up.
My stomach drops when I look at his jacket again. It’s different. It’s a pea coat. The other guy’s was a ski jacket. Shit.
I push the door open as someone steps in front of me. I hold the door for them, but they don’t move. I look up and see Paul peering down at me. Oh, shit…
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m sorry, I thought—” I shake my head. I don’t want to say I think I saw Jose Jorge. I’ll sound crazy, and they’ll probably add an extra hour to Dr. Roberts’s sessions. “I’m sorry.”
“You are damn lucky I found you when I did. Cole is—”
“You called Cole?” I snap. “I’ve been gone what, five minutes?”
“No, I called Keith, and you were gone fifteen.”
“Keith!” I toss my hands in the air as I walk around him. “That’s even worse!”
“How is that worse?” He hurries to catch up. “Look, you can’t run off on me like that.”
I stop and turn to him. “I didn’t run off on you. I just thought—” I shake my head. “Look, it won’t happen again. I’m sorry. Can we just forget about this?”
“Fine.”
Lunch goes fairly well after I dodge twenty questions about what happened. Dr. Roberts isn’t buying it, but at least he leaves it alone for now. He and Abigail appear much more relaxed with each other, and they both seem to be looking forward to tomorrow night’s dinner. I slowly come off my adrenaline rush, but the image of blue coat, red hat guy is burned into my memory. Somewhere deep down inside there’s a part of me that thinks it could be him.
Abigail fills me in on their conversation while I was away from the table. I guess he’s wanted to see her for a while now, but wasn’t sure if she felt the same way. Her face is positively glowing. I’ve never seen her so happy before. She hugs me as we walk to the car, thanking me for tomorrow night. The rest of the drive, she prattles on about this and that. I keep catching Paul watching me in the mirror.
Sinking into the couch while Abigail tells June about our day, I glance at all the bags, thinking I should probably get started with the decorating, but I don’t get up. Instead, I close my eyes, needing a minute to think. I hear someone clear their throat, and open my eyes to find Keith looking down at me. His arms are crossed, and he has the look of death on his face.
I hold up my arm. “Go ahead. Chip me.” He rolls his eyes.
“Oh, boy, would I love to,” he snickers. “Are you insane?”
“Possibly.” I sigh, covering my face with my arms. “Does Cole know?”
“Yes.” Of course. “He was there when Paul called.”
“And on a scale of one to ten?” I ask, peeking out.
“It was ten, but now I’d say an eight.”
I sigh again. I seem to be doing that a lot these days.
“He’s on a conference call, but I’m sure he’ll want to see you afterward.”
Oh, I bet.
Cole
Cole stares at the speakerphone. Frank is giving him the play-by-play on what happened after they left the house this afternoon. Reaching over for the crystal bottle of brandy, he pours himself a double. This shit is getting out of hand. He takes a drink, setting the glass down and flexing his hand—the hand that has been gripping his pen since Frank started his story.
“That’s un-fucking-believable!”
“Yeah, well, it was pretty intense.” Frank clears his throat. “I got to go. I’ll be in touch.”
“All right.” He rubs his face, feeling exhausted, when Abigail’s text comes up alerting him dinner is ready. He lets her know he won’t be joining them. He needs to make some calls—the first one to his father.
Cole doesn’t come out of his office until close to ten. Faint music reaches him as he walks down the hallway. He comes to an abrupt halt when he steps into the living room. Holy shit…
“Pretty amazing, hey?” June asks, handing him a rum and eggnog. “She’s been working on this all evening.”
Savannah is up on a ladder, putting a star on top of the Christmas tree. It is decorated in silver and gold with thick red ribbon wrapped all around it. A red velvet tree skirt lies underneath. The fireplace has garland outlining it, with lights strung through, and more red ribbon. A huge, tastefully-lighted, matching wreath hangs above it. Silver and gold sparkly snowflakes are hung at different lengths in each window. Candles are placed throughout, tying the whole room together. June points to the banister going up the stairs, which is covered in garland to match the fireplace. A big vase sits on the entryway table, containing a huge poinsettia. She even gave it a light dusting of glitter to make it sparkle like the rest of the place.
“Wow,” is all he can get out.
“Is everything all right, dear? You look stressed.”
He shakes his head. Now isn’t the time to get into things.