Cole considered my answer, nodded to the chair across from him. “Join me.”
A dinner alone with Cole would only lead to bad, bad things. “Oh, gosh. That’s nice, but I was planning on curling up on my couch with a good movie.” I lifted my arm in case he hadn’t noticed the to-go bag dangling from my fingers.
“Natalie. Don’t make a guy beg. I hate eating alone. Besides, it’d be a shame to hide in your apartment when you look so pretty.”
I looked down at my denim jacket, thigh-length sweater, worn leggings, and Moto boots. I hadn’t washed my hair all weekend, and forget about makeup.
“It’s cold and dreary outside. I just want to take off my bra, curl up on the couch, and binge watch Ray Donovan.” And pout, I left unsaid, feeling sorry for myself because Lacey had spent every waking moment with Ellis since the day after Christmas.
“Sounds fun.” He gave me a once-over, not inappropriate by any means, more like he was trying to figure me out. “But here, you can eat with a quasi-handsome gentleman who happens to be good at conversation.”
He made a good point. And he was far more attractive than Liev Schreiber, and that was saying a lot. “Okay. Yeah. Why not?” I made myself comfortable in the chair opposite Cole’s and arranged my Styrofoam containers on the table, popping the lids and savoring the garlic aroma.
“And for the record, you’re more than quasi-handsome,” burst from my lips like a shaken can of soda exploding all over the room, leaving a sticky mess.
“Yeah?” he countered with double dimples, knocking me for a loop.
“Definitely.” Good Lord! I couldn’t stop myself, and I needed to stop.
He belonged to another. Victoria of all people. The scar on my forehead itched, a sobering reminder of the situation.
Rubbing the annoying tingle with the back of my hand, I asked, “Buy any new buildings today?”
A sly grin. “As a matter of fact, I did.” His eyes sparkled, swirling with pride.
“You should be celebrating.”
“I am.” His gaze slid to the table.
He was lonely. Just like me. God, how I wanted to throw my arms around that solid neck and kiss some joy back into his sullen gaze. Instead, I asked, “This is celebrating?”
“Sure.” He gestured to his food, then me. “Good food. Great company.”
Our gazes locked for longer than appropriate, and I heated in places that should be immune to his charm.
Cole cleared his throat, breaking the spell. “I don’t enjoy going out. I’d rather stay in, celebrate on the couch with a good movie, cold beer, my lady, clothing optional, of course.” He shot me a wink.
I tried to dodge the damn thing, but he gave good flirt, and that wink, innocent or not, hit my chest dead center.
Won’t lie. I liked that he flirted with me. I loved that Victoria’s fiancé was paying attention to me, the girl she’d tormented, the girl she’d stolen friends and boyfriends from, the girl she’d tried to break.
Were I a lesser woman, I would’ve played our mutual attraction to the bitter end, taken a bat to Victoria’s chance at a happily ever after.
But I wasn’t that person.
I would not continue the cycle.
I would deflect the flirt.
“Martin talks about your exciting adventures all over the world, all the fancy parties, swank hotels, and whatnot.”
Cole’s grin faded. The mention of his best friend, whom I happened to be dating, deflated our nice little bubble.
Leaning closer, he confessed, “Honestly? The guys love that shit, so I go along for the ride.”
“And you front the bill.”
He quirked his head, thrown by my blatant observation. “Martin tell you that?”
“No. Figured that one out all on my own.”
“They’re not using me if that’s what you think.”
“I don’t.” I didn’t believe his friends were using him, anyway. Victoria? Entirely different story.
“Good. It’s not like that between us. We grew up together. Been through hell and back together. I have more money than I can spend in two lifetimes. If they want to blow off steam once in a while, I’m happy to oblige.”
“Yeah. I could tell that about you.”
“How?”
“You’re swimming in dough, yet you’re sitting in this hole in the wall while your fiancée is on her way to Maui with your best friend via your private jet.”
“That’s his jet, not mine.”
“No, it isn’t. It’s yours. Martin told me you like to say it’s his since he’s the only person you let pilot the damn thing.”
“Okay, fine. Busted.”
“You don’t need to talk him up, ya know. I like him already.”
Cole hit me with a hard, unfocused glare. “He’s a good guy.” He blinked. Nodded. Poked at his rice. “Needs to find a good woman.”
Sinful, I know, but I didn’t want Victoria or Martin soiling my conversation with Cole, so I changed the subject matter to more mundane topics. He wasn’t only gorgeous to the eye, he was beautiful on the inside, too, and fun to talk with. I learned about his favorite charities. There were seven that he supported. His music depended on his mood. Lime green was his favorite color. We both hated cats, but while Cole loved big dogs, I was partial to smaller breeds. He moved back to Seattle to raise his family close to his parents, whom he seemed to love and respect deeply.
Cole didn’t look at his cell once throughout dinner. My phone buzzed relentlessly. Unknown caller. If I answered, a certain jilted lover would be on the other end.
“You sure you don’t need to get that?” Cole asked, collecting our garbage from the table.
“I absolutely do not want to answer those calls.”
He stood taller, searing me with the heat of his glare. “Your ex still bothering you?”
I melted into a puddle on the worn linoleum, exhausted by the turn my life had taken since the whole coffee shop incident. “He’s relentless.”
Cole stared
