Cole(75)

“Nothing big. Just a get-together among friends.”

That didn’t appease my nerves.





Cole held my hand the next night, leading me into the restaurant he and I had gone to once before. I knew this wasn’t going to be anything like “nothing big.” The hostess led us past crowded tables, and conversations stopped. I remembered the feeling of being watched from the last time, but I’d been overwhelmed just being at dinner with a guy who wasn’t Liam. I couldn’t imagine how it was worse this time than then, but it was. My nerves were shot.

I kept my eyes forward, and halfway through the restaurant, Cole squeezed my hand. That helped. He was calm, and I tried to take on some of that. By the time we got to the back and started up to the second floor, I could breathe a little bit easier, though I still had a death grip on Cole’s hand. When we got to the second floor, he maneuvered us so I was first. He now walked behind me, and a second later, I realized why. His hand came to the small of my back, and he began rubbing small circles, comforting me.

The floor was empty except for a table set up beside a stone fireplace. Two people sat there. I recognized the man as Carter. He rose to shake Cole’s hand, his ice blue eyes resting on me the whole time.

Cole spoke to him, joking about something, and then he stepped away from my side to converse with the woman, who’d stood as well. She didn’t come around the table. She waited by her seat, smiling and laughing at whatever Cole said to her.

Meanwhile, there was me, feeling like an idiot.

“I’m Carter. It’s nice to meet you.” He held his hand out.

The rebellious kid I used to be wanted to cut tail and run. I didn’t know where she’d come from, but I shoved her down and shook his hand. It was strong and authoritative. Okay. I got it. He was protective of his family. I was having a hard time making eye contact. Cole’s eyes were dark. Pain mixed with playfulness in them, but they were always warm when they looked back at me.

Carter was different.

I saw death when I looked at him. He was guarded, cautious, serious, and when I turned to Emma, I wondered briefly if this was a joke. Were these two actually together? She had none of those qualities. She was beautiful, with dark hair that fell to her shoulders, and her smile lit up her face. She was more slender than me, but when she shook my hand, she wasn’t weak. Not at all. She was strong as hell.

She waved a hand to the chair beside Cole. “Please, have a seat, Addison. It’s so nice to meet you.” She sat back down, her eyes flicking to my right for a moment. “Cole’s spoken highly of you.”

He snorted, sitting beside me. His hand rested on my leg under the table. “Like I’d have anything negative to say. I’m dating her, Ems. What do you expect?”

“I know.” She pulled her cloth napkin out and folded it on her lap, jerking her head to the guy on her right. “You’ve never introduced us to a woman before. I’m pretty sure Carter scared the shit out of her. I’m trying to make her feel more welcome.”

Carter stiffened. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You don’t have to.” Emma laid her hand on top of his. She spoke with such love that I was taken aback for a second. “You have resting bitch face, honey.”

Cole laughed “RBF? Nah. It’s more like the cold killer face. Stone cold, Carter. Stone cold.”

The ends of Carter’s mouth turned down. “You guys are making fun of me.”

“Yeah.” Cole nodded. “That’s what family does. We tease each other.” He laid his arm on the back of my chair, his hand falling to rest on my shoulder. “Addison’s the only one who gets a break tonight. She’s just met you guys, and we’re too new. Well…” He watched me from the corner of his eye, holding back a grin. “No. I get to tease her, but not you guys. You have to be nice.”

A server came over and poured Cole a glass of wine before moving around to serve the rest of the table.

“Don’t fight it, Carter,” Cole said, raising his glass. “Teasing you is a privilege, one that I hold dear. It’s an honor to be able to make fun of the Cold Killer to his face.”

“Cole.” Carter’s eyes flashed a warning, darting to the server, then landing on me.

Cole took a sip before setting his glass down. He waited till the server left, then leaned over the table. “Really? You don’t think your own employees know what they used to call you?”

Emma had been quiet, but she started laughing now. “The look on your face. You look like you want to shoot Cole and hug him at the same time.”