Luca appeared beside him. “Didn’t look like that went too well.”
“She has got to be the most stubborn woman on the planet.” Cole’s gaze fell to the slightly mangled cookie. He picked it up and took a bite.
“Fighting with Amber makes you hungry?”
“It makes me something, that’s for sure.”
He crunched down on the sweetness. Fighting made him want to grab her and squeeze her tight, kiss her hard and press their bodies together. It didn’t matter what insanity swirled around them, he couldn’t forget the night they’d made love, and he couldn’t quell the overriding urge to do it all over again.
* * *
Amber wasn’t going to crack.
It was nearly ten o’clock at night. Zachary had barely napped during the afternoon. He’d fussed through dinner and pouted through his bath. She’d even given him an extra bottle, going through their entire bedtime routine a second time in the hope he’d catch on.
Now he was in his crib, kicking his feet and sobbing. His covers were on the floor. His head was sweaty, and his hands were wrapped tightly around the painted bars.
Her phone rang over the noise, and for a crazy second she hoped it was Cole. If he called her and asked to come over, it wasn’t the same as giving in, was it?
Unfortunately, the number was Destiny’s.
She moved into the hallway, and Zachary’s cries increased behind her.
“Hi,” she said into the phone.
“How’re you doing?”
“Not great.”
“Is that Zachary?”
Amber leaned against the wall of the hallway, sliding down to sit on the plush carpet. “He doesn’t want to settle.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault. Not even his fault. Honestly, I feel like sobbing right along with him.”
“Luca said you saw Cole today?”
Amber knew she should remember his annoying behavior, her anger and his new set of lies. But instead she remembered his touch, his voice and those now-familiar gray eyes.
“At the kids’ party,” she answered Destiny. “Wait, when did you see Luca?”
“Earlier tonight.”
“Why?” What was going on?
“Nothing’s going on. I like Luca, Amber. I’m not giving him any information. He’s not even trying to ask. We both know we have to be circumspect.”
Amber clunked her head back against the cool wall. “I’m sorry. You’re entitled to a personal life.”
“He did say something, though.”
“What’s that?”
“He said that by not helping Cole, you’re de facto helping Roth.”