go talk to you? I was a sure thing, so he goes up to you and says… what?” I can’t even imagine why Jesse would do that. It makes no sense. Irritation sh o ots through me. I don’t wait for him to answer. I do my shot and slam it on the bar, before stand ing, and saying, “You know what? I don’t care.” I turn to leave, but Cole grabs my wrist.
He holds on tight, like I’ll die if he lets go. “He told me that you love me. He said he might have your body, but your heart is somewhere else, with someone else.” Cole releases my arm and I freeze.
I can’t move. I speak without thinking, “Why would Jesse say that? Why would he do that?”
“Because he loves you. He wants you to be happy, even if it isn’t with him.”
Mortified, I stare at the floor, refusing to meet Cole’s gaze. This can’t be happening. I feel a tremor rock through my body. I feel the cool night air against my hot skin. I feel Cole’s dark gaze burning a hole in the side of my face, but I remain rigid. I can’t move. Neither of us says anything. Neither of us moves. I don’t know if I want the moment to end or drag on forever. Suddenly, I ask, “Are you following me?”
He nods, “Yes.”
Shocked, I ask, “Why?”
“I wanted to tell you something, but I needed to know the answer to something first. I’d walk to your apartment or come in here, hoping to run into you, but I didn’t get lucky until last night.” I don’t respond. I can’t find my voice. My knees are jelly and the fuck-me heels are thinking about making me bend over a stool every time Cole’s voice caresses my ears. “Tonight was different. I didn’t follow you and him. I wouldn’t do that to you. It was a coincidence. I was out with my lawyer going over t estimonies for the hearing and your name is on the witness list for Sottero . When I saw it, I lost my mind. Then , I look up and there you are, beautiful and blind ing ly sexy. God, every man in the room wanted you.”
“Not every man,” I breathe. “Not the one I want.” My words free me and I can move. I don ’t look at him. I step away , expecting Cole to say my name, but he lets me leave. My eyes are on the floor as I walk to the door. Suddenly someone is in front of me. When I glance up, I suck in air, startled t o see Cole .
His eyes lock with mine, pinning me in place. “That’s not true.” My heart rate jumps, but I can’t speak. Cole’s blue eyes are filled with emotion. He moves to touch me and then acts like he thinks better of it. He swallows hard and says, “ Every man wanted you. Every man in this room wants you .” My heart is soaring, but I yank it back like a kite caught in a wild wind, fearful that it’ll break apart.
“Desire isn’t e nough. I’m sorry.” I push past him. The bouncer holds open the door. I look into his face and nod, noticing the sheen in his eyes.
I wrap my arms around my waist and walk faster. It makes my boobs climb up my throat , but I don’t care. I want this night to end. I can’t take another second of it. As tears streak my face, I hear footfalls race up behind me. A hand touches my shoulder, and I whirl around, ready to scream.
Col e’s breathing hard, like he’d run after me. “How do you feel about me?”
“I already told you, and I’m not saying it again. No matter how demented you think I am , I have no desire for you to rip my heart out again. Leave me alone, Cole. Go fuck with some other girl’s mind.”
Col e presses his eyes closed, and his lips crush together. I turn away.
He doesn’t move. Cole doesn’t follow me . When I hear his voice, I feel it float over me and course throug h me like Cole is a part of me, “I love you, Anna.”
CHAPTER 11
My spine goes straight as I turn slowly, my hands falling to my sides. Shock lines my face. I stare at him. “I didn’t want you pulled into the crap with Sottero . I didn’t want you to think I was wealthy and then find out I had nothing. It felt
He holds on tight, like I’ll die if he lets go. “He told me that you love me. He said he might have your body, but your heart is somewhere else, with someone else.” Cole releases my arm and I freeze.
I can’t move. I speak without thinking, “Why would Jesse say that? Why would he do that?”
“Because he loves you. He wants you to be happy, even if it isn’t with him.”
Mortified, I stare at the floor, refusing to meet Cole’s gaze. This can’t be happening. I feel a tremor rock through my body. I feel the cool night air against my hot skin. I feel Cole’s dark gaze burning a hole in the side of my face, but I remain rigid. I can’t move. Neither of us says anything. Neither of us moves. I don’t know if I want the moment to end or drag on forever. Suddenly, I ask, “Are you following me?”
He nods, “Yes.”
Shocked, I ask, “Why?”
“I wanted to tell you something, but I needed to know the answer to something first. I’d walk to your apartment or come in here, hoping to run into you, but I didn’t get lucky until last night.” I don’t respond. I can’t find my voice. My knees are jelly and the fuck-me heels are thinking about making me bend over a stool every time Cole’s voice caresses my ears. “Tonight was different. I didn’t follow you and him. I wouldn’t do that to you. It was a coincidence. I was out with my lawyer going over t estimonies for the hearing and your name is on the witness list for Sottero . When I saw it, I lost my mind. Then , I look up and there you are, beautiful and blind ing ly sexy. God, every man in the room wanted you.”
“Not every man,” I breathe. “Not the one I want.” My words free me and I can move. I don ’t look at him. I step away , expecting Cole to say my name, but he lets me leave. My eyes are on the floor as I walk to the door. Suddenly someone is in front of me. When I glance up, I suck in air, startled t o see Cole .
His eyes lock with mine, pinning me in place. “That’s not true.” My heart rate jumps, but I can’t speak. Cole’s blue eyes are filled with emotion. He moves to touch me and then acts like he thinks better of it. He swallows hard and says, “ Every man wanted you. Every man in this room wants you .” My heart is soaring, but I yank it back like a kite caught in a wild wind, fearful that it’ll break apart.
“Desire isn’t e nough. I’m sorry.” I push past him. The bouncer holds open the door. I look into his face and nod, noticing the sheen in his eyes.
I wrap my arms around my waist and walk faster. It makes my boobs climb up my throat , but I don’t care. I want this night to end. I can’t take another second of it. As tears streak my face, I hear footfalls race up behind me. A hand touches my shoulder, and I whirl around, ready to scream.
Col e’s breathing hard, like he’d run after me. “How do you feel about me?”
“I already told you, and I’m not saying it again. No matter how demented you think I am , I have no desire for you to rip my heart out again. Leave me alone, Cole. Go fuck with some other girl’s mind.”
Col e presses his eyes closed, and his lips crush together. I turn away.
He doesn’t move. Cole doesn’t follow me . When I hear his voice, I feel it float over me and course throug h me like Cole is a part of me, “I love you, Anna.”
CHAPTER 11
My spine goes straight as I turn slowly, my hands falling to my sides. Shock lines my face. I stare at him. “I didn’t want you pulled into the crap with Sottero . I didn’t want you to think I was wealthy and then find out I had nothing. It felt
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