10. Cole
COLE
T he drive to the lake house wasn’t peaceful.
Tori sat beside me, her hands twisting in her lap as she looked out the window, her lips pressed together in a tight line.
I could feel the tension radiating from her, and I knew she wasn’t going to stay quiet for long.
Finally, she turned to me, her voice soft but edged with hurt.
“Cole, I know you were trying to help, but hiring a bodyguard without telling me?”
I tightened my grip on the wheel.
“Marcus is a threat, Tori. I was just worried about you,” I told her.
She let out a breath, her fingers now fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.
“I understand that. I do. And I’m not saying I don’t appreciate the gesture. But Cole, don’t you see how this could make me feel like I’m not in control of my own life?” Tori asked.
I sighed, taking in her words. She was right; I could see that now.
“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice softer. “I should have been upfront with you. I should’ve trusted you enough to tell you what I was planning, let you be part of that decision. You have every right to feel betrayed.”
She looked down, biting her lip, and I could tell she was thinking.
Then, after a moment, she said, “I came here, despite how I feel, because I want to hear your side of things, and I want to give you a chance. I just… I need to know that you’re willing to be honest with me.”
I reached over, resting a hand over hers.
“I will be, Tori. I don’t want to keep anything from you again. From now on, it’s total honesty, no more hidden plans. I promise,” I told her.
Her gaze softened, and she nodded, but I could still see the hurt lingering in her eyes.
It wasn’t something that would disappear in a day, but she was here, and she was giving me that chance.
It was more than I deserved, and I wasn’t going to waste it.
The conversation shifted into a heavy silence.
I steered us along the winding road past fields of golden wheat that gave way to dense, tall trees.
I glanced over at her, noting how she’d turned back to the window, watching the trees blur by.
Matters between us had been somewhat settled—for now.
But as we continued driving, I noticed she kept glancing down at her phone.
She was doing her best to hide it, but every few minutes, she’d pick it up, swipe the screen.
Then she’d set it back down, only to reach for it again.
I couldn’t hold back my curiosity any longer.
“Everything okay?” I asked.
She hesitated, her fingers resting on her phone before she turned to me, her expression a mix of hesitation and something else I couldn’t quite place.
“It’s… Candy. I’m just reminding her about a big shipment coming in for the boutique. I don’t want her to feel overwhelmed with everything while I’m gone,” she explained.
I chuckled softly.
“Candy seems capable. I’m sure the store will be fine without you for a weekend,” I said.
She let out a small laugh, but I could tell she was still a little on edge.
Tori tucked her phone away and looked out the window again, the tension in her shoulders slowly easing.
“I’m just…nervous, I guess,” Tori admitted.
“About meeting my family?” I reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“Maybe,” she admitted, tracing her finger along the seam of her jeans. “You know, this feels…big.”
It did feel big. And a part of me wondered if this was all too soon. But the thought faded as quickly as it came.
This was Tori, and I wanted her here with me, wanted my family to know her.
The way her fingers slipped into mine and held on reassured me.
“Just be yourself,” I said. “They’re going to love you.”
The lake house appeared in the distance.
It was nestled against the water, surrounded by pines and maple trees that painted the shoreline in shades of gold and red.
I watched her eyes widen a little as we pulled in.
Tori swept her gaze over the sprawling two-story cabin that had seen generations of memories.
As we parked, my brothers Christian and Keir were already waiting outside, leaning against the porch railing.
Lacey, my younger sister, came out next, wearing one of Tori’s dresses from the boutique, the vibrant color standing out against the rustic woods.
“Hey!” Lacey waved, jogging down the steps to meet us as we climbed out of the car.
She didn’t wait for introductions, her eyes lighting up as she took Tori’s hand and pulled her into a warm hug.
“You’re Tori! Cole’s never brought anyone home before. Not like this, at least,” Lacey said.
“Lacey, chill,” I said, rolling my eyes.
But Lacey just grinned, giving Tori a nudge.
“Nice to meet you, Lacey,” Tori replied, laughing, though I could tell she was a little taken aback by the warm welcome.
My dad, Maxwell, walked out then, his usual serious expression softening as he approached.
“Cole,” he nodded at me, his gaze shifting to Tori. “And you must be Tori.”
She nodded, her voice quiet but steady as she introduced herself, and he shook her hand with a reserved but respectful smile.
Dad had always been the strong, silent type, especially since Mom passed away when we much younger.
But I could tell by the way he looked at her that he approved.
Christian and Keir, on the other hand, kept their cool as they exchanged introductions with Tori.
But I didn’t miss the way Christian’s gaze lingered just a bit longer, clearly curious about her.
“You’re the woman behind Lacey’s new favorite wardrobe?” Christian asked, his brows raised as he gave Lacey a teasing nudge.
“I don’t think I’ve seen her wear anything else since she started shopping there,” Christian added.
“Guilty,” Tori said with a grin. “But she makes everything look amazing, so I can’t take all the credit.”
We headed inside, where Tori and I settled into a guest room with a sprawling view of the lake.
The room had been made up perfectly with warm blankets and cozy furnishings.
A hint of the pine-scented candles Lacey loved so much filled the space.
Tori glanced around, a look of relief and happiness in her eyes.
“Comfortable?” I asked, watching her take it all in.
She nodded, her smile softening. “Yeah. It’s beautiful here.”
Later, as the sun began to dip low over the trees, we all gathered around the long oak table in the dining room.
Dinner was warm and filling—roasted vegetables, perfectly seasoned chicken, and the mashed potatoes my dad insisted on making himself every year.
Tori sat next to me, gradually relaxing, her laughter mingling with Lacey’s as the two of them swapped stories about their love for design.
My brothers kept a watchful, albeit teasing, eye on her.
I could tell by the time dessert arrived—a homemade apple pie Lacey had baked just for the occasion—that Tori was feeling at home.
I reached over to take her hand under the table, giving it a light squeeze, and she shot me a grateful smile.
“Alright, Tori,” Christian said, leaning back with a smirk. “Now that you’re here, you need to know one thing about Cole.”
She raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.
Christian grinned.
“This guy,” he said, pointing a thumb in my direction, “pretends to be all serious and composed. But growing up? He was the worst at keeping any secret.”
Tori’s laugh lit up the room, her eyes sparkling as she glanced at me. “I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true,” I said, shrugging. “There are some things better left in childhood.”
Keir leaned forward, unable to resist adding to the teasing. “Just you wait. He’s bound to crack under pressure sometime.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” Tori replied, giving me a playful nudge.
Dinner soon wrapped up, and as the family moved to the living room, Tori and I slipped out onto the deck.
The night was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of leaves and the soft lapping of water against the shore.
She leaned on the railing, her gaze sweeping over the lake, the stars reflected like tiny, glimmering lights on the water’s surface.
“I think they liked you,” I murmured, moving beside her, my hand finding the small of her back.
“They’re wonderful,” she replied softly, her cheeks pink in the moonlight. “I can see why you’re so close to them.”
There was a hint of wistfulness in her voice.
I knew Tori no longer had any family. Both her parents had passed away while she was a sophomore in college.
I brushed a strand of hair from her face, letting my fingers linger a little longer than necessary.
“Thank you for coming. I know it must have been a little overwhelming,” I told her.
“It was,” she admitted, “but I feel…happy. Comfortable, even. And I don’t feel that often.”
Hearing that hit me with an unexpected tenderness.
She was finally letting her guard down, and I wanted to make sure she knew it was safe with me.
Gently, I turned her to face me, one hand sliding to rest on her waist.
Her gaze flickered up to meet mine, a mixture of vulnerability and anticipation in her eyes.
“Can I kiss you, Tori?” I asked.
She nodded, her breath catching, and I didn’t waste a second.
I leaned in, brushing my lips against hers, savoring the moment as the world faded away.
She pressed closer, her hands finding my shoulders as our kiss deepened.
When we finally broke apart, I rested my forehead against hers, my heart pounding.
“You have no idea how much you mean to me,” I murmured.
Her fingers brushed lightly against my cheek, and she said, “I think I’m beginning to understand.”
Just as things were starting to heat up between Tori and me, I heard Keir calling us in from the porch.
He and Lacey had taken it upon themselves to declare a family card game to end the night.
Tori smiled, pulling back slightly. “Guess we’re needed.”
I brushed a thumb across her cheek, reluctant to let the moment go.
“We’ll have plenty of time tomorrow. I can’t wait for our hike,” I told her.
Her face lit up, though she shook her head with a laugh.
“Just a fair warning—I haven’t hiked since college,” Tori said.
“That’s alright,” I assured her. “We’ll take an easy trail and enjoy the views.”
She grinned, her eyes shining, before taking my hand, and we headed back inside.
Lacey immediately pounced on her, dragging her over to the couch, apparently needing her opinion on a dispute she and Keir were having.
Dad had retired to bed, but Christian was in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge.
As I stepped in to grab a beer, he glanced over, raising an eyebrow.
“So things are going smoothly between you and Tori, huh?” Christian asked.
I nodded, twisting open the cap on my drink. “Yeah, they are.”
Christian leaned against the counter, crossing his arms with a knowing smile.
“And…does she know about the bodyguard?” Christian asked.
I sighed, taking a long pull from my beer.
“Yeah, she found out after her ex showed up at her shop, and Aden stepped in. It wasn’t exactly the way I’d wanted her to find out, but…we talked things out,” I said.
“So, she’s cool with it?” He looked skeptical, scratching his chin. “Most women would’ve been put off, I think.”
I gave a small shrug, feeling the weight of the whole situation with Tori settle on my shoulders.
“I managed to calm things down. And that’s why this weekend is so important. I need her to see this side of my life, with you guys, with family. I want her to know I’m not just some over-possessive jerk,” I said.
Christian watched me carefully, studying my face. After a moment, he gave a small nod.
“I get it, man. She seems comfortable here. Like she fits. Maybe she’s already a keeper,” Christian said.
I swallowed, his words resonating more than I wanted to admit.
My gut told me he was right. I just hadn’t wanted to acknowledge it until now.
“Guess we’ll see,” I said, trying to keep my voice light.
Just then, Lacey called out, asking if we were going to join the game or stand around drinking beer all night.
Christian laughed, giving me a friendly shove toward the living room.
“Come on, lover boy. Let’s see if your luck with Tori holds up in cards too,” Christian said.
With a grin, I followed him back to the living room, where Tori was comfortably nestled between Lacey and Keir, already in the thick of the family chaos.