Chapter 2
LUNA
I watch my landlord leave, waiting for Cole to turn around. I can’t believe Cole Kingston is standing before me. I’ve heard of him. Heck, I’ve heard of the whole family, but I’ve also heard that you don’t mess with them. And somehow, I just got all tangled up with the mafia king's son.
I muster up confidence that I’m not feeling and walk over to him, leaving Stone standing on the edge of the sidewalk. I look into Cole’s black eyes. “What just happened?”
He strokes his big tattooed hand down Leo’s back, and the traitorous cat purrs even louder. “I just bought the building.”
My heart is racing. “Why?”
He’s not used to being questioned, that much is obvious. I wait for him to tell me it’s none of my business, but he surprises me. “So you won’t have to deal with that asshole anymore.”
My heart is literally hammering in my chest. “But why? You don’t know me.”
He takes a step forward. His manly scent surrounds me, and my feet are cemented in place. He brushes a stray strand loose from my high ponytail, tucking it gently away from my face. My body trembles at the brief touch, and I bite my lip.
He tilts his head. “I thought this would make you happy.”
I stare into Cole’s black orbs. He’s not just watching me; it’s like he’s devouring me with his eyes, and my nipples harden from his heated gaze. I shake my head, trying to break the connection. “You can’t buy me. I’m not for sale.”
He takes a step toward me, his chest against mine, the cat cradled between us. I suck in a breath on contact. Being this close to him messes with all my senses, and I freeze, looking up at him.
He leans his head down, and his voice is huskier now. “I’m not trying to buy you. I’m making sure you’re safe.”
I clench my hands and step back. “I don’t have money for rent.”
He shrugs. “I don’t want your money.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Well, what do you want?”
A slow smile forms on his face, and he glances down my body and back up again. I should feel dirty or upset or something, but all I feel is hot… in all the wrong places. There’s a pull in my lower belly, and I stutter out the words almost breathlessly. “Like I said, I’m not for sale.”
I wish I could say I said it with confidence, but it comes out more of a question than anything.
The smirk never leaves his face, and I see the challenge in his eyes.
He strokes Leo’s back slowly. “I didn’t ask you for anything.
I bought the building.” He looks behind us to the brick building.
“Is the animal shelter the only occupant?”
I shake my head. “There’s a small apartment too.”
His head jerks back to me. “An apartment? Tell me you don’t live there,” he demands.
I lift my chin. “I live there.”
His face falls, and I see the judgment on his face. Instantly on the defense, I put my hands on my hips. “You arrogant ass… Not everyone has money like you do and—”
He steps toward me and puts a big, tattooed hand on my shoulder.
I see the black lines peeking out his sleeve and the neck of his collar.
It makes me want to unbutton his shirt just so I can see the intricate designs, but I fist my hands instead.
I’m being crazy now. I’m not going to be undressing Cole Kingston.
His hand slides from my shoulder to the side of my neck. “What was that look? Your cheeks are red. What are you thinking about?”
I feel the heat on my face, but instead of answering, I shake my head.
Stone clears his throat behind me. “Cole. Your father is waiting.”
And just like that, Cole’s softened expression hardens instantly. He turns to Stone. I’m not sure if the man is Cole’s driver, bodyguard, or maybe even both. Cole gestures to the car. “Go on. I’ll be right there.”
It’s obvious Stone doesn’t want to leave, but after Cole glares at him long enough, he walks over to the car.
As soon as he’s gone, Cole looks at me, almost pleadingly. “I want to see you.”
My eyes widen. “Well, uh, I’ll have your rent in a few days. I’m working at the diner tonight, and I’ll make enough in tips to cover the rest of it.”
Confused, he shakes his head. “I thought you worked at the animal shelter.”
I nod. “I do. But I work at the diner to pay rent and buy food for the animals.”
He stiffens. “What diner?”
I gesture across the street. “The Old Town Diner.”
His jaw tightens, and he shakes his head as he curses. “Fuck.”
I hold my hands out for Leo. “Can I have my cat now?”
He continues stroking it. “I think Leo likes me.”
I glare at the cat because I can hear him purring from here. Traitor.
He lifts Leo and gently places the cat in my arms.
I hold him to me, wanting and needing something to hold on to.
I gesture to the brick building behind me. “Thank you for giving me some time with all this. And thank you for helping me. I’m sure this was the last thing you needed to do today.”
A phone rings, and Cole pulls it from the pocket of his jacket. “Fuck,” he murmurs. With regret, he shakes his head. “I gotta go. I’m sorry.”
I wave him off. “No, I get it. Go. I’m fine… because of you.”
He opens his mouth to say something and then slams it shut when his phone starts to ring again. He brings the phone up to his ear. “I’m on my way, Father.”
My eyebrows skyrocket as he hangs up the phone without saying goodbye or anything. He pockets the phone. “I gotta go.”
I nod and hold Leo a little tighter. “Bye, Cole Kingston.”
He looks like he doesn’t want to walk away, and for just a second, I wonder if he’s going to request my number or maybe even ask me out on a date or something. But instead, he just lets out a gruff breath. “Bye, Luna.”
He walks away, and I wait for him to turn back to me, but he doesn’t, not once.
I stand on the sidewalk, watching the blacked-out SUV drive away.
Leo has stopped purring and stretches in my arms. I hold on to him, nuzzling my face against his soft fur and inhaling Cole’s cologne that must have rubbed off on him.
I let out a breath. “Well, Leo, that’s that. It’s time for us to get back inside or I’m going to be late for my shift at the diner.”
He meows like he understands me and doesn’t like what I’m saying. I chuckle. “Yeah, I know, it stinks, but if you want to eat this week, I gotta get to work.”
I glance down the street one more time and then walk inside the shelter and back into real life. Yeah, Cole Kingston saved me temporarily, but that’s all this was.
He may have bought the building, may have pushed back the clock a little bit to give me a little more time, but that doesn’t change anything.
My life is early mornings and late nights.
Dogs barking, meowing cats, and grease stains from my shifts at the diner.
My life is about counting tips and stretching a dollar.
Cole lives in a world I know nothing about.
There’s no reason I should even daydream about what it would be like to be held in his arms. I square my shoulders, set Leo down, and get back to work.
This is my life, and even though it’s nothing glamorous, I have animals depending on me, and I’m going to make the most of it.