Chapter 21
POV: Abby?
I felt like I was breaking through the parts that he tried to keep hidden—controlled—closed off.
Cole had begun showing me a different side of him—a warmer side, though he still had his rough streaks—his possessive streaks—his need for control—and his need to stay aloof despite his clear emotions.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t break through him—not completely.
Though, I desperately wanted to see that vulnerable side of him—the part of him that wanted to actually feel things for me and the part of him that regarded me as more than just ’his”---a simple possession.
But I knew that Cole was a complicated man, and his emotions weren’t any different.
I set down a beer in front of one of the locals and smiled. “Here you go, Sam.”
Sam was an older man, a farmer by trade and someone I’ve known for the better half of my life.
Sam noticed my preoccupation with the door and let out a heavy laugh, shaking his head.
I raised an eyebrow.
“You’re staring at that door as if you’re waiting for somebody,” he replied.
Even Sam noticed.
I offered a nervous smile, “I guess I’m just waiting for trouble because it’s Saturday night.”
“Your dad coming in?” he asked.
“No, he hurt his back moving some stock last night, so he’s trusting me to run the bar.” I patted the counter. At least Viv opened and Tony will stay until right before closing with me.
“You’ll make him proud,” he told me, lifting his beer to the air as encouragement.
I smiled at him as my eyes drifted back to the door. “Thanks, Sam. I’ll need it.”
And in he walked, like a goddamn savior through a crowded bar.
Cole.
He sat down at the furthest corner of the bar, as he usually did and watched me intently, silently.
I decided to let him sweat a little and let Viv serve him.
She stopped by with his bourbon in hand and gave me a look, “Would you like to take this to him?
I laughed, shaking my head, not looking his way. “Nah, can’t seem too eager, can I?”
She gave me a wink. “And that’s why you’ll keep him. Always torturing that man and making him want you.”
“I have other ways to keep him interested,” I reminded Viv.
She pretended to throw up in her mouth. “Keep those to yourself, honey.”
I laughed, tilting my head back and catching a glimpse of Cole out of the corner of my eye.
The way he looked at me always sent shivers down my spine.
But I decided to keep ignoring him, as long as I could, but not too long.
30 minutes went by and I decided that I’d tortured him long enough.
I walked over slowly, shaking my hips as I did, making sure that I flashed a bit of my upper thigh as my dress moved.
Cole almost had lock jaw by the time I made it over to him.
He leaned back in the wooden chair and it seemed like he could break it with a heavy enough shift.
“You can quit your pouting now,” I replied, staring him down.
His lips twisted, but his cold eyes stayed on me. “I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
“I know,” I smirked. “That’s why I purposefully did it.”
He studied me and I could feel him undressing me with his eyes. “Then you’ll learn.”
“I’ll learn?” I rolled my eyes, straightening my shoulders and crossing my arms as I stared him down.
“I’ll have to teach you.”
“Teach me now?” I scoffed.
His jaw ticked, as a slight smile curved at his lips. He bit down on the toothpick dangling on the corner of his mouth. “Teach you how to behave.”
“I’m sure you will,” I teased, twirling as I walked away from him and towards the new customers that had just gathered at the opposite end of the bar.
A group of rowdy men gathered at the corner of the bar. They looked like they were in their mid-twenties and cowboy wannabies who probably came down here for a bachelor trip or something.
“Hey boys, what can I get you?” I asked.
The taller of the five spoke up, puffing out his chest as he did, looking me over as if he had the right to.
“Anything?” I asked again, hoping he’d get the hint.
I knew Cole would be pissed and I’m sure he was watching our interaction now.
“5 shots of Jack, and your number,” he shot me a cocky smile.
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll bring you 5 shots then.”
“What’s the matter, baby?” he leaned forward, reaching out to grasp my hand but I took a step back just in time. “I work here and that doesn’t mean you can touch me just because you’re buying something.” I shot him a look and stomped away.
I shot Cole a look from across the bar, but he was already fuming.
“I’m fine,” I mouthed, hoping it would cool him down.
But as I poured the shots and set them down in front of the men, the cocky one, the one who couldn’t catch a hint, grabbed me by my wrist.
“Let me go!”
“Not until I get your number, baby.”
Before I could even attempt to break free from his grasp, the man was picked up off the floor and slammed onto the ground by Cole.
The whole thing happened in a matter of seconds—Cole’s boot on his throat, Cole’s fist to his face, Cole punching a few of his overly zealous friends.
And before I could stop it, Cole was ready to hit him again, “I’ll break your hand if you so much as glance at my woman again.”
My woman.
Before I knew it, the men ran out of the bar as fast as they could. But not before Cole forced them to pay $100, much much more than what they owed.
Everyone in the bar was staring at us, but Cole didn’t care. Because all he was looking at was me.
“Everyone is staring at us,” I reminded him, feeling myself redden.
He smiled. “Let them. They’ll know who you belong to.”
My heart beamed with pride.
Because maybe just maybe, Cole was changing and maybe just maybe he was accepting his emotions.