Chapter 64 Freya
FREYA
My heart is in my throat as Cole pulls out of the parking garage. As soon as we turn the corner, my eyes are glued to the sidewalk, waiting to see if there is still a crowd.
To my surprise and delight, there isn’t.
Maybe hiding worked. Or maybe they’re being less obvious. We all know how sneaky they can be to snag the million-dollar picture.
“See, I told you everything is fine.”
“Was it like this earlier when you went to work?”
“There were a few people loitering around, but it’s fewer and fewer every day. If we’re not feeding the gossip, someone else out there will be.”
I mutter an agreement. It’s still probably Rowan. He didn’t get the reaction out of us that he wanted, so he’s probably trying a different angle.
If there was a single inch of me that cared, I might have a look online. But those days have long gone.
He is a part of my past that I would like to keep back there, where it belongs.
My future is right here, holding my hand as he drives effortlessly across town.
Cole is wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt pushed up to his elbows, showing off his corded forearms, and he’s wearing a dark, ripped pair of jeans that look like they were molded to his ass and thighs. He really is devastatingly hot. And he is all mine.
A shot of excitement goes through me, and I can’t stop my smile.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Cole rasps.
My cheeks blaze, but I refuse to hide behind my embarrassment.
“Thinking about you.”
His own lips twitch into a smile. “Is that right? A certain part of me or…” He trails off, making me laugh.
“Are you digging for a compliment, Mr. Hansley?”
“I mean, if you’re handing them out, my ego will certainly appreciate it.”
“Your ego doesn’t need any kind of boosting.”
“Maybe not, but I’d love to know what thoughts have your cheeks blazing like that.”
“It’s just you. All of you.”
“So not just the part that makes you scream my name?”
“I do like that part,” I tease. “But I like your tongue too.”
“Mmm, I had a feeling you did.”
“And your fingers.” His grip on my hand tightens.
“Jesus, Freya,” he grunts, shifting in his seat.
“What?” I ask innocently. “I’m not doing anything.”
He tugs my hand over the console and presses my palm against his erection that’s straining against his jeans. “Oh no, you’re not doing anything.”
Heat surges to my core, and I squirm in my seat. It doesn’t matter that he’s already given me a handful of earth-shattering releases since getting home from work. My body still wants more. God, I hope that never changes.
He glances over with a knowing look before we both burst out laughing.
Happiness like I’ve never felt before wraps around me as the sound of our joy bounces off the windows and fills the car.
I thought I’d found the man I was meant to spend my life with.
Turns out, I was very, very wrong. He was just a warm-up.
A painful lesson in what I shouldn’t accept.
But Cole…he’s everything I could ever want in a partner.
In such a short span of time, he’s become my very favorite person. My person.
My best friend.
My lover.
My one.
My heart races as I imagine what our future together could look like. The images aren’t clear, but there are three things that I know are going to be there: happiness, laughter, and love. And really, what else can anyone ask for?
I’m buzzing to get into the kennels and spend a few hours with some of my favorite four-legged friends by the time Cole pulls up at the shelter.
As he promised, the parking lot is practically empty, only a few familiar cars of the workers around us.
After opening my car door for me, we walk hand in hand toward the entrance.
Unable to help myself, I put an extra bit of sway into my hips, and when Cole holds the door for me, I reach up on my toes and drop a quick kiss on his lips.
I don’t think there is anyone watching us, but just in case, I’m happy to indulge them just a little.
Cole seems to be on the same page, too, because no sooner have I passed him than his hand lands on my ass, squeezing lightly and sending a very firm message. This woman is mine.
I’m internally happy dancing as we step into the reception area.
Lilah is sitting behind the desk and the moment she sees us, a wide smile appears.
“Ah, you’re here,” she says, her excitement palpable.
I study her for a beat before glancing at Cole.
He stands as stoic and steady as always beside me, but he’s wearing an unreadable expression that makes my stomach knot.
Something is going on.
“You’re free to go through and say hello to everyone. I’ve just got a couple of things to finish off and I’ll come and find you.”
My mouth opens and closes, but I don’t manage to summon any words as Cole presses his hand to the small of my back and leads me through the door that’ll take us to the first room full of kennels.
The scent of dog hits me the second I step into the room. I’m sure there are plenty of people who would hate it. But I’m not one of them.
Whimpers, whines, growls, and barks greet us, and as I move past the first few kennels to reach the two I want to see first, the volume begins to increase.
“I think they missed us,” Cole muses as he walks beside me.
“This is why I love dogs; they’re always so happy to see you.”
“I’m always happy to see you. Does that mean I’m a dog?” Cole asks, making me laugh. “I prefer you rub a little lower than my stomach, though.”
“Oh my god, you did not just—” My words vanish as I approach Buddy’s kennel to find a big red gift bow tied around his neck.
He’s just as excited as ever, bouncing on his two back legs for attention.
My brows pinch, but when I look up and see a banner pinned to his wall that says, “Today I go to my forever home,” my stomach drops into my feet.
Of course, deep down, I’m happy for him. He’s such a wonderful dog. He deserves to have a home with someone who can love him daily. But…I’m going to miss him.
I continue forward, needing to see Charlie as well.
As always, his entire body is wagging with happiness. A sob erupts when I find the same thing in his kennel.
“They’re both leaving,” I say quietly, more upset than I should be about losing these two characters. I haven’t spent all that much time with them, but they’re special. I felt like we had a connection.
“Yeah,” Cole rasps beside me. “They’ve got a new home.”
A heavy sigh passes my lips, my heart aching. “Do you think this means they’re going to be together?” I ask hopefully.
“Yeah, Whirlwind, they’re staying together.”
I crouch down in front of the divide between their kennels and stroke them both through the bars as best I can.
“Do you think they’ll miss this place?” I don’t know why I ask, but the words roll off my tongue regardless.
“No,” Cole says firmly. “Once they set foot into our apartment, they’ll forget all about being here.”
“I hope—wait,” I say, surging to my feet and turning to look up at Cole. “What did you just say?”
He smiles down at me, excitement glittering in his eyes.
“I said, once they set foot in our apartment, they’ll forget all about being here.”
“O-our apartment?” I echo.
His smile grows. “Yeah. I adopted them. For you.”
“What?” I half cry, half laugh as disbelief rushes through me.
“I hate that you’re alone when I’m travelling, and the moment we met these guys, I knew they were the ones, just like I did with you.”
“You don’t believe in love at first sight.” I don’t know why the memory of that conversation comes back to me, but it does, and I can’t keep the words in.
Cole chuckles. “Maybe not, but I do believe that sometimes people come into our lives for a reason. And possibly, just possibly, that reason is to fall in love with them.”
My breath catches, and my eyes water.
It’s not a declaration. Honestly, I’m not expecting one.
Cole has been through a lot. Let down by everyone.
I’m aware that it’s going to take time for him to fully trust me, and I completely understand that.
But I also have every intention of showing him every day that I’m here for him, and that I’m not going anywhere.
“Cole,” I breathe, sliding my hands up his chest and wrapping them around his neck. “How was I lucky enough to find you?”
“I’m the lucky one, baby. And them,” he says, looking down at the two excited sets of eyes that are staring up at us.
“Are they really ours?” I ask, my brain still trying to process all of this.
“If you want them.”
“Are you kidding? Of course I do. I love them so much. And I—” I swallow the following words that want to erupt. “I can’t wait to take them home.”
“Home,” Cole muses. “You do know that you’re moving in, too, right?”
A nervous laugh bursts out of me.
“I’m serious. I hate it when you leave. It’s only a home when you’re there.”
I try to blink back my tears, but it’s impossible.
“Are you being serious?”
“Of course I am. I told you before, I want you in my life, Freya. In my life, my apartment, my bed. I want it all with you.”
“It’s so fast and—”
“Is that a no?” he asks, cutting me off, probably predicting that I’m about to word vomit all over him.
“What? No. It’s not a no,” I argue.
“So it’s a yes?” he asks, hope shining bright in his eyes.
“Hmm,” I tease, turning to the two boys beside us. “What do you think, boys? Should we all make Cole’s apartment our home?”
As if they know what I’m saying, both Buddy and Charlie start barking, and Cole and I fall about laughing.
“Sounded like a yes to me,” Cole jokes.
“Yes,” I cry before jumping into his arms. “Yes, yes, yes.”
My lips find his, and I kiss him as if it’s our first and last, all rolled into one.
“Whoa, and in front of all these innocent eyes,” Lilah jokes as she joins us.
“She said yes,” Cole announces once we’ve separated.
“Was there ever any concern she wouldn’t?” Lilah deadpans.
“When my boys are all this beautiful, how could I not?” I say, cupping Cole’s cheeks and talking directly to him. My heart pounds rapidly in my chest as everything I feel for him slams into me.
He drops his head, pressing his forehead against mine. His eyes hold mine as the words we’re not saying and the promises we’re making each other pass between us. Maybe one day soon, we’ll be able to say them. But for now, this is everything.
“I’ve just got the final two pieces of paperwork for you to sign, and then you’re good to go,” Lilah says, breaking our moment.
I stand back and allow them to do what they need to do, my eyes darting between my man and my boys.
When I took this job while standing in Casey’s kitchen all those weeks ago, I never could have imagined this.
I thought the job itself was the dream. I had no idea it would open up a life that I never thought even existed for me.
The next few minutes are a whirlwind of excitement as we let the boys out and get them on their leashes.
I can barely contain myself as I take Charlie’s and Cole takes Buddy’s. Hand in hand, we head back toward the entrance, where all the shelter staff stand waiting to celebrate two of their residents heading for their new home.
With tear-damp cheeks, I sit in the passenger seat of Cole’s car, the sound of heavy panting coming from behind me and the widest smile on my face.
“Ready to go home?” he asks the second he joins me.
“You’re amazing, do you know that?”
“Nope. I need a reminder.”
Leaning over the console, I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him tight. “Thank you. For everything.”