Chapter 11 Eve
ELEVEN
EVE
New Year’s Eve comes before I’m ready. I’m officially twenty-five.
Single. Unsure if the direction I want to take my life in is the right choice. Living at home with my parents. Well, sort of. I think it still counts since I’m in the garage apartment.
No one’s going to change those things or tell me what I should do except myself. I’m not big on resolutions since I can’t stick to them to save my life.
But there is one thing I’m certain about. I’m excited to create a business with all the things I make. It’s what I’ve dreamed about without taking the leap. Getting the camper was my sign it’s my time.
Tonight I vow not to worry about any of that. I want to let loose and have fun on my birthday.
The girls came over to get ready with me, then we all crammed into the back of Cole’s Bronco. Jess was supposed to be with us, too, but the first trimester has her exhausted.
The club we’re partying at is in the next town over. I thought about hosting a big celebration and inviting more friends from college, but I wanted to keep this intimate. Only me and my closest people.
“There are two rules tonight,” Caroline says as we arrive. “Make some damn good memories because this is how you’re sending this year off.”
“What’s the second rule?” Cole asks.
He’s standing right behind me, close enough that the heat from his body radiates against the open back of my little black dress.
I gulp, angling my head back for a glimpse.
He meets my gaze, eyes hooded. I whip around when I realize I’m being super obvious and take a small step to put space between us.
I swear he closes the distance.
Caroline smirks at him. “The second rule, and this is really the most important one, is that the birthday girl doesn’t buy her own drinks. Got me?”
Everyone whoops.
“Car,” I protest. “You guys don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, we do! We’re here to celebrate you.” She takes my hand. “Come on! First round of champs is on me, then we’re hitting the dance floor to shake our asses.”
An excited squeal escapes me as she leads us through the crowd. I reach behind me blindly, expecting Lauren or Julia to latch on so we don’t lose each other.
The hand that takes mine is big and warm. I peek, finding Cole giving me one of his lethal smiles. He squeezes my hand and sticks close until we reach the bar. He doesn’t release it right away.
I allow myself the tiny pleasure of shifting nearer. My eyes fall shut as his woodsy scent envelopes me. I sway to the pounding beat of the music, brushing against him. He laces our fingers together and my breath catches.
Caroline breaks me out of my private fever dream. “Here you go. Cheers.”
Cole drops my hand, leaving it tingling from the loss. I accept the glass of champagne, clinking it with hers. Benson passes out more drinks until we all have one.
“To Evie,” Cole toasts.
The others echo him and I’m caught up in a group hug. I take a hearty sip, downing half of it.
“Let’s dance!” I announce.
The girls go with me and the guys stay behind. We join the dance floor on a good song we all like. A happy buzz begins to build within me by the third song.
I feel amazing and confident tonight. The dress I picked out is bold. It hugs my body with a shimmery black material. I know I look hot because I draw more than one eye. Though none of the guys who show interest in dancing with me are who I really want to spend my night with.
Does Cole like how I look in this dress?
I bite my lip and lose myself in the next song, imagining him behind me, hands resting on my hips possessively, pulling me back against his firm chest.
One of my girls hands me a fresh glass of champagne without missing a beat. I keep spinning and laughing as the song ends until I move too far away and bump into someone.
My mind conjures up Cole, but this guy isn’t built like him. He’s not muscular or tall enough, and doesn’t smell the same.
I blink open my eyes. My smile falls. Shawn.
“What are you doing here?” I demand.
The once over he gives me used to excite me. All I feel now is acid upsetting my stomach.
“Actually,” I cut him off when he opens his mouth. “I don’t really want to hear it. You should go.”
He scoffs. “Why? It’s New Year’s Eve.” He spreads his arms. “I didn’t know you’d be here. Doesn’t look like you rented out the club, babe. This place is open to the public.”
It takes serious effort not to roll my eyes. Of course he’d feel entitled. How did it take me so long to recognize how selfish he is?
My handmade tiered disco ball earrings jostle when I shake my head. “Whatever. Just stay away from me, then.”
“Happy fucking New Year to you, too,” he shouts over the music when I walk away.
I hold my hand above the crowd to flip him off as I navigate to find my girls. They pull me into their circle with cheerful yells.
Lauren notices my irritated expression first. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just Shawn. He’s here.”
Caroline stops dancing. “Oh absolutely the fuck not. Come with us, we need to forget he even exists.”
I point at her. “Yes. That. Let’s do that.”
“Shots! Shots!” Julia chants, grabbing my shoulders from behind as she enthusiastically nudges me closer to the bar.
Cole’s there with Benson. He’s leaning on his forearm with his sleeves rolled up. One foot is propped on the low railing that runs the length of the bar. He nods to us when we arrive.
“Ready for another round, birthday girl?”
My stomach dips. When he calls me that with a playful, sexy tone, it stirs heat in my core.
“Yes, please.”
He pushes out of his slouch fluidly, eyes hooding as he peers down at me. I swallow thickly. My thighs slide together at the alluring languid air he has going on. He touches my disco ball earrings with a smirk, then gets a bartender’s attention.
Hot and cold tingles race across my skin.
People crowd around the bar. We get separated from Benson and the girls while they move further down to get their shots.
Cole takes my elbow and brings me closer to the counter, bracketing me with his arms from behind to shield me from getting bumped. A shiver zips down my exposed spine from his chest brushing my back.
His mouth dips to my ear. “Do you want whiskey? Vodka? Tequila?”
“Whiskey.”
A rumble of approval vibrates in his chest. I feel it against my skin and stifle the noise that threatens to escape me.
“Good girl.”
Heat spills through me at the praise. It ignites a heady fire in my veins that leaves me dizzy. My thighs press together to stave off the building ache.
The bartender slides two glasses in front of us and pours. Cole takes one and gives me the other. I twist part way to see him.
He holds his shot glass to his lips. “Bottoms up.”
I toss mine back, forcing out an exhale at the smooth burn. Emboldened by my dress, I spin within the circle of his arms to face him fully. He stares me down, then slides his hands together on the bar. His thumb knuckles graze my skin above the low cut of my outfit, giving the barest stroke.
“Are you having a good time?” he asks.
Words catch in my throat. If I say anything, he’ll be able to tell how much he affects me. I nod, gaze drifting to his mouth. Is it my imagination, or does he inch closer?
“There you are!” Lauren’s shout reaches us before they appear.
Cole inhales sharply and backs away. No one noticed the position we were in, or how red my face is in the dim light of the club. I sigh in relief that Benson’s bringing up the rear, distracted by the dance floor.
“Thank god you’re tall, Cole,” Julia says.
Caroline hooks her arm with mine. “Come on, dancing queen. We’ve still got time before the ball drop.”
“Hell yes! Let’s go!” I blurt with too much enthusiasm to cover.
My heart beats hard for a long while, though it’s not from the exhilaration of the party atmosphere or from moving my body with the music. It’s all Cole’s doing.
It’s close to midnight when I run into Shawn again on my way back from a bathroom break. He blocks my path at the edge of the dance floor, herding me back into the shadows.
“What do you want?” I fold my arms across my chest.
His eyelids are heavy and his attention falls to my cleavage. Pursing my lips, I try to sidestep him. He winds an arm around my waist.
“What are you doing? Get off.” I break away from him.
“Come on. Don’t be like that.”
Shawn tries to pull me in again with a grip on my wrist. I search the club, hoping to spot my friends or my brother. His words slur and the alcohol on his breath makes me turn my head away.
“Stop it.”
“I messed up.” He ignores my efforts to push him off, repeating himself until his mouth grazes my cheek. “Taryn was a mistake. She’s gone, babe. Come on, we’re so good together.”
Is he serious? I muster all my strength to get out of his arms again. He’s wrenched away from me before I make a move.
Cole holds Shawn by two fistfuls of his shirt, nearly lifting him off the ground. His shoulders are set in a rigid line, anger rolling off him in waves.
My heart stutters in surprise and relief. He always protects me when I need him.
“Here’s how this is gonna go. I’m going to pretend I didn’t see you trying to touch Eve when she clearly doesn’t want that.”
Cole speaks through his teeth, giving Shawn a forceful shake. His veins stand out on his flexed forearm and the back of his hand.
“Listen up, because this next part is simple. You’re going to walk away,” Cole continues, slow and brutal. “Call a ride and get the fuck out of here. Leave Eve alone, jackass. Permanently.”
“Or wha’?” Shawn sneers.
Attempts to, anyway. He just comes across as a sleazy drunk.
A muscle jumps in Cole’s jaw. “Didn’t I already tell you at the coffee shop? You don’t want to find out what I’ll do to you if you try me.”
I suppress a shiver at his stormy tone. The ache he stirred in me earlier returns with the wave of heat crashing over me.
“Be for real, man.” Shawn shoves at Cole, but it doesn’t break the hold he has on him. “Eve, tell this guy to back off.”
A low growl rumbles in Cole’s chest and he pins Shawn against the wall. “Eve isn’t yours anymore, so get her name out of your goddamn mouth.”
I lay a hand on Cole’s arm, stepping into his side. As hot as it is to have him defending me against my ex, I want to have my own say in this. He seems to understand that, making my stomach tighten with a pleasant warmth.
I steel myself, meeting Shawn’s eye. “There’s nothing in this world you could do to make me want to be with you again. We’re beyond done. You made sure of that when you cheated on me behind my back. You don’t exist to me anymore, Shawn. Goodbye.”
Cole’s burning gaze locks on me, eyes glinting in the low light with pride and admiration.
It’s incredibly attractive that he’s fiercely protective and more than willing to fuck Shawn up if he messes with me, yet also supportive of my need to stand up for myself.
He’s a man that would stand by me on equal ground, in front of me to guard what’s his, and behind me knowing I can handle myself while he holds my purse.
I swallow thickly, wishing for the impossible to happen between us.
“Want me to hold him for you?” He flashes a disgusted glance at Shawn. “Make sure he gets the point before we send him on his way.”
I huff, lips twitching. “No. I don’t want to hit him.”
Cole smirks, inclining his head. “Are you sure? It might make you feel better. I bet you’d be cute as hell if you got a little violent.”
Pleasure tugs in my core. I duck my head to hide my expression.
“I’ll be right back. Stay here.” He waits until I meet his piercing leer again. “Wait for me. Okay?”
I’d wait a lifetime for him. Not that he’s aware of it. I try to speak, but words lodge in my throat. All I manage is a jerky nod.
The corner of his mouth lifts before he hauls Shawn away. He leans down, but he’s speaking too quietly for me to hear whatever he’s telling my ex. Shawn flinches away from him, but Cole holds tight. The crowd swallows them up.
It’s not long before Cole returns alone. He offers his hand and I take it, marveling at how good it feels to be engulfed by his touch. He stares me down, attention flickering between my eyes, then dipping to my lips, fixated when my tongue wets them.
“I made sure he left. You don’t have to worry about him anymore. He understands what will happen if he comes near you again.”
“Thank you.”
His big hand is warm around mine. Tingling awareness spreads up my arm when he sweeps his thumb in a light caress. Instead of taking us back toward everyone else, he leads me the opposite way.
My heart beats in double time. The countdown to midnight begins.
I follow Cole into the shadowy hallway. I’m not sure what’s about to happen, but every inch of me quivers in anticipation. My fingers squeeze around his palm.
And he grips my hand tighter.