Chapter 38
JULES
“Do you make it a habit of sitting on people’s porches when they’re not home?”
He folded the paper as I climbed the stairs, but I didn’t dare get too close. We were far from a couple, so I could greet him any way I wanted.
“I ran into Delaney in town, and she told me you were at the gym. Since I was already up this way, I figured I’d come over and wait for you to get back.”
I pulled my phone from my leggings and waved it at him. “Ever hear of one of these? It’s an absolutely amazing little contraption. You can—”
He reached toward me, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me into him.
“Come here, monella.”
He tipped up my chin and kissed me, and I felt as if my heart worked for the first time. It was a slow, lingering kiss… one that would have the neighbors talking if they were watching.
When we finally broke apart, I had no words.
I love the way you kiss. Can we do that all day?
Not things I wanted to say out loud.
“You know how badly I wanted to do that yesterday in the bar?” he said.
Same. But I get why you didn’t.
“Want to come in?” I asked.
We started inside like it was something we did every day. As always, I headed straight to the kitchen for ice water, but Cole moved more slowly, looking around the space.
It was an open floor plan, so I could see him clearly from the kitchen.
“Do you remember the Mathsons?” I asked.
He picked up the picture on my mantle. “I do. The whole town had a fifty-year wedding anniversary party in the Square.”
I stopped talking as I filled my water bottle with ice, then continued. “He had a heart attack. Widow maker. She died two days later.”
He put the picture back and headed toward me. “Yikes. I’m sorry to hear they both passed.”
“I mention it because this was their house. My father gutted the inside and painted the outside. It’s exactly what I always dreamed of as a space for myself—mine, with a body of water to look at.”
“He did a nice job. I guess your dad’s pretty handy?”
Cole sat as I handed him a glass of water.
“He is. A buddy of his helped, and Parker even stopped down once or twice to consult. What about yours?”
“Far from it. I never really learned to do things like that. But being friends with Parker has helped. I’m handy enough to do the small stuff, but—” He looked around the space. “Not to this level. Pretty impressive.”
“He’s an impressive guy. You would love him. I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t.”
Shit. That was one way to scare off an emotionally unavailable, noncommittal type.
“I didn’t mean—I’m just saying—”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Jules. Not even a little bit.”
This was getting too serious too soon. For him, at least.
“So,” I said lightly, “did you come by to bring me the New York Times? I didn’t even know those things still existed.”
His smile came easier now. “You’re welcome to it. But I came to see what you were up to today. Someone never texted me their schedule.”
Oops. That wasn’t a mistake—and he probably knew it.
“I have to finish an article, which should take about two hours. And then nothing.”
He thought for a second. “Perfect. I have my laptop in the car. Work session, and then maybe some food later?”
“I do also have to take a shower.”
His eyes narrowed. Cole let out a breath. Things had just taken a turn, and we both felt it.
“I haven’t been to the store properly since Italy,” I said. “I don’t have a lot here. Want to head to The Coffee Cabin?”
He looked down at my hand resting on the counter. I had no idea what he was thinking, but I wanted him to reach for it. I wanted to feel his touch, his closeness. I wanted a physical reminder that—
Nope. Dangerous thoughts.
I jumped up.
“Right. I’ll take a quick shower and meet you there in ten minutes.”
Smiling the entire way to my bedroom, already looking forward to the day ahead a thousand times more than I had been this morning.
And for the first time since Italy, I wasn’t thinking about how this would end… only how much I wanted it to begin.