Chapter Ten #2
“Meatloaf’s one of my favorites. I like it cold on a sandwich with mustard too.” She made a face and he chuckled. “Right. Forgot.”
“Aunt Ping does the same thing.” Aftyn shuddered. “No way.”
“To each their own.” He dug into the mashed potatoes. “Would you like to go riding Sunday?”
“As cold as it is?”
“Nothing quite like it. After you find a car we can relax until dinner. Pack a bag too. I want you to stay tomorrow night, if you want to.”
“I do.” She grinned.
“What’s that for?”
“I already packed.”
Cole laughed. “Smart woman.” He touched her hair and leaned in to kiss her when someone knocked on the door.
Aftyn frowned at the door. “Who could that be?”
“Use the peephole.”
She padded over and looked. “It’s Peterson.”
“Slick? What does he want?”
“No idea.” She unlocked the door and waved him in.
“Aftyn, I’m sorry to just stop by, but—” Peterson stopped when he saw Cole. “I didn’t realize you had company.” He glanced between them.
Cole had already moved to stand beside the counter, arms folded, eyes on Peterson.
“Cole Harrison, Sterling Peterson.”
The two men looked at each other. Neither moved to shake hands.
“Peterson.”
“Harrison.”
Aftyn closed her eyes for a few seconds and inhaled deeply. Men.
“As you can see I have company. Can it wait until tomorrow?”
“It’s not urgent. I’ll stop by in the morning.”
“She won’t be here.” Cole’s voice was easy, almost pleasant. “She’ll be with me.”
Peterson shook his head slowly. “I’m sure you enjoyed sharing that.”
“Damn right.”
“Guys, please.” She looked at the ceiling. “I’ll contact you when I’m back, Mr. Peterson.”
Peterson held Cole’s gaze a beat longer, then nodded and let himself out. She listened to his footsteps on the stairs, then turned to Cole with her arms folded.
“What?” he said.
“What? You could feel the testosterone in the room. Geesh.”
“I don’t like him.”
“You don’t know him.”
“And you do?”
“He’s helping me find my sister. That’s all.” She paused. “How did he even know where I live?”
“He’s a PI. But he’s also attracted to you.”
She walked to Cole and slipped her arms around his waist. “I’m only attracted to you. You wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
He kissed her, took her hand, and led her back to the sofa to finish their dinner.
****
After helping Aftyn clean up, Cole sank into the sofa and closed his eyes, the day’s tension slowly unwinding.
It had been a long one, the kind that left dust in the creases of his jeans and a dull ache between his shoulder blades.
He felt her fingertips brush the hair from his forehead and opened his eyes to find her watching him.
“You’re tired,” she said softly.
“Having trouble with a horse.” He raised an eyebrow. “A female. Imagine that.”
Aftyn laughed. “We can be stubborn.”
“You’re all born that way.”
“Like men aren’t hardheaded.”
“We have nothing on you.”
“I could find twenty women who’d say different.” Her fingers traced idle patterns on his knee.
“And I could find twenty men who’d agree with me.”
She sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder, breathing in the warm scent of him. “Okay. Agree to disagree. I’m tired too.”
“The diner’s always been that way. I can’t remember ever walking in to find it empty.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close, her body fitting against his like it belonged there. “Damn. I have to take Ollie out.”
She pulled away reluctantly and he pushed to his feet with a soft grunt, shrugged into his coat, and settled his Stetson on his head.
“Come on, Ollie. Out for the night, buddy.”
The Goldie hadn’t moved from his spot at Aftyn’s feet, tail thumping lazily against the braided rug.
“I think he’s made his decision,” she said, scratching behind his ears.
“Ollie.” Cole’s voice firmed. “Now.”
The dog heaved a dramatic sigh that seemed to start at his tail and work forward, stood with deliberate slowness, stretched his front paws out, then padded to the door.
Cole twisted the knob and they stepped out into the crisp night air carrying the scent of the diner, pine, and distant woodsmoke.
He didn’t bother with a leash. Ollie trotted beside him like a shadow, their footfalls falling into easy rhythm beneath a silver splash of stars as they walked through the alley.
Once Ollie finished his business, they trudged back up the stairs and Cole knocked. He heard the lock turn and the door swung open. Ollie darted inside, nails clicking against the hardwood. Cole wiped his boots on the mat, shook his head at the dog’s sudden enthusiasm, and hung up his coat and hat.
Aftyn locked the door and took his hand, leading him to the bedroom, hips swaying with each step. He followed, drinking in the sight of her.
“I wish I wasn’t so tired,” he said with a grin.
“I’m not that tired.” She smiled.
“Not sure I can move without falling asleep,” he drawled.
“No problem.” Her voice dropped. “I can move just fine.”
He groaned. “I’m sure you can.”
She held his gaze as she slowly peeled off her jeans and shirt and stood before him in scarlet lace, the bra and panties doing nothing to help his situation. He pulled off his shirt, toed off his boots, grabbed a condom from his wallet, and shoved his jeans and boxer briefs to the floor.
Aftyn tilted her head, hair cascading over one shoulder, eyes dropping deliberately. “You don’t look too tired now.”
“I think I got my second wind.” He tossed her the condom.
She crawled onto the bed toward him, all slow deliberate movement, and wrapped her arms around his waist from where he stood.
Her lips found his chest, trailing open-mouthed kisses upward, tongue flicking over his nipples until he hissed.
She worked higher, grazing her teeth along his jaw, breath hot against his ear before she drew his earlobe into her mouth.
Cole grabbed her face and kissed her hard. When she pulled back she lay against the rumpled sheets, thighs parting, hips arching slightly, and patted the space beside her.
“Come here, cowboy.”
He didn’t need to be asked twice. He leaned over her, gripped the waistband of her panties, and peeled them slowly down her legs, fingers brushing the soft wet heat of her. Her scent was making it very hard to take his time.
When she sat up he unclasped her bra with one swift motion and tossed it aside, leaving her bare before him. Her nipples were hard and begging, but he ignored them for now. He joined her on the bed, and she immediately pushed him onto his back and moved over him, her mouth crashing into his.
She worked her way down his chest, tongue swirling, teeth nipping at his abs, until she reached his cock, thick and throbbing.
Her lips wrapped around the head, tongue flicking, before she took him deeper, warm and wet and relentless.
Her hand stroked what her mouth couldn’t reach, and her moans hummed around him, driving him out of his mind.
Cole grabbed fistfuls of her hair, his hips rising to meet her. His whole body tightened, pressure building fast, but not yet. Not before he was inside her.
He pulled her up and flipped her onto her back. She was already spread for him, eyes glazed, as she rolled the condom over him, and he positioned himself and leaned down to her ear.
“You are so fucking hot.”
He slid into her slowly, inch by inch, until he was buried completely.
Her walls clenched around him and whatever was left of his control dissolved.
He drove into her hard and deep, her nails scoring his back, her heels pulling him closer, her moans growing louder and more desperate with every thrust.
Her breathing fractured into something urgent, her body gripping him tight, and he lost it. Whatever restraint he’d managed until now burned away completely. When she cried out his name, ragged and desperate, he came with a groan that felt torn out of him.
They crashed down together, chests heaving, skin flushed and damp. He hauled her against him, still buried inside her, not ready to give that up, and kissed her hard and deep, like he was trying to say something he didn’t have words for yet.
The shower did little to cool them down.
They stumbled back into bed, wrung out and loose-limbed, the sheets cool against overheated skin.
Cole was already half gone when Ollie landed on the mattress with a thud, turned three times, and claimed his spot like he’d been waiting patiently through the whole ordeal. Maybe he had.
****
Aftyn stood in the kitchen waiting for the coffee to brew when Cole walked in, and just the sight of him sent heat rushing to her cheeks.
“Morning,” he said, dragging a hand across the stubble on his jaw.
“Good morning. Did you bring your razor?”
“Yeah, just didn’t feel like dealing with it yet. I need coffee first.” He crossed to the machine, then turned and leaned against the counter with his arms folded, watching her. When the color rose in her face again, he smiled slow.
“Blushing? Really?”
She elbowed him hard enough to make him grunt. “Behave.”
“Darlin’, after last night, how exactly do you expect me to manage that?”
“Stop,” she said, laughing despite herself.
“I will. For now.”
She handed him her cup. “Here. You look like you need this more than I do.”
“Someone kept me up late.”
“Someone would love to keep you up late again.”
His eyes dropped to her mouth for just a second. “I think we can come to some kind of agreement on that.” He took the cup but shook his head. “I can make my own.”
“It only takes a minute. Drink it.” She turned back to the machine. “After this I’ll get dressed and we can go. I’m anxious to get started. It’s been years since I’ve had a newer car.”
“No kidding. I’ve seen what you drive.” He shook his head with a look that said everything.
“I used to love that car. But I think I want an SUV this time.”
“Okay. We’ll head out in a bit.” He paused. “You have your license?”
“Yes. I went to the DMV for a replacement and printed copies of my insurance card.”
“Good. You’ll need those.” A grin tugged at his mouth. “At least it’s a nice day. For a while anyway.”
“Okay, let’s go. We’ll stop by my place to let Ollie out. Poor guy’s been cooped up all morning.”
“Alright.”
After settling Ollie back at the house, Cole drove them to the Hartland dealership, all fluttering pennants and balloon bouquets in the cool air of the September afternoon.
Cole took his place against the truck while Aftyn worked her way through the rows, the sun still carrying more heat than it had any right to this late in the year.
She stopped at a midnight-black Buick Enclave.
Walked a slow circle around it, taking in the aggressive stance, the tinted windows, the way the dark paint looked almost liquid in the light.
She pulled the door open and slid inside, and something about it just settled.
The interior was cool and quiet, the leather buttery soft under her hands.
She ran her palms over the dashboard, the brushed aluminum trim, checked the controls.
Spacious. Solid. She nodded to herself. This one.
She climbed out, closed the door, and walked back across the lot to Cole, her boots crunching on the asphalt.
“Well?” He pulled off his sunglasses.
“I like the black one. Will you look at it for me?” She nodded toward the Enclave, its dark finish swallowing the sunlight.
“Sure.” He pushed off the truck and walked over, unhurried.
He opened the door, gave the interior a look, then popped the hood and leaned in, eyes moving over the engine with quiet focus.
“It looks clean. But I’d ask for a test drive and take it to Chuck before you commit. He’ll catch anything I miss.”
“Is that something I can actually do?”
“Absolutely. Any dealership worth dealing with won’t blink at it if the car’s sound.” He closed the hood with a careful push. “Tell them that’s the condition before you sign anything.”
“Okay.” She turned toward the showroom. “I’ll be right back.”
She came back through the glass doors a few minutes later, keys jingling, a smile she wasn’t trying very hard to contain.
“Ride with me?”
“Yeah, give me a second.” He clicked the fob on his truck, then fell into step beside her, his hand finding the small of her back.
Inside the Enclave, she adjusted the mirrors, moved the seat up, and turned the key. The engine came to life with a low, throaty rumble that she felt in her chest. She pulled out of the lot, tires humming smooth on the pavement, and headed toward Chuck’s garage to get the final word.