Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
stetson
“Baker. Conrad. This is my incredibly beautiful and super talented best friend, Cove.” Betsy turns to me. “And this is Cowboy Stetson, Cove’s new—”
“Friend,” Cove cuts her off, absentmindedly making me proud to be in a position where the important people in her life question who and what I am to her.
Technically, we are friends. I’m just not sure that’s enough for me.
“Stetson Cole,” I introduce myself, reaching for a handshake. The two men in full suits return the gesture but don’t hide their judgement.
And here I thought I dressed up tonight.
It seems a freshly tailored white button-down with jeans and dress boots isn’t Miami-coded enough for these city boys.
“Good to meet you,” the one introduced as Baker tells me while Conrad eyes me suspiciously. I’m gonna take a lucky guess and say he’s the fellow Cove is supposedly on a double date with tonight.
I chuckle to myself, glad I made an extra effort during my quick trip away to make some time for Cove and ruin her date. Not that I knew she had a date; that worked out in my favor. Because if she refuses to date me, then I’m gonna make sure that applies to every other man as well.
Conrad, with his slicked-back hair that looks like nothing short of a tornado could disrupt it, directs his attention to Cove, ignoring me altogether.
“Cove.” He nods, reaching for her hand and bringing it to his lips. “Lovely to meet you. Betsy forgot to mention how breathtaking you are.”
I guess Conrad is gonna be more forward than expected. Fine by me. Two can play that game.
“Nice to meet you as well,” Cove tells him as the waitress leads us to a table in the back of the restaurant. “Don’t make this awkward,” Cove whispers to her right, putting us nearly cheek to cheek. Even with her wearing platform heels, I’m still taller. “You’re already crashing without an invite.”
She smells divine. A combination of marshmallows and vanilla. Sweet but not overpowering. Again, a decadence.
“I know how to behave. I just want to be where you are. Promise not to ruin your night.” I wink. She responds with a nod, but doesn’t seem convinced. I chose to take that as her wanting me here.
Do I understand my intentions with Cove Davenport?
Not for a second. All I know is that she sticks out to me.
And that must count for something. I know what she thinks of rich businessmen, and frankly, I don’t blame her.
Although I hate being labeled under that category, my bank account puts me there.
But none of the luxuries that most successful men in my same financial situation take pleasure in are things I even remotely care about.
I care about building an empire—or family legacy, in my case.
I want to have a life that counts for something.
That provides jobs and supplies families with an income that can support them.
I want a community on my ranch. Friends and colleagues who feel like family. It’s a driving force far beyond the money.
But there are some cases, like today, for instance, where money becomes a means of survival. And in this case, that means pulling out all the stops to prove to Cove just how wrong she is.
Then, maybe, just maybe, she’ll take a chance on an old cowboy like me.
The atmosphere at Amore’s is much classier than any restaurant you’ll find in Waterstone. Glass chandeliers litter the ceiling, all lit with a soft yellow ambiance, making the Italian restaurant dangerously romantic.
Too romantic for Cove and Conrad.
We take a seat at a large round table, and I rein in my protective instincts, letting Conrad pull out a chair for Cove. This isn’t me cowering. This is me watching. Waiting to see her reactions and how my being here affects her date.
I can’t help but appreciate the treat of sitting across from her, though. She’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. So beautiful it makes my chest hurt at times. And Conrad must be somewhat of a smart man because I see the scandalous looks he gives her when she’s not looking.
Or should I say the want he makes no effort to hide.
Well, that makes two of us, again, fucker. Try again.
“Thanks so much for inviting us out tonight,” Betsy tells Baker. “Amore’s is one of our favorite spots in the city.”
I clear my throat and reach for a roll in the middle of the table. “Yes. The invitation is much appreciated,” I contribute, only staring at Cove. Lucky for me, her eyes are already where I want them, staring daggers at my chest.
She’s not exactly smiling with pride, but I’ll take it.
Baker shakes off my comment and gives Betsy his attention. “Anytime. Glad I could finally get you to agree.” He turns to Cove. “Cove, I’ve been telling Conrad all about your travels. Betsy mentioned you just returned from Aruba?”
Cove smiles at him kindly before holding up her hand to signal the waitress. The table watches as she orders a bottle of wine from afar before turning toward Baker. “Betsy would be correct,” she mumbles with a touch of humor in her voice. “Perks of the job, I guess.”
“Aruba.” Conrad gapes. “I’ve been there a time or two myself. If you ever need any recommendations next time you visit, I’d love to help you out.”
I bet you would, Conrad. Probably invite her to slip n’ slide down your ridiculously polished hair while you’re at it.
“Thanks, Conrad.” Cove sends him a pitying smile. Her body language is enough to show she isn’t interested, and that makes me really fucking happy. Cove has not once pitied me with her responses to my questions or attempts to connect with her.
In fact, she draws near—multiple times, but who’s counting?
The feel of her lips branded to mine sinks deep, aching to taste her deeply. To really taste her and not let up until morning comes.
The alarm I set on the car ride over goes off in my pocket, making me grin. I may be above childish games, but I’m not above doing what it takes to get Cove to myself. Even if it’s for a few minutes.
“Apologies,” I tell the table and stop the resounding of the sharp alert.
I lift my head to meet Cove’s curious molten eyes and say, “Cove. This is the message I was telling you about earlier. Do you mind if I steal you outside for a moment?” And just for the hell of it, I turn to Betsy instead of Conrad, searching for her understanding.
Betsy seems like a smart woman. Her unapologetic giggle confirms what I already know: Betsy is team Stetson.
“A message?” Cove stares blankly, but I don’t sit long enough to explain, urging her up and cupping her to my side as I steer us outside the restaurant.
“I’ll explain once we get outside.”
All the chatter around us is just noise, my mind on a one-track mission to be alone with her. In this case, that’s quite possibly against a graffiti-covered surface along the busy streets of Bellevue Ave.
The moment we escape the bystanders walking through the streets, I spin her around, pinning her against the nearest wall of an abandoned alleyway.
Despite it being later in the evening, the darkness of the night can’t hide the glitter shining in the whites of Cove’s eyes.
A mural of palm trees and colorful shops down Bellevue line the wall behind us, and it feels like some type of fever dream that I’m even here right now.
“Stetson.”
I rest my arm beside her head as my forehead falls to her shoulder. “Hi, my love.”
A reserved laugh falls from her lips, causing my own to join in. “Stetson. Why are we out here?”
“Decided it was time for me to be a little selfish with you.”
That halts her laughter, and just when I think she’ll try to flee, she surprises me by running her hand softly down the slope of my back. Her touch soothes me as I allow the sweet scent of her perfume to consume me.
“You know this is supposed to be my double date, right? The one that you crashed without a care in the world,” she questions me, but her comfort doesn’t stop.
It feels nice to have her hands on me. I’ll never understand how something so innocent can feel intimate at the same time. But it does.
“Trust me, I’m aware,” I blurt. “Don’t ask me to apologize for showing up tonight, Cove. I won’t do that. Not if it means I missed out on seeing you. I’d do it all over again.”
I lift my head, knowing her eyes will find me. When the two hands, once stroking my sides, fall to the planes of my lower back in a secure hold, I fight back a groan.
Fuck. I want to be closer.
“Something tells me I should believe you. And something much bigger makes me question why I pushed you away to begin with.”
The honest words I’ve waited to hear.
I cage her in my arms, loving the response I feel from her body in a matter of seconds.
The shiver that wracks through her soft frame as I run the tip of my nose down the soft skin behind her ear.
She tilts her head on instinct, and I can’t help it, planting a soft kiss against her neck.
“I know you think you know me, Cove, but let me prove you wrong. Let me show you I’m not as bad as you think.
I’m better. Respectful. Caring. A stable place to land. ”
“Is that so?” she counters, chin held high. “I have a hard time believing much of anything without action these days. So, show me who you are, Stetson Cole. Open my eyes.”
“Leave with me.”
Her head rears back. “I’m not sleeping with you.”
I smirk, but also feel slightly sad that her first thought is me wanting to sleep with her. I hate that life has given her experiences where instinct leads her to believe that’s what I—or anyone, for that matter—would want first.
Not wanting her to assume I’m laughing at her, I reach for her hand and run my fingertips across her palm. “I was thinking something more along the lines of ice cream. But if you’re not one for delicious sugary concoctions with all the fixins’, then I’ll gladly let you get back to your date.”
I step back for added measure and swing an arm in the direction of the restaurant. But boy am I really hoping she ditches Conrad for me.