Chapter 9
Nora
A few minutes after ten the following morning, I arrived at the inn. I’d decided to sleep in a little since I’d given Cole a set of keys on the first day.
I took a shower, had my usual coffee, and headed out. By the time I reached the inn, Cole and one of the guys were already on the roof. Actual repairs. Not estimates, not arguments, not another list of things wrong. For the first time, the place looked like it was moving forward.
I waved, and they waved back. I couldn’t help but smile.
The truce made the job easier, which was all it was supposed to do.
At the inn, Cole could be the contractor I trusted to fix the place.
Outside it, he was still the man my father had warned me about.
Keeping those two versions separate should’ve been simple.
“Hey, neighbor!” Harper called from her house, waving me over. “You survived Jen’s.”
I grinned, waving back before strolling over.
“Hi,” I said, taking a seat beside her on the porch.
“You seem to be in a good mood today,” she said, and my cheeks warmed.
“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” I said with a grin.
Harper raised a brow, smiling. “Does it have anything to do with your new date?”
“What?”
“I heard you had two men ready to fight over you last night. You work fast.”
It took me a second to realize what she meant, and then I scoffed.
“Wow, news really does travel fast in this place,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ve barely unpacked.”
“So tell me, what was that all about?”
“It was nothing. They were both acting like idiots.”
“Word is Cole got jealous over you,” she said, wiggling her brows.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh my God, that is not what happened! I don’t know what got into him, but he didn’t seem to be in a good mood.”
“Of course he wasn’t. You were flirting with another man.”
“I was talking.”
“Tell that to Cole.”
“What? That’s crazy.”
“Plus, I heard you’re going out with Don.”
I gawked at Harper, who was clearly enjoying this. “I only accepted because they looked as though they were about to rip each other apart. I panicked, okay?”
“And then Cole stormed out!”
I gasped. “Where are you hearing all of this? I thought you didn’t have any friends,” I said jokingly. “Did you make some overnight?”
“I don’t. Apparently I don’t need any. I buy one croissant and get half the town’s business for free.”
“Gosh,” I said, shaking my head.
“So half the town thinks Cole likes you. What are you gonna do about it? And don’t say he doesn’t.”
My mouth fell open. “Cole doesn’t like me. Half the time, he can barely stand me.”
“Oh, come on, Nora. Don’t be such a virgin!”
I laughed. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“I wasn’t there, but based on what I’ve heard, it sounds like Cole got jealous because he saw you talking to another guy. That’s what everyone thinks, anyway.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “That’s insane.”
Harper rolled her eyes. “You can choose to believe whatever you want, but take it from me, he wants you.”
The stupid little lift in my stomach annoyed me most. I wanted her to be right, which was its own problem.
I raked my fingers through my hair in frustration. “Okay, say he does. So what? Nothing can happen between us.”
“Never say never. So are you going out with Don or not?”
I sighed. “I don’t even know. I didn’t want to, but I felt cornered.”
“He seems like a nice guy from what I’ve seen. A little odd, but nice. I still don’t think he’d be better than Cole in bed, though.”
My eyes widened as I gawked at Harper. “Harper!” I exclaimed.
“What? It’s the truth. My money’s on Cole.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not looking to get laid… by anyone.”
“Oh, but you will! I just know it!”
I snorted. “Yeah, right. I’m gonna take a look at how it’s going. I’ll be back.”
“Run if you want. We’re not done with this!” she said as I got up from the chair.
“Oh, I think we are!” I laughed as I headed toward the inn.
* * *
Later that day, I made lemonade at Harper’s and decided to give some to the workers. When I walked back over, Cole was stepping outside the inn. His T-shirt was damp, clinging more snugly to his body. His skin glistened with sweat, and for the first time in my life, I found sweat attractive.
He tugged at the hem of his shirt, lifted it, and wiped his face, giving me a clear view of his six-pack.
I slowed my pace, swallowed the lump in my throat, and tried to make sense of the warmth creeping between my legs.
Cole spotted me, and I cleared my throat as I walked toward him.
“I brought lemonade. I thought you guys might be thirsty,” I said. “I figured I should bribe you before our next argument.”
He nodded. “That was thoughtful. Thanks. Might work.”
I smiled. “No problem,” I said as I handed him the pitcher and glasses. “Don’t get used to it.”
“I’ll be at Harper’s if you guys need anything.”
He headed back to work. I stood there watching him, every step he took, the roll of his broad shoulders.
“Get a grip, Nora,” I muttered to myself before escaping back to Harper’s place.
Later that evening, I spotted the other guys leaving and figured it was time for me to leave too. I said goodbye to Harper and then headed over to the inn. I went inside and was about to call out to Cole when I saw him coming down the stairs.
“So the roof’s fixed,” he said.
“Already?” I asked, surprised. “I thought we’d argue about it longer.”
He nodded. “It wasn’t a huge problem. The walls will take longer. Plenty left to argue about.”
“How much of the original trim can you save?”
“Whatever comes off without splitting. If it falls apart in my hands, it’s done.”
I looked at the old trim running along the wall. The dings and worn edges were part of the place. Replacing all of it with perfect new boards would miss the point.
“I want all of it.”
“Then find me some wood that isn’t rotten.”
I crossed my arms. “You enjoy telling me no.”
“You make it easy.”
Our gazes held as he stopped in front of me. The space felt charged, and warmth spread through me as I stood so close to him. He smelled like wood and sweat, with his cologne still underneath it. Somehow, the combination only made it worse.
All I could think about was Harper insisting Cole had been jealous and wanted me. I had no idea if she was right. Standing this close to him, though, I wanted her to be. The admission sent another pulse of heat between my legs.
I stared at his pale pink lips and wondered what they’d taste like. Whether they’d feel as soft as they looked. Whether he was even a good kisser.
“I should go,” I whispered.
“Me too,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine.
Neither of us moved. I saw the fire in Cole’s eyes and wondered if it was really what I thought it was. Did he want me as much as I wanted him?
He moved slowly enough to give me a chance to pull away, but the wait only made me want it more. My heart thudded in my chest, the anticipation greater than anything I’d ever experienced.
His lips brushed mine, our breaths mingling. I pressed my mouth to his and felt how soft his lips were. The first touch was gentle, and then all I could think about was getting closer.
My breath hitched when I felt Cole’s hand around my neck, anchoring me in place while his tongue slipped inside my mouth. A low moan escaped my lips, my eyes fluttering as his tongue stroked against mine.
It hit me somewhere in the middle of kissing him that I hadn’t done this with anyone in a long time. I should’ve felt rusty or awkward. Instead, I was too busy wanting more to care.
I slid my hand over his shoulder and held on to him, stepping closer as my body grew hotter and hotter.
Cole’s kiss became more urgent. I kissed him back just as hard, holding on to him while my head spun.
The ache between my legs deepened.
When Cole finally pulled back, I stood there, practically shaking. I opened my eyes and found him staring at me, his eyes dark and fixed on me.
I took a step back.
“I, um…”
“Don’t say anything,” he said, pressing a finger against my lips. I wanted him to touch me again…
Cole sidestepped me and walked outside.
I let out a breath and leaned back against the wall as I tried to control my pounding heart. Even as Cole drove away, I stood there trying to make sense of what had just happened.
Cole Sullivan just kissed me.
I should have been panicking, especially when I realized I wanted more, but I wasn’t.
Then it hit me that I still had to see him at the inn, which was going to be awkward as hell.
I wasn’t sure I could look at his mouth again and remember we were supposed to be discussing walls.
I was still excited. I wanted my father’s enemy to do it again.