Chapter 14
Nora
By the time Cole got back, I’d already taken a shower, made the bed, and spent some time thinking about what my mother had said.
I had wanted one uncomplicated morning after doing something entirely because I wanted to.
Even that somehow came with my parents’ opinions attached.
Part of me wished I’d never made that call.
I just wanted to enjoy Cole’s company for a while longer without the world interrupting, but all I had now were doubts and questions.
He stepped through the door holding a paper bag and two cups of coffee in a takeout tray. My heart raced a little as soon as I saw him, and I couldn’t help being reminded of last night.
“I forgot to ask what you liked, so I guessed. Everything bagel, bacon, and eggs. Figured that was hard to screw up,” he said, placing the bag on the small coffee table.
I smiled. “Sounds wonderful. Thank you.”
He took a seat, and I sat on the other end, reaching for the coffee even though I hadn’t had much of an appetite since that conversation with my mom.
As Cole unwrapped his sandwich, he glanced at me, his brows furrowing. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I forced a smile, nodding and taking a sip of coffee to keep myself from meeting his gaze. Cole said nothing as he ate. The tension in the room was thick.
I glanced up at him while he ate. The man sitting there with breakfast and a worried crease between his brows didn’t look much like the dishonest, greedy criminal my parents kept describing.
That didn’t prove anything about seven years ago.
It just made their version harder to accept without questions.
“Cole, I want you to tell me what happened with my dad.”
He stopped eating.
“You gave me part of it,” I said. “I want the rest.”
His expression hardened, but he stayed where he was.
“Then let me finish before you decide what you believe.”
“I’m listening.”
Cole set his sandwich down.
“Your father hired me to renovate and expand a building he’d bought. I was still making a name for myself, so I jumped at the job.”
He looked down at the coffee table.
“I found the damaged beam on my first inspection. I documented it, sent your father the report, and told him we couldn’t put any more weight on that section. When the crack got worse, I shut the job down.”
“What did he do?”
“He said fixing it wasn’t in the budget and told me to make it work. I refused. One of his site managers sent the crew back before I could pull out of the contract. The beam collapsed, and one of my men got hurt.”
I set my coffee down. “Then Dad blamed you.”
“He had a statement out before I knew the press had the story. By morning, I was the guy who’d cut corners for money.”
“You said you still have proof.”
“Every email, report, photo, and inspection record. The originals are locked up at my house. After what happened, I wasn’t throwing away a damn thing.”
“Has anyone else seen them?”
“Ellen did.”
I stared at him. “Gran knew?”
“She asked me about the accident after she found out who I was. I trusted her enough to show her.”
“Will you show me?”
Cole watched me for a long moment.
“Not today.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
His brow furrowed. “That’s it?”
“They’re yours. Show me when you’re ready.”
His shoulders eased.
“Thank you,” he said.
We finished breakfast without saying much more. For the rest of the weekend, I cleaned downstairs and searched for every article I could find about the accident.
They all told the same basic story, but none mentioned Cole’s inspection report, his warnings, or what he said about shutting the job down. Maybe there was an explanation. Maybe there wasn’t. Either way, the holes were getting harder to ignore.
I was still thinking about it when my phone buzzed. I reached for it, taking a breath when I realized Don was calling.
I chewed my lip for a second before answering. I owed him an explanation and an apology.
“Hi,” I said, clearing my throat.
“Wow. You picked up. I was starting to think something happened to you.”
“No, I’m fine. I’ve just been… busy. I’m sorry about last night, Don. I shouldn’t have stood you up. I should have called and explained myself.”
“Yeah. Okay. Shit happens, right?” he said. “How about a do-over? One you actually show up for?”
I froze, caught off guard and surprised he’d even ask again. I squeezed my eyes shut and rubbed my forehead.
“I’m sorry, Don. I don’t think there should be a next time.”
There was a short silence before he said, “Cool. I guess I’ll see you around then.”
The call ended, and I hissed, tossing the phone onto the sofa. I guess guilt was my constant enemy these days. I felt bad for not calling Don last night, but things had quickly gotten out of hand.
I didn’t want another date with Don. That part, at least, was simple.
The complicated part was wanting Cole when everything attached to him came with my father, seven years of bad history, and the very real possibility that my family would make me pay for choosing the wrong side.
Sex hadn’t solved any of that. It had only made pretending I didn’t want Cole feel ridiculous.
And even wanting him this much didn’t tell me what he wanted from me beyond the obvious. I didn’t know if there was a future here. I wasn’t even sure what I was willing to risk for one.