Chapter 16
Nora
“There’s the man you’re not looking at,” Harper whispered, smiling from ear to ear.
I glanced toward the counter, my cheeks heating when I saw Cole. I’d noticed him the second we walked in, which was exactly why I’d been pretending I hadn’t. Harper never let anything stay subtle.
“Yeah, I saw him when I came in,” I said, taking a sip of my Coke and avoiding Harper’s gaze.
“And? How do you feel about that?” she asked, leaning in.
I shrugged. “I don’t know, Harper.”
Harper gave me a deadpan look. “Oh, you know. You’re just choosing not to tell me.”
I sighed and whispered, “We had sex. Now it’s over, and things are back to normal.”
“Normal? You lost your virginity to him. Try again,” she whisper-yelled.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m starting to regret ever telling you about Cole.”
She snorted. “As if you could keep something that big to yourself.”
I took a breath and huffed. “I don’t know where to go from here. He hates my family. All that can happen between us is sex.”
“And yet that isn’t happening either,” she said, raising a brow. “Come on, you already did the deed with the guy. It’s not like you’re planning on marrying each other.”
I thought about her words, using my straw to swirl my Coke. Maybe I was making this harder than it had to be. Sex could just be sex. I could want him without planning the rest of my life around it.
“You have a point.”
“I know. But this clearly isn’t just sex for you.”
I chewed on my lip. “What if things get more complicated?”
“Just don’t get your heart involved,” she said.
“Isn’t that easier said than done?” I asked.
“Then keep it sex. No cuddling, no pillow talk. Get laid and go home.”
I frowned. “That doesn’t sound much like me,” I mumbled.
Harper sighed. “So you’re telling me you’re okay with this being one and done with Cole? You never want him in your bed again?”
Heat climbed into my cheeks. I dropped my gaze before Harper could enjoy being right.
“I thought so. Look, have fun, Nora. You came from the city for a fresh start. To live your life on your terms and enjoy every single minute of it. You don’t want to look back and regret any of that.”
I slowly nodded. “You’re right.”
Harper eased back in her chair, her gaze drifting behind me. I quickly turned to see what she was looking at, my pulse racing when I saw Cole leaving the bar. The debate in my head ended when he walked out the door. I wanted him. If I let him leave again, that was on me.
“You don’t want to miss your chance,” she said.
My gaze snapped toward her. “What should I do? And don’t say anything crazy.”
“Go ask for round two,” she said, and I stiffened.
Harper held her hands up in surrender. “Okay, sorry.”
I sighed. “Okay, um… could you cover my bill until I see you next—”
“Yes. Oh my God, go!”
I scrambled from the table, pulled at the hem of my dress, and briskly walked toward the exit. I glanced back at Harper, who gave me a thumbs-up with a smile plastered on her face.
As soon as I stepped outside, I saw Cole getting into his van. My stomach stirred with nerves, and my body, despite the cool night air, felt hot.
“Cole!” I called just as he was about to close his door.
He closed it anyway while I hurried toward him. His expression was unreadable as he started the van.
“Not here.” He put the van in reverse.
He drove away before I could ask where he was going. I ran to my car and followed him. I could be embarrassed about chasing him later. Right then, I wanted him more than I wanted to look sensible.
By the time he pulled into his driveway, I was right behind him.
“What was that about?” I asked as I got out.
“Go home, Nora.”
“No. I followed you all the way over here. I’m not turning around now.”
He headed for the porch, and I followed. He turned so fast I almost ran into him. Even pissed, he smelled good enough to make me forget what I wanted to say for a second.
“What are you doing, Cole?”
“Trying to do the smart thing.”
“Since when?”
His mouth tightened. “You’re twenty-five.”
“And you’re forty. I can count.”
“You should be with someone closer to your age.”
There it was again. Someone else telling me what I should want because they thought they knew better.
“Like Don?”
“Someone like him, yeah.”
“I already told him no. The only man I want is standing here trying to get rid of me.”
His jaw ticked. “Your father still says I nearly killed a man.”
“I know what he says. I’m checking what really happened.”
“And until you do?”
“That’s separate. I don’t want promises. I want you.”
His gaze dropped to my mouth. “Just sex?”
“For now.”
“And your father?”
“He doesn’t get to pick who I sleep with.”
“What if I say no?”
“Are you?”
“No.”
“Then open the door.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I can do that.”