Chapter sixteen Nix
Chapter sixteen
Nix
I pushed to get back to Atlanta Tuesday morning. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Cole. He was going to stay over at my place and catch his flight out from there in the morning. The thought of spending the night with him in my bed had me half-hard already.
He picked me up from the airport in his red Mustang, all shiny like it’d just been washed.
My luggage barely fit with most of it going in the trunk and my duffle with clothes tossed in the back seat beside his.
Seeing them together, resting on the leather, made my heart skip a beat or two.
I wanted us to be together entirely too much.
I’d never wanted to get domestic with anyone before.
It had me breathing heavy before we’d even started.
I slid my ass into the front seat, surprised at how much room it actually had. “This is nice.”
“Thanks. She’s my baby.” He rubbed his fingers over the dash, and I wished he was running them over my chest. Leaning over, I kissed the side of his face. “Wait,” he complained and grabbed my arm. “That’s not enough.” He turned sideways and pulled me closer, kissing me passionately. “I missed you.”
“Damn, missed you, too.”
He smiled and started the car. With a rumble of the engine, we were off. “We have to get more time together.”
“Can’t argue with that.” I looked him over while he drove. He wore jeans and a charcoal gray hoodie. I’d become to accustomed to seeing him in race gear, but he looked damn good in street clothes. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Yeah? What?” He glanced over with sparkling eyes, then looked back at the road.
“I have a couple of houses to look at before we go home. They’re not on the market yet, but Heather said she’s been working overtime for you.”
“We couldn’t do that later?” Cole asked.
“Nope. When we’re done, we’re going back to my place, and we aren’t leaving until we have to get you to the airport.”
A knowing smile graced his sexy lips, and I knew it was going to be a long night. And I didn’t care one damn bit.
After we walked a few houses with Heather, we headed back to my place.
I watched his face the entire time. The houses were nice, but they didn’t feel right to me, and Cole was non-committal, but his expressions told the story.
I could tell he loved big pools and nice outdoor spaces more than anything.
What he was looking for inside seemed to be an open floorplan with room to move around. I wondered what he’d think of my place.
“Here we are. Let’s grab some bags.” We climbed out and pulled the luggage out of the car, including his, which thrilled me beyond belief. I wanted him to stay over, wanted him in my space.
I shoved the door open and dropped my bags in the foyer. “The master is down that hallway.”
“Don’t I get the whole tour?” He put my bag that he was carrying beside my other luggage but kept his slung over his shoulder.
“Yeah, sure.” I pointed to the door on the left. “This is one bedroom, but I use it as an office for business stuff and a guest room.” I opened it and let him peek in. “It’s not much.”
“No, it’s nice. I’m not staying there, though, right?”
“Oh, hell no. I already told you where the master is.” I put my arm around his waist and turned him toward the open living room and kitchen. “Tour first.” I spread my other arm, suggesting he look around.
The area was open and decorated in a way that felt warm and cozy.
The living room had a fireplace that had originally been the same brick as the outside, but I had it refaced with a pretty tile that matched the backsplash in the kitchen.
I wasn’t a designer by any means, but I wanted it all to feel cohesive and not like a different person decorated every room.
“This is super nice. But where’s the dining room?”
“I got rid of it. A sacrifice for a bigger kitchen. I eat in the living room most of the time. Or in my office while I’m working.”
He nodded. “Okay. What’s back there?”
“Laundry and storage. But out here is the back yard.” I opened the slider, and Cole looked out to the big deck overlooking a green lawn.
“No pool.”
I laughed. He really wanted a pool. “Nope, but I have plenty of yard to put one in. Some day.” If he moved in with me instead of buying a house of his own, maybe he could help pay for it and design it to be what he wanted. I didn’t say any of that, though. It was still too soon, but maybe…
With hope filling my chest, I led him down the hall to where I most wanted him—the master.
I had a queen-sized bed, opting for the smaller so I could fit in a sitting area. Cole quickly noticed the guitars hung on the wall over the chairs and small table I had set between them. “You play?”
“Not anymore. You have to practice, like every day. I don’t have time for that.”
“Hard to serve two masters.”
“Something like that, yeah.”
“Would you play for me?” He touched my favorite of the two guitars and ran his finger down the body on the opposite side of the pick guard.
“I’m super rusty.” He turned to me with hurt in his eyes, only a little, but enough to let me know I’d do anything for him. “Maybe later?”
He nodded and dropped his bag off his shoulder, setting it in front of the table. “This is nice.”
The room was a little darker than the rest of the house, but I wanted a place for rest, peace. It had to be cozy. “Thanks.” I pointed to the bathroom door.
Inside, the tile was similar to the kitchen and front bathroom but a bit fancier. Cole whistled low. “Now, this is what I’m talking about.” It had a huge walk-in shower and a soaker tub big enough for both of us. Cole turned and gave me a sexy look. “We’re getting in that tub tonight.”
“Sounds like fun.” I’d go anywhere, do anything, at this point. As long as it made Cole happy.