Chapter 20 Nora
NORA
The weather was sunny and gorgeous when we landed at LAX and drove along the coastline to Malibu. Colson was reserved and quiet but he covered my knee with his large palm and we relaxed in the back seat of a luxury town car.
Apparently Colson’s father, Oliver, had ordered it to pick us up. I had no idea what to expect being around his family, but seeing the town car parked with Colson’s last name scrawled onto it was basically the coolest thing that had ever happened to me.
Colson, of course, didn’t act fazed whatsoever.
As we drove, I tried to appreciate how beautiful the white-capped waves looked underneath the sapphire sky, but my nerves got the better of me.
Colson seemed to have flipped some sort of switch emotionally.
His hand remained on my thigh, but his gaze was distant.
I was gathering that he didn’t like coming home often, especially from the little he’d said about them when he mentioned he only saw them once or twice a year and their reunions were usually shallow.
It left me feeling apprehensive… but as I looked over and Colson tightened his grip on my leg, I decided not to worry.
After driving for close to an hour, we circled a massive butte with the glistening ocean directly off the sheer cliffside. Once we crested the top, we drove past two massive mansions that had privacy gates, security, and a plethora of other systems in place that screamed expensive and important.
When the nose of the car finally turned down a drive, with its gate wide open, I had expected something modern…
maybe a mansion that looked like something I had seen in a movie or on a magazine cover.
But the car pulled up to an older, almost rustic-looking house.
Red brick sprawled up the length of three stories with large, gaping windows.
The roof was black, same with the front door, and there were at least three chimneys jutting from various places along the ridge.
Behind the house was a steep drop, and what seemed to be one of the best views of the entire Pacific Ocean.
The driver opened my door, and I gingerly stepped out, conflicted by the way it felt to have the sun setting while the sea air whipped through my hair in gentle waves.
I was so used to feeling the bitter cold and snow.
In fact, I wouldn’t even know it was December save for the Santa and reindeer display off to the side of the walkway.
It was all set up nicely, and I was sure once the sun had set, lights would wink on, making it a marvelous sight.
A gentle hand guided at my back as Colson encouraged me to walk.
Swallowing my nerves, I strolled forward, realizing the doorman would handle our luggage.
Before Colson could knock, or push through the door, it swung open and a woman in what looked like her early forties greeted us.
She had big brown eyes, with long, lush lashes, perfectly shaped brows and glossy pink lips.
She was stunningly perfect, without a single wrinkle or hair out of place.
Her sheer dress was shimmery and golden, her high heels were tall, opened toed, revealing perfectly manicured feet.
When she smiled eagerly at Colson and went in for a hug, a part of me wanted to shove my hand in front of her face and tell her to back off. Especially when Colson gripped my hand and froze in place.
“Sherrie.”
His tone was ice cold, telling me all I needed to know about this woman.
We did not like her.
“Cole, oh my God, it’s been so long. I can’t believe you’re here.” She fussed, going in for another attempted hug. He didn’t release my hand as she wrapped her arms around him, and he never once lifted his arm to hug her back.
Getting the message, she finally stepped back and cleared her throat.
“So, you have a guest this year?”
Her brown eyes looked me up and down, as though I was the trash her expensive sea breeze had blown in.
Colson pushed me forward.
“My girlfriend, Nora.”
Oh hell, he’d done it. He labeled us, and my heart was not prepared.
Jutting my hand out, I introduced myself.
“Nora Petrov, nice to meet you.”
Sherrie’s eyes widened the smallest bit, then flicked to Colson.
“Petrov? I feel like I’ve heard that name before.” Her brows pinched like she was trying to figure it out. “Well goodness, where are my manners, I’m Sherrie Hanes, welcome to our home.”
She moved to the side and walked us into her house, which nearly stole my breath.
Cherrywood floors sprawled beneath our feet, polished so well it nearly reflected the grand chandeliers hanging in the foyer.
Yes, the entryway was large enough to have two.
A grand staircase with the same wood crawled all the way up to the third floor.
The banister was wrought iron, giving the house an older feel.
“Cole, we prepared two rooms for you because we weren’t sure of your relationship with Nora. If it’s okay, we’ll keep that arrangement.”
Colson kept pace at my back, showing no emotion or giving any indication that what she’d said bothered him, until then.
“No. She’ll sleep in my room.”
A shudder ran down my back at his terse tone. He did not like Sherrie, and it made me curious about their relationship.
“Okay, perfectly fine. I know if it were me visiting my boyfriend’s family, I would want to show a little propriety, but times are changing, aren’t they?”
She tried to joke, but her dig landed exactly where she wanted it to. That paired with the cold tone and robotic way Colson acted, made me snap.
“Don’t worry, I have manners. When we fuck, I’ll be sure no one hears.”
Sherrie’s eyes popped open, her mouth dropped, gaping like a fish.
Colson snorted, turning it into a cough to cover it up.
I didn’t care. Anyone who thought it was okay to talk to their guests the way she did didn’t deserve propriety.
“Right. Well, Colson, you know where your room is. I’ll let you two get settled, then we will see you at dinner at six.”
Sherrie spun away, a cloud of perfume and irritability leaving in her wake.
Colson tugged my hand, guiding me toward the staircase. We walked up, Colson trailing behind me with the luggage. I wanted to help, but he kept pushing me forward.
“Here,” he said, gesturing with his head toward the hall once we’d cleared the second floor. The windows on this side of the house were open, letting the breeze in from the ocean. I moved to them so I could see the view from the back of the house.
“Oh my gosh,” I breathed, watching as the sun set on the horizon. The water roared in the distance below, crawling up the cliff.
“This is beautiful.”
I gently touched the pane of glass, loving how the windows seemed to let in the whole sky.
“This used to be my mother’s favorite spot…in the house at least,” Colson whispered from behind me.
I snapped my head around, hating the wince he tried to hide, and the tick in his jaw that jumped before he walked past me, down the hall.
I had so many questions, but I could tell it was a topic that was buried in his heart, guarded by a thousand thorns and brambles.
Trailing after him, he opened the last door in the hall, which revealed a spacious room surrounded by windows.
In the center of the room was a massive king-size bed, covered in thick feather down comforters and at least ten pillows bordered the headboard, and two white nightstands stood on either side of the bed with matching lamps.
“This is nice,” I tilted my head back, taking in the nice crown molding around the top of the ceiling, the chandelier dripped with tiny crystals, but added a classy ambiance to the room, with the white accent rugs and cozy chairs that faced a quaint fireplace, it all went together perfectly.
“Go see the balcony.” Colson laid our suitcases down and gave me a smile.
I walked to the glass French doors that I assumed were large windows and pushed them open.
The breeze tangled my hair and blew the scent of the sea across my skin.
I closed my eyes and let it have me, relishing how good it felt to be on this coastline again.
I hadn’t hated my time in California. I had missed home, but I enjoyed my time on the beaches, feeling that warm bay air caress my skin and leave my hair wild and untamed.
Strong arms came around me, pulling me to a firm chest as Colson settled his chin on my shoulder.
“I like having you here with me.”
Grabbing his hands as they circled my waist, I settled into him.
“Even if I piss off Sherrie?”
He laughed, nuzzling my neck. “Because you piss her off. I can’t stand her…I like that you stood up to her.”
“There’s something ugly in her heart. I can tell.”
He sighed, lifting his head. “That seems true, at least from what I know of her.”
Turning in his arms, I toyed with his hair.
“How long has she been your stepmom?”
His eyes landed on mine; worry was woven into every fleck of blue.
“Sorry, we don’t have to talk about it…” I tried to recover.
He swallowed, his throat bobbing as he continued to watch me.
“It’s just…I turn into a bit of an asshole when I talk about it.”
Rubbing his arms, I tried to put him at ease.
“Well, I can handle it. If you need to be an asshole to get it out, then be one.”
I love you. I love you. I love you.
Internally I screamed it at him, but I couldn’t get myself to say the words out loud.
His forehead fell to mine, and we stood there with the sea air billowing around us, the sun setting, the lavender and orange streaks turning to a murky gray.
“She was my father’s secretary a long time ago, closer to your age when she started working for him. She was involved with our family a lot back then. Coming to holiday dinners, birthdays, and when my mother would get sick…she’d be here helping.”