Chapter 15
Harper
I wake up wrapped in Cole's arms, sunlight streaming through his bedroom windows. For a moment, I just lie there, memorizing this feeling. The solid warmth of his chest and the way his arm curves protectively around my waist.
In sleep, his face is peaceful, the sharp angles softened. His dark hair is mussed against the pillow, and there's something almost boyish about the way his lips are slightly parted.
“Morning,” he murmurs against my neck, his voice rough with sleep.
“Morning.” His eyes open and bore into me, making my heart skip a beat. “How did you sleep?”
“Better than I have in weeks.” His hand traces the line of my spine. “You?”
“Same.” And it's true. Despite everything that happened yesterday, despite all my fears about what this means, being here with him feels like the most natural thing in the world, which should terrify me, but it doesn't.
“You okay?” I ask, noting how quiet he is.
“Yeah, just thinking about practice later.” He plants a kiss on my forehead. “What does your day look like? Besides the apartment check.”
“I have a debriefing meeting with Jennifer at nine.” I wriggle out of his hold and sit up, enjoying this moment of normalcy between us. “We're going through everything from Saturday night.”
“That sounds intense. What kind of things do you analyze?”
“Everything.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Vendor performance, guest feedback, timeline efficiency. Did the catering service hit their marks? Was the AV equipment seamless? How long did it take to transition from cocktails to dinner?”
His eyebrows raise. “I had no idea there was so much that went into it.”
“Most people don't.” I find myself smiling at his interest. “We also review budget reconciliation. Did we come in under or over, and why? Plus, I need to identify what we can improve for the next event.”
“Which is?”
“The gala, then the charity auction in six weeks.” Just thinking about it makes my pulse quicken. “Jennifer was thrilled with Saturday, so I'm hoping she'll give us more creative freedom.”
Cole reaches for my hand. “You love this, don't you? The complexity of it all.”
“I do. It's like conducting an orchestra. All these moving pieces that have to work together perfectly to create something memorable.”
“I’m proud of you.”
His words bring a warmth that spreads through my entire chest. I've been complimented on my work before, but never by someone who truly gets what it means to be at the top of your game.
Cole knows about carrying responsibility, about delivering when it matters most. His pride in me feels like recognition from an equal.
“Thanks,” I say, standing up. “I need to check on my apartment this morning and see how the renovations are going.” As good as it feels lying in this bubble, real life is beckoning, and I really do need to get a move on.
“I'll come with you.”
I blink at him in surprise, my heart doing something fluttery that I try to ignore. “You don't have to do that.”
“I want to.”
“Okay,” I say, trying to keep the nervousness out of my voice. “But we should get ready. I can’t be late for my meeting with Jennifer.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cole says with a grin.
I lean over to plant a noisy kiss on his lips. “I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”
I gather my scattered clothes from the floor and pad out of his room completely naked, not bothering to cover myself.
Behind me, Cole lets out a whistle. “I like this view. Think you can come back and do that again about twenty more times?”
I wink over my shoulder, giggling.
Twenty minutes later, I emerge from my room dressed in a navy blazer over a white silk blouse and tailored black pants.
Cole is already waiting in the kitchen, holding two to-go coffee cups. He's changed into dark jeans and a casual button-down. Seeing him like that makes me want to drag him back to his bedroom.
“Thought we might need caffeine for the morning,” he says, handing me one. The cup is warm against my palms, and the rich scent of coffee wafts up my nose.
“You're amazing.” I take a grateful sip. It's perfectly made. Strong but not bitter, with just a hint of cream. “How did you know how I like my coffee?”
“I pay attention.” There's something in his voice that makes my stomach flutter. “I'll follow you to your apartment.”
“Sounds good.” I grab my leather portfolio and keys, already mentally running through my agenda for the day.
As we head for the door, I'm surprised by how much I want to share this part of my life with him. But the desire is tangled with anxiety. What if he sees how different our lives really are?
Cole is used to luxury. My apartment is going to look like a shoebox in comparison.
He takes my hand as we walk across the basement garage, his masculine fingers curling around my slender one, engulfing it.
“Just so you know,” I say as we reach our cars, my cheeks heating with embarrassment, “my place is nothing like yours. It's small. Really small.”
Cole pauses beside my car, studying my face with those perceptive eyes. “Harper, I don't care how big your apartment is.”
“Easy to say when you haven't seen it yet.” I unlock my car, suddenly self-conscious about everything. My modest car, my modest apartment, my modest life. “I'm just managing expectations.”
“The only expectation I have is seeing where you live.” He walks over and cups my face in his hands, and the gentle touch makes my anxiety ease slightly. “Stop overthinking this.”
“Okay.”
He steps back and opens the driver’s side for me, and I slip in, a little less anxious.
The drive to my building takes twenty minutes. We both park on the street, and I notice Cole taking in the pre-war building with its fire escapes and modest entrance. I hold my breath, waiting for some sign of judgment.
“This is it,” I say, gesturing to the entrance with forced casualness.
“I like it,” Cole says, and he sounds like he means it. “It has character.”
Relief floods through me. We climb to the third floor, and I unlock the door to reveal Noah crouched beside my kitchen cabinets, measuring something with a tape measure.
“Harper.” Noah stands, wiping his hands on his work pants. “Perfect timing.”
I'm acutely aware of Cole beside me, taking in the plastic sheeting covering my furniture, the exposed drywall, the general chaos of renovation. My cheeks burn with embarrassment at the mess and at how small everything looks.
“Noah, this is Cole. Cole, this is Noah Ward, my contractor.”
The two men shake hands, and Noah's eyes widen with recognition. “Wait, you're Cole Maddox. Captain of the Renegades.” His face lights up with excitement. “My dad's been taking me to Renegades games since I was eight. You're a legend, man.”
Instead of the scowl I expect, Cole's expression softens. “Thanks, that's really kind of you to say.”
“Would it be too much to ask for a quick photo? My dad's never going to believe this.”
“Of course.” Cole moves to stand beside Noah as I fumble for my phone to take the picture.
This is completely different from how Cole reacted to the guys in my office. I take the picture and forward it to Noah.
“Thanks, man. This is amazing,” Noah says, grinning as he looks at the photo. “My dad is going to frame this.”
Cole chuckles. “Tell him I appreciate the loyalty. Here's hoping we can bring home some wins for fans like you both.”
“How is it looking?” I ask, stepping carefully around the plastic covering, what used to be my living room.
“Better than I expected.” Noah leads us through the apartment, pointing out the progress. “We've replaced all the damaged drywall, and the flooring goes in next week. Kitchen cabinets are being refinished off-site.
“The bathroom is completely done,” Noah continues, opening the door to reveal gleaming new tile and fixtures. “Looks good as new.”
“It's beautiful,” I say, grateful for Noah's work. “When do you think everything will be finished?”
“If we don't run into any more surprises, maybe five weeks. Six on the safe side.”
“Thank you, Noah.”
As we head out, Cole says, “I love your place. It's perfect for you. It feels like you. Cozy, warm. Real.”
The description makes warmth unfurl in my chest. “Real?”
“My place is all surfaces. Beautiful but cold. Your apartment has personality.”
Relief surges through me. Success hasn't made him forget what real life looks like.
Cole walks me to my car. “Dinner tonight?”
I nod. “I'd like that.”
“Good.” He kisses me right there on the street in broad daylight. It's brief but thorough, leaving me slightly breathless and aware that anyone could see us. “See you tonight.”
As I navigate toward my office, it dawns on me that something has shifted between us. Maybe it’s letting him into my world, and though it’s a small step, it feels significant.
I really hope that I’m not reading too much into this. Except, it’s too late. I’ve fallen hard for Cole Maddox. Because apparently, I collect complications like other people collect coffee mugs.