Chapter 18
Jessamine
I’m in the room I booked for my glam squad to do their thing.
It’s my first public appearance since moving to Dallas.
All of my posts have been low key or about Cole’s businesses.
The moment the contract was done I started making content or editing some of the footage I’d taken before he confiscated my phone.
To his credit, he would take a picture or video of anything I asked with his phone and he invited me to the drive where he saved it.
Ever so often he’d ask if I’ve checked the drive and that is when I’d find naughty content just for me. One time it was a video of him with his shirt off. His work pants were open and hanging low on his waist as he rubbed his thick erection outlined in his underwear.
That was the video that prompted me to send him my address the first time. I always smile when I think of him and while it hasn’t been a full month, I’m sure I’m falling for him. It’s hard not to when he’s so genuine.
In my excitement to meet Violet and thank her for making me the leader of the Dallas chapter of The Plucking Ladies Garden Club, it didn’t occur to me that I’d meet Cole’s entire family if I walked into the resort on Thanksgiving.
He comes from a beautiful family because even Daddy Heywood is a sexy silver fox.
Both brothers are big and intense in their own way.
Timothy’s hair is lighter, Ambrose’s hair is darker, and Cole’s hair meets in the middle.
When I had my first Plucking Ladies virtual meeting with Violet, she’d invited Lelani to join so they could tell me the information I needed to start the Dallas chapter.
I withheld my surprise that both of Cole’s sister-in-laws were Black women.
I’m not saying it’s impossible but what are the odds of all three brothers wanting to be with Black women?
The biggest takeaway from my brief Thanksgiving family meeting is that everyone kept calling me Cole’s girl.
I wanted to be annoyed but damn if I didn’t like the sound of that.
My glam team starts packing up and brings me back to the present.
I put the last earring in place and pose for their pictures.
We have a deal, no one posts my looks to social media until after my appearance.
I want my looks to be a surprise that’s revealed at each event.
I do a slow spin in the dress and my appearance starts to arouse me because I have started to see myself through Cole’s eyes.
He’s going to love the underboob torso cut out portion of this dress.
It’s probably best if we meet at the venue because there is no way I can walk into our room looking like this and be on time.
Me: Meet me at the venue.
Cole: Why?
Me: Trust me. Grab the invitation on the table and I’ll see you soon.
Cole: Fine. I’ll be ready in less than ten minutes.
I send him some kissing emojis as I get on the elevator and the concierge gushes over how gorgeous I look as she alerts my ride to pull to the front. It works that she’s also a fan of the show. I’ve been getting top notch service.
“Now remember, you cannot post the picture we just took until tomorrow,” I warn her as a gentleman in a suit leads me to the car.
Cole texts about five minutes after I leave to tell me he’s ordering a ride.
I know he’s going to look so hot in his tux.
Well, he looks hot to me no matter what he’s wearing so there’s that.
I take a few selfies for tomorrow when my phone pings.
The pings don’t give me as much anxiety as they used to but they aren’t fully welcomed either.
It’s an alert saying Shira posted. I started following Shira again after she stood up for me and the reason she stood up for me makes me respect her more.
That one act tells me she cares about my feelings more than Adam had.
I click on the alert, out of curiosity and my heart drops.
It’s a statement announcing that she and Adam decided to split.
I don’t care about Adam in the least bit but I do think it’s going to oddly bring attention back to me. Attention I don’t want. We’re not getting back together and I highly doubt I had anything to do with the split.
The driver stops in front of the venue and walks around to open the door for me.
The moment I set out, I have people yelling to get my attention for different photos but the energy seems to increase since some of them are just not getting the news real-time.
Since I have not made it to where the ropes are controlling the paparazzi, they start to crowd me and block my entry.
Some of the venue's security push their way towards me but they are further ahead.
“Excuse me!” I yell as politely as possible but they are asking me my thoughts on the breakup. I cannot fight them in this dress and heels and I’m becoming agitated. “Let me walk!”
“Hey!” One of them yelled, offended by something.
Another one flies to the side and when a hand grabs mine, I instinctively know it’s someone I can trust. Cole laces his fingers with mine and pushes through the crowd, strong-arming anyone in my way.
It’s such a sexy sight even with the idiots asking me if he’s my new man. I don’t answer them nor do I care if they need an answer. I only want to be with him and this moment has made that abundantly clear. If I tell anyone my relationship status. It will be him.
Once we clear the crowd, the security ushers us onto the carpet but he doesn’t care about any of that. Cole turns to me and cups my cheeks looking for any signs of distress.
“Are you okay?”
His desire to put my safety above everything else makes me want to marry him on the spot.
People call my name to get pictures but I don’t care about being on task right now.
Instead of a verbal answer, I close the gap between us and kiss him with everything I’m feeling.
People whistle and shout as the cameras flash but I don’t care that they’re getting a ‘scoop’ I just want Cole to know how much I care about him.
He pulls away, giving me an almost shy smile. It reminds me that he’s not used to being in the spotlight.
He laces our fingers back together and starts walking down the carpet and posing with me for the random pictures until we’re inside. He pulls me towards a secluded corner in the venue so he can say what he needs to say without us being interrupted.
My only hope is that he isn’t mad.
“That kiss said a lot, Jessamine. It was possessive and in front of a lot of cameras.”
My stomach drops. He looks more serious than I’ve ever seen him. I don’t want to upset him or trap him in my bullshit but I was very much wrapped up in the moment. I’m drafting an apology in my head when his face breaks into a smirk.
“Do it again.”
I sigh with relief and hit his arm.
“Oh my god. I thought you were mad. I was about to apologize for hard launching us without talking to you about it.”
Cole wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close.
“I see why you wanted to meet here. It’s taking everything not to rip off this sexy little dress you’re wearing.
” He kisses me just under my ear. “There is no reason to apologize. I’ve been exclusively yours from the moment you walked into my life. ”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “You make it so easy to fall for you.”
Cole kisses me again, light but lingering. “Then my evil plan is working. Fall for me, baby. Fall hard.”
“As long as you fall with me.”
Cole smirk makes me want to forget the event and climb up under my man for the rest of the night.
“I’m way ahead of you. I’m falling without a parachute.”
My fingers tease the hair at the nap of his neck. “There is so much I want to do to you right now, but I have to make this appearance.”
“So how about a quick appearance? I have a girlfriend to fuck. Keep this dress on the first time we do it. In fact, there has to be an empty office or closet around here somewhere.”
I laugh and push him away because my hormones love his plan to the fullest.
“Behave, Cole.” I put space between us but maintain eye contact. “Say it again.”
“I want to fuck my girlfriend.” I blush a little and look around to see if anyone heard him.
“Just the last word, crazy man.”
“Girlfriend. Girlfriend. Girlfriend.”
I cover my face, giggling like I’m in high school. When I remove my hands, he’s looking at me like I’m the most adorable thing he’s ever seen.
“If this is your reaction for girlfriend, I can’t wait to see your reaction for Fianceé and wife?”
The seriousness in his gaze gives me butterflies all over again. He said so much with that sentence and I’m crazy enough to want all of it.