Chapter 2
Cole Blackwell stared down at the raised face of the woman who’d shattered his heart and his life fifteen years ago, steeling himself against the shock and unease clouding her otherwise beautiful face.
Analise Taylor, only child of Judge Robert and Maureen Taylor, had stolen his heart the moment he’d set eyes on her. She’d walked the boardwalk between friends, head tilted back, wide smile on her face, sea breeze whipping through her long, wavy hair as she’d stared up at the Ferris wheel and begged her friends to ride with her to the top.
When he’d heard them say no and make excuses, he’d offered himself as a companion, volunteering to go so she wouldn’t have to ride alone.
Ignoring the whispers and giggles of her friends and knowing she was way out of his league, he’d barely dared to breathe until she’d said yes. They’d exchanged awkward glances and attempted small talk until it was their turn. Then he’d squeezed into the metal seat beside her, and they’d topped the ride and laughed at the squawking seagulls. The smell of her shampoo or soap had filled his head until he’d felt dizzy with the urge to kiss her.
He’d settled for putting his arm over the back of the seat for comfort and using it to boldly tug her closer when a gust of wind rocked the carriage and drew a squeak of fear from her. He’d thanked God for the timing.
“Cole…”
She whispered his name, and the expression that crossed her face as she said it— Was he reading her right? She seemed regretful and as pained by their past as he’d been getting a Dear John email from her while stationed in the desert all those years ago.
“Let me go!”
The kid’s whiny order broke their locked gazes, and Cole watched as she turned her attention to the teenaged thief using their distraction to his advantage. The teen broke the hold Cole had on him because Cole allowed it, but then the snot-nosed kid smirked up at Cole as though he believed he’d actually bested a marine.
“Don’t move,” he ordered the boy.
“Benji, what is going on? What happened?” Ana asked.
Cole shoved down his shock to glare at the kid and lifted an eyebrow high. “You man enough to tell her, or do I have to?”
The teenager opened his mouth but then closed it again like the silent act would make him look tough. Cole shook his head and once again had to force all thoughts of Ana in short shorts and a tank top from his mind so he could focus on the moment at hand. “Your son stole my limo for a joyride and wrecked it.”
“Benji.”
“I told you I wanted to leave,” the boy said, his voice squeaking on a high note bats could probably hear.
Cole split his attention between the punk and Ana, acutely aware of the way Analise’s face paled and her trembling increased with her upset.
“Benji, what is wrong with you? What were you thinking?”
Ana’s upset brought her a step closer to her son, which meant she was a step closer to Cole, and he filled his lungs with the unmistakable scent of her.
His body reacted, muscles tightening to the point of pain with the effort it took to keep his hands to himself and not drag her off somewhere in the dark and get the answers she owed him.
“Yo. Man, do I need to call the cops?” one of the hotel’s kitchen staff asked from where he stood just outside one of the hotel’s alley doors. “Sounded like he crunched the fender pretty good.”
“I’ll handle it,” Cole said, his mood darkening as more memories from the past crashed back and kept his anger high.
“Suit yourself,” the guy said.
The worker shrugged and took a long drag off the cigarette he smoked, not making any move to go back inside the hotel’s kitchen.
As though needing to see the damage for herself, Analise moved around the limo to the front passenger side. Cole heard her soft groan when she saw the impact he had yet to assess. Keeping a watchful eye on her son, Cole followed her to get a look.
After leaving the Marines, he’d wanted to do something that felt more his own and had convinced Gage and the rest of the family to expand their rentals business to include a limousine service on the island.
Given Carolina Cove’s growth, not to mention the financial status and popularity of some of its newest residents, he’d lucked into a bit of a niche market because he could also act as security when needed. Things had been going well—until now.
“It’s his fault,” Ben said, keeping the nose of the limo between them. “I only hit it because he chased after me.”
Cole blinked at the boy’s audacity and fought the urge to teach him a lesson the old-school way. “You’re blaming me for the fact you stole from me and damaged my property? What kind of twisted crap is that?”
The kid’s expression left Cole growling and taking a step toward him when he felt cold fingers grip his wrist.
“Please don’t call the police,” Analise said in a low voice. “Cole, I’ll— I’ll pay you for the damages.”
Cole never took his gaze off the boy. The way the brat smirked made Cole want to plant his fist in the kid’s face. “Keep smiling, dude. This qualifies as grand theft auto,” he said, taking out his phone just to watch the boy go ghostly pale as though he’d finally realized how badly he’d screwed up.
Maybe the boy wasn’t a complete idiot. For all his bluster and ego, the punk looked about to crap his pants at the thought of going to jail.
“Cole, please. Don’t do this. Don’t call the police. He’s fifteen with no permit. Please don’t ruin his life because of a stupid mistake.”
“He didn’t mistakenly take the car,” Cole said, glaring down at her.
Her grip tightened on his sleeve.
“I know but— Please, Cole. Let me pay for the damages. Don’t bring the police into this. I’m…I’m begging you.”
Cole lifted the hand holding his phone and used it to free himself from her touch. “And why would you think I’d agree just because you asked? I don’t owe you anything. I think if you’re honest, you’ll agree it’s the other way around.”
He watched as she paled as much as her son had, but the satisfaction he should’ve felt at the dig wasn’t there. If anything, seeing her like that only made him angrier.
But it was true. She owed him.
“Cole…”
She took a step back, staggering a bit on the uneven ground before regaining her footing.
Her movement drew his gaze down, and his anger battled for control at the sight of her long legs in sexy high heels and a split in her dress that showcased her limbs to perfection.
He’d always been a leg man. At least where Ana was concerned. Maybe because the first time he’d seen her in her short shorts on the boardwalk, he’d nearly swallowed his tongue.
Cole wiped a hand over his mouth and tried to regain his focus. Only then zeroing in on her words.
The boy was fifteen?
Cold fury turned to shock and left him frozen where he stood as he did the math. She’d ended things abruptly, with no warning or red flags to indicate her feelings had changed. She’d Dear John’d him and gone no contact, and for years he’d tried to figure out why because they’d had a plan to get married the moment she’d turned eighteen and graduated high school. Could this—her son—be why? “Ana.”
Her name emerged as a breath torn from his lungs as scenarios bombarded him and nearly took him to his knees. Did he have a child all this time without knowing?
“I’ll fix it,” she said, her voice thick with emotion as she started wiping at the limo.
She used the soft inner lining of her glittery gown like a towel, giving him an even better view of her long legs and thighs.
“I’ll pay whatever it takes. Just don’t call the police. Maybe it can be buffed out?” she asked, focusing entirely on her task and frantically wiping as though if she scrubbed hard enough, she could erase more than the paint of the yellow bollard the teenager had hit.
“Ana.” He’d commanded soldiers who jumped when he spoke, but she acted like she didn’t hear him. Or maybe she was desperate enough to avoid the reality of the moment and her problematic kid, not to mention the question he asked, however silently. “Benjamin,” he said, shifting his gaze to the boy, “go inside and get your mom a bottled water. Now.”
The boy puffed up his chest like he was going to argue. Cole held the boy’s gaze and silently hoped the teen would cause more trouble because taking the boy to the ground would allow Cole to blow off the steam that had to be billowing out of his ears at this point.
Though seeing Ana like this, he could tell she’d undoubtedly step in to protect her son if he dared try to teach the boy some manners.
Benjamin finally trudged away, glaring at Cole over his shoulder.
Cole turned his attention back to see Ana still wiping at the scrapes that went along with the dents. “Ana, stop. That’s not helping.”
“It must. You can’t call the police.”
Her voice was nearly a sob. “Look at me, Ana.”
With the boy gone and the kitchen staff’s smoke break over, the alley now held only the two of them with a few valets lingering at the entry point and too far away to hear anything.
He wanted answers before anyone else joined them and kept him from getting them. “Stop. Ana, stop. Is Benjamin mine?”
“What?”
“Did you get pregnant when I came home for Christmas that last time? Is that why you called things off? Did…did your parents make you break up with me?”
She’d squatted in front of the damaged fender, holding onto the metal in a white-knuckled grip like she’d fall over if she didn’t.
At his questions, she finally stopped wiping, and he watched as she momentarily leaned her forehead against the back of her wrists.
Even in the darkness, he could see how her body trembled, and he steeled himself against the protectiveness it evoked.
“No,” she whispered finally.
“No what?” He reached out and gently grasped her elbow, drawing her upright and tugging her a step over to grasp her other elbow so that she faced him and had to look at him.
“No, he’s not yours.”
He’d have to be deaf not to hear the way her voice had thickened with tears, but he hardened his heart due to the rage and the pain he still felt after all these years.
“I’m sorry, Cole. I am. I-I did everything wrong. I handled everything wrong, but please don’t take your anger with me out on Benji. Please don’t call the police.”
“Trust me, sweetheart; the anger I feel at him stealing the limo has nothing to do with how I feel about you.” He tried not to notice the way she flinched at his words or how her lips trembled with emotions she held in check. “But since we’re on the subject, let’s set the record straight, shall we? You ended things with me without any excuse. Because you were screwing around with another guy?”
“No.”
“When’s his birthday?” Her lips pressed into a flat line that told him all that he needed to know. More than he wanted to know. “His age and our breakup don’t add up, Ana. You want to try again?”
Ana shook her head, denying the claim despite the facts.
“No.”
“Ana.”
“I didn’t! I did not cheat on you.”
Cole released his hold. He raked his fingers through his short hair and fought the urge to shout. After all these years, it didn’t matter. Yet apparently it still did. “My brothers saw you at that party.”
“I’d already broken up with you,” she said, her tone flat. “I’d already… We were not together when I went to the grad party.”
She inhaled, and after a long moment, she lifted her face. Met his gaze.
“Cole, please. Do not call the police. I’ll fix this. I’ll pay for the damages. I’ll help you explain it to your boss. Just…please. He’s a child.”
After he’d let go of her, she’d wrapped her arms around her front and now stood shivering in the evening breeze.
Cole fought the gentlemanly urge to give her his suit jacket and took in the damage instead, swearing softly. Gage and Alec would take turns torturing him if he didn’t get a police report for the insurance company because while the damage might only be to the fender, it was to the fender of a six-figure vehicle. “This isn’t going to be a cheap fix, Ana. And your son deserves to be punished for what he did.”
“I know. I’ll take care of it,” she said.
A door slammed behind them, and Cole turned a wary gaze on the punk Ana called her own. In the dim light of the alley, Cole noted the boy looked nothing like her.
He towered over her shorter frame with a lean, lanky build that made it clear he wasn’t done growing yet. He had dark hair and dark eyes, which is why he’d wondered if the boy could be his.
But if not his—whose?
His brothers had been freshmen at the time, turning sophomores, and they hadn’t recognized the guy they’d seen her with. When they’d asked around, no one else seemed to know, either.
“Benji can work for me. Work off the payment as punishment.”
If Cole hadn’t been looking at Benji, he wouldn’t have caught the kid’s dismissive smirk.
But he was looking.
And even while he told himself he didn’t care what kind of nightmare Ana had birthed and raised, because she’d brought it on herself and deserved it for her handling of their breakup, he was angry enough to stick his nose in where it didn’t belong.
The boy’s attitude and entitlement topped the charts, and Cole ached to bring it down a few notches. “That’s not good enough. He can work off what you have to pay for repairs, but he’ll also have to work for us and learn not to take things that don’t belong to him.”
The punk started swearing at Cole and told him what he could do with his suggestion. Ana’s gasps and orders to stop fell on deaf ears as Cole grabbed the teen and pinned him against the wall of the building.
“That’s assault,” Benji said, squirming to break free. “Do you see this? It’s assault!”
Cole blinked at the ridiculous accusation before leaning closer and smiling. Chuckling. His anger threatened to tip the scales, and he barely reined in his temper. “Call the cops,” he said. “By all means, call them.”
“No, no, no!” Ana pulled at Cole’s hold to no avail.
Somehow she then squeezed under his arm between them and glared up at Cole.
He could feel her hands on him trying to press him back and vaguely heard her pleading with them both to calm down.
Cole held the boy’s gaze until the punk broke and looked away like Cole knew he would. Bluster and bluff and too much stupidity combined and made the boy a time bomb.
“Whatever,” Benji said in a mutter. “Mom, chill.”
Cole finally shifted his gaze and locked it on Ana’s pale face and glittering gaze. He wanted to demand how she could ever be with a man who’d spawn a punk like hers and not take the boy to task. But then he stepped away from her to clear his head and lungs of her perfume and saw her ringless left hand fall to her side. He shook his head again.
Ana wasn’t the type of woman who wouldn’t wear her wedding band. His gut told him she was a single mom raising the boy alone.
And that she’d lost all control.
Cole had seen it plenty of times before in the Marines. Troubled teens coming in because they’d been court ordered to do so. If Ana’s son was stealing cars at fifteen, what would he be doing in another year? What had he already done?
The teenager’s mouth and poor decisions destined him for trouble. And he’d drag Ana along for the ride with her kicking up a mama-bear defense that would leave her hurting worse in the end.
But that was none of his business. Cole locked his thoughts down to the moment at hand. He didn’t care what Ana did or who she did it with. He only cared that the damages were paid for, and his business wouldn’t suffer. Period. “Be in the office tomorrow at noon. We’ll discuss payment.”
“Your office?” Ana asked.
“Blackwell’s,” he said.
“You’re working with your brothers now,” she said softly. “I hadn’t heard.”
Her eyes widened again before her face scrunched up in a wince. “The limo is yours?”
“Yeah. A new business venture your son has now disrupted. The limo will be out of commission for repairs, and it’ll cost us, especially since it’s the holiday season.”
Ana appeared as though she wanted to hurl. Her son looked bored and snarky as ever.
“I’m sorry. Benji’s sorry,” she said.
The boy didn’t say a word. Cole fisted his hands and reminded himself that he’d once been a punk himself. “Be there at noon, or we will revisit the decision regarding the police.”
“Noon,” Ana said, nodding.
She grabbed the boy by the arm and shoved him toward the end of the alley instead of the kitchen door. “We’ll be there. Thank you, Cole.”
Cole watched them go, which is why he saw the glance Ana shot over her shoulder at him before she kept shoving her son in front of her. When they turned the corner and he could no longer see them, Cole took in the damage again.
Swearing didn”t help, but it made him feel better as he photographed the scene and the vehicle and even went inside the kitchen to get the names of the guys who’d been on their smoke breaks. Just in case. It wasn’t information he’d share with Gage or Alec, but he wanted it even though he knew he’d never use it.
Because of Ana.
He’d undoubtedly screwed himself and his brothers over big time by letting the kid go without a police escort, but if his brothers put themselves in his shoes…
They’d have done the same.
So long as Ana paid for the repairs, it’d be okay.
Back in the alley, he placed his palms against the hood and leaned into them, stretching out the pain from his career-ending injury aggravated by the tension riding his muscles.
Seeing Ana had been a shock.
He’d known he’d run into her eventually. Carolina Cove was too small a town for that not to happen at some point. But he didn’t want to deal with the juvenile delinquent or his mother.
Especially his mother.
He’d rectify the situation tomorrow. He and his brothers could scare the crap out of the boy, set Ana up to pay once they got an estimate for the repairs, and send them both on their way.
After tomorrow, he hoped he’d never see her again.