Chapter 9
Ana sighed as she shoved her feet into her fuzzy slippers and left her bathroom carrying her now-empty Carolina Cove wine tumbler. She sold the tumblers at Coastal Couture and loved the palm trees etched into the pretty colors.
Cole had texted to say Ben would be late getting home due to trouble getting someone unstuck out on the south end, adding he would drop Ben safely home as soon as possible.
She’d worked at the boutique and packaged her online orders to ship come Monday and made her way home to take a much-needed soak in her tub.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d used it for anything other than a quick shower, but after the conversation with Cole on the beach and a day spent working after weeks of nonstop stress, she needed the warmth and the silky, soapy time spent with a candle and wine and neck-deep, lavender-scented water.
She padded her way down the short hallway, stopping in her tracks when she saw Cole sitting at her kitchen island.
He’d apparently heard her exit her bedroom and waited for her to appear because she saw the instant his gaze shifted from her face and damp, pinned-up hair to the luxuriously soft robe she wore over her sleep set.
She was fully covered, more so than she’d been wearing her gala gown, but given the way his jaw tightened and his gaze darkened, she felt…exposed.
But maybe that was because she’d also scrubbed her face, and she didn’t have on what she’d long ago termed her battle paint. Some days a girl just needed that extra armor when faced with ex-first loves. “I…didn’t realize anyone was here.”
“Ben went to shower. Brooks had him doing most of the dirty work on the run, and he’s now a very tired boy.”
She moved to stand on the other side of the island, needing a barrier between them. “Thanks for bringing him home.”
“No problem. You have a nice place,” he said. “Though I was a little surprised when we pulled up.”
“Surprised why?” she asked even though she could easily guess. Her house was a simple cottage-style two bedroom that squeaked by a thousand square feet by the width of a board and a few nails. Compared to where she’d grown up, the entire house would fit in her mother’s kitchen. Maybe her dining room.
“Guess I expected you’d have some big house on the island or in Wrightsville close to your parents.”
“You guessed wrong. Would you…like something to drink? I don’t have much on hand. Some water and sodas, maybe some sports drinks if Ben hasn’t gone through them already.”
“A water would be appreciated. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
She’d offered due to the rules of southern hospitality, but apparently he planned on staying.
Her toes curled into the fuzzy slippers, and she really wished she’d waited for that bath and remained fully dressed and armored up.
Ana turned and got a water bottle from the fridge, and when she swung around, she noticed his gaze shifting from the direction of her hips back to her face.
She felt heat crawl into her cheeks and swallowed.
Cole was…gorgeous. At least to her. He wasn’t classically beautiful like a male model but more the rugged, outdoorsy type. His once too-thin face had filled out and squared over the years, and his lanky body had bulked and firmed with muscle no doubt earned from his military training. Had he grown an inch or two taller?
His appearance was more proof of just how young they’d been when they’d planned to marry. He’d still been a boy whereas now she saw the man.
Ana took the steps that brought her back to the island and held the bottle of water out to him by the cap. She watched as his gaze lowered to her hand but startled and dropped the bottle when he abruptly shot to his feet.
Cole rounded the island like his chair had caught fire.
“Cole, what on earth?” She backed away until her hips hit the countertop behind her and stopped her retreat.
Cole lifted his hand, and his fingers tugged at her robe.
She gasped, swatting at him. “Have you lost your mind?”
Silent, he shot her a quelling glare and gently but firmly caught her wrists and tugged her hands behind her, trapping them at the base of her back and holding firm.
“Where did you get it?” he questioned in a low voice that sent tingles through her that had to be fight-or-flight related but electrified and singed her veins all the same.
She froze, her body flush against his as he shifted and lifted his right hand to tug at the collar of her robe once more.
“Where did you get this bruise?”
She blinked at him, the heady presence of his body and hold fading to one of soul-deep wariness. “What?”
Her voice emerged as a whisper because of the way her heart pounded, and her lungs refused to work properly. That, and the fact that given the location, the bruise had formed when Ben threw his phone and hit her with it. It had hurt badly at the time and throbbed for days afterward, but she’d been so busy; she hadn’t taken a moment to really look at it. Because why would she want to when doing so meant admitting Cole had been right?
“Ana.”
Her name held a wealth of warning and heat. So much so she found herself softening into his hold because this was Cole, and while he’d secured her hands to get a look at the bruise, he hadn’t once hurt her.
Still she knew better than to tell him the truth. “What bruise?”
A muscle spasmed in his jaw, and he lowered his head until their noses almost touched, his deep blue gaze searching hers.
As she watched him, his gaze shifted lower, and she felt his fingertips lightly brushing over her skin. The pain wasn’t bad until he pressed the spot for a millisecond to make his point and drew a gasp from her lips.
“What happened?”
She forced her gaze to his. “I don’t— Sasha and I put out new stuff every day. Some of the boxes are heavy a-and awkward.”
She waited and prayed and hoped he wouldn’t see through the evasion. She was a horrible liar, but she’d spoken the truth. She often came home with mysterious bruises, though none as painful as this. And she would not give Cole the satisfaction of hearing her say he was right, and Ben had hurt her in his anger.
Just like Cole said.
After a long moment where he thoroughly searched her gaze, Cole lowered his head. She caught her breath when she felt his lips brush over the spot in the gentlest of kisses, lingering over the caress, his breath hot and moist against her skin.
A shiver ran over her body and brought goosebumps with it. “Cole… What are you doing?”
His big body stilled, and he angled his head, and this time she felt his lips press just under her ear in a spot guaranteed to make her tremble.
Like he remembered that it would?
“I don’t know. But you smell good enough to eat.”
Ana closed her eyes to hold onto the moment, this man, knowing it would have to sustain her. She hadn’t been touched since Benji’s father, and that had never felt good or right. Not like Cole. Not like this.
A loud bellow rocked the house, and she startled.
“Mom, I need more shampoo next time! I’m almost out!”
A low huff left her, the moment broken. “Life with a teenager,” she said softly, turning her head so that her cheek oh-so-lightly rubbed against the whiskery bristle of Cole’s as he pulled away.
He released her hands in the process, and she failed to stomp down the sense of disappointment that filled her as he distanced himself.
She watched as his expression turned guarded and assessing, back to the older, colder Cole she’d met two nights ago.
She leaned against the counter until her legs regained their strength, and then busied herself with rinsing the metal tumbler she’d used for her wine to give herself more distance from the emotions coursing through her.
Cole’s touch had sent her into a tailspin of memories and feelings and what-ifs. She’d been so broken by her many mistakes that she’d given up on dating and focused on being a mother and surviving without her parents’ help. She hadn’t allowed herself to be distracted by a man, by love, because…she just hadn’t.
First she’d been pregnant, then raising a baby and focusing on building a life for them. Motherhood was exhausting and encompassing in every way. Who had time for flirting and dating or anything else with a child?
One year had bled into two and then more, and while she’d been lonely at times, nothing—no one—had ever seemed interesting enough to make the effort required worth it.
So why, after all these years, could Cole make her long to be held?
“Ana…”
She set the tumbler aside and faced Cole again, silently waiting for whatever it was he struggled to say all the while hoping she’d shut down the bruise conversation. “What?”
When he didn’t speak, she grew uneasy again. “Did Ben do something else today? Say something he shouldn’t?”
Cole grabbed the bottle of water from where it had rolled across the counter and popped the cap. He lifted it as though to drink but didn’t. He lowered it back down and capped it again, looking frustrated and much too handsome.
“No. He tried to get a few verbal jabs in but quickly realized we made him work harder whenever he did. He’s a quick study if nothing else.”
“Then is something wrong?”
“While we were out on the beach tow, Gage got another call from Frankie about the limo. She knows we’re in a time crunch due to the holidays, so she’s trying hard to get it fixed.”
Her heart sank and her stomach knotted up like a noose. “She figured out the final amount?”
He nodded.
Okay, no problem. “How much is it going to be?”
“Seventeen-five.”
She locked her knees to keep them from buckling. She’d known the cost of repairs would be high, but she’d hoped they wouldn’t go much over the ten-to-fifteen thousand originally mentioned.
“Apparently there was damage to the undercarriage once she got the fender off. I just wanted to let you know since it’ll add to Ben’s total.”
And working part-time as Ben was, it would take quite a while to pay back. “I see. Have you…reconsidered wanting me to pay some of it back? Is that it?” She might still need to dip into her meager savings after all.
“I was thinking we could make our own deal.”
She blinked at him, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Ben works off the fifteen grand.”
“And the other twenty-five hundred dollars?”
“You work for me.”
She huffed out a breath, sure she’d misheard him. “What?” A laugh bubbled out of her chest. “I’m not a limo driver. Trust me, I’d probably do more damage than Benjamin.”
His mouth quirked at her words, and she noted a tiny scar on the corner of his left, upper lip.
His tenuous smile formed fine lines around his eyes that made her wonder at what he’d survived that put them there. She was curious about his time in the military but didn’t want to ask questions that might cause him pain. She knew enough to know a lot of soldiers didn’t like to discuss the things they’d seen or done in the name of freedom…and survival.
“I won’t ask you to drive,” he said, amusement tingeing his tone. “But I did some research on your business. You’ve done well for yourself, and a big part of it is through social media. As a whole, Blackwell Brothers Enterprises has relied on word of mouth and our location, which has worked great, but I think we could do more.”
“I still don’t see how I can help you. I’m not an advertising company. That’s Quinley’s specialty, not mine. I can give you her contact information if you like.”
“An advertising company feels too impersonal for what I have in mind. I want to keep things simple…low-key and memorable. My search pulled up some of your promotions and ads, and I liked your approach.”
“Thank you.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. She certainly hadn’t expected the compliments or the request. “Obviously I didn’t have a lot of money in the budget, so Quinley and I focused on organic growth.”
“Perfect. So you can help me do the same.”
“I could try, but…I couldn’t guarantee results.”
“I’m aware. What are you doing Friday evening? I’d like to get together and talk about some ways we can sell the limo service beyond the obvious.”
“Oh, um…Friday. I’m not— I’m scheduled to work until closing.”
“Which is when?”
“Six.”
“That’ll work. I’ll pick you up at the boutique at 6:30,” he said.
Ana watched him, frowning and confused by the entire topic. “Cole, I appreciate the offer. I know I’m a decent businesswoman, and I have an eye for visuals, but nothing I have to say on the matter is going to be worth that much money.”
“We’ll talk about it Friday. I should get going.”
He carried the water bottle with him to her front door. She followed behind to see him out, at a loss as to how to extract herself from whatever was happening. “Cole, I-I can dip into my savings to pay you.”
“I like my idea better,” he said simply. “Goodnight, Ana.”
Cole opened her door and stepped outside but turned to face her once more.
“Oh, and wear your gala dress.”
“My— What?”
“On Friday night,” he said. “Wear your gala dress.”
“You want me to wear my gala dress to a business meeting?”
One side of his gorgeous mouth curled up in a breath-stealing grin.
“Sweet dreams, Ana.”
Cole tugged the door out of her hand and shut it behind him.
“Did you just make a date with him?”
She turned to see a red-faced Ben standing in the kitchen. “What? No. Of course not. He— Cole asked me to help him with some business stuff.”
“It sounded like a date.”
She stared at her son, heart pounding in her chest and somehow managed to paste on a weak smile as she shook her head. “Don’t be silly. Cole didn’t ask me out. He wouldn’t. And even if he did, I-I wouldn’t say yes.”
“How come?”
Yeah, how come? She inhaled and searched for clarity, landing on, “Because we…already had our moment, and it didn’t work. Cole wants business advice. That’s all.”
Ben looked highly suspicious, and she couldn’t blame him. After all, why would she need to wear her gala dress if it was just business?
And then there was the fact that Cole wasn’t in the Marines any longer, and she wasn’t eighteen anymore.
A small thrill shot through her.
Was it a date?
* * *
Ana still pondered the question the following afternoon when Quinley came breezing into the boutique.
“Oooh, look at that. You didn’t tell me I had new bling to buy,” her bestie said when she made a beeline to the sparkly tank top on display.
Ana smiled at Quin’s endless passion for all things glittery and shook her head. “Just put it out this morning.”
Quinley sorted through the hangers beneath to find her size and pulled the tank top out, carrying it with her toward the counter when she squirreled to another display of blinged out clutches.
“Getting ready for the holidays?” Ana asked, grinning.
Quinley turned and made a show of opening her mouth in OMG surprise as she held up a tiny heart-shaped crystal bag with an ornate silver handle with a small block base so it stayed upright.
“How cute is this?”
“I knew you’d like it when I ordered it,” Ana said, crossing her arms over her front.
The bag was barely big enough to fit a credit card, key fob, and lipstick, but such things didn’t matter when impact was key. “She’s a new designer fresh out of school, but I think she’ll grow fast.”
Ana watched as Quinley’s gaze ran over every bag on display with fierce intensity before she chose a second one. Ana smiled because Quinley had chosen the two bags Ana had picked with her friend in mind.
“What else have you brought in to torture me with?” Quinley asked.
“Check out the boots in the front display,” Sasha called from the back of the store where she sat stacking a new shipment of shoes.
“Is she holding out on me, Sash?” Quinley shot Ana a mock glare.
“How big is your closet?” Ana asked as if she didn’t already know.
“You should know by now there will always be room for more bling,” Quinley said.
Ana couldn’t help but wonder if Quinley’s shopping addiction for items in her store had more to do with helping her than actual want of bling but knew better than to ask. “Here, let me take those,” she said, crossing the space to free up Quinley’s arms. “How was your weekend? Good?”
“Yeah. Worked most of it.” Quinley tilted her head to one side as she eyed the boots Sasha had recommended. “Would these go with that teal skirt I bought?”
Ana set the items on the counter and turned. “Oh, wow, yeah. I wouldn’t have put those two together, but definitely. I’ll have to do something similar in here now. You know that, right? That’s a great combo.”
Quinley grabbed her size and carried the box to the beautiful chair there for just such things as trying on shoes.
Ana frowned, wondering how she could bring up the subject of advertising a limousine business without being totally obvious. “Can I pick your brain for a sec while you do that?”
“Do you even have to ask? What’s up?” Quinley asked without lifting her head from her task.
“How do you go about advertising a service beyond the obvious holidays and such? I mean, with the clothes we focus on special occasions or treating loved ones, but would that work for that, too?”
“I guess it would depend on what ‘that’ is,” Quinley said as she stood and took a few steps in the boots to check the fit and feel. “I mean, if the service is sewage disposal, it’s a little hard to sell as a special occasion.”
Sasha’s laughter bubbled up from the back. “Ain’t that the truth.”
Decision apparently made, Quinley moved back to the chair and took off the shoes.
“It’s a…car service.”
Ana winced, noting the way Quinley froze for a split second before resuming boot removal. “Is there a reason you’re asking about how to advertise a service you don’t offer?”
Ana watched as her best friend boxed the booties, shoved her regularly pedicured feet back into her sleek heels and approached the desk with a searching gaze that left Ana squirming.
“Give it up, girlfriend. Are we talking a certain limo service owned by a certain ex?”
Ana nodded at Quin’s question. “Are you still looking, or should I start ringing this up?”
“Ring and talk,” Quinley ordered.
“Done!” Sasha called. “Taking my break. I need a mocha, stat.”
Ana smiled and waited for her assistant manager to exit the boutique before trying to voice the weirdness of her weekend. “Cole dropped Ben off at the house yesterday.”
“There’s some service,” Quinley murmured dryly. “And?”
“Long story short, the estimate for the repair was even more than expected.”
“Typical and not surprising. Go on.”
“Well, I offered to dip into my savings to pay the difference, but Cole said he’d looked up my business, liked my ads—thank you, by the way—and wants me to work with him on advertising the Blackwell businesses in exchange for the additional $2,500.”
“Talk about southern charm at its finest,” Quinley murmured.
“He…wants to discuss it on Friday after work.”
“Friday night?”
Ana nodded. “He, um, also asked me to wear my gala gown— What?”
Quinley’s grin was pure orneriness. “I didn’t say a word.”
“Well, your face certainly says a lot.”
Quinley canted her head to one side. “I’m just wondering if you’re really not getting it or just pretending your first love didn’t ask you on a date.”
“So it is a date? Really?”
“Well, I’ve never worn a formal to a business meeting. Although,” Quinley said, pausing, “I suppose if it’s a networking event…”
“See? Is it a date or business? Because I can’t ask Cole. That’s just…humiliating. Like I’m begging for it to be one.”
Quinley leaned against the counter and drummed her picture-perfect nails on the surface. “Do you want it to be a date?”
The question drew the breath from her lungs, and her mind shifted to when Cole had her hands pinned behind her back and his lips on her skin.
“You just blushed. What is up with that?”
“Nothing. Nothing, really,” she said, drawing out the word. “But we…had a moment.”
“What kind of a moment?”
Ana pressed both hands over her face and then shoved her hair back as she stared at the gilded chandeliers above her head, ever so grateful that the boutique was currently empty of customers. “A kind of hot one?”
“Don’t be vague. Did you kiss? What?”
“No. Well, yeah, he kissed me but not on my lips.”
“Anna,” Quinley said with a mockingly shocked and mildly irritated tone.
“He kissed a bruise,” she said, leaving out everything else. “But it was sweet and surprisingly hot and made me want to melt into the kitchen floor because all these memories came flooding back. But then he brought up business, and I don’t know what’s going on.”
“Friday, huh.” Quinley sank her teeth into her lower lip and chewed softly. “Okay, so we are going to toss around some ideas for his business worthy of the money so you don’t feel like you’re indebted to him. That’ll level the field. But you are going to have to figure out whether you want this to be a date before Friday.”
“What if I don’t know? A business event could be…fine, I suppose. I mean, there’s Ben to consider, and things are complicated enough as they are right now without…you know, throwing fuel on the fire.”
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Ana. Mr. Surly doesn’t rule your life. And you need a life which is why come Friday, you are going to knock Cole’s socks off and make him forget all about business,” Quinley said in a firm voice. “Now ring me up so I can go get started on those limo ideas.”