“It does sound perfect for you.” I tried to imagine Cole concentrating on blueprints and windmill specs instead of busted shower parts. “It had to be hard to put something on hold that you’re so interested in to take care of your grandfather. That couldn’t have been easy .”
Cole exhaled. “No, but I wouldn’t change it. He needed me. I can work on that program anytime .”
I edged closer to the table. “But will you? Are you going to finish it ?”
“You have lots of questions tonight. What about you? What are you going to do with all of those accounting skills? What happens now ?”
If he had asked me a week ago, my answer would have been the standard cookie cutter one I gave everybody about applying for jobs in business and waiting a year or two before entering the MBA program. Tonight, staring into Cole’s eyes under the string of lights made, all the realities of life back home fade into the farthest parts of my mind .
I couldn’t imagine anything other than spending my life with him and Grayson .
“I—uh—I haven’t sorted it out yet.” I dodged his doubtful stare .
“I guess that makes two of us.” He finished his sangria .
The mariachi music from the restaurant filtered onto the patio. It was soft and slow. Cole stood from the table and walked toward me with his hand extended .
“Dance with me ?”
“But you don’t dance .”
“Your dress has convinced me to make an exception.” He winked, pulling me from my seat and spinning me into his arms .
I gasped as my body collided with his, and he pressed his hand into the small of my back. He had been holding out on me—he could dance. I searched his face for an explanation, but he laughed and spun me a
gain before aligning his frame against mine .
We swayed to the distant music. With every second that passed, our dance form diminished until we were so tightly wrapped around each other that I could feel Cole’s heart beating against my cheek .
“Cole?”
“Mmm-hmm?” He held on a little tighter .
“Can we stay here like this and forget everything else on the other side of the border?” I wasn’t being completely silly. Maybe I could live in a border town .
“For now we can, darlin’. For now .”
I closed my eyes and bit back the words that were on my tongue. I wanted tomorrow to be the farthest place from us. As long as Cole held me, maybe the rest of the world would stop turning .
Twenty-Seven
Cole
“Y ou ok over there? You’re awfully quiet and I’m usually the quiet one,” I prodded .
Kaitlyn squeezed my hand. “Yeah. I’m good .”
I ran my hand along the outer line of her thigh. “Good, because I have plans for you and that dress when we get home .”
“What about Lisa?” she asked. “Is she staying late ?”
“Don’t worry. I told you I took care of everything. Tonight you’re mine .”
She bit her lip. I wanted to pull the truck over on the side of the road and take her in the backseat .
But I was a patient man .
I pulled into the parking lot and parked in front of Kaitlyn’s room. The TV flickered in the window on the other side of the parking lot. I had paid Lisa to stay the night with Grayson. I didn’t give a shit if she knew what I had planned .