Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

“Keira! Julian!”

Jesus, did the man never give up? Julian tightened his hold on Keira as she slowed her steps. He knew she still felt something for Cole. Hell, if he were honest, he did as well. Anger. Disappointment. Lust. He wished the last one wasn’t present, but it was.

Cole Saxon was a fine-looking man. But it wasn’t his looks that attracted Julian. It was so much more than that. It was his power. His fire. The fact he could be so cold and calm on the outside, but on the inside he burned bright. He didn’t let many people see that fire. But Julian had. He’d experienced what it was like to be wrapped up in Cole’s warmth. It was everything. And then when you were cast aside, when you no longer had that fire warming you from the inside out— you felt like nothing.

He had to remember that feeling. He couldn’t let Cole sneak his way back into their lives. Hell, sneaking wasn’t his style. He’d try to storm his way past their barriers. That couldn’t happen.

So why didn’t you grab Keira tonight and storm out of that kitchen? Why didn’t you tell him off for ordering them both around? Instead, he’d let Cole take charge. Why? What the fuck was it about him that Julian was happy to let him take control? Sure, he might like to submit in the bedroom sometimes, but outside of that he wasn’t willing to take anyone’s orders.

“Can I please speak to the two of you a minute?”

Keira looked up at Julian. He grumbled to himself but turned them both towards Cole.

Cole gave him a grateful look, and he felt like an ass. He clenched his free hand into a fist. Perhaps he should just give Cole what he wanted, a chance to explain. Then may

be he’d leave and not return, and life could go back to normal.

Right. Like your life is normal.

Besides, the idea of Cole leaving made Julian’s gut tighten into a knot. Fuck, he was messed up.

“Just wanted to check you were all right, Keira,” Cole said with concern.

“I’m fine.”

Cole grew pensive. “That guy always like that?”

“A giant dick, you mean?” Keira asked, surprising them both.

Julian snorted. “That’s a bit kind.”

Even Cole’s lips twitched. “Yes, I guess that’s what I mean.”

Julian and Keira shared a look. “Pretty much.”

A ghost of a real smile crossed Keira’s face, and Julian found himself relaxing. Christ, if Cole could do that then maybe he was making a mistake keeping him at arm’s length.

“He really hates when people send plates back with food on them,” Keira explained. “Often, I can clean off the plate before he sees it, but I couldn’t manage it with yours. Sorry.”

“Hey, not your fault, sweetheart,” Cole said gently. “Joel did warn me to eat the damn food. He just spent a half an hour chewing me out for upsetting his overly sensitive chef. Who knew he could be so long-winded?”

“We have to get going; Keira needs to rest,” Julian said.

Cole looked them both over. “All right. I just wanted to check on you and to warn you that you might see me at Saxons at some point.”

Julian stiffened. “You have a membership?”

“Yes. I finally passed all of Joel’s tests.” He rolled his eyes. “I swear, you’d think there’d be some perks to being his brother, but I think he’s harder on me than everyone else.”

“That’s because you were a complete dick to him,” Julian told him bluntly.

“Julian,” Keira protested, ever the peacemaker.

Cole’s grin faded. “Yes, I was. And it’s quite right he wants to put me through my paces. I just didn’t want the two of you to be taken by surprise.”

That seemed nice of him. But when had Cole Saxon ever been nice?

Julian eyed him suspiciously.