Cole's Mistake (Haven, Texas 8)

“Is the whole town here?” Cole asked his brother.

“Not quite,” Joel told him, pulling out her chair. “We ran out of room.”

Cole waved him away, helping her into the chair. She sent a smile to Savannah and her two husbands, Max and Logan, who were sitting at the table next to them.

“Want me to pull your chair out for you, brother?” Joel grinned.

Cole gave him a scowl, but she could see his lips twitch. “I think I can manage.”

Joel leaned in close to her as Cole sat. “Everyone heard you were coming tonight and they all wanted to come support you.”

“That’s really sweet,” she whispered.

“You three are part of Haven. Now what do you all want, I got other things to do.” He turned back to look at Aspen who was trying to contain the chaos at their table.

Keira giggled, surprising herself.

“You’re really crap at this,” Cole said dryly.

But they all placed their orders quickly. Joel turned away and strode into the kitchen, stopping briefly to give Aspen a light kiss.

Julian reached under the table and squeezed her hand. “All right, kitten? Not too much?”

“If it is, we can tell them all to get lost,” Cole added.

“You’ll tell a restaurant filled with people to leave?”

“I certainly would.”

She grinned and shook her head. “It’s fine. Sweet, actually. I just didn’t expect to smile so much while doing this.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being happy,” Julian told her seriously.

She loved that he understood it. That he got it. They’d been through hell, but they had a choice about whether to let the past rule them or to conquer it.

“Saxon!” Renard boomed, she startled then turned to find him standing across the room in the doorway that led to the kitchen.

“Yeah?” Joel barked back.

“Not you!” He turned to point at Cole. “You!”

She placed her hand over her mouth. Oh, dear Lord.

“Yes?” Cole leaned back in his chair and winked at her in amusement.

“You gonna eat the beef wellington this time? Cause if you’re not, I’m not cooking it.”

“I’ll eat it.”

“You better. Smiley?” Renard boomed.

She rolled her eyes at his nickname for her. Cole was less amused by Renard yelling at her. He sat up straight and sent the chef a warning look.

“Yes?” she called back.

“You doing okay?”

“Uh, yes. I am.”