One Beautiful Promise (Very Irresistible Bachelors 4)

I felt the tiredness creeping up on me.

“Sit. I’ll take care of everything,” Cole instructed.

Oh, wow. “Okay.”

I was in danger again, albeit of a different kind. I was close to swooning. I was also close to spontaneously combusting. How the man could make me feel so many things at the same time, I had no clue, but I had to give credit where credit was due.

I sat down on the couch, folding my feet under me, looking at Cole put the food on plates. The kitchen was tiny, and he found everything within arm’s reach.

“Is this a bad time to admit I’m swooning?” I asked as he handed me a plate, sitting next to me. I answered my own question. “It is. I’m giving you too much ammunition.”

He leaned closer, brushing his lips across my forehead. “Just sit back and relax.”

We both practically inhaled our burgers and fries, not speaking one word until the plates were empty. We set them on the small table next to the couch.

“You totally deserve the charmer nickname,” I informed him.

“Is that so? What made you change your mind?”

“All this take-charge thing you’ve got going on. It’s very hot.” I covered my mouth. “Shouldn’t have owned up to that yet.”

“I disagree.” His eyes were playful, and so were his fingers. They kept moving up my arm. When our gazes crossed, I bit my lower lip. This tension between us was escalating with every passing moment, and I had no idea what to do about it.

“I wonder what other skills go into being a charmer.” My voice was light as I counted on my fingers. “I’ve already experienced a few: flirting, complimenting, kissing. Making me laugh. What else?”

“You’ll see. Can’t lay all my cards on the table at once.”

I leaned back on the armrest, crossing my fingers over my stomach. “That’s right.”

“I promise I’m a charmer in all the ways.”

“Your mind is in the gutter.”

“It is.”

My breath stuttered. My belly clenched. Holy shit, his admission only made the tension between us even thicker, somehow. I cleared my throat, breaking eye contact.

“So, which sister was the one who cornered you in your office?” I asked, not just to change topics. I wanted to know.

“Tess. I’m seeing her and Skye tomorrow for breakfast. It’ll give her a chance to ask me if I put her advice into action.”

“Oh?”

“She insisted I call you.”

I chuckled. “Cole Winchester. You’re telling me that if it weren’t for Tess, you wouldn’t have called?”

He closed the distance between us in a fraction of a second, caressing my lower lip with his thumb.

“Tess or no Tess, I would’ve called. You’re so branded in my mind that I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“Oh.” I looked him straight in the eyes, gathering my courage. It was fair to warn him. “Cole... I have some serious baggage.”

He smiled, still touching my lower lip. “I thought you might.”

I swallowed, pulling back a little. “How?”

“I can’t say. Just got that feeling in Rome.”