“Hey, sweetheart,” he says, coming up to me. His hand cups my cheek.

“Hey, baby,” I say, and he smiles.

“You look gorgeous.” He lowers his lips to mine. “Just like I knew you would.”

“You too,” I say, running my hands up his black tux with a red tie to match my dress. The man could wear anything and bring me to my knees.

His eyes search mine, and he frowns. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I answer.

He lets out a long breath. “You know I hate it when you lie to me.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s nothing …”

“Austin.”

“I spoke to my father earlier,” I say, giving up.

“And?”

“And it was weird.”

“How?” he urges.

“He asked me about my future. If I was planning to go to college. I lied, but he seemed to know that.”

He chuckles. “Well, you are an awful liar.”

My eyes narrow. “He then went on to tell me that the University of Texas was a good school. Had high rankings for swimming.” His laughter dies. “Then he tried to hand me this check.” I storm over to my dresser and yank the drawer open. I hold it up.

He walks over to me and snatches it out of my hand. Opening it, he glares down at it. “He gave you this?” I nod. “Tonight?”

“About two hours ago.” He pulls his cell out of his tux and places it to his ear. “Who are you calling?” I ask.

“Bennett.”

“Why?”

He hands me the check, and I read over it. It’s made out to me for fifty thousand dollars. But it’s Celeste’s handwriting.

“Hey, man, I need a favor,” he says turning his back to me. “Those accounts for JJ’s Properties. I need you to check them again,” he orders.

“What is that?”

He doesn’t answer me.

“You sure?” he questions and then nods to himself. “Okay. Thanks.” He hangs up his phone just as my bedroom door swings open.

Deke and Becky walk in. “What’s taking so long?” he asks.

Cole holds up the check. “Bruce gave this check to Austin. Fifty grand to go to college.”

“That was nice of the bastard.” Deke snorts.

“To the University of Texas,” Cole adds, and Deke’s eyes narrow. “And the best part. It is a check from JJ’s Properties.”

Deke’s eyes widen. “Are you serious?”

“Why does that matter?” I ask, my eyes going back and forth between them.

“Because …” Cole turns to face me. “JJ’s Properties is the company that Jerrold and Jeff owned. And Bennett just checked and informed me that only twenty-three cents remain in the accounts. Combined.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

COLE

Why would he give her a check that isn’t good? Why give her a check at all? He’s fucking with her, but why? She’s lived here for four months now, and he’s ignored her ninety percent of the time. What’s changed?

I know the answer to that question—me. Just like Bennett said, the whole city knows how I feel about her. And the whole city knows that Bruce hates me.

I take the check back from her and fold it up before placing it in my pocket of my tux.

“Let’s go.” I take her hand.

“What does that mean?” she asks, worry in her voice. “Why would he give me a check that wouldn’t clear?”

“I don’t know,” I answer.

“Because he’s a fucking bastard,” Deke growls.

We start down the stairs. “Cole …”

I stop and turn to face her. “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. I’m gonna find out.”

She nods, but I see the hesitation in her green eyes. She doesn’t believe me, but what Austin Lowes doesn’t know is that I’m not going to give up.

Austin was quiet during dinner. The girls chose a seafood restaurant that recently opened. I thought it would help cheer her up, but it didn’t. I can see her mind working by the way she stares off into space. And I hate not knowing what the hell Bruce is up to.

By the time we get to the school, she’s a little better. Her smiles seem to be real, and she is actually making eye contact with me.

“Wow,” Becky says as we walk into the gymnasium. “They went all out.” She tilts her head back and looks up at the decorations.

“Yeah. Pretty,” Austin agrees.

They usher us into a line, and one by one, each couple goes and stands in front of a backdrop to have their picture taken.

Once done, I look up to see Bennett and Shane walking over toward us. Both solo. “Where are your dates?” I ask.

“In the bathroom,” Shane answers.

Deke and Becky join us just finishing up with their pic. “Can we speak to you guys for a second?” Bennett asks.

My jaw tightens. I know why he wants me alone. He wants to talk about the check Bruce gave to Austin. I’m not in the mood. “No,” I say.

I grab Austin’s hand in mine and take a step away from them, but it’s Deke’s hand that lands on my chest. “It’ll just be for a second.”

Tags: Shantel Tessier Dare Erotic
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