Authors: Barbara Witek
Bet On Love (7 page)
“No, I only got up about an hour ago. I would have made you breakfast, but I don’t know how you like your eggs.”
“That’s all right, coffee is fine.” He grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured. “What are you doing?”
“Well, there’s a flight leaving at 8:45 tonight that will get me home in time to watch the late show.”
“Oh, so you’re booking it?”
“I’m thinking about it. You said so yourself, your family will only get more attached the longer I am here. And now that Abbey knows the truth, we don’t have to keep up the charade.”
“Right.”
“You can tell your family whatever you want. It’s all right with me.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell them the truth.” A shadow flickered across his features then he seemed to snap out of it when he asked, “Hey, did you eat?”
“No, I was afraid I’d make too much noise poking around your kitchen. I’m starved.”
“Well good!” He rubbed his hands together. “Sit back, relax, and I will cook you a hearty breakfast.”
“How ‘bout I help?”
“Even better.”
Cole and I chopped onions, peppers and peeled potatoes to make the best home fries I’d ever tasted. He even whipped up a batch of waffles while I did my best with the cheesy scrambled eggs. I never claimed to be the greatest cook in the world, but Cole made it easy and fun. Part two of my dreams come true, and he had no idea.
“I am stuffed,” I said as I leaned back in the chair. “I won’t have to eat again until dinner.”
“Speaking of which, you should taste my chicken parm.”
“Seriously?” My eyes grew wide and in spite of my full stomach, I found myself licking my lips. “Where have you been hiding all of this talent?”
“It’s always been there, GT, one of my
many
hidden talents.” His eyes smoldered, and I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. For my own sake I needed to keep things light. I couldn’t afford to get any more invested in this situation than I already felt. I was leaving tonight, end of story.
“And what’s the other, you’re super-sonic metabolism? You look just as good as you did in school, if not better. I swear I’ve put on ten pounds in two days. This east coast food isn’t good for my figure. I’m going to need more than double Zumba sessions to burn this off.” I patted my hips, and this time it was Cole who licked his lips.
“There’s nothing wrong with your figure, Shelby, never has been. You’ve done well as a California girl.”
“Gee, thanks. I love it out there. I can definitely say I eat better in Malibu.” I stood and stretched, hoping the full feeling would subside even a little. “I can’t wait to get back.” I sighed contently. Cole looked a little disappointed, and I regretted ever saying the words.
He had to know this would never work. We were from two different worlds now. Whatever this was, we needed to move past it.
“I’m sure you’ve been getting plenty of emails from clients wondering when you’ll be home. And what about this Grant-guy? He’s not going to give you any trouble is he?”
At the mention of Grant’s name, reality came crashing down. Here I thought I could take my perfect memories of Cole back to Malibu, and I’d be all right. The truth was, I didn’t want to be alone, but there was no way in hell I was taking Grant back. I just had to make Mr. Oh-so-right, who was oh-so-wrong for me, believe it. Because I wasn’t about to set myself up for another heartache.
“He’s caused a lot of trouble, but he’s not all bad,” I found myself trying to sound convincing. “We’ll talk when I get back and figure out our next steps.”
“You mean you’re still going to marry the jerk?” Cole looked shocked and angry and wounded all at once, and I almost caved. But I had to stay strong.
“I may have painted an unfair picture of him. When you love someone you don’t just give up on them when they’re down.” I bit my lip at his silence and stifled the urge to reach out and hug him. In order for him to take me seriously, I had to pull out the big guns. “You and Heather didn’t just give up the first time, right? You tried for a while.”
“Yes, but that was different.”
“Why, because you were already married? It’s all about commitment, Cole. Something you and I--”
“Glad you enjoyed breakfast.” He started to walk out of the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” I hated for him to leave, but he was playing into my biggest fears. That he could never commit permanently. No man could. Something told me we were heading for a deep conversation, and I wanted to see it through.
“Unlike you, I can’t deal with everything over the computer. I actually have some reports to write up and the data is back at the lab.”
“Oh.” I felt my shoulders slump a little. Now it was my turn to be disappointed. The man I found so easy to talk to was shutting me out.
“Maybe you’ll let me cook you that dinner before you leave tonight.”
“You don’t have to go to any trouble. I’ll just take a cab to the airport later and be out of your hair before you even get home.”
There, take that
, I silently screamed. Two could play at this game and I could play it better, or so I thought.
He clenched his fists, looking like he wanted to throttle me over my words, which only confused me more. “This is crazy.” He turned at the threshold, putting his hands on his hips and looking like a man with something heavy on his mind. I suddenly wondered if I really wanted to go there. In an instant, I decided not to.
“It sure is, and I can’t wait ‘til it’s officially over,” I interjected before he could say anything more. We were both adults and I, for one, didn’t need to be living in some fantasy world. I needed to stay logical.
“I’m going to shower while you’re finishing your reservations. Feel free to use the bathroom next to Abbey’s room.”
“It’s okay, I can wait. I’m going to enjoy another cup of coffee while the trip gets confirmed. I’m still trying to decide where I want the layover to be. Airports can be so tricky sometimes, especially later in the day.”
“Whatever.” Cole walked away without another word while I sat there, feeling like a fool.
***
“You’re making a big mistake, Shelby,” Kara lectured over the phone.
“I don’t think I am. The writing is on the wall. If he really wanted me to stay he would say so.”
“I think he has.”
“No, he’s the one who suggested I take the next flight out. Now that I’ve done so, he sort of acts like he wants me to stay, yet he won’t come out and tell me.”
“He’s a man, Shel. What more do you want from his simple little brain?”
“The truth.”
“Would it matter? You seem to be hell bent on returning to California, and I think he knows that. Why would he put himself out there only to get hurt?”
“Hurt? I’m the one who’s hurting. I never should have come back here with him. This is just one mistake after another.”
“Then why don’t you tell him how you really feel?”
“Because, I am smart enough to know it would kill me if he didn’t return my feelings.”
“I’m going to strangle you.” Kara didn’t try to hide her annoyance with me. “Will you listen to yourself?”
“I am,” I said dejectedly. “That’s why I brought up Grant.”
“What the hell? How does Grant play into
any
of this? I thought you were dumping the giant loser?”
“I was, I mean I am. I just told Cole that to make him think people deserve a second chance so he would back off.”
“Okay, but honey, you have to believe Grant isn’t the guy for you. You know that, and you’re playing with fire by making Cole assume anything else.”
“Up until Grant’s gambling blunder, he
was
the guy for me.”
“No, he wasn’t. You only wanted him to be so you overlooked everything else.”
“I know, and that’s the point. I am not willing to fall victim to another smooth talker. If that’s what love is all about, then I want no part of it. Period. End of discussion.”
“No, not end of discussion, and that’s not what love is all about. Grant never treated you right, Shelby. He was so controlling of your every move, yet he did as he pleased. Haven’t you always wondered if he was cheating on you?”
Kara’s words reminded me of the blonde from the Venetian. My best friend was absolutely right, and I repeat, there was no way in hell I was ever going back to Grant, but my heart couldn’t afford for Cole to know that.
“Yes, I know, and I’m pretty sure I met his latest fling at the Venetian.”
“Then don’t go back to that. You don’t have to marry him.”
“Would you stop worrying. I don’t plan on ever marrying him. I told you, it’s just a ploy to make Cole go through with the annulment. My God, would you listen to me? My life sounds like a soap opera.”
“I just want to make sure you are being smart about this whole situation, Shelby.”
“Oh right,” I chided. “I’m smart. So smart that I fell in love with a man I can never have. I don’t call that smart at all.”
“I repeat, tell him. How do you know he doesn’t feel the same way?”
“It’s too late, Kara. My life is in Malibu, and his is here in Mission with his wonderful family. I guess I have to love him enough to let him go, for the second time in my life. Ugh, I’m such an idiot!”
“Stop being a chicken. You have the power to change this.”
“No, it’s okay. Cole and I are just meant to be good friends. Romance for us isn’t in the cards.”
“I hate to see you leave town like this. We haven’t even had a chance to hang out.”
“Maybe you and the family can come west and stay with me soon.”
“I’d like that. Call me if you have a meltdown.” Kara laughed into the phone. She knew me too well.
“You know I will. Bye.” I set my cell on the table next to my laptop and startled at a shadow in my peripheral vision. “Abbey, what are you doing here?”
Chapter Seven
“I take it my dad doesn’t know?” she questioned in a very grownup sounding voice from where she stood in the doorway.
“Uhh, know what? Gee, I didn’t even hear you come in.” I tried to sound all relaxed as I dumped my cold coffee down the drain.
“That you love him. I heard you tell whoever you were on the phone with that you love my dad.” Abbey paused and locked eyes with me for a moment. “If that’s true, then why are you leaving? You guys are married. You’re
supposed
to love each other.”
Ahh, the musings of an innocent girl. There was nothing I could say to explain myself or make her understand. What I wouldn’t give to be this beautiful girl’s stepmother.
“Abbey, it’s complicated and very hard to explain.”
“So you guys have said.”
“You know, I really don’t think you and I should be having this conversation.” I scraped the breakfast plates, wiped down the counters, anything to avoid the subject.
“You’re right.” Abbey appeared right next to me, breeching my comfort zone. “I think you should be having it with my dad.”
“No, no. That’s not what I meant.” I backed away, needing the room to breathe. “This should be coming from him, not me. I don’t know if I’m really mom-material right now.” Wow, this young girl was far older than her years, and very intuitive to boot.
“Don’t sell yourself short, Shelby. I think you’d be a really cool step-mom.”
“Really?” I felt my brows creep up in surprise, and I relaxed my posture. Yes, I’d always wanted children, but I’d chosen to focus on my career. Now, to have one thrust upon me during her sensitive teen years was something I didn’t know if I was ready for. Abbey’s compliment took me totally off guard. “Thanks, I appreciate that.”
“Any time.” She grinned, looking like the female version of Cole with her bright blue eyes and brown wavy hair. “So, tell me what’s really going on between you and my dad.”
“Honey, I’d love to, but there’s nothing going on. This is just like your dad said, a huge misunderstanding that ended with us accidentally getting married after having too much alcohol.” I feared I might reveal too much, so I chose an easy retreat. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get my things together and call a cab to the airport.”
The sooner I got out of Mission, the better. Because staying here would mean heartbreak for sure, and not just with Cole.
“Sorry, but you’re not going anywhere, GT,” Cole’s voice boomed as he flew into the room. “Cancel that flight.”
“Dad?” Abbey’s eyes lit up as she stared at her father, and I wondered just how much he had heard before coming in.
“Cole, what’s going on? I thought you were at the lab?”
“I was almost there, when Matt Drake called.”
“Oh, my gosh, Judge Matt? He’s back in town? He’s going to help us out?” Excitement rose in my voice as I spoke.
“He received my messages and has been going back and forth with his secretary on how to proceed.”
“Proceed with what?” Abbey stepped forward, but Cole paid no attention.
“So he’s got the papers?”
“What papers?” Abbey interjected, moving to stand between the two of us.
“Yes,” Cole responded once again, ignoring his daughter who huffed and stepped out of our bubble. “But he won’t get back until late Friday afternoon.”
“What does that mean, exactly?”