Ever After (16 page)

“I don’t really think she’s me. That would be insane. But in my dreams, I’m her. It’s not supposed to be possible, but I’ve been having dreams about her and a guy. Back in those days. But for some reason, he never has a distinct face. Just bright green eyes. And somehow, Cole is also the guy in the dreams.” I put my hands in my lap and waited for their reaction.

Kaitlyn relaxed into the sofa.

The long wedding dress, the weight of the train tugging behind me. The scoop of the bodice lifting me in places I didn’t know I could boost. It had been so real.

“Back to the first girl, Grace Rollins.” Shelby’s voice squeaked.

Kaitlyn’s hands shook and her eyes widened. She gave her sister an almost imperceptible shake of her head.

Shelby settled back on the sofa beside her sister. She crossed her arms, and her lips pinched into a pout.

They were hiding something. Something big.

“What about her?” They had my attention more than ever.

“She’s obsessed with certain females who come to this house,” Kaitlyn said, looking to Shelby. “Is that okay to tell her. I swear. You’re going to give me a heart attack waiting.”

“It’s only a little longer.”

Kaitlyn pulled the book back onto her lap and covered it with her arms. Rollins 1860. Brown binding. Brown leather.

Shelby nodded and looked toward the windows that opened to the rear grounds of the house.

Kaitlyn nodded back to her.

“Okay, what did you say to her? I hate it when you two leave me out. Tell me what’s going on.”

“If you’ve heard the old adage ‘rock and a hard place,’ you’ll understand when I tell you my sister and I are having the pulp squeezed out of us right now. You or Cole’s life hangs in the balance.” Kaitlyn lowered her voice.

The aggravating radio crackled, making it hard to hear.

“Then just answer a few questions.” Knots of worry wrapped tight in my stomach.

They settled closer together on the sofa and nodded.

“What part does Cole play in this ghost’s obsession with all the women that come to this house?” I leaned closer.

They both shook their heads.

“You could start out a little more vague and work your way to the questions we are going to completely black you out on.” Kaitlyn sighed.

This was going to require some thought. “Okay, why does Cole hate me?”

“If you haven’t figured out that he doesn’t hate you, then you’re a hopeless case.” Shelby smiled.

“Why does he want me to think he does?”

They both grinned at me and then each other. They shook their heads, getting even more comfortable, crossing their legs as if they were beginning to enjoy themselves.

“Can’t answer that one,” Shelby said. “Next.”

“Ugh. Okay. What does the ghost want with Cole?”

“Too soon to give that bit of info, either.” Shelby crossed her arms.

“Why doesn’t the ghost try to mess with y’all or any of the other girls here?”

“Finally, one we can answer.” Kaitlyn looked to the door and leaned closer.

“We’re not a threat to her,” Shelby chimed in.

“But I am?”

Kaitlyn arched a brow.

“In dreams, she tells me I have something she wants.”

They looked at each other.

“She doesn’t want material things.” It was the first time Kaitlyn had hinted to anything that would help.

“I have to say, the fact that you have put together this particular list of questions is pretty impressive. Why don’t you sit on them, leave Cole alone for a while, and try your best not to get killed? The answers will find you.” Shelby scooted to the edge of the sofa and smiled.

“I will tell you one thing that you don’t know,” Kaitlyn said.

“You know I wanted to tell her this, so shut up.” Shelby nudged her sister. “You have a birthmark on your right leg just below your hip, right? Well, it is what won you all this attention.”

Before I could question her about the crescent moon birthmark, a knock came at the door.

Shelby scrambled to turn off the radio.

Kaitlyn’s eyes widened. She almost tripped over the coffee table in an attempt to return the book to its proper shelf. She threw me
To Kill a Mockingbird
and appeared to scan the shelves for reading material. When the radio was off, Kaitlyn rushed to me. “Think of nothing that you wouldn’t want the whole world to know.”

As crazy as my thoughts went every time I saw Cole, the girls probably didn’t want to hear, so I did my best to shut them off.

Shelby tossed the radio inside a cabinet.

An insistent tap, tap, tap sounded at the door. “Allie. You in there?” Cole said.

The girls nodded.

The knock turned into an unrelenting jiggle of the doorknob.

“Can’t a girl read in peace?” I asked loud enough for him to hear.

Shelby grinned.

Kaitlyn gave a good-job nod.

Holding my book, I unlocked the door and stepped back.

His suspicious gaze swept the room. His cheeks were more sunk in, and his eyes were rimmed with even deeper purple circles. He came no farther. He regarded me with an intensity my most basic instincts couldn’t ignore.

I wanted to throw him down on the floor.

“Didn’t you hear Nancy call for lunch?” His expression teeter-tottered between suspicious and amused.

“No.” I frowned for credibility.

“I’ll pass.” Kaitlyn twitched her nose. “I can’t think about food after the fountain episode.”

“All I can think about is finger stew,” Shelby said under her breath.

“What?” Cole asked.

I shot her a look.

“I said, ‘my breakfast will have to do.’” Shelby passed us with a little wave of her fingers.

Kaitlyn followed her sister but stopped at the door.

“And I’ll have that mattress changed. It’s old. If you really do plan to stay, we could go pick out some new furnishings.” She winked.

“Thank you.”

“It’s good to see you’re making some friends.” Cole’s curious green stare traveled over me. “You okay?”

“I’m, um, fine.” Under that stare, breathing or thinking was difficult. I turned to leave the room.

Cole’s gentle grip sent chills up my arm. His eyes searched mine. “This morning was upsetting. You’re too calm.”

He had no idea I’d been further attacked by the ghost, but I couldn’t bother him with it. His bodyguard build was still fully capable of hugging all my insecurities about the house and the scary things happening to me away, but he was off limits.

I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Now, can I have my arm back?”

Cole looked to his hand but didn’t let go immediately. His thumb grazed my arm and his gaze slowly slid back to my eyes.

“We should really try to keep some distance between us. I know it’s what you want.” I gave him a sad smile.

Cole dropped my arm, his face white, shocked.

I smiled as I walked away.
Winning
, I thought.

* * * *

The greenish lumpy finger in the fountain had ruined lunch for everyone but Dalton and me.

I was unusually ravenous. I hadn’t had the stomach to eat much of anything since I’d been here. Now that I had some of the puzzle pieces, I needed to feed my brain to piece it all together.

Taking the seat at the farthest end of the table in the kitchen, I stared at my plate.

Dalton sat his plate in front of me. He straddled the chair, stretched his long legs close to mine, and leaned back on the rungs.

Cole entered the kitchen and turned a curious look on the two of us.

The boys exchanged stares.

A tumbleweed could have rolled across the room. A challenging country western whistle played in my mind. All the two men were missing were gun belts.

Men were so territorial.

I separated my mash potatoes from my stew beef and took a bite.

Cole wanted away from me. That’s what he’d get.

I wouldn’t even acknowledge him.

Cole’s face darkened as he turned away first. Full plate in hand, he took the last place setting at the opposite end of the table, plopped his plate down, and slammed silverware beside it. He purposely scraped a chair across the floor. He bowed his head for five seconds and then grated his fork across the plate, noisily moving his food around. Normally he’d scarf it down.

“Nancy’s food keeps my player mode in full function,” Dalton said, gobbling a bite. “I have to keep my energy up to keep the ladies around here happy.”

“Manners make ladies happier than swag. Trust me.” I grinned at Dalton.

Cole shot a glance in my direction. He didn’t nod. Didn’t smile. Didn’t breathe.

Jealous much?

“You’re a little too full of yourself.” I moved my food around some more.

“Just statin’ facts. So, how are you likin’ your new house so far?” Dalton leaned back and slid comfortably down in his seat. His leg brushed mine.

“Oh, um. It’s a change. It doesn’t feel like home yet.” I moved mash potatoes into a square and pulled my legs closer to my chair.

“Is there anything I can help ya do to get settled in?” His lips turned up on the ends, and his brown eyes flashed under a flick of his brow.

“Not that I can think of.” I cleared my throat uncomfortably. I may have gotten in over my head. My face burned.

“I hear you’re having a mattress problem. I could come help you work it out.” Dalton’s brows drew together. “I’m good with mattresses.”

Cole coughed.

I didn’t dare glance his way.

Dalton chuckled.

“You do remember I’m your employer?” I met his gaze.

“I was just being a good employee.” He waved his hands in surrender.

I shook my head. “Thank you for your kind consideration.”

Cole’s fork scraped on his plate like nails on a chalkboard.

“You could spruce up that old room. It’s so old-fashioned.” Dalton shoveled a bite of food into his mouth.

“Spruce?” I couldn’t help but giggle.

“Yeah, what’s wrong with spruce?” He swallowed his food.

“I haven’t heard that one in a while.” I shook my head.

Now Cole chopped something on his plate with harsh hacks and scrapes of his knife and fork.

“I’m as southern as they get. Born and raised. You’re from North Carolina, right?”

“Yes. I loved it.” I kept my gaze on my plate for the moment.

“Me too. Small town, small houses, small families. Tennessee is a bit big. I thought it’d be more countrified, but there’s stuff everywhere.”

“Mine had a few dysfunctional members, but I’m finding that’s a prevailing occurrence no matter where I relocate,” I said.

“So, is there anyone special back home or anyone here you got your eye on?” Dalton’s eyes twinkled.

Cole’s fork clanked onto his plate. Loud. He picked it back up.

“That’s personal.” The temperature in the room dropped. Or was it just me?

“Well, if you have your eye on anyone, and he hasn’t jumped your bones, he’s an idiot. Or she?” Dalton’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

I almost choked. “Oh, um, no. I only like guys.”

“Well, what a coincidence. I’m a guy. You should let me take you into town tomorrow. I’m one of the few males who don’t mind shopping. After, we could get lunch and a movie, and who knows?” Dalton said.

Cole openly glared down ten chairs at Dalton.

The temperature of the room had to have dipped below freezing, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. “Um, I appreciate the offer, but I can’t think of anything I need or want right away. Maybe some other time?”

In a few angry movements, Cole slapped his chair back, jerked his plate up, dumped its contents in the trash, and slammed it in the dishwasher. He didn’t bother placing his chair under the table. He shoved through the service doors to the dining room.

So we were still on that. He didn’t want me, but no one else could make a move either?

“Excuse me. I’m sorry, but I’ve lost my appetite.” I shoved back from the table.

“No problem,” he answered with a devilish grin. “You know, there’s nothing like a little cattle proddin’ to shove a stubborn mule to the waterhole. I can’t make him drink. Only you can do that.”

My jaw went slack.

Dalton inserted another snow shovel of food in his already half-full, grinning mouth.

“Did you just…” I had underestimated Dalton Cobb.

He smiled, nodded in Cole’s direction, and flicked his eyebrow. Through a mouth full of food he said, “Go get yer boy.”

He may have eaten like a pig, but he definitely didn’t fall in with the rest of the swine.

* * * *

Cole stood at the wooden fence railing, staring at the cattle on the east side of the property. The warm June breeze whispered through the rolling fields.

“I spend a lot of my time out here when I’m frustrated. There’s something about the mountain air that calms me.” Cole spoke before I was beside him. I propped my arms on the railing.

“It’s definitely a change of pace compared to home. It’s not the city, but it’s definitely not as serene.” The country air relaxed me a little and made what I was about to do easier. Out in the field, a white cow with a black spot shaped like Elvis neared us.

“He’s not your type, you know.” Cole stared off into the distance.

“Dalton? I don’t know. He’s cute.”

Cole tensed a little.

“In a Cocker Spaniel sort of way, of course.” I took cleansing breaths.

Cole shook his head, trying to hide a grin.

Hot chills filled my chest. My hands ached to touch him. But not yet.

The timing wasn’t right.

We both needed space. Time.

The statement felt so wrong falling out of my mouth, but it was what I had to do. “I’m giving up.”

Cole’s head jerked in my direction. He didn’t make eye contact with me much, but when he did, I turned to mush. His green eyes took my breath. He turned back to the pastures. His white knuckles clenched the fence railing. “Giving up. What do you mean?”

When I found my voice, I said, “I shouldn’t have said what I said this morning. I know you’re mourning a loss right now, and I don’t want to complicate matters or your life. I won’t pursue you anymore.”

Cole’s chest deflated, and his eyes twitched as he stared off. He nodded twice as if it took all he had to do it. His voice was forced. Working his jaw, he lifted his chin. “That’s. Probably. Best.”