Millie examined her reflection in the mirror—and the new dress she had bought specially. It was an extravagance, given her current financial situation, but she wanted to look nice for him, and for herself. This was a big deal. Agreeing to a date meant she had finally left her old life behind and accepted the possibility of a future. She still had a long way to go to recover her self-esteem and confidence but at least this was a start.

She slipped her feet into a pair of flats and grabbed a light jacket. With a final glance in the mirror, she picked up her purse and left her room.

Cole was in the living room chatting to Jax. He didn’t see her immediately, so she had a chance to check him out. They’d barely spoken this week because he’d been working long night shifts and she’d had her days taken up with her own job, which she’d grown to love over the last few weeks. But during the time apart, she’d replayed their kiss over and over in her mind.

He’d chosen a pair of slim-fit dark jeans, a black open-necked shirt, and sneakers. He looked good. Better than good—hot, in fact. A shiver of pleasure crept down her spine. It was like she’d been given a new pair of glasses and, now Tanner was finally out of her life, she could see what was right in front of her.

I see you.

Cole’s words in Central Park, before Tanner had turned up and ruined the moment, came back to her. Well, she saw him now, too. Her one regret? She hadn’t noticed him years ago.

He spotted her hovering, and smiled, beckoning her over. “You look lovely,” he said.

A tremor of delight fluttered across her skin as he inched his gaze down, his compliment and open appraisal skyrocketing her confidence.

“Ready to go?”

She nodded. “Where are we going?”

“A quick dinner first, nothing fancy, and then I got us tickets at the comedy club over on Broadway.” He playfully bumped her shoulder. “I thought we could both do with a bit of fun.”

If she’d designed her ideal first date, that would be it. Nothing heavy, nothing serious, a chance to giggle together.

“Sounds perfect.”

Cole captured her hand without asking. Holding his hand felt so natural, and so right. In comparison, Tanner would grip her far too hard, roughly stamping his ownership.

“Catch you later, bro,” Cole said while Millie added, “Bye, Jax. Have a good night.”

“Be good, kids.” Cole rolled his eyes at Jax’s teasing.

Outside, darkness had descended, and the warmth of the day had been replaced with a chill breeze. Millie slipped on her jacket.

“Cold?” Cole asked.

“A little. Fall is on the way, I think.”

In response, Cole wrapped his arm around her shoulders and nestled her into his side. “Better?”

She nodded. God, he felt good: strong, muscled, warm. She tried to remember when she’d last felt so cosseted, so safe. She couldn’t recall. A long time ago… too long. Slowly, the ties that had bound her to her past self were unraveling.

“Any time you think I’m overstepping the mark, you tell me. If you want space, you got it.”

She tilted her head back and looked up at him. “I like it when you touch me.”

His emerald-green eyes flared, and for a split second, she thought he was going to kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her. And he did, but not in the way she’d hoped when she parted her lips and held her breath. Instead of kissing her mouth, he touched his lips to her temple and tightened his hold on her.

She fought between disappointment—because when he had kissed her, she’d seen stars—and a deep thrill at his demonstration of tenderness.

He took her to a small restaurant off Broadway. The walls were covered in bright, abstract paintings, and it had a real funky vibe. When they’d been seated and ordered their drinks, she grinned over at him.

“This doesn’t seem like your type of place at all.”

“Why do you say that?”

She wrinkled her nose. “It’s kinda artsy. I never took you for the artistic type.”

“I’ve always liked art. I’d love to learn to paint. Maybe one day when I have more time.”

She tilted her head. “I didn’t know that about you.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

Her heart clenched at the wistful note to his tone. “I can’t wait to learn,” she whispered.

Her stomach did a flip at the intensity in his eyes. His hand reached for hers, and as their fingers interlocked, he gently brushed his thumb over her skin. The way he was looking at her stole her breath. The noise inside the bustling restaurant faded into the background as she mapped every angle, every shadow of his face. Silent moments with Tanner were to be feared, but sharing silence with Cole felt like being enveloped in the softest blanket. She craved the warmth he provided.

And then the damned server came over and broke the spell.

Millie ground her teeth as they gave their order. Alone once more, Cole recaptured her hand. His behavior around her had changed. He seemed more…open somehow.

“You’re different,” Millie said.

“Different how?”

She twisted her lips to the side. “I’m not sure. Freer maybe.”

“That’s because I don’t need to hide how I feel anymore.”

A fluttering set off in her chest. “And you felt you had to hide it before?”

He nodded.

“Why?”

He hitched a shoulder. “Because I didn’t want to get in between a husband and wife, and I wasn’t sure whether you’d go back to Tanner eventually.”

She violently shook her head. “I am never going back to Tanner. It took me so long to pluck up the courage to leave, but I stopped loving him years ago, Cole. He killed whatever love I once had for him, slowly and painfully. I may have only physically left him six weeks ago, but in my head, I checked out years ago. Our marriage has been over for a very long time. You’re not getting in between anyone.”

He brought her hand to his lips, but instead of kissing the back of it in a somewhat old-fashioned manner, he turned it over and touched his lips to the inside of her wrist. Goosebumps pebbled her skin, and her nerve endings tingled deliciously.

“That’s good to know.” His gaze inched lower until his eyes rested on her mouth.

The nape of her neck prickled, the hairs standing on end. Her lungs flattened. What if she wasn’t sitting across from him but adjacent? Would he kiss her in front of all these people? Would she let him?

Yes!

He stroked his beard thoughtfully, then expelled a soft sigh, his expression resigned. Her pulse jolted. She sensed he was about to share something important.

“It’s always been you,” he said. “That’s why I’m not with anyone. I couldn’t commit to a long-term relationship with someone else because I’d already fallen for you.”

Shock rolled through her, and her heart raced. Okay, there was sharing something important, and then there was rocking her very foundations. She had not expected such a momentous revelation. She spotted the server on his way over with their food and gave a firm shake of her head. He turned on his heel and headed back to the kitchen.

“Since when?” she managed to croak.

Another hitch to his shoulder. “Before Tanner. Before Calum.”

She clasped a hand to her chest. “Oh, Cole.” She felt breathless, as if she’d run at full pelt for a good few minutes. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?”

He gave a short, bitter laugh, his gaze drifting away from hers. “Because I’m a fucking idiot who was too stupid or scared or whatever to stake my claim. To show you that I was the one you should be with. I was your destiny. Instead, I stood on the sidelines while Calum, and then Tanner, took the very thing I wanted more than anything in the world.” He looked her right in the eyes. “You.”

Dazed and overwhelmed, she fell silent. This was huge. How did she even begin to process Cole’s confession?

“Y’know, Calum told me a few weeks ago he’d figured out how I felt about you, and that’s why he broke it off. I gave him holy hell at the time for treating you like shit, and all the while he was praying I’d step up—which I clearly didn’t.”

Her eyes widened. “That’s why he broke up with me?”

“So it seems.”

“Wow. Calum has a heart.” She chuckled, hoping to bring a little levity to the atmosphere between them which, in an instant, had switched from light flirting to something much heavier. Cole, though, didn’t join in.

“And then because I still didn’t tell you that I liked you, Tanner got there first.”

Guilt swarmed his features, and she understood why. Oh no. She wasn’t having that. The blame for who she chose to marry lay solely at her door. The treatment she’d received while in that marriage was Tanner’s cross to bear, none of it had anything to do with Cole.

She brought his palm to her face and held it to her cheek.

“It is not your fault that I ended up with Tanner.”

His chin lowered to his chest. “Isn’t it?”

“No,” she said firmly. “It is not. I didn’t know Tanner would turn into an evil, nasty little prick, so how could you? And you are not an idiot, Cole Brook. You are utterly wonderful. But, God, I wish you’d told me.”

“What would you have done if I had? Because if you’re being honest, you never really noticed me. I was the invisible twin, the one that blended into the background.”

She wouldn’t disrespect him by lying, not when he’d been truthful with her. She owed him the same honesty in return.

“You’re right. I didn’t think of you in that way. I always saw you as a friend rather than anything else. I guess we’ll never know what I would have done if you’d told me how you felt back then.”

She exhaled slowly. This was a lot to take in, but at the same time, a quiver of excitement stole over her, caused by the man sitting opposite.

“I do know one thing, though. I may not have noticed you then, but I sure as hell see you now. There’s no point looking back, wishing things had been different. They are what they are. All we can do is focus on the future. I don’t know what it holds for us, Cole, but I really want to find out. Do you?”

He gently grazed his lip with his teeth, but his intense eyes burned with desire when he fixed his gaze on hers. “I definitely do.”

“Great. Then we’re all set.” She held her hand up to the server, letting him know they were ready. “Now, let’s eat. I’m starved.”

Cole chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”