She wasn’t exactly avoiding him so much as she was taking space. Time to figure out what to do. When a man told you he loved you, he probably didn’t expect you’d blow him off, but that felt like what she was doing.
Because she was scared.
It wasn’t just the words. It was the commitment. It was her past. It was her lack of experience.
When Tori went to her living room window and saw Cole getting in the car with Morgan, she blew out a sigh of relief. They were leaving. Which meant she could work in the backyard for a while without worrying they were coming over.
She pulled on her short shorts and a thin tank, and grabbed a bottle of water. The lawn needed mowing first, and then if she didn’t die of heat exhaustion, she’d work on the garden. The mower started up without a hitch, making her smile, and she pushed it into the blades of grass.
It put a little strain on her chest, a few ribs still aching in protest, so she stopped halfway through for a sip from her water bottle. When she turned back from the table and saw Cole in her backyard, she jumped and splashed water down the front of her shirt.
He smiled, eyes dipping to her wet tank. “Nice.”
“Cole,” she breathed. “I thought you left.”
He moved a few feet closer, eyes shielded by sunglasses. “You were watching us?”
“Yes. No. I mean, I just happened to look out the window as you were headed out.”
“Because you’re avoiding me,” he said.
“I am not.”
“You didn’t stay for long last night. I haven’t seen you around today even though it’s your day off. I offered to mow your lawn for you, and here you are doing it.”
She frowned. “I can mow my own lawn.”
“I see that.” Another step. “Doesn’t mean you can’t let me help out. Especially since it probably still hurts your ribs.”
She felt her second flicker of irritation since seeing him back here. “You’re pretty confident, aren’t you?”
“I’ve had bruised ribs before. They take time to heal.”
“I’m fine.”
He stood only a few feet away now. “You’re avoiding me. I get it. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you get away with it.”
“Are you seriously saying this to me right now?”
“Yep.”
When he took another step, she held up the water bottle. “Just stay right there.”
He flashed her a smile. “Or what? You can’t avoid me now. I’m in your backyard.”
“Cole,” she warned.
“Tell me the truth. You were avoiding me.”
“Where’s Morgan?”
“You can’t distract me.”
With one quick movement, she squirted the water from her bottle at him, and then yelped when he lunged for her.
“I’ve got a hose,” he said, water dripping from his cheek. “If that’s how you want to play.”
She laughed, squirted him again, and then lost her breath when he snagged her around her waist. They dropped to the grass together, the laughter catching in her lungs.
“Shit,” he said, pushing up when he landed halfway on her. “Tori, are you hurt? Your ribs?”
“No.” She rubbed her chest. “Okay, a little. It’s—yeah, you were right. The mowing.”
“I’m sorry, what was that?”
“Mowing the lawn. It—”
“No, I mean the part about how you said I’m right.”
She blew out a breath, the long blades of grass tickling her cheeks. “Yes, you’re right. About the mower and about avoiding you. Sort of.”
“Because of the visions or because I told you I love you?”
Her stomach fluttered with those words. “Wow, you just come right out with it.”
He eased to his side, hand resting on her stomach, the bare line of skin between her shorts and her wet tank. “Might as well play it straight. Takes care of things faster that way. So which is it?”
She balked, and then gave in. Shrugged. “Both.”
Cole ran his hand up her side, skimming her breast before sliding back down. “I can respect that. Tell me the truth. How sore are you?”
She blinked at the change in topic. “Uh, it’s not too bad.”
“Your head?”
“All better.”
“So just your ribs.” He lifted the hem of her shirt, rising it a few inches up her belly. “Where?”
Her breath stalled in her throat. “I can’t, uh…I’m not really thinking about my ribs when you do that.”
He leaned down, mouth locking on hers, lips hot and tongue plunging inside. He was careful to keep to her side, not to put pressure against her body in any way. So she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer.
Cole groaned, and moved back. “Careful,” he warned.
“Of you?”
He pulled off his glasses, eyes locking on hers. “Of your ribs.”
“You trying to make excuses so you don’t have to be this close to me?”
His gaze narrowed. “Seriously? I’m about to take you right here on the grass.”
“I dare you.”
For a moment, she thought he might take that dare. Then he got to his knees. “Not right now. Or here. I want to make sure you’re comfortable.” He grinned. “It might take a while.”
He helped her to her feet, and she sighed. “Fine. That leaves me with chores.”
“That leaves you with the truth,” he said. “Which you’re going to tell me.”
She considered this. Yes, he deserved the truth. As scary as it was. She echoed his earlier thought. “Not here. I want to make sure you’re comfortable, too. Maybe something to drink.”
“I can handle that. I’ll mow the rest of your yard.”
“You don’t have—”
He stopped her with a sharp glance.
She held up her hands. “All right. You win. I’m going to take a shower, then. Get ready for later.”
His eyes went hot instantly, a muscle in his jaw working. “Careful,” he said again, though there was laughter in his voice.
She just wiggled her fingers in a wave and ran inside.
#
He finished the lawn, got himself a bottle of water from the fridge in Tori’s house, and when he heard the shower still running in the bathroom, followed the noise.
It was progress. Progress that she hadn’t shooed him away. Hadn’t told him she wasn’t ready to talk.
Tori kept growing on him. To the point he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, being with anyone else. He wanted more. And it was easy to tell more was scary to her.
He opened the bathroom door, saw her silhouette through the curtain, and exhaled. Steam fogged the mirror, and he heard her voice.
“Cole?”
“I’m here.”
“I’m almost done.”
“No rush,” he answered, already stripping out of his shorts and T-shirt. He tossed them on the ground, along with his boxers, and pulled the curtain to the side. “Mind some company?”
Her breath caught. Water ran down her cheeks, her hair piled on her head with suds in it. “Come on in.”
He grinned, stepping into the hot water with her. She turned to him, mouth finding his without hesitation. His blood heated in his veins, body pulsed with energy and need, and he pressed against her. Felt every part of her against every part of him.
His tongue slid inside her mouth, connecting with hers. He changed the angle of the kiss, going as deep as he could while his hands wandered. A low moan came from her throat when he ran his hands over her breasts, thumbs rubbing the nipples as they tightened into buds.
“Tell me if I hurt you,” he said, voice rough.
“Keep going.”
He didn’t need any more encouragement. He slid his hand down her stomach and between her legs, pressing his finger inside. Her body arched against his, lips parting for another kiss.
He’d planned on taking it slow, taking it easy on her, but she seemed to want fast and rough. He swiveled her, heard her gasp when her back hit cold tiles. Then her eyes went wide as he slid inside. Her arms came around his neck, holding tight as he thrust in and out, her soapy back sliding on the tile.
“Oh, God. Don’t stop.”
Her fingers dug into his shoulders, then into his hips as he continued to pump. The air heated around them, steam rising into his face. But all he could feel was Tori. Her hands, her breath, the beat of her heart as his body finally tightened, then exploded.
He caught her close, burying his face in her neck, his body shuddering.
“You okay?” he finally managed.
“Better than okay.”
Not his best work. But he’d do better this evening.
“Here,” Cole said, reaching for the soap. “Let me.”
She grinned, turning away to let him wash her back. “You never told me where Morgan was.”
“Her first sleepover.”
Tori spun back around, eyes alight with happiness. “Really? With Mandy?”
“Yep.” He took the moment to run the sponge over her shoulders and down her chest.
“Was she okay when you left?”
“She ran into the backyard without even saying goodbye. I think she’ll be fine. But they have my number.”
“So you’re saying you have the whole night? No obligations?”
He kissed her. “No. And you’re spending it with me.”
“Gladly. I’ll miss Morgan, though.”
He sponged her stomach. “That’s one of the reasons I love you.”
Her body froze, eyes locked on his.
“We’ll get to that,” he promised. “But in the meantime…”
He ran the sponge lower, and then held her up when her body slumped against his.
#
They ate at Tori’s house this time, with wind chimes tinkling around them and a storm of clouds brewing overhead. Cole filled Tori’s wineglass, trying to be patient, hoping she’d open up first and he wouldn’t have to try to pry it out of her.
“You’re pretty talented with those,” he said, gesturing to her chopsticks.
“I’m talented with a lot of things.”
“I believe it.”
But she set the chopsticks down and reached for her wine, worry clouding her features. “The vision I had today, and the one before…they were about Morgan.”
He went still. “You mean about her in the street?”
“No.” Tori stood with agitated movements. “I worry this will…upset you. That’s why I didn’t want to say anything. You’re not used to the visions, and—and neither am I. But—”
“Hold on. I’m not mad you had another vision. And I’m definitely not upset you had a vision about Morgan. The one you had before probably saved her life. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
She took a sip of her wine, swallowing and shaking her head. “It’s…it’s about her mom.”
Cole set his fork down calmly. He hadn’t told Tori anything about Sean’s call. About the possibility that Deirdre might show up here.
“In the first one…” She glanced at him, ran a hand through her hair, eyes torn. “God, I really don’t feel comfortable talking about this. It’s like intruding on your personal life.”
“It’s important.”
“It is, yeah. And I think I keep having visions with Morgan in them because…because something is going to happen. More than the car in the street. Something with her mom.”
He stood, walked to her and gripped her arms gently. Thunder grumbled overhead and the chimes tinkled against each other. “Tell me.”
“She was scared. In an apartment somewhere. Running from someone. No, not someone. A woman. Probably her mom. She hid under the bed.”
He closed his eyes against the image. “I remember. Deirdre came over that day after we’d already been apart for months. She swore she was clean, wanted to spend some time with Morgan. I was an idiot. I believed her. Maybe not about being clean, but about wanting to spend time with Morgan. I went to check the mail, and when I came back, Deirdre was flipping out, had started smashing things around the apartment. Morgan ran and hid under the bed. God, she was so scared.”
“I could feel it.” Tori held her fist to her chest. “I could feel it, too. The fear.”
He brushed his thumb on her cheek. “I swear that’s the last time I let Deirdre in the house. I wouldn’t do that to Morgan.”
“I know.” She nodded. “I believe you. You love her. She’s your world.”
More thunder grumbled and lightning flashed. “What about the other vision? In the apartment, too?”
Her eyes dropped to stare at her wine. “No. But her mom was in them.”
Dread unfurled in his gut. “Where were they? Tori?”
“They were here. In Garden Creek.”
#
They brought the rest of the food and the wine inside. Tori lit candles on the end tables and the coffee table, taking her time. Letting Cole absorb what she’d told him. Cleaning up while he grabbed his phone to call Mandy’s mom. To make sure everything was okay.
When he walked back into the room, she had her wine in her hand and sat on the edge of the couch. “She okay?”
“Yeah. They’re fine.”
“If you’re worried, we could go over there and get her.”
Cole shook his head and joined her on the couch. “No. Even if Deirdre showed up in town, she wouldn’t know to go there. And I know she’ll be safe. Mandy’s dad is home, too, and they’re all inside because of the storm.”
“Still.” Tori touched his arm. “Let’s talk to Cass so she can keep a look out.”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
Lightning flashed outside the window, followed by a quick and loud clap of thunder. Cole curled his arm around her, his body warm. Strong. “You okay?”
“I don’t like the visions. And I really don’t like that they’re about Morgan.”
“Are you having more than normal?”
She shifted, glancing up at him before sipping her wine. “A lot more. And more dreams, too.”
“You think it’s because of Morgan.”
“And you,” she said honestly.
His head angled in interest. “Me?”
She sipped her wine again, and leaned back on the couch, listening to the rain as it pattered on the roof. “So…at least I don’t have to water the lawn now.”
He chuckled, reaching for her wine and pulling it from her hand.
“Hey!”
“Just hold on,” he said, setting it aside and catching both of her hands in his. “You’re nervous.”
“I’m—no, I’m not nervous. Why would you say that?”
“If it helps, I’ve been having dreams about you, too.”
“You said that before,” she murmured, her heartbeat quickening.
“What does that mean?”
She forced out a laugh. “I don’t know.”
To her surprise, he reached out, gripping her waist and pulling her to him. She straddled him, resting back on his thighs, forced to meet his gaze.
“Cole.”
He caught her bottom lip with his teeth, sending chills skittering down her spine. “I’m going to ask you something.”
When his mouth wandered down to her collarbone, she could barely think, let alone say no. “Okay.”
“Tell me the truth.”
“About what?”
“You know what the dreams mean,” he said.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
She set her hands on his chest. “Why do you ask so many questions?”
“I’m curious by nature. And I’m in love. I need to know where this is going.”
“For Morgan,” she said, nodding. “Of course.”
“For us. For you, too. I don’t think you know quite what to do with love.”
Her throat dried. She’d never said she loved him, but she wouldn’t be surprised if he already knew it. Could see it in her eyes.
“I can be patient,” he said, brushing a kiss on her jaw. “But I need to know we’re on the same page.”
“That’s a lot.”
“I know.”
She went for the easy answer first, even though it was still out of her comfort zone. “Grams had the same kind of dreams. About my grandpa. And he…” She dropped her eyes to her hands. “He had dreams about her. That’s how they knew they were supposed to be together.”
His hands came over the top of hers. “And still, you’re hesitating.”
Her head jerked up. “God, you don’t stop, do you?”
She levered herself up, hopping off his lap to pace. He let her. “You act like this is so easy. My dad left my mom because of the visions. He left her even though they were in love. They ruin relationships. Love? Forget love, it’s not possible.”
Cole stood. “Forget love? You think that’s the solution?”
“It’s better than what my parents did. What I had to go through.”
His jaw clenched. “And you think you’re just like your mom. And clearly, I’m just like your dad.”
“No. No.” She exhaled. “You love Morgan.”
“I love you, too.”
“Sometimes love isn’t enough.”
His gaze searched hers for a long moment. “How do you know until you try?”
She backed up when it looked like he planned on walking her way. “It’s not fair to put you and Morgan through this. It’s not right.”
“So you don’t love me?”
“Cole. That’s not—”
“Say it.”
“What?”
“Say it out loud. You don’t love me. Then—then—I can believe you. Then we can go from there.”
She almost did it. To make her point. To get him to back off. But no, she couldn’t do that to him. Or herself.
“I can’t.”
He walked to her, taking her hands in his. “Then what can you tell me?”
She looked up, hating the tears that clung to her lashes. “I love you.”
His arms came around her, taking her breath. He sealed his mouth over hers, their tongues mingling as his hands roamed down her arms, to her back and then lower to cup her butt. “I love you, too.”
He drew off her shirt, letting it fall to the ground, and ran his hands over the lace on her breasts.
“Thank you,” he murmured, lips tracing down her neck to her shoulder.
“For what?”
“For telling me the truth.”
He guided her back to the couch, and she let him, opening herself up to that love. Opening herself to him as they made love with the sound of the storm in the background.