Cole

This entire situation keeps getting worse.

Torturing myself by pretending I’m interested in ‘Harmony’ is the easy part. Too easy. And that is the problem. Every touch. Every flirty interaction has me craving her more.

I was so fucking stupid to settle on this plan and think that I would be able to ignore reality.

Especially after today. I know she walked away thinking I wasn’t serious about the fact that I was asking her out on a date. But we also needed to talk about the change in plans as far as this case goes. Clearly, I’m shit at relationships, because I probably should have discussed work, at work. And left lunch for us to enjoy each other’s company.

Tonight, we agreed to leave the club together, in an effort to keep up this ruse. We made sure that every key player, including Lola, saw us leave and we’ve got to go the extra mile to seal the deal because someone’s checking up on us, too.

Thanks to a tip from Cody when I left the club, it appears that someone’s following us, so I’m leading her away from her apartment and back to my place instead. There I know we’ll be safe.

The entire car ride, we’ve played the part, unsure of how much our follower can see. Gentle touches. Flirty laughs. God, I even leaned over and kissed her at a red light.

Twenty-five minutes of pure torture.

As soon as my truck is tucked securely in the garage, Cody texts to let me know that our follower has driven off and that the house is secure. I let out a sigh of relief and look over at Molly in the passenger seat. She went silent on me about five minutes ago, but I was so focused on getting us here safely that I didn’t notice she’s fallen asleep on me.

I shouldn’t sit here and watch her sleep. I shouldn’t be admiring the beauty that is simply Molly. Even under the skimpy clothes and caked on makeup that she’s currently hiding behind to play a role. She’s breathtaking.

Regardless of how hard I want to deny it...this woman owns a piece of my heart.

It wasn’t always this way though. I tried. So, fucking hard, to keep her at arm’s length. It was easy to do at first. Especially when I thought Cody might have the tiniest bit of interest in her. Spoiler alert...turns out Cody had no interest in Molly and had zero trouble putting her in the friend zone.

I should have taken a lesson from Cody and done the same. Shutting off any and all feelings. Something that, back in my Marine days, was much easier to do.

Somewhere along the line though, things changed. I realized what was right in front of me all along.

Something I’m not sure I’m worthy of.

It’s too late now. This woman is as good as mine.

“Mol.” I reach across and gently rub her shoulder.

She lets out a tiny moan and of course, my dick takes notice. Trying again, I give her a gentle shake but she’s out cold. Jumping down from the truck, I head over to her side and open the door. I debate trying to wake her once more but when I reach in to unbuckle her, she leans in closer and it feels too good. Too right.

Cody’s standing at the kitchen counter when I walk in the door. Seeing Molly in my arms, he laughs and shakes his head. “Wondered what was taking you so long to get your ass in here.” He smirks.

I ignore him and instinctively carry her to my bedroom. I could have easily put her in the guest room for the night. Should have, and yet, here I am, tucking her into my bed. Something I’ve never even considered doing with anyone else before.

I refuse to overthink that fact or linger to watch her. Instead, I turn out the light and walk out, gently shutting the door behind me.

Of course, Cody calls me on my choice as soon as I come back downstairs.

“Fuck off,” I tell him as I grab a beer from the fridge and pop the top off. “It’s been a long day.”

“There’s some weird shit going on too, man,” Cody says as he takes a seat at the countertop across from me.

“In case you haven’t noticed, this whole thing has been a series of weirdness. But, I’m guessing you mean something in particular.”

“It was one of Dallas’ people following you. Problem is, I’m not sure if the dude is legit or not and Dallas isn’t answering right now.”

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “He was there until close tonight. We never discussed a tail. So, he’s not telling me everything, or something’s up.”

“My money is on the last one,” Cody responds.

Blowing out a breath, I open my eyes and take a hard look at the kid. Shit, he’s not much of a kid anymore. The poor bastard looks more and more like me every day. We’d probably look a whole lot more identical if not for his darker hair, the only thing he seems to have inherited from our mother.

He’s been with me since I opened the doors on Cole Security, my right-hand guy. He’s worked his ass off and caught on to every damn thing I taught him. Hard to believe we’ve been doing this for ten years. Cody stepping up to fill in and running the show a few times when Marine duty called, and I deployed. All the more reason why I trust his gut on this one.

Something is way off.

“Cole. I think they’re running more than drugs here,” he finally confesses after a few long moments of silence.

“You got proof to back it up?”

“I’m close. These containers they’re shipping, it’s not adding up to just drugs. Too many, too often. And if it was only drugs, shipments of this magnitude? They would have slipped up by now. They’re escalating.”

“You’re right about that much. You shared this information with Dallas yet?”

Cody shakes his head, no. “I wanted to be sure first.”

“You still don’t trust Dallas.” It’s a statement, not a question. I know Cody still doubts Dallas is completely clean in all of this.

“Tonight is the perfect example of why.”

“I trust you. Keep me posted. Tomorrow, we’ll take a close look together. I’m going to turn in for the night.”

Cody gives me a knowing smirk. “Good luck.”

“Cody. Don’t make me beat your ass,” I laugh as walk out of the kitchen.

When I slip into my room, I’m surprised to find the lights on and water running in the ensuite bathroom. I’m about to back out of the door and give her some privacy when she steps out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel. Under normal circumstances, I’d be hard-pressed to focus on anything else but the giant bruise on her cheek catches my attention.

“What the fuck?” I growl, moving toward her.

“Cole,” she gasps. “I was, I need...Can I get dressed first, please? Can I borrow a tee-shirt or something?”

The plea in her voice makes me stop. I’ve got a million fucking questions right now but she’s right. She needs clothes on first. I already feel like I’m short-circuiting here. Angry about the mark on her face, rock hard because she’s wearing nothing but a towel.

Turning to my dresser instead, I pull out a well-worn Marines shirt and a pair of boxers to hand to her. “I’ll wait in the hallway. Let me know when you’re done.”

Molly takes the clothes from my outstretched hand nods.

The two minutes or less that it takes her to slip into my clothes does nothing to quell the pure rage burning in my veins. I’m still fuming when she opens the door up.

“It was Lola.” She doesn’t even give me a chance to speak, no doubt knowing now is not the time to test my patience. “I stood up for one of the other girls. I stopped her from taking a swing at Roxy. She got one up on me though.”

“You’re done,” I say through gritted teeth. “Fuck this whole thing. You’re through.”

“Cole. I swear to fucking God, I’m not doing this with you again. I’m staying. Roxy needs a friend, someone to watch her back. Right now, that person is me. I’m not backing down, and I can promise you, it’ll be the last damn time the bitch every lays a finger on me.”

“She’s going to pay for this,” I assure Molly.

“She will, but you’ll let it play out first. Because that’s part of the plan. We already know she’s a vital part of this scheme. This had to happen. It’ll make the inevitable takedown that much sweeter.”

“I’m not happy, Mol.”

“Me either,” she sighs. “Care to explain why I woke up in your bed?”

A smile plays at the corner of my lips. “Nice diversion. You fell asleep in the car,” I say as I push her wet hair behind her ears. “It’s a privilege no one else has ever had.”

~*~

Molly

Cole’s confession tugs at my heart. Part of me so desperately wants to believe that in spite of it all, maybe things are shifting. I know that all of his attention at The Landing Strip was supposed to be for show, but it doesn’t feel that way.

“I’m going to shower and change clothes. You alright in here alone?”

“I can go. Or sleep on the couch,” I offer.

Ask me to stay. I plead silently.

He places a gentle kiss on my forehead and laughs. “Not happening. TV remote is on the nightstand if you want it. I’ll be quick.”

Cole grabs a pair of shorts and locks himself in the bathroom while I climb back in his bed and turn the tv on. As promised he’s not gone long. When the door opens, steam bellows out along with the fresh scent of his body wash and mint. He stays silent, and he flips off the bedroom light and settles in beside me.

“You good?” he askes gruffly, as he not so subtly tucks his arm under my head.

Taking his cue, I snuggle closer and hope that I’m not reading this whole situation wrong. “Yep, you?”

“Perfect.” He looks down on me with a grin.

We settle into a comfortable silence together for a few moments before his arm shifts, and he pulls me closer to his warm body. My eyes drift closed, and I fall asleep in the coziness of his embrace.

The next morning, I wake up to daylight peeking through the curtains and the sound of rain on the windows. It takes a second for me to gather myself but when I do, I’m surprised – if not a bit disappointed to find Cole’s side of the bed is cold and I’m alone.

The clock on the nightstand tells me that I still have time before I need to report to work, plenty of time. But realization sets in. I’m going to be doing one hell of a walk of shame if I don’t make it to my place and put on something a little more appropriate than Cole’s clothes or my club attire.

Slipping out of Cole’s bed, I make quick work of handling my business in the bathroom and then take off in search of him.

The upstairs is quiet, so I follow the hallway and make my way down to the main floor. To my right at the bottom of the steps, I find the kitchen and I'm greeted by two shirtless men with food on the counter and coffee.

Cody spots me first and lets out a fool on belly laugh. “Oh, this is great. Good morning! Sleep well?”

Cole spins around from where he’s pouring another cup of coffee and flashes me a breathtaking smile that has my tongue tied in knots.

“Ignore him.” He rolls his eyes at his brother and comes over to greet me, coffee cup in hand.

“Hi,” I whisper breathlessly as he gives me a peck on the cheek. Behind his back, Cody gives me two thumbs up then scurries away before Cole catches him.

“Breakfast is on the counter. I think we should have time for you to swing by your place and change clothes.” Cole pushes the cup of coffee into my hands.

He steps away and goes back to his plate like this is the most normal thing in the world. Meanwhile, I feel like I’m stuck in the twilight zone.