Chapter Three
Lauren had a couple of jobs by the end of the week and she found herself craving the crickets at night now as she fell asleep. She started to want the coffee in the morning with Jane and the meals with the guys as they all grew comfortable together and laughed as they ate. She even started to let Jane teach her how to cook, laughing at her mistakes along the way.
One night, Jane and Adam had gone out to dinner and Lauren was surprised when Cole stopped by the house. She’d been there for over a month now and was starting to love her new home. “What are you doing here?” she asked as he opened the door.
“I knew that you were here on your own and I thought that you might like to grab some dinner with me,” Cole said in a soft voice, looking down at her.
“Cole…are you sure? They’re not here, so you don’t have to act like you want that,” Lauren told him. He frowned.
“Act?” Cole asked, as he made his way inside. “Listen, Lauren. I thought Jane was a little crazy when she told me about her idea a couple of weeks ago. I know that Adam wants me happy again, and she’s right beside him with her pom poms and I appreciate that. I wasn’t sure at first, but you make me laugh. You’re beautiful. You make me feel good again, for the first time since…just since last year.” Cole stared at her with his dark eyes and closed the door gently. “I want it to be us over dinner tonight. I want to give this a chance.”
“Wow. I didn’t think…I mean, I knew that we got along, but I didn’t know you felt that way.” Lauren blushed as she let a smile cross her face. “I’d love to have dinner with you. Give me just a sec to change.” She changed into a summer dress and pulled a green cardigan over her shoulders before she went to the door and found her sandals.
Cole took her to a sweet little steakhouse for dinner and she told him all about her father over the meal. Cole, in turn, told her about his girlfriend Kelsey and her tragic accident.
When they had to leave at eight because the restaurant was closing, Lauren couldn’t help but laugh. “It sure is different than back where I lived. Places stay open all night there sometimes.’
They walked out into the parking lot and to Cole’s car. “Do you like it?” Cole asked, turning to look at her. “Here, I mean?”
“I love it. The peace and it’s so beautiful and…I feel like I’m home here. I loved Georgia as well, but this place just soothes me.” He smiled as they reached his car. Their eyes locked as he stepped towards her.
“You soothe me,” Cole told her, as he stared down at her lips for a moment. “Can I kiss you, Lauren?”
“I have never been asked before,” Lauren answered with a hoarse voice. He smiled and looked into her eyes again.
“You’ve never been with a gentleman before.” Cole cupped her face and leaned down to press his lips gently to hers. The kiss was so soft and nothing like the awkward kisses that she’d shared with guys before. He kept the kiss light, but her knees were shaking and her heart pounded in her chest. Cole pulled away and slid his hands into her hair before he kissed her softly again. “Your lips are so soft, Lauren.”
“They are?” she asked. He pulled away and looked at her.
“Yes. What kind of men have you dated before?” Cole frowned as looked at her. Her face flushed a deep pink. It was dark outside now, but there was a street lamp, so she was sure he could see her face.
“I haven’t dated too much at all. The boys at my college didn’t really like me. They just tried to kiss me to make me…you know.” Lauren frowned, and he slipped his hands down to hold hers. “They thought that I was chunky and some called me fat.”
“You are beautiful,” Cole assured her, looking into her eyes and opening the car door for her. “They were fools.”
He took her home and kissed her goodnight in the truck before he walked her to the door. Adam and Jane were already home and looked a bit messy, as if they’d enjoyed their alone time. They had a movie playing and Jane looked up as they walked in. “Hi, you two. I was wondering where you’d gotten off to.”
“Cole took me to dinner,” Lauren said. Adam looked over at them with a knowing smile. She looked away quickly as Cole said goodnight and then left.
“It is about time. You guys have been so cute since you met,” Jane said. Lauren looked at her and sat down on the chair across from them.
“He’s not doing this because you guys wanted it?”
“Lauren, don’t be silly. Cole doesn’t date lightly.” Jane looked at Adam. “Tell her.”
“He’s only been with two girls, Lauren. One was his girlfriend for five years and the one before that for two years. I haven’t seen him smile the way he’s been doing lately,” Adam said. Jane squeezed his hand. “So yeah, Jane and I encouraged this, but he took that extra step. He asked you to dinner.”
“I suppose so.”
Adam excused himself to go to bed for work the following day and Lauren moved next to Jane on the couch.
“Are you okay?” Jane asked.
“He asked if he could kiss me. Who does that?”
“A cowboy,” Jane said. “Adam did the same thing with me. It’s their way.”
“It’s very sweet, but Jane? I haven’t had sex before. I’ve only kissed a few guys and I don’t know what I’m doing.” Lauren shrugged. “How do I tell him that?”
“It’s not like he’s had a lot of experience either. Two girlfriends, Lauren. I can tell you right now that he doesn’t do one-night stands. Adam knows him pretty well; they’ve known each other since second grade, just like us. Don’t you know me well?”
“I do.” Lauren looked at her.
“Listen to him about Cole then. Just let this thing with Cole move along. He might surprise you.”
Lauren took that thought with her as she dressed in pajamas in the bathroom. She walked into her room and stood by the open window. The fresh air was nice and she breathed it in as she thought about the kisses from earlier.
The stars were bright in the sky as she looked over the land and let herself miss her dad. She wondered what he would think about her right now and if he’d approve of Cole. Her father had always wanted her happy and for someone to love her like he had loved her mother before she had died of cancer when Lauren was just four years old. “Do you think that he could love me, Daddy?” Lauren asked in a whisper.
She lifted her eyes as a comet shot across the sky in a bright burst, and a tear slid down her cheek. They had gone to a meadow on nights when there were meteor showers and watched them all night long. Even when he had had to work in the morning, her dad would take her and she wondered if this was a sign or a response from him. She left the window open and lay in bed, watching the sky until she fell asleep.
The girls went into the city the following day to stock up on some food and piled the cart full before checking out. Lauren watched as Jane calmly loaded the belt with everything and stared at her when she heard the total. “We stretch this out for a couple of weeks, Lauren. I have become a pro since I can’t run to the corner store so much anymore.” She put the bags in the cart and smiled as Lauren helped her. “This is the real reason that I wanted you here. I feel bad dragging Adam here after work.” She winked, and Lauren laughed. They pushed the cart to the Jeep and loaded everything inside before Jane went through a drive through, simply because it was a treat for going this far out. That and she loved the food so much.
Jane drove the hour home and took a different way that led to a large farm. “This is where the guys work.” She jumped out of the car and walked over to a fence that overlooked everything. Lauren followed. There were a few men hoisting bales of hay from a flatbed truck as well as some working with horses and Jane searched them until she smiled. “There’s my man. He’s trying to tame that new mare and has been for two weeks.” Jane pointed and Lauren saw a shirtless Adam trying to ride a horse bareback as she fought against him. Lauren laughed and her eyes moved over to see Cole lifting his cowboy hat and, conveniently, shirtless as well.
“I always stop and enjoy the view when I’m going back home,” Jane said.
“I can see why,” Lauren replied, eyeing Cole’s lean muscles and the V that disappeared into his worn jeans. He was grinning as he cheered Adam on and it made Lauren smile. Jane looked at her.
“I think you can see what made me want to stay here.”
Lauren nodded. She was already falling in love with the easy way of life here, and she looked down as Cole glanced their way and said something to Adam, who looked over too. Jane blew him a kiss and he caught it before waving them. Lauren looked back at Cole as he raised his eyebrow.
She shyly turned away and walked back to the car, heat washing over her skin. She knew she wasn’t ready to be blowing kisses to any man, but mercy did Cole look hot out there. Jane laughed and ran up to Lauren, wrapping her arms around her. “No kisses for Cole?”
“After one date?” Lauren shot back as they climbed into the car and Jane started the engine.
“It happens fast around these parts,” Jane teased. Lauren shook her head. When they got home, they unloaded the groceries and stored a bunch of meat in the freezer out in the garage before loading the produce into the fridge inside.
They both did some work on their computers and Jane started cooking a couple of chickens in the ovens about an hour before the guys were supposed to come over for dinner. She cleaned up the kitchen and Lauren finished up an article before she submitted it and walked over to the fridge to get a cold bottle of water.
Lauren wandered out onto the deck and looked over the land, taking it all in.
She must have gotten lost in thought, because she jumped a little when she felt someone slide their arms around her. “Enjoying the view?” Cole asked. She relaxed and settled back against him.
“I am.” Lauren breathed in the scent of sweat and dirt and smiled.
“How about earlier?” Cole asked her, and she flushed. “I liked that you were out there watching us.”
“Jane was. I just happened to be along for the ride.”