Page 82 of Forbidden Flame

Chapter 18

Cole

The next few weeks, I talked to Daphne on the phone each night. We got to know each other on another level, talking late into the night, sharing stories about our childhoods, our hopes and our dreams.

It was nice.

Sometimes, we were able to coordinate meeting up just the two of us during the day. During those times, we came together with all the pent-up frustration of the last week, ripping each other’s clothes off and rarely making it to a bed before I was inside of her.

Between the talking on the phone at night and the hot sex during stolen moments, my feelings for her were heightened, and I was desperate for something more.

I wanted to take Daphne and Izzy into town again for dinner and ice cream. I wanted to be together. But I knew that wasn’t possible until we figured out our family issues.

We were no closer to finding a solution. At the end of the day, I couldn’t control Emmett’s reaction or my aunt’s.

I needed to decide what I wanted and what I was willing to give up. Every time I thought about moving out of Heath’s cabin and off the Monroe property, I didn’t feel great about it.

This was my home away from home. The only family I’d been close to.

Daphne encouraged me to reconnect with my immediate family, my parents, and my sister, Charlotte. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I wasn’t close to my dad, but that was his fault. Not mine.

When my phone rang, and I saw it was Charlotte, I answered, “Hey, sis.”

“I was hoping to catch you.” She sounded out of breath.

“What’s going on?” It was rare for my younger sister to call me. We weren’t especially close.

“I need a place to stay. I’m kind of in between jobs.” Her voice shook, and I wondered if everything was okay.

“You know I don’t have my own place. I’m at Heath’s.”

“Do you think he’d mind if I crashed there with you?”

“I’ll check in with him and get back to you. When did you need a place?”

“Now.”

My stomach knotted. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t really want to talk about it. I just know I don’t want to go home.”

I sighed. If my sister lived with me, I wouldn’t get time alone with Daphne anymore. But then again, I didn’t want my sister moving back home either. I’d always felt some guilt that I’d had the Monroe farm to escape to and she didn’t. “I don’t want you doing that either.”

“Thanks, Cole. I know we haven’t always been close but—”

“You’re my sister. I’d do anything for you. I’ll talk to Heath and let you know.” I hung up the phone, feeling like my past was coming back to haunt me whether I wanted it to or not. If Charlotte was moving in with me, I couldn’t ignore my family anymore. I couldn’t pretend that they still didn’t affect me.

I immediately called Heath since he wasn’t on the job site today.

“What’s up?” There was a lot of background noise.

“My sister needs a place to stay. I don’t want her moving back in with our parents.” My stomach tightened. I didn’t want to talk about the situation, but I would if he asked. “Do you mind if she stays at your place?”

“Of course. She’s my cousin. Besides it’s your place now.”

It didn’t feel like mine. “I appreciate it. She didn’t tell me the situation. But I’ll talk to her and see what’s going on.”

“It’s fine. She can stay as long as she needs to. We can get to know our younger cousin better.”

---