Page 51 of Broken Hearts

“Seeing you there would mean a lot to me.”

I hesitate, torn between the desire to be near him and the need to protect my heart. “Isn’t that blurring the lines?”

“Not really. We’re not enemies anymore, right? And you’re not asking me to stop loving you.”

“It’s implied,” I reply, my voice firm.

He rolls his eyes, “Nothing is implied between us. I need to show a little bit more patience until you are ready to admit that you still love me.”

“I never said I didn’t.” It slips out of my mouth before I can think better of it, and as his smile widens, I know these words are like fuel on the fire. “But I don’t want to,” I add, but he doesn’t care.

“Come to Vegas then. You’re strong enough to resist me, aren’t you, Angel?”

He’s goading me. I know he is, and I’m also not sure I am strong enough, but I’m also too proud, so I jerk my chin. “I can resist you, Cole Westbrook. You’re not half as cute as you think you are.”

“Oh yes, I am, and I know how you love everything about me.”

I roll my eyes despite the frantic beat of my heart. “Fine, I’ll go to Vegas if only to prove that I have no issue resisting you.”

“Fine. Game on.”

“What if I win?” I ask, crossing my arms on my chest.

“I won’t lie and tell you I’ll let you go because that’s insulting, but I promise to fully step back and wait for you to come to me.”

“Okay…” I’m almost scared to ask, but I don’t need to because his smile turns devious.

“But if I win, Evangeline Sinclair, you’re mine. And you will give me a second chance.”

“Fine!” I reply, and suddenly, his lips are on mine, kissing me here in the middle of a crowded living room.

“Why did you do that?” I ask breathlessly as soon as he breaks the kiss.

“Sealing the bet, Angel.”

The dance with Cole leaves me reeling. As I pull away, my thoughts whirl with confusion and a hint of fear. His kiss, so unexpected and public, still tingles on my lips, a burning reminder of the chemistry we can’t seem to escape.

I move to the room's edge, needing space to gather my thoughts. Despite the party's buzz, I feel alone, engulfed in a wave of emotions. His words replay in my mind: challenging, confident, unsettling. The idea of going to Vegas, being near him again, feels like a mistake, yet I find myself irresistibly drawn to it.

“Are you okay?” Nessa asks, her eyes full of concern.

I force a smile, not wanting to spoil her night. “Yeah, just… overwhelmed.”

She nods, understanding. “Men like him can have that effect.”

I look back at where he stands, surrounded by his teammates, the life of the party. He catches my gaze and winks, an arrogant, confident gesture that makes my heart skip a beat. I look away, but it’s too late. The seed of doubt is planted.

Did I fall into his trap? Agreeing to go to Vegas, to his challenge, feels like stepping into a game I’m not sure I can win. My resolve, my determination to keep my distance, suddenly seems fragile against the force of his will, his charisma.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. I need to be strong, to remember why I need space, why I can’t let him pull me back into the chaos of our past. But as the music pulses around me and the laughter of the party fills the air, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m walking a tightrope and Cole Westbrook is waiting on the other side.

Chapter 20

Cole

The hum of the plane’s engines is nothing compared to the pounding of my heart. She’s here, just rows away, yet it feels like miles. I can’t help but grin, an uncontrollable burst of joy at her mere presence. Eva’s stubborn refusal to join me in first class is another one of her quirks that I adore, even though it irritates Liam and Ethan. They’re pissed because Poppy and Nessa decided to stick with her in economy, but I couldn’t care less. She’s here, and that’s all that matters.

Ethan huffs on the seat beside mine. “You know Poppy could be sitting here. We could have been drinking some champagne and—”

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