Page 14 of Seduction in the Mountains

Betty beams. "I hope so, Cole. Because the whole town is rooting for you, and I'd hate to see anything bad happen to your handsome face."

Chapter 8

Miranda

Iwalkbackthroughthe curtain to Cole laughing and Betty looking pleased as punch, and I have a feeling it's at my expense.

Eyeing Cole's muscular arms, a tingling sensation skirts across my skin, making everything so sensitive to the touch that I stifle a whimper. He talks with his hands, and I take a deep breath, remembering what it felt like to have those thick fingers playing my body like his favorite instrument. I've been avoiding Cole the last few days, or rather, the way my body reacts to seeing Cole. But as he laughed with Jeremy and helped around the shop today, it's taken hours of constant willpower not to pull him into the back room and drop to my knees as I beg him to make me come.

Hussy.

Shaking my head, I clear my throat, and both heads swivel toward me. Betty whispers something to Cole, making him squeeze her hand, and she walks over to wrap me in a warm embrace. I breathe Betty’s jasmine scent as she pulls back to look at me.

"Well, dear, I have my dance class tonight, and you're about ready to close up. I'll see you and Jeremy tomorrow for dinner." She turns and gives Cole a kind smile. "And you’re welcome to invite your friend if you would like."

I roll my eyes. "Cole doesn't want to be my friend," I remind her.

I can't help but grin at Cole. Our eyes lock, and I'm once again sucked into the dazzling blue of his eyes. Remembering his refusal to be more than friends last week, I squirm, wondering what "benefits" he might be able to give me right now. I let my gaze wander down his body, where I spy a bulge in the front of his pants. My eyes fly to his, and he flashes me a panty-melting look.

Blushing, I bite my lip again and fidget with the hot pink ruffle around the hem of my rockabilly dress, looking anywhere but at Cole.

"Yes, well. You two can sort it out." Betty winks at Cole as she passes.

I watch Betty leave, feeling the sudden emptiness of the shop now that Cole and I are alone. Again.

I finally look at him and he's staring at me as if he can see through my clothes. Trying to distract my horny thoughts, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. "Betty is my grandma's best friend."

Cole looks confused but nods, patting the stool next to him. I suddenly feel guilty about the way I've been treating him. He's been thoughtful and kind, but I can't help getting angry that he won't let me be. I’ve told him I can't date, and he won't be friends, so he needs to back off.

The thought of him never talking to me again hits me in the gut, leaving a sour taste in my mouth. That isn't what I want. Maybe I can convince him to be friends if I explain myself.

I hesitate before sitting down a few seats away from him. "She used to own this place."

"Really?" Cole sounds interested.

He doesn't move closer, so I relax a little. If he touches me, I don't think I'll be able to stop myself from kissing him. Or more. I glance at the spot behind the counter where I took him in my mouth, and a throb ignites between my legs.

Taking a deep breath, I nod, refocusing on my story. "My parents had me when they were sixteen. We lived with my grandparents in the little apartment over their garage."

"Wow, so you were..." He pauses, trying to do the math.

"I was sixteen when Jer was born. Mom and Dad always wanted more kids, but they threw themselves into raising me and growing up themselves. They stayed together, happy. They beat the odds. And we were lucky to have hippie grandparents who believed in embracing life's curveballs and making the best of it. I spent my days surrounded by love, making mud pies and having big family dinners every night."

I look at him again to see he's watching me intently, so I continue. "When I was in high school, busy with friends and school, they got busy themselves, and Jeremy burst into our lives like a little drop of sunshine we didn't know was missing until he was here." I grin, picturing baby Jeremy, whom I fell in love with at first sight. We all did. Betty claimed him as her baby the second she saw him, and Mom said he had enough joy to go around for all of us.

I swallow hard before continuing. "Grandma gave my parents the house after my grandpa died, and she moved to Florida. The mountains weren’t good for her lungs, so she needed a lower elevation. Grandma visits a few times a year, and we talk on the phone a lot. She offered to take Jeremy after the accident, but I wanted him to grow up here in Duhring Park, and I knew I could do it. Or rather, I do it with a lot of help from the people in town.”

I pause, taking a breath. “Betty was looking to retire. It was a breakfast place when she had it, but coffee seemed more manageable. I sold the house, and with that and the life insurance money, Betty suggested I buy her out. She helped me get it going and ran it with me for the first two years. Jer and I live in the apartment upstairs, and I've managed to keep us afloat ever since."

Cole looks at me in awe. "Miranda, you've done more than keep you guys afloat." Raising his arms to gesture all around us, he says, "This is impressive. And it's all you. No one else could ownthisplace."

I beam at him, tears filling my eyes. "I want him to be happy," I whisper.

"You're incredible, Miranda. Jeremy's lucky to have you." Cole hesitates before continuing. "But when do you get to be happy?"

I swallow, knowing what he wants to hear, but I can't say it. Instead, I smooth out my skirt and try to make a joke about it. "Maybe when he goes to college? Or does whatever he wants to do after graduation?"

"That's bullshit, little ghost."

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