Page 92 of L.O.V.E

“Been busy. My boss handed me the lead on two major accounts.”

“That’s great, but you know I don’t want to hear about work. What’s up with the men in that town? I heard Idaho breeds some of the prettiest people in the Northwest.”

“It’s true.” I winked. “Must be all the fresh air.”

The baby smiled up at me and, oh, sweet Lord, my heart. “You keep that up, little lady-killer, I might marry the next man I see just so I can make babies of my own.”

Lacey laughed. Leon cooed.

“So? No mountain men banging down your door?”

“Absolutely no banging whatsoever.” I refrained from mentioning all the dates I’d turned down. That was between me and my broken heart.

“I don’t believe you for a second.” Lacey leaned closer, gripped my wrist. “Is it Cole? Is that why you’re not dating?”

Scary how well she knew me.

“Just been busy, Lulu,” I sighed. “Trying to rule the world.”

Wise, brown eyes searched mine, unconvinced. “What about that boss of yours?”

“He’s remained strictly professional. Though I have caught him staring at me on more than one occasion.” And he had a killer dimple, I left unsaid. Every damn time he grinned, I was reminded of Cole. “Not that it matters. I would never date someone I work with, especially a supervisor.”

The door swung open, the bang echoing through their massive home. Ellis stumbled in under a mountain of shopping bags overstuffed with pretty packages.

“Oh, honey.” Lacey pushed from the couch, laughing. “Let me help.”

“We got it, sweetheart.” He nodded over his shoulder. “Look who came home early.”

Behind Ellis came another tumbling display of bright presents donned with ribbons and bows. A stuffed bear fell out of one bag, and a denim clad leg lifted to catch the toy on the top of his booted foot. He balanced. Hobbled. Caught his balance again.

“Cole!” Lacey ran to the rescue and snatched the toy, then one bag from his arms before rising on her toes to kiss his cheek.

My skin prickled, and I lifted the baby to my shoulder, certain the chubby little angel could shield me from such cruel beauty.

Cole stood, arms full, face red from the cold, taller and broader than when I’d seen him last. He smirked at something Ellis said and scanned the room, his mirth faltering when he spotted me on the sofa.

“Natalie.” His gaze softened, a slow melt like brown sugar stirred into warm butter, sweet and decadent, and making my mouth water.

“Hey,” I managed, though casual seemed an insult. He’d been inside me. He’d held my heart in his fist and squeezed the bloody thing dry before I’d snatched it back. Yet, when he looked at me that way, there wasn’t a thing in the world I wouldn’t lay at his feet, my battered heart included.

What a dangerous predicament. The man only lost his wife a few months ago. His emotions couldn’t be trusted any more than mine.

Ellis dropped his load of bags by the Christmas tree, then relieved Cole of his bundles.

“I thought you weren’t coming home until after New Year’s,” Lacey said, pushing Cole to the left so she could close the door.

He grunted a response that I couldn’t make out, and Lacey’s eyes widened. She shot me a glance, then shared a conspiratorial, wordless communication with Ellis.

Cole hadn’t stopped staring, our gazes locked in a painful, yet necessary, exchange. Certain that everyone could hear the thump, thump, thump in my chest, and afraid of giving away my unstable state of emotions, I blurted, “I think the little guy needs a new diaper,” and made a mad dash for the nursery.

Leon’s diaper wasn’t soiled, but I changed him anyway, stalling. Searching for my backbone. Cole was downstairs.

Cole had trimmed his hair and shaved, and the dark ghosts no longer haunted his eyes.

Cole still had the power to break me.

My godson started to cry. I swaddled him and moved to the window. Lacey’s view was almost as nice as mine. Where she had the city skyline in the distance, my condo boasted a view of Lake Willow and the surrounding mountains.

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