Page 37 of The Rebel Heir

And the sex.

He shook his head at how it had only intensified once deeper feelings had been added to the mix. Nothing felt better than looking down into Jillian’s eyes as he stroked deep within her and seeing them flooded with her emotions and, at times, tears of sweet release.

It was addictive.

And he felt himself crave her.

“I just wanted to see that face before I headed to the restaurant,” she said, walking back inside her apartment. “I’m excited to see the changes.”

“Call me when you’re done and tell me about it. I’ll be up,” Cole said, taking steps to the kitchen that centered the condo. He picked up the stack of takeout menus.

“Something to look forward to,” she said as she leaned the phone against something to pull a lightweight jacket over the fitted long-sleeved tee she wore with her black uniform pants.

His doorbell rang loudly.

“Someone has company,” she said, jerking a leather satchel over her head to settle on her side.

“Gabe and Mo wanted to see the place,” he told her, walking over to the door.

“Speaking of family...” Jillian picked up the phone and walked down the hall to reach her front door. “My grandmother believes you’re beautiful and wants to know if I didn’t bring you around because I was scared she would steal you from me.”

Cole chuckled, remembering and liking the feisty silver-haired woman with pink-painted lips. Dinner with Jillian’s family had been a surprise that he’d enjoyed. Her mother was warm. Her father, a solid man. And her grandmother simply adorable with a quick wit and a flirty eye wink. “Beautiful, huh?” he asked as he stood by the condo’s front door.

“Funny, you chose to focus onthat,” she mused.

They laughed.

“Enjoy your visit, and please check with your interior decorator on yourfurniture,” she quipped before blowing him a kiss and ending the call.

Cole made a mental note to do that in the morning as he slid his phone into his back pocket and opened the front door. “Do I smell food?” he asked, looking down at the bags they carried.

“Wow. Hello to you, too, Cole,” Monica said, rising on her toes to kiss his cheek before walking inside.

Gabe chuckled as he offered his brother his fist for a tap with his own in greeting. “Don’t let her fool you. She is starving, too,” he said, offering his future bride an amused look when she shot him a playful glare before looking up at the towering tray ceiling.

“This condo isbeautiful,” she said, making a slow turn to take in the abundance of floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a view of the sun descending on the Manhattan skyline.

Cole led Gabe into the kitchen, where he set the bags he carried atop the sizable marble island. “It will be better once Jaime gets it decorated,” he said, opening the custom cabinets to remove plates.

The kitchen was stocked with essentials because he and Jillian had enjoyed staying in and cooking for each other.

“Jaime Pine Design?” Monica asked, removing the lightweight emerald-green trench she wore with matching slacks and a light silk sweater. “Good choice.”

“I always liked what she did with the townhouse,” Cole said as she took Gabe’s navy jacket and set both garments atop the empty counter.

“Does Mother know?” Gabe asked, opening the containers of steaming Thai food.

“I didn’t tell her,” Cole said as he piled a plate high with saucy beef noodles, green papaya salad andpak boongsautéed in traditional spicy Thai flavors. Several small omelets made with shrimp and green onions made a food tower he planned to demolish. “The last thing I need is her interfering in my life again.”

Gabe and Monica shared a look.

“You ready to talk about just what she did to end things with you and Jillian?” Gabe asked, leaning against the counter and taking a bite from a grilled pork skewer.

“She got between Jillian and me,” Cole said, covering his lips with the back of his hand as he spoke with his mouth full—something his mother abhorred.

Monica smiled at him as she opened a bottle of white wine. “Who knew you were a note writer? It’s so romantic.”

Cole was surprised she knew that.

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