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But anyone who makes my A
There wasn’t understanding in her father’s eyes, but neither was there condemnation. And when his gaze shifted to A
What a shame there hadn’t been time to ask her father for her hand. But that didn’t make sense. Cole hadn’t even known her yesterday, wouldn’t have ever sought her out if not for his grandmother’s wish.
“Thank you, Mr. Davis.” He shook her father’s hand, a strong handshake from the kind of man Cole would have loved to have had around when he was a kid.
“Call me John.”
A
“Go,” he said in a low voice that only she could hear.
But when her hand slipped out of his, he found he already missed her. Not just the soft press of her curves, but the sweet pleasure of holding her hand in his, of knowing that he could fall back into pass coverage if she needed his support.
But he didn’t have long to dwell on the thought, not with seven people he was now temporarily related to all peppering him with questions and compliments.
* * *
“Are you mad at me?” A
“Should I be?”
A
A
“I know my marriage is really unexpected, Mom.”
“Do you love him, A
She met her mother’s gaze on a swift intake of breath. It was the one question she’d hoped no one would ask, the one thing she’d hoped they wouldn’t pick up on from her explanation.
“He’s a wonderful man.”
A man who would do anything for his grandmother—including finding a nice stranger and marrying her—couldn’t possibly be bad. Even the fact that he’d lied to her no longer seemed all that bad. Not when she herself was doling out the lies by the bucketful.
“That wasn’t what I asked.” Her mother nailed her with a sharp glance. “Do you love him?”
A
But just as she was about to say, “I don’t know,” she realized it wasn't true.
Oh my God, she was falling in love with him.
She was only vaguely aware of her own gasp, of her mother’s arms coming around her.
“Oh, A
A
“A
But twenty-nine years was an awfully long time to hold it all in, and now that the dam had cracked, she couldn’t keep it all from gushing out. “I picked out a new J name for myself when I was in first grade. Je
She hated the spike of tears in the corner of her eyes. Damn it, for once she was going to be strong. Cole had helped her leap last night, showed her the strength—and adventurousness—she hadn’t seen in herself every time he made love to her. And no matter how much it was going to hurt when their marriage ended and they went their separate ways, she’d always be grateful to him for that gift.
Tonight she was going to have to take what she’d learned and trust that she knew how to fly on her own.
“You were A
A
“You’re right, Mom. I am different. And this is how I want to live my life. Cole is my husband. I’m his wife. I’m sorry you didn’t meet him before now, but he’s here tonight.”
The pain in her mother’s eyes had her on the verge of an apology. And then her mother said, “Well, one thing’s for certain. He’s very good-looking,” and A
* * *
Cole stood in the doorway and watched A
Her mother was right. Anyone could see that A
So full of sweetness it took his breath away.
She turned and saw him, then, pleasure lighting her eyes as she held out her arm for him.
And as he walked toward his wife and took her in his arms, he wanted her with an intensity he hadn’t known he could feel.
But most intense of all, far more intense than his desire for her, was pride at the magnificent woman he held in his arms.
A
And all his.
* * *
Two hours later, they were back in his car. A
“You okay?” He reached over, stroked his thumb across the sensitive skin inside her wrist.
“I think so.” The moonlight was just bright enough for him to see her small smile. “You were great, Cole. Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me for anything, A
She made a soft sound of agreement, her eyes closing at the stop light. Cole sat at the empty intersection long after the light turned green.
They hadn’t done enough sleeping the night before for him to get an opportunity to watch her like this. Her pretty face relaxed, her eyelashes long and curved across her cheekbones. The pulse moving evenly at the side of her neck.
His chest clenched at how beautiful she was. Desire was there—he already knew it would never be far from the surface between them—but it was another emotion entirely that had him unable to take his eyes off her. More than appreciation, stronger than respect.
He wanted to cherish her, wanted to devote himself to making her happy, to seeing her smile.
A car honked behind him and Cole stomped his foot down on the gas pedal, shooting them away from the light like it was a high-speed roller coaster ride. A
Twenty-four hours. He’d known her twenty-four hours.
It made sense that he’d like her. That he’d lust for her.
But all this cherishing and devotion crap? Hell, that didn’t make a lick of sense.
Thirty minutes later, when Cole pulled into his garage, he had his head back on straight.
No question about it, he’d lucked out by picking A