Page 110 of The Plus One Professional
“Yes, wereallydo,” Cole responded. I could feel his gaze on me like a physical touch. I didn’t dare look back at him for fear that I might spontaneously combust.
Carly gasped. “Are you the wedding planner?”
Carly knew about me?
“Um, yes.”
Carly’s face lit up as she clapped her hands. “She’s the one that you have?—"
“Zip it, Caramel Corn.”
I could feel my cheeks heating up with embarrassment. As happy as I was to run into Cole, having an audience was not really my thing. I hated attention being on me, and this was a lot of it.
“Oh, um, my Uber is here. It was nice meeting all of you.” I lifted my arm in an awkward wave, then turned and headed down the hall. “See you next week, Carly.”
I rushed out of the waiting room and didn’t make it five steps toward the elevator before a very large hand wrapped around my wrist. “Wait.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that you were Carly’s uncle,” I rushed out as I turned around.
“I need to drive my sister and the kids home. But can I?—”
“Well, hello there, Miss Bliss.”
I turned my head and saw the man who knew my granddad that I’d met when I’d gone to ask Cole to be my plus one.
“Hi, Mr. Reynolds.”
“Hey, Arthur. We’re ready.” Sara, who was walking now, came out with the twins and Carly.
“What’s going on?” Cole asked his sister.
“Arthur was here already visiting a friend, and he said he’d give us a ride home,” Sara explained.
“Can we still get pizza?” Luke asked.
“Pizza sounds good to me.”
“Are you sure?” Cole looked concerned about him not being the one taking them home.
“Yes. I’m sure. We’re fine,” Sara assured him before turning toward me. “It was very nice to meet you, Bailey. I hope we’ll be seeing more of each other.”
“You, too.” I smiled, unsure of how to respond to the second part of that statement.
Carly was on the phone again, but she smiled and waved as she followed the group onto the elevator.
Once they got on and the doors closed, I turned back to Cole.
“Can I give you a ride home?” he asked, his voice deep and gravelly.
I was so nervous, suddenly, and I didn’t trust myself to speak. So I nodded.
We walked to the elevator bay, and by the time the doors opened, there were at least a dozen people waiting. As we stepped inside, Cole placed his hand on my lower back and made sure that I was standing against the wall, placing himself between me and the other people on the lift. It was a small gesture, but it made me feel safe. Safe and cared for.
Yeah. I had made a big mistake. Huge.
46
COLE
