"Are you ready to go?"he asks, unfazed by his daughter's reaction.
"Yep, I’m waiting on you two lovebirds."
Cole chuckles as he wanders her way."Come on, smartass, if I hadn’t pulled you from the piano this morning, you’d still be playing," he says, bumping her shoulder as he passes her.
"Oh, shoot, my headphones!"Sam calls out before rushing out of the room.
"Has anyone seen my black pumps?"I inquire as I pass Cole and wander through the bedroom, glancing around the war zone of clothing and shoes.
He squats in the middle of a pile and picks up the right set of shoes.The muscle in his jaw twitches as he perceives his chaotic bedroom.
I push myself up to peck his cheek and whisper while rubbing his chest with my palm, "I promise to clean it up when we're back, babe."
"Hmm," he hums.I shoot my feet into the black polished heels and take his outstretched hand.
"Oh holy shit,” Sam whispers when Cole parks the car in front of his mom’s house."Is this your childhood home?"
"Yep, this is it."Samantha hurries out and inspects it with an open mouth.Cole gets out and opens my door."How is your hand?Have you taken your painkillers?"
I step out and chuckle."Yes, I did, Daddy Cole," I whisper while letting my fingers skim his manhood.
He halts me when I try to pass him, bends his head, and whispers."Don't start something you can't finish."
Our attention gets drawn by the sound of a door opening and a man's voice calling out."Cole!"
Cole shifts his body, and his lips curl into a wide smile.Samantha hikes to her father and fidgets with a strand of her hair while asking, "Who is that?"
He strokes Samantha's shoulder while wrapping his other arm around my waist and walking to the man waiting on the classic federal-style house’s threshold.As the older man's gaze bounces between Samantha and me, his lips turn into a broad
smile, making the wrinkle lines next to his eyes deeper.Mineral greys conquer and stake their place in his thick black hair.After we walk inside, the man closes the door, and Cole stops us mid-way down the hall.
"How are you doing, Jeremy?"
"I'm doing great.When your mother told me you were joining us for dinner, accompanied by two women, I was more than excited."
The generous smile and relaxed manner radiating off him tells me he and Cole have a great relationship.Cole turns his attention to Samantha and speaks."Jeremy, this is my daughter, Samantha.Samantha, this is Jeremy.He's been working for my family since I was five years old."
Jeremy holds out his hand, and as Samantha shakes it, his smile increases."It's such a pleasure to meet you, and you're a beautiful young lady.If you need something while you're here, don't be a stranger and let me know."Samantha beams and nods.Then Jeremy's eyes wander to me.As he looks at me, he pauses for a while, then extends his hand to me."So this is the woman that made it through that brick wall of yours," he states, exchanging a knowing look with Cole, who lets out a snort.
I chuckle at his witty remark and his wiggling eyebrows—I like this man.As I shake his hand, I hold up my injured hand and comment."Yep, I am.I broke a few fingers doing so.But honestly, he's worth it."
Jeremy's eyes widen before he bursts out in a laughing fit.The incredible, infectious sound can melt any icy personality.Samantha and I chuckle, seeing the man brush a tear of laughter from the corner of his eyes before he composes himself.Cole pulls me against his side and smirks.
"Oh, boy," Jeremy lets out."You're exactly the type of woman he needs, Miss Alisha."He focuses his attention on Cole."Now let me show you to the dining room.Your mother is talking with the other guests."
"Other guests?I thought we were the only ones," Cole states with a frown.
Jeremy releases a nervous cough."Your mother invited George and Beatrice Banks and their son too."
Cole's relaxed demeanor vanishes into thin air.His lips smoothing into a thin line.
"Cole?"
He snaps out his frame of mind and lets go of me and focuses on Jeremy."Sorry, but could you leave us alone for a moment?"
The housekeeper nods."Sure, I'll be in the kitchen preparing dinner."
"Thank you, Jeremy," he says, placing his hand on the man's shoulder.
