17
Danny
I’m a nervous wreck ever since mine and Cole’s hot-as-fuck kiss last night. I wonder if there will be a repeat. I am hoping there will be and then some. I open the door, and my knees almost buckle at the sight in front of me. He is wearing a pair of dark jeans paired with a white sweater and leather jacket, and man, does he look mouthwatering, per usual.
“Hey there,” he says with a huge smile on his face.
I return the smile. “Hey yourself, ready to go eat some food? I sure am. I’m starving.”
I wasn’t simply starving for food either. In fact, I wouldn’t mind skipping the food if I had the opportunity to have Cole right here and right now.
He rests his hand on the wall outside. “Yeah, I’ve been ready since I finished that tiny bagel for breakfast this morning.”
I chuckle. “All right. Let me grab my jacket, keys, and wallet, and then we will head out. Should I drive this time?’
He shakes his head. “Nah, I don’t mind. We will be going out into the city for brunch and a movie today.”
I nod before following him to his car. We both slide inside at the same time, and he looks at me. “Damn, I was supposed to get your door.”
“You don’t have to do that every time, you know, or at all. I’m perfectly capable of opening my own door.”
He smiles. “Well, it’s what your character would do in your latest book, Just Between Us.”
My eyes go wide. “Yeah, but that book was meant to be super cheesy…Wait... you read my books?”
He nods as he heads onto the main road. “Yes… well, I read one book of yours, and it was really good. Romance isn’t normally my thing, but it was quite enjoyable. Might I also add that you have quite the dirty mind? We just may have to explore that later. Maybe we can recreate scenes from your book after our date.”
My cheeks grow hot from blushing at his words. I didn’t really like the idea of Cole reading my books. I didn’t like anyone I know reading them, but especially Cole. Did he really need to know all the dirty thoughts that went through my head? Now I’m glad I didn’t write a story based on that night of the New Year’s Eve party. Guilt sinks into my gut as I remember I still need to tell Cole about that night and how it was me. I didn’t know if I want it to be today, though. Maybe I could tell him after today. What if he doesn’t want anything to do with me afterward? I could at least have one more day with him before that happened.
Cole glances at me as if he can tell I have something on my mind. I force a smile onto my face. “Sorry, I was thinking about the things I needed to do later.”
He smiles before opening the door to get out and sticks his head back into the driver’s side to say, “Was one of those things on the list me by chance?”
My breath catches in my throat at his words. He closes the door behind him, leaving me sitting there alone, stunned and frozen. My car door opening turns my attention to Cole, hanging on the passenger door. “You really are beautiful, you know that?”
I blush, and my eyes go to the ground before unbuckling my seat belt and stepping out of the car. “No, I’m not.”
I walk in the direction of the restaurant, and he pulls my arm back, forcing me to face him. “Yes, you are.”
I don’t say anything else, and neither does he. I know this is a fight I won’t win with him. I just wish I could see myself the way he claims to see me. He’s the beautiful one, and it’s quite obvious when all eyes fall on him any time we walk past a group of people. He wraps my hand in his and pulls me toward the restaurant. Once seated, his eyes are back on me, and there I am getting lost in his again. Our food comes quickly after ordering, and Cole reaches for the check once it arrives before I can. “It’s my turn, remember?”
I nod before slipping my wallet back into my coat pocket. “Okay, well, since you already have the movie tickets, then I’ll get the candy and popcorn.”
“Sounds good to me. I can always eat my weight in candy and popcorn… even after just having brunch.”
I chuckle. “Sounds like I’ve met my perfect match,” I say with a wink.
The movie is cute and funny, but my eyes mostly stay on Cole and on his hand every moment it touches mine when we reach for popcorn at the same time. Halfway through the movie, he swings his arm around me, and I press my head into his shoulder. “You always smell so good, making me feel as if I’m on some tropical island.” He places a kiss into my hair, and panic overcomes me. Oh no, can he smell the coconut shampoo? Why did I not think of that? I mean surely, he won’t piece it together, right? I’m sure other people besides me use that shampoo.
I shake the thought from my mind and relax back into my seat, and Cole moves the popcorn sitting between us and reaches for my hand. Fuck, there go those damn flutters in my stomach again. But they hardly ever stop when Cole is around.
