“Back at ya.”
I glance at the clock. It’s almost five.I hop in the shower, taking my time, hoping Cole will make it home and we canshower together. But after ten minutes, all I’m doing is standing in the showerbored, so I get out. I’m in the middle of curling my hair before Cole comesinto the bathroom.
“Hey Cookie. I think a tornado hit thebedroom.” He looks around at my makeup strung along the counter and the usedtowels and my jeans piled on the floor. “And in here.”
I look at him through the mirror, shakingmy head. “Must have. I wonder when that happened? I don’t know what else couldhave caused it.” I give him a mischievous smile. “You better hurry. You’regoing to be late.”
“We had pre-drinks at the office, so I’mgood. I’m going to shower.”
“Okay.” I watch him through the mirrorpull his white dress shirt off and then his socks. He knows I’m watching him.He can’t help the smile on his face. He slowly and seductively pulls his beltfrom its loops. He looks at me through the mirror, thumbing the waist of his pants.I wag my eyebrows at him, licking my lips. “Take it off baby.”
“Oh baby.” He comes up behind me, takingthe curling iron out of my hand and sitting it at the end of the counter, outof harm’s way, and then wraps his arms around my waist, nuzzling my neck.“We’ve come a long way, haven’t we, Kate?”
I turn my head, kissing him lightly onthe lips. “Yes, and I could not be happier.”
“Good, that’s all I want for us, to behappy.”
My heart overflows with love and a tearslides down my cheek. “Katie,” he turns me to look at him. “Don’t cry baby.”
“It’s just I never thought in a millionyears I would ever find you.”
Cole crushes me to him, pressing our lipstogether. “I didn’t know I could love this much.” He caresses my cheek.
“Oh Cole.”
“Okay, enough of this mushy business.Tonight we’re celebrating.”
I finish watching Cole undress and get inthe shower. I try to do my hair but I have to keep wiping fog off the mirrorand finally give up.
“Hey Laura,” I yell walking up stairs.She peeks out of the back bedroom.
“What’s up?”
“Want to braid my hair? Cole’s showering,making it impossible to get ready.”
“Sure, get your ass in here.” Laura doesa half halo braid around my head and then pins the curls up for me.
“Perfect,” I say, looking in the mirror.“Will you quit your day job and come be my hairdresser?”
“Say the word, chick.”
“And what word should I say?” Laura leansover, whispering the curse word in my ear, and I jump. “Enjoy being a nurse.”
Laura bends at the waist, laughing.“That’s what I thought. Okay, get out and get dressed.”
“I’m going.” I pull on a pair of whitelacy panties and matching bra and then lather my legs with a shimmer lotion. Iput my dress on and remember I can’t do up the last four hooks. “Cole.” I knockon the bathroom door,
“Yeah baby? If you want to use the safe,it’s open.”
Oh yes I do, the dress can wait. I walkinto the closet and retrieve my round diamond earrings and necklace. Myfavorite by far of all the jewelry Cole’s given me. Except I do love theteardrop earrings, but they are a bit much. These I can wear every day.
“Oh god.” Cole says and I turn around asI finish fitting an earring in my ear. He’s standing at the end of the bed inslacks, a graphic t-shirt and a navy blue jacket.
“What’s wrong?” I walk out of the closet.
“You. That dress.” His hands clenchtogether.
“You remember when I wore it last?”
