Cole raises his eyebrows with surprise,like he doesn’t believe me. That’s all it takes for the waterworks to start.“She didn’t,” I huff, my anger and frustration getting the better of me. Tearsprick behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them spill.
“Baby,” Cole hugs me, immediatelydispelling my anger. “Laura went with them. You should’ve gone too.”
I pull back from Cole. “No, Laura saidRace called, and she wanted to have lunch with him.”
“Did she go?”
I shrug. “We got into a fight, when Icame out of the bedroom, she was already gone.”
Cole pulls out his phone, hitting a speeddial. “Race, is Laura with you? When…no she’s not back…will do…thanks man…noI’ve got it.”
I bite my lip. Great, just great. Lauratook off, and it’s all my fault.
Cole punches in another number. “Morgan,do you have eyes on Laura? Great…just checking…nope…sounds good.” And hedisconnects the call. “She had lunch with Race, then he made her an appointmentat the spa. She’s still there. Morgan’s keeping a watch on her.”
I blow out a breath of relief. “That’sgood. Are you done for the day?”
His jaw tenses and it takes him a secondtoo long to answer. “Yes.”
“Liar.” I walk past him and back into theliving room. I am not in a good mood today, I’m not sure what my problem is.Cole grabs my arm, spinning me around. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that. I can tellyou’d like to go back to work. Do or don’t, I really don’t care.” I walk backinto the bedroom, crawling into bed. I’m acting like a spoiled brat. I neverrealized how hard it was to keep my emotions under lock and key with my family,because at the moment, it seems impossible. I lay there waiting for Cole tocome into the bedroom to call me on my crap, but after about ten minutes, hestill hasn’t come in. I crawl out of bed knowing I need to apologize, but he’snot in the living room. “Cole?” I call for him, but I know he’s not here. Heleft. I sit on the sofa with my feet under me, rubbing my hands over my face.Now I’ve done it. I’ve officially alienated my husband, my best friend, and myfamily. Good job, Kate, way to go. This has not been my week. It’s been onestressful thing after another.
The elevator dings, but I don’t look up.It’s probably just housekeeping or someone who’s mad at me. Which is prettymuch everyone. Whoever it is doesn’t say anything to me. It might be Laura, buteven if I went up and tried to apologize,If she’s not ready to forgive me then itwon’t do any good. The best thing to do is to wait for her to come to me.
I get a waft of something sweet. I knowthat smell. “Chocolate.” I open my eyes and Cole is crouched in front of me,holding a giant piece of chocolate cake.
“I think this is where you scream cakeand devour it.” Cole waves the cake under my nose again with his megawattsmile. I take the cake out of his hands, sitting it next to me, and then launchmyself off the sofa at Cole. He catches me and he lowers me on top of him. Ikiss him all over his face. When I get to his lips, I stop. “I’m sorry,” Ibreathe over them. “I’ve been acting like a child, and I’m sorry for what Isaid.”
Cole closes the gap between our mouths.Kissing me, he runs his tongue along the seam of my lips, pushing them open,our tongues touch, swirling together in a passionate kiss. “Apology accepted,and I’m sorry. I would like to get more work done, but it can wait. You’rewhat’s most important in my life.” He sits us up against the sofa, picking upthe cake.
“I’ll get forks.”
“No need.” Cole puts a hand on my kneeand then pulls two forks out of his pocket. He piles cake and frosting onto hisfork and then brings it up to my mouth. I give him a wary look. “It’s practicefor when we do it at the reception in a few weeks.”
I smile and open my mouth. “Mmm…that’s sogood.” I cover my mouth to keep the crumbs from falling out. “Where did you getthis?” I mumble with a mouth full of cake.
“Downstairs in the hotel kitchen, but itcame from Carlo’s Bakery. They have a shop in the Venetian.” Cole pushes a fewwisps of hair behind my ear, giving me that smile of his.
“What?”
“I love when you’re happy.” He kisses thecorner of my mouth.
“I haven’t been very happy the last fewdays, have I?” I swipe a piece of frosting off the cake with my finger,avoiding Cole’s eyes.
“It’s been a struggle.” He holds anotherforkful of cake out for me. Cole feeds me the cake, and he lets me give him afew bites, but I eat most of it.
I sigh, utterly content. Sitting heresnuggled next to Cole, with a piece of cake in my belly. I realize it’s thesmall things that make the difference in my life these days. That, and I’mmarried to the man of my dreams.
“What are you thinking, Cookie? I canfeel that mind of yours turning away.”
“I’m thinking about how this spot in thecrook of your arm was made for me. How it’s my favorite spot in the entireworld, and how much you really know me and try to help me be happy.”
“That’s all I want is for you to behappy. I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen.”
“Cole, I thank my lucky stars every daythat I met you.” I turn, wrapping my arms around Cole’s waist, kissing his jaw.
“No, I’m the one who’s lucky.” Cole turnsme so I’m lying on the floor and he’s kneeling over me, a mischievous grin onhis face.
“Cole.”
