He stood there, looking down at her. “You comin’?”
She shook her head. “I think I’ll check in on TJ.”
He studied her, and then turned, and walked in the house.
About an hour later, Angel stood outside Cole’s bedroom door. She hesitated, not sure if this was wrong. What was she doing? If he left, and went back to California, it was going to hurt so much more if she let herself become too attached to him. Her head reasoned it all out, all the arguments why she shouldn’t do this. In the end, her heart didn’t care.
She opened the door, and stepped inside.
Cole was laying face down in the bed. The sheet at his hip, exposing his bare back. He came awake, and raised up slightly to look at her, blinking sleepily. “Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice raspy with sleep.
She closed the door, leaning back against it.
He watched her closely, coming fully awake. She walked toward him, and he rolled to his side, up on one elbow, his eyes never leaving hers. She stopped at the edge of the bed, and he watched as she raised her hands, and began unbuttoning her dress.
It slipped to the floor. She stood before him naked.
He reached for her hand, rolling to his back, he pulled her down. She fell across his chest as his hands buried in her hair, and pulled her head down, his mouth coming up to capture hers. He kissed her wildly.
Rolling her over onto her back, he rested on his elbows, poised above her. His hands still buried in her hair, he looked down at her. “Tell me you’re mine.”
She looked up at him.
“Say it,” he insisted.
She nodded. “Yes.”
It was enough. His mouth descended to hers.
Chapter Fifteen
Cole rolled over, his hand reaching out, feeling the empty bed next to him. He squinted at the clock.
Eight A.M.
He got up, showered, and dressed, and went in search of Angel.
He went to the living room window, and looked out toward the driveway. Her car was gone. He walked into the kitchen, and poured himself a cup of coffee, then wandered out onto the patio, and sat at the table. He pulled out a cigarette, and lit it, inhaling deeply.
The backdoor opened, and he turned at the sound.
Natalie walked out. She carried a cup of coffee to the table, and sat down. “Angel left for the hospital about twenty minutes ago.”
“Everything okay?” Cole asked.
“Yes. She’s hoping to get Melissa to keep some food down today.”
Cole nodded. “Right. The feeding tube. She told me about it.”
Natalie nodded. She looked back at the house, and then back at Cole.
He took a hit off his cigarette, watching her.
“I just want you to know, I heard what you said last night.”
He nodded. “Good.”
They were quiet for a few moments. Cole took a sip of his coffee.
“TJ’s growing quite fold of you.”
Cole smiled, looking back at the house. “I know.”
“Cole, can I ask you something?”
He nodded slowly, wondering what was coming.
“What’s your plan?”
“My plan?”
“The kids? Angel? Are you staying around?”
Cole took a deep breath, and leaned his elbows on the table. “I told Angel I’d stay as long as she needed me.”
“She’ll always need you.”
He looked away. “I don’t know about that.”
“Yes, you do.”
He looked back at her. “What are you getting at?”
“You plan on being a father to those kids of yours?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“And how are you going to do that from California?”
He took another hit off his cigarette, and tapped it in the ashtray. “I don’t know. I’m trying to figure that out. It’s complicated.”
“What’s so complicated? You have feelings for her, don’t you?” she asked bluntly.
He looked at her. “You know I co.”
“Do you want to marry her?”
Cole smiled, and blew out a breath. “You don’t mince words, do you?”
“Not about this.”
He couldn’t hold her gaze. “You think she wants a life with me? What do I have to offer her?”
“Love, for starters.”
“Love don’t pay the rent.” He ground out his cigarette.
“You’re the father of her children.”
He nodded, and replied softly, “I know.”
“Do you love her?” It was really the only question that mattered.
Cole looked at her. “Yes, God help me.”
“What do you mean ‘God help you’.”
He looked away, and shook his head.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
He looked back at her for a long moment, and then nodded. “Yeah. There is.”
She watched him, waiting. When he didn’t say anything, she asked, “Well? What is it?”