Page 66 of Chasing Blue

I stand and start to head for the living room when I hear Scarlett’s phone ring. I pause in the doorway and watch her pace as she takes the call.

“I’m leaving now,” I tell Milly. “I’ll be home as soon as I can get an Uber.”

I end the call, my eyes on Scarlett as she wipes up the mess her poxy dog left earlier while talking on her phone. When she ends the call and puts her phone down on the island, I put mine down next to it and move towards her, watching as she washes her hands.

“Blue?”

“I’ve gotta go. The alarm’s gone off at the office. I need to meet the police there,” She says while struggling to pull on her UGGs; looking anywhere except at me.

“You need me to come with you?” I offer. Fuck Eden, she can wait.

“Nope. I’m meeting Zoe downstairs at her car.”

“Blue?” I call her name again. After getting her other foot in her boot, she stands and finally meets my eye. “I hate this.” Without giving her a chance to question what I’m talking about, I continue, “I fucking hate that this feels so awkward now. You’re shutting me out. Talk to me.”

I watch her tongue flick out and lick her top lip. I want to move towards her but don’t want to scare her off.

“You regretting what happened? Is that it?” I ask before giving her a chance to do as I asked and talk.

“That . . . what happened, between you and me. I loved it. It was fucking amazing. I want more of that, Blue. More of you. Let me take you out. Lunch tomorrow? Dinner?”

She’s shaking her head before I even finish speaking. Something’s working behind those eyes of hers that I can’t figure out.

“No,” she says.

“No?” I question in response, feeling a nerve twitch in my jaw as I fight not to grind my teeth together. “No to what we did being amazing, wanting more, or to dinner?”

“No, not no to that, not to any of that.”

That’s all the cue I need to move in. Sliding one hand to her arse, the other around her neck, I pull her against me.

“Then no to what? What’s going on in that head of yours? Let me in.”

Her wide blue eyes are looking up at me as she chews on the inside of her cheek and despite whatever reservations she might be having, she slides her arms around my neck and her hands into my hair.

“What we did, what happened, it was great . . .”

“Great?” I cut her off. “Babe, seriously?”

That earns me an eye roll.

“Okay, better than great. You blew my fucking mind with that dicking, blah blah. I meant no to going out for dinner. I’ll cook. You come here, and I’ll cook.”

“I blew your fucking mind with that dicking?” I ask while grinding my hips into hers.

“Seriously, Cole, that’s all you took from that?”

“It’s the only bit that matters as far as I’m concerned.”

“I offered to cook you dinner.”

“Can you cook?” I question.

“About as well as you fuck,” she says with a shrug.

“Then I’ll prepare to have my mind blown by your cooking, and maybe I’ll blow your mind after with another dicking.”

She lets out a huff, gives another eye roll, and reaches for her phone as it vibrates from the island.