Page 11

EDEN

Remember, new phone after practice. Stay here. Wifi password is on the refrigerator. Work from home. We’ll talk tonight over dinner and figure a few things out. And I won’t tell anyone unless you want me to. We can go to the police to file a report just in case after we get your phone, too.

Cole

T he thick printed letters were so…Cole. Masculine, no arguments allowed, and fascinated me. His W’s and the way he signed his name. I couldn’t put a finger on it, but reading it made me feel safe. Secure. Cared for.

Must be that sibling thing.

I slid my laptop over and pushed away my coffee mug. It was empty, but I might give in and have another cup after I touched base with Nia and Indie. The stash of coffee I found made my eyes flutter and my heart swoon. And Cole had brought my favorite mug, so the morning wasn’t as horrible as I thought. A girl needed her caffeine and her favorite mug to start the day. It might not be my house or my bed, but I clung to those things.

An hour later, Nia and Indie were satisfied with the excuse I made up about the townhouse having a water leak. Since they barely knew Zoe, they didn’t question the excuse. And staying with family wasn’t a lie, either, because Cole was family.

By marriage, but still.

I drummed my fingers on the counter, bored and finished with emails and a few phone calls about the signing and decided to explore the house.

Not snoop, just…take a look around. Familiarize myself with the place.

Low music played from speakers once I found Cole’s smart speaker and had it play something so the house wouldn’t feel so lonely. The main level had a mudroom off the garage, the kitchen which rivaled the one my mom and Cole’s dad had in their house. The great room with its wall of windows. Down a hall one side was an office that looked like it had just been set up because there wasn’t a thing out of place, a game room with a pool table, and half bath. In the other direction was another office and a butler’s pantry. The door to the pantry creaked, the sound echoing in the quiet. It was bigger than Zoe’s kitchen. Sleek and modern like the rest of the house, a tinier replica of the main kitchen. There was a box sitting on the white granite countertop. Or maybe it was quartz? I watched all the home improvement shows with Nia after hours planning the Book Boyfriend signing, so I knew a few things.

The dark cabinets and light floor were in stark contrast, rich and yet inviting in a way my parent’s house had never been.

And Cole and Izzy’s dad had been more of a father to me than mine ever had been. I didn’t even know where he was now, to be honest. I wasn’t sure I cared. But this place, Cole’s house, felt more home than the one I lived in before I left for college.

Quiet as a mouse, I stepped further in, running my fingers along the smooth, cool counter. The coffee contraption that was more fit for a Starbucks or maybe one of the cafes that did those adorable designs out of the foam on a latte. Book Boyfriends had one, and it was not exactly cheap or at the local Target for pick up.

The box seemed out of place, given that Cole’s house was spotless and barely looked lived in, save for the kitchen. Which at least had a few things like potholders and a box window with herbs on it. Real ones.

Oh, yes, I touched them to make sure they were real.

My curiosity piqued, I looked inside and found…Junior Mints. A case of freaking Junior Mints.

What were the chances Cole loved them as much as I did? Come to think of it, I thought I caught sight of something in his hand last night, but I was focused on the assure people I am ok default whenever found me up at night.

He loved them, too.

Just another reason to hate that he didn’t remember me. Or would admit to obviously lowering himself to a one off with a ‘puck bunny’. Maybe that was what he thought I was, on top of being ‘family’, and why he was being so…stand-offish.

Well, the joke was on him. I picked up the box, kicked the door shut, and headed up to my room. And had a box while dancing around in my bra and panties while picking out what I was going to wear to go get my new phone. Because if Cole thought I needed one, then his other ‘sister’ was going to make sure it was the newest, most expensive annoying phone. Ever.

“Eden?”

His voice sent my pulse racing, and I debated having a stern conversation with myself about not wanting the dick that didn’t want me. His actual dick. Not the man himself acting like one. Although the Grump factor was in full effect. The one that growled, grumpily, and sent shivers down my spine despite the explicit dislike and not wanting me himself vibes.

I ran a finger along the outline of my now pink to match my hair lips, smoothed a hand over the cobalt blue dress that hugged every curve, and checked my reflection one last time. My favorite over the knee black vintage Chanel boots that I found through a vintage couture boutique, Magpie Dreams, for a steal, gave me a little more height, but Cole would still tower over me.

“We need to go-”

I spun, as Cole stopped in the doorway to my room, one arm on the door frame. His eyes raked up and down my body with a hungry expression on his face that vanished so quickly I thought I might have imagined it. “I’m ready. And maybe knock next time,” I added as I grabbed my purse and brushed past him. Did I make sure to make bodily contact?

Yes, I did. Because I was betting on that look I thought I imagined being real.

And swayed my hips a little more than necessary as I headed to the stairway. Over my shoulder, I tossed a glance his way and said, “Coming?”

He mumbled something unintelligible, and followed slowly. His footsteps echoed, a study staccato behind me at a respectful distance. “I’ll bring your old phone. They can transfer your info, but keep this one active.”

As he opened the door that led into the garage, I asked, “Why keep it active?”

Cole gestured to his SUV. The garage was big enough for four cars, but right now, there were only two. His SUV, and my car.

“How did you get my car?”

“Noah.”

“And why didn’t Noah tell me?”

“Because I had your phone, remember?”

Oh, yeah. I huffed out a breath as he shot me an expectant look while he held the passenger door. “I can open my own door.”

Cole stared me down, then jerked his chin at the seatbelt. I glared at him but buckled myself in, and only then, did he close the door and made his way around to the driver’s side.

The drive, Cole alternated between fiddling with the heat, changing the song playing via his phone, and steadfastly averting his eyes from any semblance of my direction. And once we went in to switch my phone, Cole introduced me as his sister. Technically true, but it hurt in that place I ignored enough that the wound was reopened and my bravado went down a notch.

I picked out the newest iPhone, knowing it would cost just under a grand. Cole didn’t flinch or bat an eyelash.

So, I went over to a wall of tablets and phones and ignored them while Cole started the process of switching things over. I hated not texting Noah and Zoe. Emails weren’t the same.

“Here,” a gruff voice said behind me as Cole thrusted my shiny new phone, with a new case almost exactly like my old one, at me. He slipped my old phone in his pocket.

“I don’t get it back?”

“No.”

“Why?”

He stared at me down. “Because I am taking care of…it.” And then, the grumpy asshole step brother of mine walked out of the store. I gaped after him, gathered myself, and followed. Prepared to give him a piece of my mind.

Again he opened the damn passenger door, waited for me to buckle myself in. But I refused. “It’s my phone, my life, and I-”

A sigh of exasperation left him. “For fuck’s sake, Eden.” He reached over, buckled me in and grasped my chin, gently despite the fire smoldering in his blue eyes. “Let someone fucking take care of you for once who won’t see you as the problem. Let me take care of this so that I can forgive myself for the way I took advantage of you. Let me do this so that I know you are fucking ok.” My jaw dropped, my mouth formed an ‘O’ as he released me, shut the door and got in on his side.

We drove in silence until we pulled into the police station. The officer who met with us seemed to know Cole, and took my statement as well as the notes I’d kept in a shoe box (which Cole produced while I stood speechless beside him), and did something with my old phone. He returned it, then took down my statement with a promise to follow up and asked that I would let him know of any further contact. The last statement was directed at Cole, who clenched his jaw and avoided my pointed glance in his direction.

He led me out, hand cupping my elbow.

Again with the door, but before he could lean in, I hissed, “I swear if you buckle me in, I will bite your hand off, brother.” I yanked the door closed, buckled up and crossed my arms across my chest.

Instead of giving him an ounce of my attention, I checked my new phone. And of course, Noah had already texted me.

NOAH: Hey, E. Enjoying captivity?

ZOE: CAPTIVITY? What in the ever loving kinky hell is going on, Eden??

NOAH: Like, are Spooky Kinks a thing?

ZOE: Masked…ahem.

EDEN: …

NOAH: How dark romance do you go, Eden? Is your job widening your horizons?

ZOE: Maybe a forbidden romance?

EDEN: I am not being held captive. Not really. And just because I like spooky, it does not mean dark romance kinks are my thing.

ZOE: So, what is your thing?

NOAH: I promise I won’t tell. Is it weird? Or like, am I going to look at you differently ?

I giggled at Noah being Noah but I swear, if Zoe was going to dish, she’d better be ready to take.

EDEN: I mean, I’ve always thought best friend’s older brother sounded good, but…

NOAH: Is that a kink? Or are we heading into trope territory here?

ZOE: Isn’t there a practice or yoga class you need to get to ? And I’m sure Eden has things to do.

NOAH: Sigh. Yep. Season home opener tomorrow, and then off to your step bro’s old house for their home opener. I think #HockeyGoddess gets to meet the BFF squad.

EDEN: Go be all Zen and I call you later, Z.

I looked up from my phone, only to discover we were back in the garage at Cole’s house. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white and his nostrils were flaring. “What?”

“If you’re done?”

“Oh, I’m just getting started,” I said with more bravado than I felt. But I was an expert at faking it until I made it. Cole may think he knows me, but years of hiding things that made people feel uncomfortable from my mother gave me skills that he would never see coming. “I have a few things to get done before bed.” I opened the door before he could do his leap-out-caveman impression. Or was it a knight in shining armor?

He’d soon learn I’d read a different type of fairy tale in the dark while I hid away growing up .

I stalked into the kitchen, the heels of my boots keeping time with the beating of my heart. Fast, unforgiving, and filled with a determination now that he’s admitted he’d remembered giving me the best orgasms of my life.

The door slammed behind me, but I kept going, and forced myself no to look behind because if I saw another one of those disapproving or distant expressions on his face, I might not make it to my room. My foot hit the bottom step just as noises from the kitchen hit my ears.

Was he making dinner? Seriously? After all, practically confessing that he’d made a mistake and that was the only reason he was ‘taking care’ of me?

No. Not looking.

A soft knock on my door woke me. I resisted the urge to wipe the sleep from my eyes, and end up looking like a feral raccoon. Instead I sat up, blew the hair from my eyes and checked the time on my shiny new phone.

Shit. I slept for a little over an hour. Which meant my sleep pattern was taking a vacation tonight.

“Eden?”

Cole's voice, muffled through the door, sounded concerned yet still grumpy. Or growly.

I was going with grumpy, I decided. Anything else would lead to trouble or disappointment. And I’d had enough of that. With a sigh, I stood, barefoot and yanked open the door.

Cole towered over me, a breadth’s inch away. Every exhale and inhale in that space shared until he backed away. “Dinner’s ready.”

As I watched him walk away, I ignored the way his ass looked in the athletic pants he had changed into, or how his thighs flexed, or the way the vein in his forearm stood out as he ran a hand through his hair.

Oh, yeah this should be really easy.

Don’t fall for your stepbrother, Eden. That’s all you need.

If I didn’t go down, would he come back up? And what would happen then? Did I want to find out?

Deciding that was not a road I wanted to go down only to have my heart broken, I padded down the stairs. The most delicious scent greeted me.

Holy hell, could Cole actually cook? And not just boil noodles and throw a can of sauce on it and call it Italian?

“Take a seat, and I’ll bring dinner over,” Cole said from behind the island. Two sets of plates were set out before him, and two wine glasses as well as water filled goblets were placed next to sets of silverware. He didn’t acknowledge me other than those words, his focus on plating the steaming plates of insanely fantastic and mouth watering dinner he’d prepared. The stainless steel stove had several pans, and the aroma of herbs and spices that I couldn’t begin to name permeated the air.

Shit. Of course Mr. Forbidden Trope cooked. Check off another fucking green flag I’ll have to ignore in my ‘brother’.

I ran my finger along the table as I walked to the chair across from his. Cole came from behind me, pulled out my chair, and said, his tone gruff and sexy, “Sit, Eden. Please.”

The ‘please’ did me in. He might have regretted us, but in some ways, making up for it with the phone and dinner were an unspoken apology. And his confession earlier ?

I heard the torment in his words, torn from him.

I held my head high and sat. Cole gently pushed the chair in. I sipped the wine, again, my favorite, and when he sat the plate down in front of me, my stomach decided it was an appropriate time to communicate.

“Excuse me,” I mumbled, embarrassed.

“Don’t.”

I looked up as he sat across from me and picked up his fork. “Don’t what?”

“Apologize.” One side of his mouth lifted. “It’s your body’s way of telling you to take care of yourself.”

I arched one brow. “I thought you were taking care of me.”

He acquiesced with a shrug. “So, it’s telling me, then.” Fascinated, I watched as his hand moved from his plate, the fork filled with the most amazing smelling creation (food was much too lame of a word), and when he put it into his mouth, lips closing around it, I nearly swooned.

And clenched my thighs together so hard, I swear he had to have heard my knees clanging together. He chose that second to notice me, and ordered. “Eat, Eden.”

Things escalated when I figured out that my moans and enjoyment had him staring at me, eyes darkening and a small satisfied smile ghosted on his lips. “This,” I licked my lips, “is amazing. What is it?”

Cole smiled. And I was struck at how rare it was. A genuine, unguarded moment, and fuck, I was so scared it would disappear like it had never happened. “It’s an Indian fusion dish I learned to make from this chef in Carolina before Seattle signed me. The chef is a friend of friend.”

“You like to cook?”

He chewed, and his next words made butterflies flutter in my belly. “Only for certain people.”

Then it hit me. He probably cooked for girls. Lots of girls.

“Oh.” I wasn’t special.

“I can count on one hand, Eden, who I’ve done this for.”

“Oh?”

He nodded. “My mom, before she moved to France with her new husband, and that was a disaster. My teammate, Kas, and now, you.”

“Me?”

“You.”

The only girl, other than his mom, he’s ever cooked for was me?

“But, you’re really good. This would make the girls swoon.”

He smirked. “They swoon no matter what. This,” he pointed his fork at my dish, “is special. It means more when you cook for someone. In your space, invite them in. Food is language in and of itself.”

I swallowed, each bite an apology, prayer, and promise in one. We ate in silence for a few minutes. My heart pounded in my chest, hope bloomed.

He cleared his throat. “And you’re family, Eden.”

And the bubble burst. “Right. You should make this for Izzy, she’d love it. But, if you have a pizza recipe, she’d love that, too. The toppings that girl likes.” The chair made an awful screech as I stood, the wine buzzing and my belly happily full yet suddenly I felt an emptiness inside. “I can get the dishes-”

Cole was next to me, and our hands brushed as we both reached for my plate. Imposing and a good head or so taller than me, yet I’d never felt so safe. Or broken hearted. “I’ve got it. Why don’t you take a bath or something, and I’ll clean up. ”

Did I nearly run out of the room and pray he’d chase me, and when he caught me, fuck me until I cried from wanting his touch so badly? Yes.

Did I stand, alone in the shower, crying, because I knew he wouldn’t?

Yes.