Page 20 of Honey Bee Library (Sweet Tea and a Southern Gentleman #7)

WILLOW

The last six hours felt like the longest six hours I’d ever lived through. Even though I knew that Jasper was safe with Cole, it didn’t matter. Jasper wasn’t with me. It was like I was missing one of my limbs.

I didn’t know who I was without my son. Sure, he made me stressed out and exhausted on a daily basis, but I wouldn’t give that up for anything.

His squeals of joy or whines were infinitely better than the deafening silence that surrounded me while I waited at Cole’s rental until it was time to leave for my flight.

Cole kept me updated every thirty minutes. Jasper slept in the back seat until about eight when he woke up. Then Cole sent me a picture of the two of them sitting at a booth in a local diner, getting breakfast.

My heart ached that I wasn’t there for my son, but it also ached because of how good Jasper and Cole looked together. For the first time since Harold left, Jasper looked happy. I knew my son loved me, but I couldn’t ever replace the kind of bond a son has with his dad.

The longer I studied the picture of the two of them, the easier it was for me to see Cole stepping into that role.

But then I shook my head and pushed out that thought.

Cole had no intention of making Harmony his forever home, and I had no intention of moving away either.

I’d set down roots in Harmony, and the last thing I was going to do was tear my son away from yet another home.

Harmony was it.

I clicked off my phone just as my ride share pulled into Cole’s driveway. I didn’t bring anything with me besides my purse, which made getting through TSA a breeze.

I didn’t intend on staying in Miami. I was going to get my son and head back on the next available flight.

I still didn’t quite understand why Jasper left with Cole, and I hoped he’d enlighten me as soon as I saw him.

We’d had talks about not going with a stranger and to always tell me where he was going.

The fact that he just blew past those rules and landed on become a stowaway in Cole’s car , was going to take some explaining.

Thankfully, my flight was non-stop, and as soon as I landed in Miami, I pulled out my phone and texted Cole. It felt like an eternity as I waited in my seat for the plane to deboard. I hurried through the airport, following the baggage claim arrows.

I was just about to pass through the security doors when my phone chimed.

Cole: Here at baggage claim 4

I didn’t stop to respond. I slipped my phone back into my purse and continued through the doors.

It didn’t take me long to find baggage claim 4, and when I heard Jasper’s excited voice, tears started flowing down my cheeks.

The crowd parted and I saw Jasper and Cole.

Jasper was talking animatedly to Cole, who was smiling and nodding.

I didn’t stop until my son was wrapped up in my arms. All of my pent-up stress from not finding him in my bed this morning, to thinking that someone had kidnapped him, to waiting for the flight flooded my body. I was shaking as I held him.

“Mommy?” Jasper asked me, his voice soft and full of concern.

I pulled back, his face blurred through my tears. “Don’t ever do that again,” I said. My emotions were thick, which caused my words to come out as barely a whisper.

He nodded. “I’m sorry, Mommy,” he said, his little lip quivering.

I didn’t want to make Jasper cry, so I pulled him into a hug once more. I took a few deep breaths in an effort to stabilize my emotions so I didn’t upset him further. I knew my son. He had a reason for what he did even if I didn’t understand it.

I closed my eyes and squeezed my son once more before I let him go. “I’m just glad you’re safe,” I said as I wiped his tears.

He nodded. “I was with Cole,” he said. His tone was so matter-of-fact that it almost made me smile. To him, Cole was safe. I loved and hated that for my son.

The baggage claim we were standing next to buzzed, and the belt started moving. That was all Jasper needed. He pushed away from me and hurried over to watch the luggage start to circle.

Realizing that Cole was still standing there, I cleared my throat and stood. I hurriedly wiped the tears from my cheeks as I glanced over at him. “Thanks,” I whispered as I sniffled, feeling like an idiot that I’d just bawled my eyes out without a tissue.

If Cole cared, he didn’t look it. His gaze was dark as he searched my eyes. “Of course,” he said, the words rumbling deep in his chest.

I pressed my wet fingertips into the palm of my hand as I glanced up at him and then down to the ground.

“He’s a great kid and an awesome co-pilot.” His lips tipped up into a smile that was so infectious I found myself smiling as well.

“Oh yeah?”

Cole scoffed and nodded. “He kept me awake telling me car facts.” He let out a low whistle. “That kid knows more facts than I do. Which I didn’t think was possible.” He chuckled.

I laughed. “He’s like a sponge. He sucks in everything even when you think he’s not listening. I don’t know where he got that from.”

Cole’s expression softened as he studied me. “Well, he has a great mom. I’m thinking it starts there.” He held my gaze, intensity growing between us.

My entire body warmed. I was certain my cheeks were bright pink.

His open compliment was doing strange things to my insides.

Harold never did that. He just listed my failures as a way to help me improve myself.

But from the way Cole was studying me, all he could see were my assets.

It was strange, and my brain felt as if it were short-circuiting as a result.

My stomach grumbled. I inwardly celebrated for the break in our conversation as I wrapped my arm around my waist. Stress had kept me from feeling hungry all morning, but now my body was ready to eat.

“Are you hungry?” Cole asked as he stepped toward me.

“Apparently,” I said and gave him a weak smile.

“Is your luggage out yet?” He turned toward the suitcases now circling the carousel. Jasper was cheering every time a new one came down the chute and slid to a stop at the lip.

“I didn’t bring any luggage.”

Cole glanced over his shoulder at me. “You didn’t?”

I shook my head. “I figured we would just head back.” I tried not to notice the way his expression fell as he processed what I said.

“Oh,” he said.

Guilt coated my chest. I didn’t want to upset him.

Truth was, I didn’t know what I wanted. Half of my head was begging me to run far, far away while the other half was begging me to run into his arms. I needed him to hold me and tell me that everything was going to be okay, like a fish needed water.

“But I don’t know when that will be, so…” Was I presumptuous to think that he wanted to spend time with us?

His gaze met mine. “Really?”

“If you don’t mind us tagging along.”

“I don’t mind.”

I blinked, not expecting that. “Oh, okay.”

“Okay.” His half smile emerged, which caused my knees to weaken.

Blast that man.

Needing a break from Cole and the way he was staring at me, I turned my attention to Jasper, who was trying to help an elderly man get his luggage off the carousel. “Bubba,” I called as I hurried over to help.

Just as I reached forward to take the handle from my son, a masculine hand appeared, brushing my skin in the process. I pulled back as I whipped my gaze to see Cole standing next to me, my shoulder pressed to his chest.

“I’ve got this,” he murmured.

The heat between our bodies mixed with the depth of his voice and caused shivers to ripple across my skin.

All I could do was whisper, “Okay,” before I moved to get out of his way.

With the man’s luggage on all four wheels, Cole shook the man’s hand while I wrapped my arm around Jasper’s shoulders.

“Such a sweet boy, you must be proud of your son,” the man said as he dropped Cole’s hand.

Cole glanced over at me, and my entire body stilled while I waited for his response. He didn’t seem offended, which made my heart soar in a way I hadn’t expected.

“We are,” Cole said as he turned his attention back to the man and smiled.

I helped guide Jasper away from the carousel. Cole followed close behind as we walked through the sliding doors. The warm, sticky morning air hit us with a whoosh as we exited.

I slowed and let Cole guide us to where he’d parked.

Once we got to his car, he beat me to the passenger door and pulled it open for me.

He held the top of the door while I climbed inside.

He gave me a once-over to make sure I was in before he gently shut the door. Jasper was already inside and buckled.

I watched as Cole rounded the hood of his car and pulled open the driver’s door. Once he was situated, he started the engine and pulled out of the parking spot. Jasper was telling me all about the place they stopped at for breakfast as Cole drove out of the airport and merged onto the freeway.

The sun was bright and warm as I stared out the window. Jasper had run out of story and was staring out his window as well. I’d never been to Florida. The palm trees were tall and swayed in the wind. Ten minutes down the road, the bright blue ocean peeked between the buildings as we drove past.

“So, this is where you live,” I whispered. The city was large and mixed with the backdrop of the ocean. What a stark contrast between Miami and Harmony. The ocean was the same, but the feel was different.

“This is where I live,” Cole said as he kept his gaze forward.

“Why are you in Harmony if you have this?” The question blurted from my lips before I could police them. My cheeks heated as the memory of Cole telling me to mind my own business surfaced in my mind. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

Cole flicked his gaze over at me. “For what?”

I shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant. “I know you don’t want me to ask about your life or your past.” I tapped my finger against my forehead. “I didn’t mean to overstep.”