Page 48 of Unbreakable Bonds (The Boston Romance #2)

A few minutes later, I get my answer, and my mouth waters witnessing a bare-chested Cole coming my way with a sexy, devious smile on his face while holding a plate with a slice of chocolate Boston cream pie in one hand and a glass of water in the other.

A draped red blanket is hanging over his right shoulder.

He takes a seat on the bed and places the plate in between us and the blanket near my feet. I take the glass from him, but huff as he opens his hand, showing two tablets.

"Oh, that isn't necessary," I protest.

"Yes, it is. I don't want you to be in pain. The other painkillers will wear off soon. So be my good girl, and take these," he comments in a steady lower-pitch voice.

I raise my chin and roll my eyes at his set jaw and furrowing brows. When he sees my defiance, he lifts his eyebrows.

"Alex, you've got two options. One; take these pills," he says, staring at the tablets in his hand.

"And as a reward, we'll continue our date, and I'll share this delicious Boston cream pie with you.

The second option is to refuse. But then you don't get one bite of it, and you can watch me eat the whole thing by myself. "

I narrow my eyes. "You wouldn't dare."

He places the tablets in my hand, and with the corners of his lips lifted, he grabs the Boston cream pie off the plate and takes a bite.

I swallow as he closes his eyes and lets out an approving moan that triggers my core.

In a flash, I throw the tablets in my mouth and wash them away with two sips of water.

"That's my girl." He scoots closer, grabs my chin between his fingers and brushes his lips over mine.

My tongue darts out to get a taste of the ultimate combination. "You and the Boston Cream pie are mine. And only mine. All rights reserved."

Cole's face beams. "You've got yourself a deal."

My gaze follows him as he rolls off the bed and walks to my side, offering me his hand. I get up and let him lead me to an free spot in the sand. My mouth drops at his next words and action.

"Before eating our dessert, I want to dance with you."

He pulls out his phone from his form fitting jeans, searches for something, and when he finds it, his face shows that sexy crooked grin I love.

"I’m not good with words, but this song captures what I’m thinking right now."

My heart hammers loudly as he places the phone on the white linen of the dinner table. He presses a button and stares at

me. The moment the tones and lyrics reach me—my vision is blurry.

Dammit, don’t cry. I close the distance between our bodies when he opens his arms. He mumbles the words of the song with his delicious, deep timbre while gazing into my eyes.

Our feet move—pressing into the cool white sand as we listen to the song "You’re Just Too Good To Be True”.

When it ends, I touch his cheek. "You better get used to having me around, Walker. Because after this perfect date, you’re stuck with me."

He whisks me off the ground and lies me back on the four-poster bed. "Now, it's time for our dessert."

It doesn't take us long before we're quarreling about who gets the last bite of the sweet treat.

When I try to reach for it, I lean on my right hand and let out a yelp of pain.

I fall back into the pillows and close my eyes until the pain subsides.

When it does, I open them and chuckle when he holds up the fork with the last piece of the pie.

"You win."

I giggle and part my lips. A moan follows as the bite melts in my mouth. "Hmm, so good."

After swallowing, Cole snakes one arm around me and leans back into his pillows also, gesturing for me to move closer.

I place my head on his shoulder while letting my injured hand rest on his muscular naked chest. With a kiss on the top of my head, we listen to the noises coming from the outside world.

A long yawn escapes, and I snuggle my body as close as possible to his.

In the calmness of this moment, Cole's heartbeat is the steady drum that relaxes me, and with him caressing my back, I fall into a deep sleep.

"COME ON," I mutter, glancing at myself in the mirror. I pluck another tissue out of the box and scrub the black smudges from

underneath my eyes. "Okay, now, focus. You can do it." I steady my elbow and bring my left hand to my right eye, applying mascara on my lashes and smiling when it goes on without a smear. I start on the second layer, but Cole surprises me by popping through the door.

"Hey, are you ready?"

With a loud growl, I glance at him through the mirror, and he chuckles as he stops behind me.

"Okay, sexy panda," he teases and plants a kiss on my cheek.

I yank a tissue out of the box and remove another stain from my face. "It isn't funny. This cast is driving me nuts. It itches, and putting on lipstick or doing my hair takes forever."

"Baby. One more week, then the cast will be removed. Leave the makeup; you look stunning without it. We're only going to my mom's for dinner."

"Exactly," I state.

He takes the mascara, lays it on the vanity, and places his hands on my shoulders. "Hey," he says, finding my eyes through the mirror, "I don't give a shit what my mom thinks of you. What's important is my opinion."

He lowers his head, and his lips curl as I tilt my head to make room for him. I whimper at the tickling sensation of his stubble brushing along my neck. His fingers press deeper into my hips.

"I find you exquisite." My toes curl, and my hand comes up to roam his hair as he bites and nibbles on the skin of my shoulder.

"Oh yuck, you two are at it again," Samantha groans as she enters the room. Cole stops and turns to Samantha, who wrinkles her nose.

"Are you ready to go?" he asks, unfazed by his daughter's reaction.

"Yep, I’m waiting on you two lovebirds."

Cole chuckles as he wanders her way. "Come on, smartass, if I hadn’t pulled you from the piano this morning, you’d still be playing," he says, bumping her shoulder as he passes her.

"Oh, shoot, my headphones!" Sam calls out before rushing out of the room.

"Has anyone seen my black pumps?" I inquire as I pass Cole and wander through the bedroom, glancing around the war zone of clothing and shoes.

He squats in the middle of a pile and picks up the right set of shoes. The muscle in his jaw twitches as he perceives his chaotic bedroom.

I push myself up to peck his cheek and whisper while rubbing his chest with my palm, "I promise to clean it up when we're back, babe."

"Hmm," he hums. I shoot my feet into the black polished heels and take his outstretched hand.

"Oh holy shit,” Sam whispers when Cole parks the car in front of his mom’s house. "Is this your childhood home?"

"Yep, this is it." Samantha hurries out and inspects it with an open mouth. Cole gets out and opens my door. "How is your hand? Have you taken your painkillers?"

I step out and chuckle. "Yes, I did, Daddy Cole," I whisper while letting my fingers skim his manhood.

He halts me when I try to pass him, bends his head, and whispers. "Don't start something you can't finish."

Our attention gets drawn by the sound of a door opening and a man's voice calling out. "Cole!"

Cole shifts his body, and his lips curl into a wide smile. Samantha hikes to her father and fidgets with a strand of her hair while asking, "Who is that?"

He strokes Samantha's shoulder while wrapping his other arm around my waist and walking to the man waiting on the classic federal-style house’s threshold. As the older man's gaze bounces between Samantha and me, his lips turn into a broad

smile, making the wrinkle lines next to his eyes deeper. Mineral greys conquer and stake their place in his thick black hair. After we walk inside, the man closes the door, and Cole stops us mid-way down the hall.

"How are you doing, Jeremy?"

"I'm doing great. When your mother told me you were joining us for dinner, accompanied by two women, I was more than excited."

The generous smile and relaxed manner radiating off him tells me he and Cole have a great relationship. Cole turns his attention to Samantha and speaks. "Jeremy, this is my daughter, Samantha. Samantha, this is Jeremy. He's been working for my family since I was five years old."

Jeremy holds out his hand, and as Samantha shakes it, his smile increases.

"It's such a pleasure to meet you, and you're a beautiful young lady.

If you need something while you're here, don't be a stranger and let me know.

" Samantha beams and nods. Then Jeremy's eyes wander to me.

As he looks at me, he pauses for a while, then extends his hand to me.

"So this is the woman that made it through that brick wall of yours," he states, exchanging a knowing look with Cole, who lets out a snort.

I chuckle at his witty remark and his wiggling eyebrows—I like this man. As I shake his hand, I hold up my injured hand and comment. "Yep, I am. I broke a few fingers doing so. But honestly, he's worth it."

Jeremy's eyes widen before he bursts out in a laughing fit. The incredible, infectious sound can melt any icy personality. Samantha and I chuckle, seeing the man brush a tear of laughter from the corner of his eyes before he composes himself. Cole pulls me against his side and smirks.

"Oh, boy," Jeremy lets out. "You're exactly the type of woman he needs, Miss Alisha." He focuses his attention on Cole. "Now let me show you to the dining room. Your mother is talking with the other guests."

"Other guests? I thought we were the only ones," Cole states with a frown.

Jeremy releases a nervous cough. "Your mother invited George and Beatrice Banks and their son too."

Cole's relaxed demeanor vanishes into thin air. His lips smoothing into a thin line.

"Cole?"

He snaps out his frame of mind and lets go of me and focuses on Jeremy. "Sorry, but could you leave us alone for a moment?"

The housekeeper nods. "Sure, I'll be in the kitchen preparing dinner."

"Thank you, Jeremy," he says, placing his hand on the man's shoulder.

Then he turns his attention to Samantha and takes her hand. "Sweetheart, is piano playing still what you want to do?"

"Yes," she says with determination.

Cole inspects her, then nods. "Okay, then let's go," he notes, squeezing Samantha's hand and guiding us through the hallways.

What was that about?