Break Away (The Moore Brothers Book 4) (10 page)

W
hy was
it so hard to figure out what to wear? Why, after so many nights of visiting Cole and Maggie, so many different dinners where she couldn’t care less what she put on, why was tonight different? Lilah stood in front of her closet in nothing but a bra and panties—her prettiest bra and panties nonetheless—and absolutely nothing in her closet seemed good enough for the evening.

Cole had seen her in everything she had. In all the different combinations of shirts and shorts and skirts and dresses she could possibly come up with. And for some reason, tonight, none of the stuff that seemed good enough. She didn’t understand why, but Lilah really wanted to watch Cole’s eyes light up when he saw her. Wanted to see that tiny quirk of his lips that meant he liked what he was looking at. And sure, it was dumb because yes, it was Cole, but no, that didn’t seem to matter.

Sighing, she yanked the pink dress she had worn to the very first dinner Maggie had invited her to off its hanger and pulled it on. She hadn’t worn it since that night and she felt really pretty in it. It was almost the exact same color of her cheeks when she blushed and it drew out the color in her eyes. But of course, she didn’t have her straightener and her hair was going to be a poofy disaster and…

Lilah took a breath.

Get a grip, Moore. Whatever reason you think you have to be freaking out about how you look is sure to only get you in trouble. It’s Cole. No big deal.

But for some reason, it really did feel like a big deal. Or at least a medium deal.

When she first showed up in these apartment sans straightener and expensive smoothing products, Lilah had been mortified about walking around with untamed hair. But, her waves had grown on her in the last few weeks. She took one last look in the mirror, smoothed a few errant hairs and touched up her light makeup. Lilah pulled on her sandals and made the short trip across the thin strip of grass to Cole’s apartment. It was still hot as hell and twice as humid. Late August in South Carolina was anything but forgiving. Her hair was probably poofing up into something that would only look good on the cover of Teen Vogue circa 1995. She smoothed it back before she knocked on Cole’s door.

Even standing on the doorstep, she could smell Maggie’s cooking. It smelled like fried chicken and mashed potatoes and Lilah could just bet that Maggie had made a salad with her famous raspberry vinaigrette. Lilah’s mouth watered as she heard heavy footsteps get closer and closer towards the door. Of course, for whatever reason, as those footsteps got closer, her heart beat faster and faster.

Get a hold of yourself,
Lilah thought.
There is absolutely no reason for all this crazy nonsense. It’s just Cole.

But then, ‘just Cole’ swung open his apartment door and leaned against the frame. His eyes raked over Lilah’s body and she could have sworn that they lingered on her hips, boobs, and neckline just a little longer than necessary. And, was it the lighting or had he shaved? His traditional light dusting of blonde stubble was most definitely missing. And his shirt looked new and his pants looked fresh out of the wash.

Had Cole Bennett taken extra time getting ready for her just like she had taken extra time getting ready for him?

“Damn,” he said, his gaze finally settling on her face. “That is some mighty big hair.” And just like that, there was that little quirk of his lips.

Lilah’s mouth flew open and her hands went to her hair, even as she combatted a smile of her own. Damn this humidity!

“You look awfully well groomed for an evening with your mom,” she said with the patented Lilah Moore super sarcastic and dismissive eye roll. If he was going to be rude then he had better get used to rude coming right back at him.

“Actually, I got this gussied up for someone looking mighty fine in her pink dress and big hair.” There was that shit-eating grin, sliding its way across Cole’s face. The one that meant he was being charming as all hell and knew it.

Lilah felt the blush flaring out across her cheeks and instead of looking down at her feet, she let her eyes smolder into his. She had chosen this dress for how well it worked with her flush. If he was going to flirt like crazy, then so was she. “Are you going to let me in, or are you trying to impress me with how much your shoulders fill up the doorway.” She sat back on her heel and cocked a hip. “Because if you are, it’s totally not working.”

Except it totally is,
she thought to herself, appreciating just how broad those shoulders were.

Cole stepped aside and made a sweeping gesture with his hand and finished with a mocking bow. “Please come in, your highness.”

Shaking her head and laughing, Lilah stepped into the now familiar apartment. She bounded through the living room and into the kitchen to get her traditional hug from Maggie. “Hey gorgeous,” she said. “It even smells good outside.”

Maggie turned and created this broad smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Not in the least. It certainly wasn’t Maggie’s normal smile. “Hey you.” She opened her arms and gave Lilah a squeeze. “You sure look pretty.”

Lilah had to hold her breath. The scent of liquor on Maggie’s breath was enough to take down a bear. That wasn’t like Maggie. Not at all. In fact, Lilah couldn’t remember ever seeing Maggie drink.

Dinner was delicious, if not slightly awkward due to the weird chemistry sizzling between Cole and Lilah—
he’s a player he’s a player he’s a player
she kept reminding herself—and Maggie’s odd surliness and continued drinking.

“I’m sure I gain five pounds every time I come over here for dinner,” Lilah said as she pushed her plate back wiped her hands on her napkin. “Oh!” She turned a huge smile to Maggie. “Cole said you found a place. That’s so exciting.”

Maggie sucked in her lips and gave a funny little bobbing nod of her head. “Yep. I’m finally all grown up.”

Cole scowled at his mom. Whatever was wrong with her had him worried, too. She could see it in the little crinkle in his forehead.

“Does that mean our little family dinners are coming to an end?” Genuine disappointment surged through Lilah. She had really come to enjoy the easy friendship and sarcastic humor during her visits with the Bennetts.

Maggie frowned. Deeply. And sighed. Just as deeply. “You guys don’t need a worthless old woman around to have your fun together.”

Cole and Lilah sat in stunned silence while Maggie took a long drink. That was her second drink since Lilah had gotten here. And her breath had already stunk of whiskey when she showed up.

“Here Mom,” said Cole, his chair bumping back over the carpet as he stood up. “Why don’t you have a seat on the couch and Lilah and I will get things cleaned up here.” Cole grabbed several plates while Lilah stood and grabbed a few glasses. Maggie tried to protest, but Lilah held up a hand.

“Hey. You worked hard on the meal itself. You deserve to sit down and kick your feet up.” That strange hunted look was back in Maggie’s eyes, the one that used to live there all the time. Lilah hadn’t even realized it was gone until it was back again.

Cole’s kitchen was small, exactly like Lilah’s. It most definitely wasn’t designed with two people working together in mind. They danced around each other, trying to figure out a rhythm in the small space. Whether it was intentional or not Cole kept brushing against her, the skin of his arm leaving little sparks of electricity on hers, his hand on her lower back sending butterflies surging through her stomach. But the long trailing fingertip across her shoulder, that was clearly intentional and sent a ripple of goosebumps across her skin.

“That’s the dress you wore the first night you came to dinner,” Cole said, his eyes trained on the last few dishes in his hands.

What a weird thing to say. And what was even weirder was that it made her almost giddy that he noticed. “Yep,” she said just because it was getting weird with the silence stretching out between them.

“You should wear it more often. It looks really pretty on you.”

He’s a player. He’s a player. He’s a player. He’s a player.
Lilah did everything she could to keep that thought in her mind, but she was getting dangerously close to not caring.

“Guys?” Maggie called from the living room. “I’m going to head on up. It was good seeing you, Lilah.”

Both Cole and Lilah peeked out of the kitchen to say good night and then went back to getting the kitchen put back together.

“You think your mom’s okay?” Lilah asked. Too much sexual tension in a tight space? No problem. Ask a question about a troubled parent and everything will be okay.

Cole grit his teeth together and gave her a long look that she couldn’t read. “I think she’s worried about living on her own. She’s tough, but in all the wrong ways.”

“We’ll have to help her not feel alone once she moves in. Maybe bring dinner to her a few nights,” Lilah said.

Cole’s face softened and he touched a finger to Lilah’s cheek. “I think that’s a great idea,” he said while Lilah tried to ignore how much she liked being this close to him.

Just remember the redhead and the walk of shame,
she thought, even as she leaned into his touch ever so slightly.

Thing was, if it wasn’t for the whole ‘Cole Bennett doesn’t do girlfriends’ thing, Lilah would love to let the little flirtations turn into big flirtations. Love to acknowledge the electricity that was growing between them. Would love to let him take her in his arms and press his lips to hers. Hell, judging by the tightness in her lower muscles, she would love to sleep with him, to know what it was like to be with someone who was such a man’s man, yet so sweet and protective at the same time. Well, sweet and protective when he wasn’t being a sarcastic ass.

Cole pulled open the fridge and hit Lilah with a questioning look. “So, where are they?”

“Where are what?” She was so caught up in her head, trying to talk herself into and out of acknowledging her attraction to him at the same time, that she had no idea what he was talking about.

“The cookies.” Cole peeked into the fridge again. “Tell me you didn’t forget them again!”

Lilah laughed. “I’m pretty damn sure you forbid me from making them ever again once you saw how much the ingredients cost.”

“Well hell, Lilah. You’re a smart girl. I’m sure you could use less expensive ingredients and they’d still come out real good.”

“Oh sure. You say that now, but if I’d shown up with them and they weren’t as good, you’d never let me live that down, either.”

Cole clucked his tongue. “Well then you should just make sure that they were as good as the first batch. See? I’m easy to please.”

And just like that, Lilah’s mind was off on a little rampage of thoughts about how good it would feel to please Cole Bennett on a regular basis and all the little ways he might like to be pleased. Was he dirty? Was he domineering? Did he know what he liked and didn’t have any qualms about telling her? And most importantly, was he generous?

Lilah found herself staring at Cole’s lips and came to the realization that he was fully aware she was staring. Her chest heaved. Cole leaned in. His hands snaked up her back and into her hair as his lips pressed against hers. His kiss was surprisingly soft and tentative, his lips supple and warm. She pressed into him, her body conforming to his hard edges, her curves molding against his strength.

Cole moaned into her mouth and parted his lips, darting his tongue into her mouth, fanning the flames of Lilah’s desire. She wanted this so much more than she thought she did. She wanted the hard man with the soft heart, the one who took care of his mom and stopped to jump a stranger’s battery. She wanted the musician and the swimmer. She wanted to feel those rough hands on the softest part of her body.

And yet, she didn’t want to ruin their friendship. Didn’t want to wake up in an empty bed and stalk out of his apartment in yesterday’s clothes, cursing him to whoever happens to be passing by. She wanted the good parts of Cole without the broken parts of Cole and she was pretty damn sure that both those pieces came hand in hand.

Thing was, knowing what she knew about the good part of Cole, Lilah didn’t think she could get involved with him physically and keep her heart out of it. She could already feel it. Cole didn’t do girlfriends and she was so ready to be the exception to that rule. This wouldn’t end well.

She put her hands on his chest—oh shit, his super firm chest!—and pushed away. “Cole,” she said, her lips brushing his. “I can’t do this.”

Cole leaned in and brushed his lips against hers again. “Why?” he asked, his voice husky and so fucking sensuous Lilah had to fight back another surge of desire. “It feels so good, princess. Don’t fight it.”

She pushed against him again, even though the vast majority of her was begging her to just give in and see where this went. “But,” she breathed as soon as she got her lips away from his. “I don’t do casual.” She shook her head and then dropped her forehead to his shoulder. “And I like you too much to ruin what we have.”

Cole let out a long breath and Lilah practically melted into him. What the hell had she just done? The friendship was jeopardized the moment her lips touched his. Why not just go all the way? Maybe things would turn out okay.