“Are you ok?” I asked taking a step forward. His smile was humourless. “Jay told me,” I added on, probably unnecessarily.
“I’m fine. It’s all sorted.” Another dead smile. Jesus. He went to move past us, but I put my hand on his arm. He stilled and looked at me.
“Cole…”
The eyebrow raised, his eyes flicked to my other hand which was still in Jay’s I realised. I flushed.
“I said it’s fine. Aaron and I had a long talk with Jay’s friend,” I winced. I didn’t want to know what that really meant. “Jay,” he nodded to Jay again and went into the house.
I took a deep breath.
Jay was shaking his head smiling. “What’s so amusing?” I asked.
“He’s a freaking machine. Even Aaron isn’t that detached. If I hadn’t been there today, I genuinely wouldn’t have believed he had lost his cool. Guy’s ice.”
No. He wasn’t. He burned with an intensity that made me melt. However, I said nothing, there was no point. Plus discussing how he wasn’t ice wasn’t going to be easy given the circumstances.
Jay tugged me back into his arms. With a bunch of flowers, that was an achievement.
“Take these,” he nodded towards the roses. “Go inside, deal with your boy. I’ll see you later. I’m sorry it happened to you, it will never happen again.” He peppered my face with light kisses as he spoke. I started giggling and he silenced me with a deep kiss.
He winked and walked down the drive.
I put my fingers to my lips and started shaking my head, I turned back into the house. Well this was a fine mess wasn’t it?
I walked cautiously down the hall to the kitchen. Corey was in the kitchen with Connor and Colton. She squealed when she saw the flowers.
“Oh! I think I need me some country boy,” she declared. Connor frowned, Colton snorted.
“What?” Connor asked.
“These are from Jay.” Corey explained as she fetched a vase and a pair of scissors. She deftly started cutting stems as she caught Connor up on my, what, love life?
“Jay’s so sweet on Elle, he’s so adorable.” She beamed at me. Connor raised an eyebrow.
“Really? These are from Jay?”
I nodded. I glanced quickly at Colton who was resting against the island as he drank a bottle of water.
“Did you know this was happening?” Connor asked Colton. Colton nodded again.
“Huh. Well like I said before, he’s ok. Brother, not so much. Stay away from Aaron,” Connor warned. Yes, I could see the guilt in him now.Asshat.I fumed.
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m dealing with,” I said pointedly.
Colton moved away from the kitchen worktop abruptly, bringing my attention to him. I rolled my eyes and accepted the vase of beautifully arranged flowers from Corey.
“Thank you,” I said softly. “Well, I’ll take these upstairs.” I saw Colton smirk out of the corner of my eye. “Cole could you help me?” I asked sweetly, “I’m still weak from the food poisoning.”
His eyes narrowed to slits.
He placed his bottle down and snatched the vase from me. He left the room and I had no choice to follow, despite my sudden misgivings at provoking the beast.
I followed him upstairs with a sense of trepidation. My bedroom door was flung open and I stopped just inside the room, unsure. Colton placed the flowers unceremoniously on the dresser. He turned to me and I took a step back.
Oh shit, this wasn’t your best move Elle.
He prowled towards me and when he was right in front of me, he leaned past me and closed the door.