Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 29008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29008 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 145(@200wpm)___ 116(@250wpm)___ 97(@300wpm)
Cole helps me into the front seat. He buckles me in, kisses me softly, and then closes the door. I watch him walk around the car and get into the driver’s seat.
I lean my head back and mumble.
Cole holds my hand as he drives. “What was that?”
I turn my head to look at him. “I was wondering if you could drive.”
He looks confused, and I smile. “This is the first time I’ve ridden with you and Stone wasn’t driving.”
He squeezes my hand tighter. “I can drive.”
I lift my chin. “Who were those men?”
His voice is like steel. “Desperate men. They wanted fast money, but they picked the wrong family.”
I look out the window as Cole drives out of downtown.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
His voice is gruff. “When something happens like this, we go home. We all go home.”
My eyebrows skyrocket. “Does this kind of thing happen all the time?”
He flinches. “More than I like.”
I turn my head to look out the window.
Cole is quiet the rest of the way to the Kingston mansion.
When we get there, he helps me inside, where we’re greeted by his mother.
She takes one look at me and pulls me into her arms. “Oh, sweetie.”
That’s all it takes. The tears come hard and fast, and I can’t stop them.
Cole hesitates for a second, as if he’s unsure what he should do, then he steps closer. He wraps his arms around the both of us. His hold is so tight, it’s as if he doesn’t want to ever let me go.
And for the first time tonight, I feel safe.
Eleanor is the first one to let go.
“Maggie is drawing you a bath. Do you want me or Cole to help you?”
I look at Cole, and Eleanor assures me, “There’s no wrong answer, honey. Whatever you need to be comfortable.”
I meet her gaze. “I would like Cole to help me.”
She nods as if in approval and then hugs me again. “Okay, I’ll be here with some food when you’re ready.”
Cole assists me up the stairs and into a bedroom, shutting the door behind us. “This is my bedroom when I stay here. Now it’s our room.”
I sit down on the edge of the bed, and a woman steps out of the en suite bathroom. “Oh, I’m so sorry. The bath is ready. Can I get you anything else?”
Cole shakes his head. “No, thank you, Maggie.”
She quietly walks out of the room, and then Cole comes to stand in front of me. He squats down and puts his hands lightly on my legs. The dress is ruined. It’s covered in dirt, grease, and soot. As if in a daze, I shake my head. “This dress was three thousand dollars.”
He shakes his head. “The money doesn’t matter, Luna. All that matters is that you’re safe.”
I suck in a harsh breath. Cole searches my eyes. “Honey, talk to me. Did they…” He flinches. “Did they touch you?”
I shake my head emphatically. “No, they just wanted the money.”
He lets out a breath and then tenses when he looks at me. He inspects my wrists that are red and sore. He lifts the dress and looks at my ankles. He touches them softly but pain ignites. I try to hide it, but he’s watching me closely. “Stay right here.”
He moves behind me and slowly starts to unzip my dress.
He then comes back around and helps me stand. He pulls the dress from my shoulders, carries it to the door, and then drops it in the hallway before shutting the door again.
He comes toward me and helps me out of my bra and underwear, then lifts me in his arms.
He’s silent as he carries me to the bathroom and gently places me in the tub.
I sigh at the luxurious feel of the bubbles against my body.
“Get in here with me, Cole.”
He shakes his head. “Let me take care of you, Luna.”
I hate that he denies me, but I’m not going to beg. Cole washes my hair and every inch of my body. He’s slow and meticulous about all of it, but it becomes unnerving when he doesn’t say anything.
The only thing he utters is instructions. “Lean your head back,” he says as he rinses my hair.
When that’s done, he sits on the edge of the tub and just watches me for what seems like hours.
“I wanna get out,” I tell him finally because I’m starting to feel like I’m under a microscope.
He’s on his feet instantly. He unplugs the stopper from the tub and helps me stand up. He rinses me off and then wraps me in a hot towel.
He carries me to the bedroom, and there are clothes, including underwear, folded on the bed.
He unfolds them and starts to put them on me, but I frown at the clothes in his hand. “Whose are those?”