“Honestly, Cole and I are doing great. And I know that this is going to sound really strange, but if you see any other pictures—” She was a hundred and ten percent positive Virginia would. “—please remember that appearances can be deceiving.”
Finally, Anna thought, she’d said something true.
Chapter Fifteen
Virginia followed her into Cole’s huge house. “Smells great. Does he have a cook?”
Anna made a sound that she hoped could be construed as either a yes or no, depending on what the right answer turned out to be. But when they turned the corner to the kitchen, she had to stop and brace her suddenly weak legs.
Was there anything sexier than a man who knew how to cook?
Cole’s back was to them as he stirred food in several pans, then leaned over to check the oven. Anna was starting to realize how much money her husband had. He didn’t need to cook to feed himself. And he certainly didn’t need to do a damn thing—like cooking dinner—to try and charm himself into her pants. One hot look was all it ever took.
He was picking up a knife and turning to his cutting board on the kitchen island when he saw them. “Anna, sweetheart, you’re home.”
Her name on his lips—along with the endearment and the intense heat in his eyes as he drank her in—made thrill bumps run all along her skin.
“Hi.”
She suddenly felt shy, but Virginia was going to get suspicious pretty soon if she didn’t act a heck of a lot more comfortable with her husband than this.
“Honeybuns,” she said brightly, “this is my friend Virginia.”
His mouth quirked up into that wonderful half-smile she couldn’t get enough of. After turning down the burners on the gas stove, he moved forward with his hand outstretched.
“I really appreciate you bringing Anna home, Virginia.” He reached out to Anna and threaded his fingers through hers as he pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“There’s plenty of food. Stay for dinner. I’d love to get to know one of Anna’s friends.”
Virginia looked between the two of them. “Thanks. And everything smells great, but I don’t want to interrupt your plans.”
Selfishly, Anna was desperate to be alone with Cole. How, she suddenly wondered, had she gone so many hours without touching him? Without kissing him? Without being held against his heat? Without breathing in his clean, masculine scent?
But at the same time, the dinner invitation felt so normal. Like he was really her husband.
And she was really his wife.
Hope was carving out another notch inside her chest as she said, “We’d love for you to stay, Virginia.”
“Well, if you’re sure, then I’d love to.”
As they set the dining table and helped plate and carry in food, Anna loved the way Cole made Virginia so comfortable. And she was surprised to find out that her friend was a pretty big football fan. But although he could have easily kept the conversation all about him, he was truly interested in getting to know Virginia better. How had she not known that Virginia had lived in France for several years after college?
From the way people talked about Cole and the part of the game she’d seen on Sunday, Anna understood that Cole was a great football player, but every moment she spent with him made it clear to her that he was so much more than just a spectacular athlete.
He was a great person, period.
As she all but licked her plate clean, she had to laugh at herself. He could have won her love on dinner alone.
“I can’t believe you made this,” she said for approximately the hundredth time as she debated taking thirds of the salmon and scalloped potatoes.
“Anything for you, sweetheart, although pretty soon Virginia is going to think I’ve never cooked for you before.” His smile was indulgent, tinged with a warning only she could see.
He was right. She needed to do a better job of playing her part. “Oh, of course you have.
It’s just that this is so darn good.” Really trying to play it up, she added, “In fact, this meal is worlds better than the last dinner you made for me.”
Anna almost groaned as she saw Cole’s eyebrows go up at her back-handed
“compliment,” his lips quirking up before he forced them flat again.
After Virginia excused herself from the table to find the powder room, he softly said,
“Remind me to paddle your ass for that last comment after your friend goes home.”
Anna flushed hot at the thought of Cole’s hands on her bottom. Liking the thought far more than she thought she should, she ignored his comment.
“You’ve been so great tonight. Thanks for being so nice to my friend.”
He did just as good a job of ignoring the change in subject. “You don’t think I’m serious about spanking that sweet ass of yours, do you?”
“But you’ve never made me dinner before,” she protested. “I was just trying to make it sound like we’ve done this before. It’s not fair for you to—” She had to stop and breathe to get it out. “—to spank me.”
His sensual grin stole her breath. “You want me to. That makes it fair.”
She shook her head, but couldn’t get the word no past her lips. Not when she was suddenly feeling all tingly. Not when she suddenly realized that she did want to see what being spanked felt like.
But only with Cole.
Standing quickly, Anna began to clear the table. He didn’t take his eyes from her as he pushed his own chair back and stacked plates in the sink. They were done by the time Virginia walked back into the room.
“Thank you so much for dinner, Cole. It was really nice to meet you.”
Anna linked her arm through Virginia’s. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Wow,” her friend said when they were standing outside on the front step. High on its hill, Cole’s property had a 360-degree view of the city lights. “This place is really something.”
“I know.”
Only, Anna wasn’t just talking about the lights. Overwhelmed wasn’t even close to how she was feeling.
“I love him.”
The words left her lips before she realized they were coming. She lifted her hand to cover her mouth before she could stop herself from giving herself away.
“I know you do.” Virginia turned to face her, her head cocked to the side. “Although, honestly, I never would have picked a man like him for you.”
Virginia didn’t know he never would have picked her either, if it hadn’t been for his grandmother. But Anna couldn’t forget it. All she could do was try to convince herself that it had been fate. A lucky accident.
And that it was all going to work out perfectly.
Anna fought back a chill of foreboding at her hopeful thoughts as her friend joked,
“Know where I can find a big hunk of my own?”
It felt good to laugh, to firmly push away the fear that kept bubbling up inside her.
Cole hadn’t been in her plans. A husband hadn’t been anywhere on the horizon. But maybe if she was really, really lucky, it would all work out better than even her biggest dreams.
“I’d love it if you’d come with me to the next game,” she said. The VIP box would be way less scary with a friend by her side. “Maybe we can sneak into the locker room after the game.”
Virginia’s eyes widened with momentary shock before she laughed again. “It’s great to see you so happy, Anna. Not just happy, but—” She paused, searching for the right word. “Free.
You seem free.”
Anna blinked back the sudden tears that wanted to fall. She did feel free. Happy. In love.
And scared.
More scared than she’d ever been before.
* * *
Cole didn’t want to interrupt Anna’s conversation with her friend, but he missed her like hell already. A full day away from her was way too long. And sitting with her at dinner, barely touching her because he knew if he started he wouldn’t be able to stop, had only fueled the flames inside.