Illusions of Love (13 page)

I
woke up and Cole wasn’t in bed with me. I rolled and looked at the ceiling. The
sun was shining in the room, and the fan was moving. I was guessing he had the
electricity turned on. I heard the sound of the shower. I walked to the
bathroom and stepped into the small shower with him. His head was resting on
his arms. He was just letting the water roll over his back.

I
ran my hands over his back and hugged him. “You ok?” I asked softly when he
didn’t look up.

“Better
now that I know you don’t hate me,” he said dryly as he straightened. He turned
toward me and looked down at me. His eyes were blood shot. He was hung over for
sure. He did drink a lot in a small amount of time.

“About
last night. Were you…” I started, but he cut me off.

“Nothing
I said was true. I was drunk and stupid,” he said softly.

“So
you don’t want a baby then?” I asked a little unsure. I was thinking about it,
and it didn’t seem like such a bad idea. Even if it didn’t work out between us
we would still be good parents. I wasn’t getting any younger, and I bought the
house because I wanted kids. I started to kind of get used to the idea.

He
looked at me like he wasn’t sure how to answer. “You want a baby now don’t
you?”

“Well
I don’t think it would be a bad thing. Even if we don’t work out we can still
raise it together,” I said watching him. I was trying to gauge his reaction. So
far it was just a blank stare.

“Katelyn
I had a lot to drink last night. I…” I raised my hand cutting him off.

“You
don’t have to defend yourself. I get it. I just thought you wanted it,” I said
quietly.

“Damn
it! I keep making things worse,” he growled then stepped out of the shower
leaving me alone.

I
decided not to follow him. I didn’t want to make him any more upset. I wished I
hadn’t brought it up, but I thought it was something he wanted. Part of me
wanted it too.

I
walked out of the bathroom and the cabin was empty. I put my dress on, then I
looked out the window. Cole was back at the lake sitting at the picnic table. I
didn’t have a comb so I pinned my hair up with a pencil I found, and walked out
to where Cole was sitting.

He
looked up at me, then looked away. “Are you ready to go back to town?” he asked
softly.

“Ya,
are you?” I asked as I reached over and touched his hand.

He
pulled away and stood. I felt my chest tighten at his sudden coldness. “I’m
good. Let’s go,” he said quietly and walked toward the car.

I
followed him wishing things could go back to how they were. I wasn’t sure if I
could handle the cold distant Cole. I climbed into the passenger seat next to
him and he set off.

“I
think you should stay with your uncle,” he said quietly as we entered the town
limit.

“Where
are you going to stay?” I asked feeling the familiar tightness come back to my
chest.

“I
don’t know. I just need time to figure things out,” he said softly.

I
opened my mouth to protest then I closed it again, and looked away. “Ok,” I
said trying not to sound hurt.

He
pulled into my uncle’s driveway, but he didn’t look at me. “I will bring you
your clothes and things.”

“Thanks,”
I muttered and climbed out. I hurried toward the door. I didn’t want to start
crying in front of him.

My
uncle wasn’t home so I found his hidden key and let myself in. Cole pulled out
of the driveway. I heard the roar of his car’s engine as he sped down the
street. I had a horrible feeling it may be the last time I saw him.

I
spent the day cleaning my uncle’s house. Eric, Cole’s head of security brought
me my clothes. I figured Cole wouldn’t do it himself, but it still hurt when I
saw it wasn’t him.

I
was cooking dinner when my uncle walked in the kitchen. “Hey,” he said looking
surprised.

“Hey,”
I said forcing a smile.

“Uh
oh, I take it you and Cole are having problems?” he asked as he sat down at the
counter.

I
sighed and nodded. “He is being difficult like usual,” I said quietly.

“Ah,
he will get over it. What are you making? It smells delicious,” he said as he
craned to look in the pan.

“Baked
Ziti, your favorite,” I said and smiled.

“It
really is good to have you home. You should consider staying. Take a job
working with me as a deputy. Leave all that city mess behind,” he said watching
me.

I
smiled. “How about I take a job for a couple weeks until my leave is up.”

He
nodded. “You will love it so much you will want to stay. I can guarantee it,”
he said amused.

I
laughed. “We’ll see, just don’t get too excited. Have you heard anything about
Mrs. Michaels?”

He
shook his head. “I am beginning to think she left the country. Her private bank
account was wiped, and she had a passport. It might be difficult to catch up to
her.”

I
figured she would do something like that. Hell, I probably would have done the
same thing if I was in her shoes. “How is Mayor Michaels handling it?”

My
uncle shrugged. “He’s ok. Their relationship was already on the rocks. I
actually invited him to dinner. I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t know you would
be here.”

“It’s
fine. I don’t mind him,” I said and smiled. I really didn’t. He seemed like a
nice enough guy. I never really thought of him as a father; so I had no real
attachment to him.

The
doorbell rang and my uncle stood. “That would be him. I will go get it,” he
said, and walked out to answer the door.

My
uncle and Mayor Michaels came in the kitchen. “Katie cooked us dinner,” my
uncle said happily.

“It
smells wonderful,” Mayor Michaels said smiling. “It’s good to see you again
Katelyn.”

“You
too,” I said and smiled. “I will serve dinner if you guys are ready to eat.”

“We
are definitely ready. We will be in the dining room,” my uncle said as he
grabbed two beers out of the fridge.

I
nodded, and they walked out leaving me to serve dinner. I was relieved to have
something to do. I didn’t want to sit around and think about Cole all night.

I
was surprised that dinner was fun. Mayor Michaels was actually interesting. I
didn’t talk very much; I just listened to my uncle’s and Mayor Michaels’
conversation. Once everyone was done eating I cleared the table and took the
dishes to the sink.

“Dinner
was good,” Mayor Michaels said as he took a seat at the bar.

I
smiled up at him. “Thank you, where is Uncle Mike?”

“He
had to take a phone call,” he said quietly as he watched me. He didn’t speak
for a few minutes like he was trying to decide what to say. “I heard about
Cole.”

I
looked up at him then looked back at what I was doing. “About his father?”

He
nodded. “I knew about it; David is my best friend after all. I really don’t see
why he told him. I told him it wasn’t a good idea, but it was always something
that bothered him.”

“I
think it would bother me too,” I said softly.

“Is
Cole ok? He won’t answer his parent’s phone calls.” He sounded worried. It kind
of made me worry, but I pushed the feeling away.

“I’m
not sure. He dropped me off early today. He said he needed space, and I haven’t
heard from him since,” I said trying not to betray my feelings.

“I’m
sorry Katie,” he said sounding sympathetic.

I
shrugged. “It’s fine. I understand he is going through a lot.”

“He
will come around,” he said trying to reassure me.

“I
think he will too. I never got to say I am sorry about the whole thing with
your wife,” I said as I looked at him.

I
could tell by his expression it was a tough subject, but he forced a smile. “I
wish I could contact her and find out why. I am sure your uncle told you she
disappeared.”

I
nodded. “I wish things were different,” I said softly.

He
laughed harshly. “Maybe if I had done what I was supposed to years ago this
never would have happened.”

I
smiled. “You can’t change the past. You can only work for a better future.”

“I
agree. Well I should go. It is getting late and I have to be up early. Thank
you for dinner,” he said and smiled.

“You’re
welcome. Have a goodnight,” I said as I looked up at him.

He
nodded and walked out leaving me to finish the dishes. Once I was done I walked
to the living room to say goodnight to my uncle, then I went to bed.

Over
the next couple days I spent my time down at the station, and out on patrol
with my uncle. I tried as hard as I could not to think about Cole, but it was
almost impossible. I called him a couple times, but he didn’t answer.

I
sat at the office going over paperwork. There really wasn’t much to do in such
a small place. On one hand it was kind of nice and relaxing, but it was also
boring at times too.

The
bell jingled as the door opened. I looked up and Eric walked in. I stood up
worried. I didn’t understand why he would be here. “Is Cole ok?” I asked
worried.

“Yes,
Mrs. Davis he is fine. I was just worried about him. I wanted to see if you
would come talk to him. Maybe you can talk some sense into him, at least get
him to quit drinking.” Eric sounded like he was pleading with me, and that
bothered me more. He was normally cool and collected.

“Of
course. Where is he?” I asked as I grabbed my phone.

“I
will take you to him,” he said looking relieved.

I
followed him out of the office. Once I was in the car I called my uncle to let
him know I was leaving. Eric got on the highway to head back into the city.
Obviously Cole had gone back to the city.

It
seemed like it was taking forever. Eric glanced at me through the rearview
mirror occasionally. There was a lot of tension in the car. I had a feeling
Cole was in worse shape than Eric let on. I was a little surprised when Eric
pulled into the parking garage of Cole’s office building. He parked and I
didn’t wait for him to get my door. I climbed out of the car and hurried to the
elevator. It was around six so the place was empty.

Eric
stepped in the elevator with me, and I waited impatiently for it to reach
Cole’s offices. When the door opened, I hurried into the waiting room. Eric
walked ahead of me and led me to Cole’s office. He stood outside the door and
looked at me. “If you need me, just call,” he said softly.

I
nodded and opened the door. I walked into the office. It was dimly lit. Cole
was at his desk. His head was lying on the desk like he was either sleeping or
passed out. I hurried over to him and touched his shoulder.

He
looked up at me. Confusion and annoyance crossed his face. “What are you doing
here?” He smelled like a scotch bottle. He looked even worse. His hair was
messy, and his clothes were rumpled like he hadn’t showered or changed.

“I
am taking you home. Let’s go,” I said softly as I tried to pull him to his
feet.

“I
don’t have a home,” he growled as he pulled away from me.

“Stop
it Cole! You do too. Despite your instance to ruin every relationship, there
are people who love you,” I countered as I pulled on him.

He
scoffed and laid back down on his desk. “Go home, Katie.”

“I
am not going home without my husband,” I said softly.

He
looked up at me. “You deserve better than me.”

“You
are perfect for me, you know that. Come home with me. Let me take care of you,
and we can talk when you get some rest,” I pleaded.

He
groaned. “Fine,” he muttered and stood up.

I
supported him and led him toward the doors. Eric was waiting for us. Once we
were outside the office Eric took Cole because he was getting too heavy for me.
Once we got Cole to the car he passed out.

“Go
to my house,” I said to Eric, and he nodded.

Once
we were at my house Eric basically carried Cole inside, and upstairs to my
bedroom. Cole was barely awake.

“Eric,
take one of the extra bedrooms, and get some rest. I will call you if I need
you,” I said as I walked toward the bathroom.

“Thank
you, mam,” he said as he set Cole down.

“Thank
you for getting me,” I said relieved he didn’t wait any longer. He nodded and
left the room. I walked to the bathroom and started the shower. I wanted to get
the alcohol smell off him; as much of it as I could anyway.

I
walked back out and I was surprised to see Cole was standing. He was looking
around my room. “This is the first time I have been in your bedroom,” he said
amused.

“Our
bedroom. Come on. You need a shower,” I said ushering him toward the bathroom.

“Are
you going to take one with me?” he asked playfully.

I
laughed. “I planned to so I can wash you.”

He
smiled as I pulled his shirt over his head. I undid his belt and tossed it
aside. “I should use that on you again. You seemed to like it,” he teased as he
leaned into me.

I
smiled. “I did like it, and I will let you use it again once you sober up.”

He
sighed like I was being difficult. “Being sober is so boring.”

I
laughed. “I’m sure. Get in the shower,” I ordered as I stripped out of my
clothes.

He
climbed in and I followed him. I poured soap on a wash cloth and began to wash
his chest. He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. I smiled when his
erection began to form. He opened his eyes and grinned at me. I moved closer to
him and grasped his hard shaft. “What do you think you are going to do with
this?” I asked amused.

“I
have a few ideas,” he whispered as he moved forward pressing me to the wall.
His mouth found mine, and he kissed me aggressively.

I
giggled and broke the kiss when he swayed. “You aren’t doing anything with that
tonight. Let me wash your hair,” I ordered as I pushed him back. I poured
shampoo in my hand, and washed his hair. He closed his eyes enjoying how my
hands felt on him. I rinsed his hair, then turned the water off. I took his
hand and pulled him out of the shower stall. I retrieved a towel and dried his
hair then wrapped it around him.

I
retrieved my own towel and wrapped it around my body. I took his hand and led
him out of the bathroom and over to the bed. I finished drying him, then pushed
him onto the bed. I dried off as well, and climbed in next to him.

He
rolled over on top of me. I giggled as he kissed me hungrily. He still smelled
like alcohol mixed with his natural scent, and soap. “You need to rest. You aren’t
sober enough to have sex,” I said amused.

“I
promise I am. It may not be great for you, but it will be really good for me,”
he said amused.

I
gasped when he slid his hard cock inside me. He grinned down at me. “See I am
not that drunk. I know where it goes.”

I
rolled my eyes and pulled him down into a kiss. He slowly started to move
against me. He kept his body pressed to mine like he was enjoying holding me. I
closed my eyes as I enjoyed how he felt inside me. His mouth found my breast.
He played with my nipple as he moved. My body heated up even more. He was
getting me hot and bothered, but I had a feeling he wasn’t going to be able to
finish me in his condition.

I
pushed him forcing him to roll onto his back. I slowly started to ride him. He
groaned and closed his eyes. “Oh you are a goddess,” he said amused. His speech
was slightly slurred. He grasped my hips and encouraged me to move. I shifted
slightly so he hit my spot. A small moan escaped my lips as I teased myself
into an orgasm. I cried out enjoying how he felt.

He
watched me smiling like he was having fun. I placed my hands on his chest and
began to ride him aggressively. His expression changed to one of pure pleasure.
He was close to losing it, and I loved that I was the one doing it to him. His
lips parted and his breathing increased. I moved more aggressively, and his
fingers dug into the soft skin of my hips. “Katie,” he groaned, then he let out
a strangled cry of pleasure. I felt the heat of his release fill me as he lost
control. I slumped over onto his chest and breathed in his scent.

After
a few minutes I looked up at him. He snored lightly and I smiled. I slid down
beside him and ran my hand over his chest. For the first time in days I knew I
was going to sleep well.