Read The Rules In Paradise (Playing By The Rules) Online
Authors: Lindsey Woods
The Rules In Paradise (Playing By The Rules) (10 page)
"What happens in a week?" I asked.
"I don't know, what does?" He replied.
"When you leave, what happens," I said loudly, as if he didn't understand it the first time.
"I will return home and life will return to normal, I suppose."
I stared at the sky in silence. That stung and I honestly did know what to say to that.
"You do not approve of that answer," he said, which was more of a statement than a question.
I held my breath to try to hold in any impending emotion. When I felt it was safe again I let it out. I heard him sigh next to me.
"What are you doing to me?" He asked quietly. I remained silent. He let go of my hand and turned to face me. "You're mad with me and are not talking to me?" He asked.
"I'm not mad at you." My response was slightly snappier than I would have liked.
"You sure sound angry Olivia. I do not know what to say to make you feel better. You have an unbelievable effect on me. I can't even begin to tell you how you make me second guess every move I make, every decision I've made in many aspects of my life."
"But you're still going to go home and pretend like this never happened." I felt the knot in my throat but I did not let it out.
"I think that is the way it should be. For both of us. I know you will probably not appreciate this, but I want to spend every minute I can with you until then. You make me lose my mind but in the best way possible."
I groaned audibly and covered my face with my hands. "You're infuriating," I nearly yelled.
"Yes, we've been through this." I could hear the smile in his voice and I wanted to punch it off of his face.
"Is this real life?" I sat up and looked at him, maddened even further by his smile.
"As opposed to...?" He let the question trail off.
"I feel like I'm on some kind of hidden video show. Like I'm finally going to snap and a cameraman is going to jump out. You are cute, you are sometimes funny, you are brilliant and successful and you have taken me to the most amazing places and they've been so romantic that I want to puke. But then you say you are going to forget me, but before you do that you want to spend time with me. It has to be a joke." I was talking nearly frantically. I imagined this is what certifiably crazy people sounded like.
"You drive me crazy Olivia. You make me question everything. It doesn't make sense because my brain is full of images of your smile and your wet clothes stuck to you. Mixed with those are recollections of your wit and humor and your stubbornness and that there are sometimes that I want to walk away from you. You are driving me crazy and I hate every moment of it because I am not in control. Whenever I think I have the upper hand you do something that makes me lose the control again. You're running this, whether I like it or not."
I stared at him for a minute after he finished speaking. His head was propped up on one hand and he was looking straight at me. I again felt that intenseness and this time it did not make me feel anxious, it empowered me. Before I could stop myself I had leaned in and put my lips against his. I felt much more urgent than I should, but I did not back down. It only took a second for him to start responding. His hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer to him. Before it registered, he had pulled me down on him, continuing to kiss me. This continued for several minutes before I finally backed off and sat up. I looked around, practically dizzy.
Cole laid back down on the blanket and I heard him take a deep breath. We didn't speak for a long time. It was not awkward silence, it was a deep, pondering silence.
"What the hell are you doing to me Olivia?" He barely whispered the question as if it was meant for mostly just himself.
"I'm sorry." I whispered. The lust and passion had worn off and I was feeling embarrassed. He sat up and looked at me.
"Don't. Do not even go there." His tone was almost harsh. I got anxious that he was upset with me. I was mad with me for letting my emotions get the best of me. "Thank-you." That was all he said as he stood up and held a hand out to help me up. Confused, I stood and just looked at him. He smiled at me. "Like I said, you put it all out there. Those emotions do not simply hide on your sleeve, but apparently on your lips." I flushed bright red. He could probably tell even here in the dark.
He bent to pick up the blanket and folded it up. He secured the other one around my shoulders and we walked back to the Jeep with my hand in his.
We pulled into the parking lot of the condo and he turned the car off.
"Why thank-you?" I looked at him as I awaited his answer.
"Because I needed you to knock some sense into me. That seemed to work." He smiled and kissed my cheek before he climbed out of the Jeep and we walked into the lobby.
Chapter 8
Cole had work to do the next few days so I spent my time with mostly Charlotte, as Adrian seemed to be attached to Jason's hip. Clearly Cole hadn't lied when he said that he was the business guy while Jason was the product guy. I slightly resented Adrian for getting to spend so much time with Jason. The time with the girls was fun, and enjoyable and much needed relaxation.
Though I did not see Cole for the following few days, he got in touch with the front desk and had them send his business card to our room which had his cell phone number on it. We had talked each night until we fell asleep, and it was almost as if we were physically together.
I laid in bed on Thursday morning. It was a bittersweet feeling. I knew that afternoon I would be seeing him and I was so happy. I also knew that he was expected to leave on Sunday and that thought frightened me. I grew attached to him. I cared about him. When he was not around I felt excited at the thought of seeing him again. I had grown to appreciate his conversation most of all. I enjoyed talking to him and hearing details about his day. It was those kinds of things I appreciated more than anything superficial, like how gorgeous he was.
I finally pulled myself out of bed, and walked into the kitchen for a bowl of cereal. I could feel the disastrous state of my hair as it bobbled on top of my head. My over-sized T-Shirt and boxer shorts completed the disgusting, just out of bed, look. I poured a bowl of cereal and sat and ate. Charlotte was gone to brunch with some friends who were in town for a long weekend, whom she had met when her and her parents used to come. Adrian was god knows where doing god knows what with Jason. I was happy to sit in silence and think. I had just put my bowl in the sink and rinsed it when I heard a knock at the door. I glanced at the clock and it was quarter after ten, I figured it was housecleaning. I shut off the sink and marched to the door.
When I flung the door open I was not quite prepared to see an extremely handsome looking Cole Cooper. His lips slowly spread in to an amused smile, the crease at his eyes becoming more apparent. Once the smile was at full blast I saw his slight dimples appear.
"You're a sight for sore eyes my dear." He could barely keep the amusement out of his voice.
"What are you doing here?" I was mortified. I knew what I must look like and I also knew what he looked like. He wore khaki colored cargo shorts and a white cotton shirt. His sunglasses were perched on his head and he looked breathtakingly hot.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" He asked. Looking around impatiently.
I moved out of his way as he stepped in and closed the door behind him.
"Considering I was supposed to meet you in about an hour, I decided to chance that you were up and at home." He surveyed the condo as he spoke. I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but he didn't look displeased.
"I still need to get ready." I said nervously. I took my hair down nervously and began to tie it back as neatly as I could.
"Really? I thought you looked quite ready now." Again, his smile showed his amusement. I rolled my eyes at him. I had waited days to see him and he did not disappoint.
"I also wanted to come and tell you to wear a bathing suit. Preferably something a little more," he paused, "substantial, than the one from the other day." I felt myself blush at the thought of myself in that bikini in front of him.
"Do not be embarrassed. I quite enjoyed it. However I will not enjoy any of those pieces of thread snapping and revealing anything to the general public." He took a seat on the couch and leaned back, crossing his right ankle onto his left knee.
"Are we swimming then?"
"We could be." Not this again, I thought. I'd never get a straight answer out of him.
"I'll get ready, I'll be quick." I went back to my bedroom and closed the door. I hopped in the shower quickly to shave my legs and wash up. After I got out I slid on a bathing suit that had a little more fabric and secured my hair in a long braid. I pulled on a pair of shorts and T-Shirt and considered it to be as good as it was going to get. A half hour later I emerged from the bedroom to see him flipping through the television channels. He switched it off when he noticed me and got up. He gave a small smile and walked over to me.
"You look beautiful." He bent and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek before he opened the door and led me out. We had apparently graduated to kisses on the cheek. This was surprising, but I was not going to complain.
We had been in the car twenty minutes already as we headed, yet again, out of town.
"I do have some bad news, but I don't want it to ruin our day," he said as he stared forward as he drove.
"What is it?" I felt nervous and disappointed that we were going to start on the wrong foot.
"I need to leave earlier than planned. I will be leaving very early on Saturday morning. I know it is only one day but I needed to tell you." His face was serious and slightly stressed.
I sat and thought about it for a moment. I had tried to mentally prepare for Sunday and now I had to get ready one day sooner. I adjusted my face and tone before I responded.
"Ok." I felt strong and happy about that one word.
"Just ok?" He glanced at me for a second.
"I assume there is nothing I can do to change your mind so I must accept it."
"Well, ok. That went better than I had planned." His tone almost seemed relieved.
"Is it business?"
"Yes, I have a very important meeting that had to be moved to Saturday because my client will be out of town on Monday when it was originally scheduled. I stand to make a lot of money because of this, so I must go."
"I understand."
"You surprise me daily Olivia. I am glad you are ok with this, however I am shocked by you."
"Well you surprised me too I guess." I tried to get it together as to not ruin our day.
"Let's change the subject to something brighter. Jason and I are going to be hosting a little dinner party. There are some clients who we want to take out on the boat and wine and dine tomorrow night. I'd love it if you came." He cleared his throat and took a breath "As my date."
"You want me around people who you are possibly working for? Is that a good idea?"
"You can hold your own Olivia. They will be very impressed with you, and honestly once dinner is over I can spend the night with you. I'd prefer not to let you out of my sight for the next two days."
