The Rules In Paradise (Playing By The Rules) (21 page)

             
"Since about seven. You looked peaceful so I snuck out as quietly as I could. Were you not quite ready to leave the bed and took some with you?" He asked, nodding toward the sheet.

             
I felt my cheeks get hot. "Umm, I couldn't find my clothes." Cole gave a hearty laugh.

             
"It seems the living room got quite the sneak peak last night," he said. I turned to look and sure enough the floor next to the couch was strewn with clothes. I shrugged and continued to eat my apple.

             
He typed for a few minutes before shutting his computer. He took my half eaten apple and threw it in the trash.

             
"I can't believe how completely wrapped up you have me. I want to spend every moment possible as close to you as possible." He walked toward me, and I stood to kiss him. He didn't hesitate and immediately applied more pressure against my lips. His hands went to my waist and gave me a small boost so I sat on the table. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tried to pull him closer. It amazed me how quickly things had changed. One moment I had no boyfriend, no prospects, less than no sex life and here I was now, quite enjoying an abundant amount of man and sex. I wasn't complaining.

             
I had ended up nearly laying flat on the table as Cole had himself braced half on the chair and half on the table. He was kissing me as furiously as he could as his hands were messing with the sheet, trying to unwrap it from around me.

             
"Difficult as always Olivia," he smirked as he finally pulled it free. His head was coming down on my neck and throat as there was a knock on the door.

             
"You've got to be fucking kidding me, this is literally some kind of joke," I couldn't help but giggle as he continued to curse as he got back on the floor.

             
"I swear, what is the damn problem with you and I? Anytime I try to start anything. God damn assholes..." His curse words trailed off as he walked toward the door. I pulled the sheet back around myself and sat up on the table.

             
"What?" He snapped as he opened the door.

             
"Uh hey, sorry, bad time?" I heard Kyle's voice and was surprised.

             
"No, no, sorry. Umm, come in." Cole was clearly uncomfortable inviting him in, but his manners over rode the fact that I was sitting naked on the table save for a sheet. I knew I was beet red, but gave a shy wave as I hopped off the table.

             
"Oh gosh, I am so sorry," Kyle said as he turned his back to me and covered his eyes with his hand. I saw Cole shrug and give a shy smile as he presumably made eye contact with Kyle. I took my sheet and half walked and half ran to the bedroom. Twice in two days. This was a habit that I did not enjoy. I was about to get in the shower when I remembered I had no clothes. Of course the clothes I did have were strewn all over the living room floor for Kyle to see. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I exhaled loudly and walked back down the hallway.

             
"Sorry, um, excuse me," I said completely mortified. Both men were still standing in the middle of the big dining/living room. I picked up every article of clothing and flew like a bat out of hell down the hallway. I took my time and showered, putting my clothes back on. I wondered briefly why Kyle was here. I knew that they had hit it off but I didn't understand why he would be here. I brushed my hair out and came back out to the living room. Cole was handing Kyle some papers and they were standing near the door.

             
"Thanks again and I'll be in touch once I do some research. I'll let you know. Umm, nice to see you again Olivia. Sorry," Kyle said in an apologetic. I waved him off.

             
"It seems to be a recurring mortifying experience. Don't worry," I smiled even though I was blushing.

             
He waved at me, shook Cole's hand and walked out of the hotel room.

             
"I don't know whether to be relieved that his last sight was of you fully clothed or disappointed that you are." His face was serious, but I could hear a hint of amusement in his voice.

             
"Well, I suppose one for three isn't bad," I rolled my eyes at our luck.

             
"We could at least try for one half," he said as he walked over to me and ran his hands from my shoulders, down my back and over my butt.

             
I laughed and pushed him away. "I'm starving. I was denied the other half of my apple among other things." He smiled at me and I could have died and gone to heaven, he was perfect.

             
I searched the fridge for something to eat and pulled out leftovers from lunch yesterday.

             
"What was Kyle doing here? How did he know where we were?" I asked, putting the leftovers in a dish and then into the microwave.

             
"I wanted him to take a look at some documents for me. I'm thinking of hiring him to take care of a few things. I told him we'd be here this morning and to stop by so I could give them to him. I however hadn't anticipated our bad luck," he said as he sat and started to concentrate on his computer.

             
“Am I allowed to ask what he is working on?” I asked as I took a bite of my pasta.

  
             
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to do so anyway.” His voice was slightly annoyed as he concentrated on the screen.

   
             
“You’re keeping things from me. I’m not saying we’re at a place where I need to know everything, but you’ve told one of my friend’s fiancee.”

   
             
“He doesn’t know anything other than the documents that I have handed him. I’ve asked him to do some research involving some real estate laws.”

   
             
“It seemed like you had a buyer, I mean from the text I guess I wasn’t supposed to read.” I felt sheepish. I hated to bring up the fact that I had snooped.

   
             
He stopped staring at his computer and looked at me over the top of the laptop. I could tell he was not happy.

   
             
“That text said that my buyer was willing to pay a certain amount of money. I know for a fact that the given amount is a mere percentage of what the home and the land is worth. The problem is my buyer is trying to rip me off in more ways than one. I am seeking legal council because I want to know all of my options. Kyle is extremely intelligent and well versed in California state laws and I am willing to pay him a significant amount of money to do research that I don’t have time to do.” He spoke matter-of-factly, using an even, almost too calm voice.

   
             
“What do you mean in more ways than one?” I asked. Cole leaned back in the chair, stretching his arms behind his head and his legs far under the table. He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.   

   
             
“You are treading on thin ice Olivia. It is not your job to investigate me and my personal business. When or if I choose to tell you something, I will. Right now I would like my privacy to get my affairs in order. Is that ok with you?” His tone was patronizing. I thought for a moment and felt my blood pressure slowly rise.

   
             
“It’s not really ok with me if I’m being honest with you. I know nothing about you, literally nothing. The only things I do know are these little half things. Hints of documents here and a hint of affairs there. You talk about how much you’ve given up for me, but I don’t know a damn thing. You say you’re selling your house because of me, that doesn’t make me feel good. It makes me feel like I’m causing you problems. If I’m causing so many interruptions into your busy life, why are you here?” That was it, I had crossed the line. I saw it in his body language and I saw it in his face. He slammed his laptop screen down and got up. He walked toward me, which made me kind of nervous.

  
             
“I will say this once, so do listen up. My entire world has been changed because of you. I have decided to change it...because of you. You have created an enormous obstacle in my life that I have to deal with. You don’t have to deal with that fact everyday. You are giving up nothing to be with me. You want to complain that you don’t know jack shit about my life? That’s because it’s too god damned complicated for me to lay it on the line right now. You know what really sucks? What if this is all for nothing? What if I do what I need to to be with you, and you say too bad? Then who’s screwed? It’s me Olivia. You have nothing riding on this except a few broken feelings. I have a significant portion of my life uprooted right now. You walk away Scott-free while I try to piece it all back together because I was falling for you.” He was nearly talking right in my face. He was breathing heavy. He turned and rubbed his head.

   
             
“Another thing, if you don’t want me here, say it. I will be out of here in the next ten minutes. Don’t pin it on me. I don’t have a soul to talk to about what’s going on because I am absolutely terrified of the implications. My life until recently has been about business. I have alienated all of my friends because they think I am absolutely foolish for what I am doing. I think I’m a complete idiot for doing what I’m doing, but I’m doing it for you. My friends disagree with my decisions regarding you and you know what I said? I feel so strongly for you that I don’t have a choice. I am completely blinded by you. You are all I see and my life is not in a place where I can let you in. I’m so sorry about that, but it’s mine. Right now all hell is breaking loose because I fell in love with this fucking woman while I was on vacation. Right now I can’t bear to go back there because I have so many battles to fight that I can’t even see straight. So please, please Olivia, ask me one more fucking time why I’m here with you.” He had sat down and put his head in his hands.

   
             
All I could do was stand there and silently cry. All of those guys who were centered around him seemed to have disappeared. Jason really did resent me and what I was doing in Cole’s life. I still didn’t know what those changes he was making were, but he was right. I was living my life, just with him in it. My brain was swirling with the information I did receive. Whatever he was doing seemed big, and it seemed like he was in a sticky situation with the fall out from that. Suddenly my brain could focus on only one thing. Did he say he loved me? I wasn’t going to go there right now. He was upset, I was upset, I wasn’t going to push it another step.

   
             
I stood there feeling awkward and deflated. He had never spoken to me like that. I knew it could be in his nature, but directed at me was a different story. I knew I had brought it out in him, I knew that. But I still couldn’t shake the fact that there were things, serious things, going on that I didn’t know about. I didn’t mean that in a nosy way. I meant it in a sharing things as people who seem to be in a relationship should share things. I didn’t want to pry, but what did his house have to do with me? How was he having legal troubles because of me?

   
             
“Am I worth it?” I blurted out before my brain could tell me it was a bad idea. His head snapped up and he just stared at me.

   
             
“I don’t mean that in the way it sounds. I don’t need you to tell me how great or otherwise I am. I just mean, you’ve done all this, whatever this is, and what happens if your expectations outweigh what I am. I’m nothing special Cole. I am just me and I know I have value, but I am mediocre at most things. I don’t have your charisma, I don’t have your business sense, and I certainly don’t have your money. I like to look at and study and talk about things other people have created. I personify the adage of “Those who can’t do, teach.” Except I don’t even do that. I can talk about a painting but I can’t teach you about it. My skill set is so below average compared to you. You are out of my league. You’re doing whatever at home and you need to understand you’re trading down.” The tears were freely falling down my cheeks. He looked at me for a moment and didn't move or speak.

   
             
“Do you consider me intelligent?” He asked. I was shocked by his question.

   
             
“What? What does that have to do with anything?”

   
             
“For all of the question asking you do, please just answer one question for heaven’s sake.”

   
             
“I consider you extremely intelligent,” I said, still confused.

   
             
“Then let me make up my own mind about you. There is no woman I have ever known that could go round for round with me and keep me occupied, believe me, I’ve tried. There is nobody that I couldn't figure out in less than a few hours. There is one woman who has ever, and I do mean ever been able to occupy me mentally, and that is you. I’m not saying all the women I’ve known are dumb, that has nothing to do with it. The woman I have known have been predictable. A few of them have been dumb, I have to admit. But I just drive myself crazy thinking of you. I am just tired of fighting an uphill battle to be with someone who fights me every step of the way. I love that you question things and you are perceptive, but give me a damn break Olivia. I have the weight of the world on my shoulders, and I just need you to give me five minutes to breathe."