“Savannah.” His tone was sharp and she met his eyes.
“What Cole? What?”
He swallowed and tested the ground between them by taking another step closer. “First, give me the knife.” His grip closed around her wrist and with his free hand, he slid the knife further away from her, just in case. He’d never seen her so worked up. They were standing just inches apart and Cole could feel the heat of her skin radiating off her. He could smell the sweet floral notes of her shampoo assaulting his resolve. He imagined leaning in and possessing her mouth in a kiss. He wanted to feel her full lips part for him, accept him, and remembering the way her little soft tongue rubbed against his made his balls ache. But even as he processed all this, in just two-heartbeat’s time, he knew he wouldn’t kiss her. Instead he squeezed his eyes closed, willing his hard-on to relent. “Tell me what’s really bothering you.”
***
Savannah looked down, at war with herself over what to say next. What could she say to the man who made her feel so cared for one minute and so furious the next. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but something had to give between them. She needed to understand what was running through his head. She’d struggled through that night’s yoga lesson, hating that she had to watch the instructor he’d slept with move her lithe body in all sorts of positions. Why did he bring her home, bring her here to live with him in the first place? Why go through all this trouble if he didn’t really want her? “If you don’t want me— why didn’t you just leave me where I was?” She looked down, unable to meet his eyes, yet desperately seeking a reaction.
“Left you there? Are you crazy? That ass**le Jacob was a whackjob. You should be thanking me for getting you out of there.”
“Thanking you for tearing apart the only family I knew? For bringing me here where I can do nothing but sit and worry and reflect on everything I lost?” A silent tear skittered down her cheek before the back of her hand caught it.
“I had to get you out of there, and I don’t regret bringing you here either.” He sighed. “I know there must be things…people you miss.”
She swallowed a lump in her throat, a new rush of emotion washing over her. “I was this close to having Calista potty trained.” She held her fingers an inch apart. She missed that feisty two-year-old with a mass of untamed blond curls. “She called me Vannah since she couldn’t say my name. And Melody, the oldest member, was my only source of sanity. She was the only one who could get Jacob to see reason. Her blackberry pie was my favorite. I had this theory that her pie alone could solve most of the world’s problems.”
Cole smiled and took her hand. “I remember reading about Melody in the case file. She’s living with her adult daughter in Denver now.”
Savannah’s heart jumped in her chest. Melody and her daughter had a falling out years ago. She was happy to hear they were reunited. She knew everyone was going on with their lives, and she needed to as well. But it was just so hard. She hated not knowing what would come next for her and Cole.
She stared defiantly at him, urging him to say something, anything that might explain what was happening between them, but he remained silent, his expression weary and unsure.
***
At a loss for what to say to comfort Savannah, Cole dropped his gaze and rubbed a hand along the back of his neck. “Go shower. I’ll order out for dinner tonight.” He released her and Savannah stumbled away on seemingly shaky legs —from the yoga workout or from the desire escalating between them, he wasn’t sure.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his frazzled nerves. If things got any more heated, he’d erupt in flames. He dug out his cell phone and called in an order for Chinese food.
When Cole got in bed that night, Cuddles was sprawled out in the middle. He couldn’t help but wonder if Savannah had placed the dog in bed to create a physical between them. He lifted the sheet and pulled the comforter toward him, being none to gentle about disturbing the dog. Part of him hoped the damn thing would saunter back into its kennel in the guest room where it usually slept. The beast was a little cock-block.
Chapter 20
The next few weeks passed by in the same sort of careful avoidance. They continued to sleep together in Cole’s bed each night, but other than the cuddling, nothing physical had happened. Cole was sure Savannah had no idea how badly he wanted her; especially when she walked that fine little panty-clad ass around in front of him, or emerged from his bathroom only wearing a towel, still damp and pink from the shower. It took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to pick her up, strip her of the towel, and pound into her again and again until he came.
The littlest things were starting to set him off and he was pleasuring himself more than he had since he was a teenager Yet it brought little relief to the pent up desire he harbored for her. But he wouldn’t f**k her. She deserved so much more than he was prepared to offer.
Even with the daily temptations, the weeks had passed by quickly. Savannah had graduated from her driving course, and last Saturday he’d taken her to get her license.
After picking out a car for Savannah — a year old silver sedan that he was able to negotiate down in price—Cole signed the paperwork and wrote out a check for the down-payment. The car was nothing fancy, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at Savannah. After finishing up inside, he found her still sitting in the driver’s seat, inspecting every inch of the car — flipping on the headlights, opening and closing the various compartments as if it was the most magnificent thing she’d ever seen.