CHAPTER 19
Cole thought yoga was supposed to relax you, which was why he couldn’t understand why Savannah had come home madder than a hornet’s nest.
She tossed her yoga mat in the front closet, and then retreated to the kitchen. Cole had figured she would have joined him in the living room to tell him all about it, talking in her excited way whenever she had a new experience. He glanced at his watch. Dinnertime…maybe she was anxious to begin cooking. But it didn’t sound like she was cooking so much as punishing the dishes.
“Savannah?” Cole rounded the corner to the kitchen, where the sound of clattering pots and pans was starting to alarm him.
“What?” she turned briskly, holding a large chef’s knife in her hand.
“Whoa.” He held up his hands. “I just wanted to see how yoga went.”
She narrowed her eyes, refusing to lower the knife. “Fine,” she bit out in a clipped tone.
He took a step back. “Did, ah, something happen?” His brows knitted together in concern.
“Nope.” She slashed through a ripe tomato with such force, a spray of seeds and juice misted the countertop.
“You sure?” He dared a step closer. “Did you have…fun?”
She was still dressed for a work out, a pair of skin tight black pants hugging her ass in the most distracting way. God bless whoever invented yoga pants. Her little white tank was riding up, exposing a strip of her narrow waist and lower back. Visions of caressing that ass in his palms, along with memories of the way her skin tasted, danced through his subconscious.
Dear God he wanted her.
Bad.
He’d been trying to avoid being alone with her ever since he’d surrendered and brought her pleasure. As much as he wanted a repeat, he hadn’t dared give in. All this past week, he worked late, hit the gym after work, went to Liam’s pub for a drink, then came home and slipped into bed while she was sleeping. Of course, that hadn’t stopped her from curling her body around his, releasing a happy little sigh against his chest, or pulling his arm around her so they could spoon. She certainly wasn’t shy about taking what she needed in terms of physical affection, but neither had actually communicated about their relationship, or whatever this thing was between them.
She dropped the knife, letting it clatter against the cutting board, her task momentarily forgotten. “Fun? Hmm, let’s see. Was it fun to see the girl you brought home twisting her body into impossible poses for ninety minutes? No. I don’t suppose it was.”
“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 a*shole 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.