No, that wasn’t true. I would. “I’m seconds away from giving you a brand-new bone structure.”
She blinked at me as if I was missing a few screws. “I’ve been nothing but nice to you, and you want a go at me?”
That was nice?
“I think the tattoos are perfect.” Cole stepped between us. His narrowed gaze roved over me, lingered in a few select places. I had to fight a shiver. “Tattoos. New hair. New makeup. I didn’t notice it before. You were too wet. I’m noticing now.”
“Wet?” Veronica said, the word almost strangled out of her. “Wet how?”
Scowling, Cole pushed her toward the rings. “Go. Now.”
I kind of wished the floor would open up and swallow me.
She flicked me a confused glance over her shoulder but did as he’d commanded and left us alone.
Getting back on track. He had a problem with my makeover? “Are you saying I’m eye broccoli?”
Frosty barked out a laugh. “Where do girls get this stuff, man?”
“I’m not even sure what eye broccoli means,” Cole said. “That you look bad, and I shouldn’t want to eat you, or that you’re loaded with vitamins and I should.”
Kill me.
Please.
“That I look bad,” I gritted.
“You don’t. You never have.” Cole lifted my wrists and traced his thumb around the designs. When he realized what he was doing, he scowled and dropped his arms. “So. Tell me. Why’d you make all these changes?”
Changes.
The C word overshadowed any pleasure I might have taken from his compliment...his touch. What would change tonight? Tomorrow?
Both hearts sped up, and my nasal passages seemed to clog with cotton.
“Easy, now,” Frosty said.
Cole released my arms to cup my cheeks. “Breathe, Ali. Just like that. In and out. Good girl.”
The moment I calmed, I pulled out of Cole’s hold and shrugged away from Frosty’s. Another rush of embarrassment washed through me. I couldn’t allow myself to rely on these guys in any way.
“What was that about?” Cole asked.
“To answer your other question, the only one I’ll acknowledge,” I said tightly, “I made a few improvements. I wanted to look hot for the night my vision with Gavin comes true.”
Direct hit—a shocker. Cole flinched, even paled. “You were hot the way you were,” he said, staring deep into my eyes. “Whatever you think of me, whatever’s happened between us, that was never up for debate.”
Pretty words, nothing more, and yet the air between us charged, just like before, becoming electric with awareness. Every nerve ending in my body perked up, waiting for...something. Another visual caress. A hand on my shoulder. The nudge of his knee. Anything.
He backed up a few steps, and the charge fizzled. I could still smell his scent, though, soap and something woodsy, a hint of the animal he could sometimes be. Rough, wild, untamed. But underneath it all was the scent of roses...Veronica’s scent.
Maybe I’d consume both their spirits.
“Did you really do all this for Gavin?”
His tone was dead. As if he didn’t care.
As if he’d never cared.
“I did it for me,” I said, and left it at that. I would never let him know how much he was hurting me.
He nodded, some of the tension leaving him.
Tension? I hadn’t noticed it. I wonder what had calmed him. Because it certainly couldn’t have been my admission. He didn’t care, remember? “Where am I in the lineup?”
“You’ll be on patrol tonight. Sunday you’ll rest. Monday you’ll stay here in the gym, in case you’re needed. Tuesday, patrol again. Be ready to go in ten.” He stalked into the locker room.
I remained in place, trying to control my inner turmoil.
Veronica stood in back, watching me.
I scowled at her, daring her to approach. No question she’d come to my Bama expecting to win Cole back by fair means or foul. Well, she’d done it. And she hadn’t even had to work that hard.
“Enjoy him while it lasts,” I called. “Apparently he has Girlfriend ADD.”
She looked away, but not before I caught the blush staining her cheeks.