chapter four

Stepping out onto the porch, the mug warm in her palms, Hazel couldn’t help but scan the pastures behind the old farmhouse. The shop came into view, a string of beat up motorcycles littered the entrance, an old car protruding from the garage, its hood open as a slew of tools lay discarded around it.

Lou’s warm natter drifted dully through the haze of Hazel’s heartbeat. She took her seat in one of the Adirondack chairs, nodding politely where she felt it appropriate to, but the words weren’t registering, not fully. Instead, they floated around her, background noise, as the broad physique of Cole stepped out from the darkness of the workshop.

He was taller than Hazel remembered, more rugged, as if he’d lived an entire life while she was absent. Tattoos adorned the skin of his arms, disappearing beneath the tight sleeves of his black shirt. It was snug around his shoulders, his chest, his muscles rippling beneath the fabric as he stooped down to retrieve the tennis ball from Blue’s clamped mouth, tossing it far into the field. His black hair was longer now, messy atop his head. It jostled gently as he laughed, large hands trailing through the grease rag he’d thrown over his shoulder.

Russet eyes trailed towards the porch, the lines of his forehead deepening as his brows lifted, eyes widening. His tongue rolled between his lips, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth and he raised his hand to wave.

“Oh, Lord, he’s spotted us,” Lou chuckled, nudging the still-warm cake in Hazel’s direction. “Quick, get some into you before he comes and eats the whole damn plate.”

It took all Hazel’s determination to pull her gaze away, the endless loop of her dreams replaying before her eyes, heating her cheeks. Her fork shuffled the cake crumbs around the plate, her gaze down, seemingly fascinated by the dance. She could sense his approach, hear his heavy boots crunching against the long grass. It was only when a low whistle hummed in front of her that she allowed her eyes to lift.

“Thought I was dreamin’ for a minute there,” he laughed, deep and throaty. It sent a ripple of shivers across her skin, her body betraying her as if she were sixteen again, hopelessly in love with her best friend’s older brother. “Didn’t think I’d see you ‘round here any time soon, Hazel.”

“I told you Hazel was moving back into Gus’s place,” Lou chided, rolling her eyes. “Do I just talk for fun?”

“Sometimes,” Cole shrugged, dodging the swat from his mother’s tea towel, still clutching firmly in her worn palm. “I thought I saw a car in the drive. Didn’t think it was yours though. A Mini JWC? Really?”

Dark brows lifted, a mocking smirk spreading across his tanned face. Hazel pursed her lips, a wash of embarrassment sweeping over her. “It’s not my car. It’s Max’s.”

“Max?” Lou perked up. She sat upright in her chair, one leg crossing over the other as she rested her chin on her palm. “And who’s Max?”

“My boyfriend.” Hazel tried to play it cool, but her eyes drifted toward Cole, wondering if the soft clench of his jaw was just her imagination. “Believe it or not, that car is perfect for Manhattan.”

Cole snorted, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand before snatching up a slice of cake from the plate. “Well, it looks ridiculous here. I saw him doing ten damn miles an hour down the driveway.”

“He doesn’t like getting dust on his car.”

“Does he realize this place is literally a dustbowl?” Cole’s tone was mocking, lower lids forcing his eyes into a squint as he shook his head. “Hate to see what he’s like cleanin’ out the chicken coop. Might get some shit under his nails.”

“Cole!” Lou chided, shaking her head disapprovingly. “Where are your manners?”

He shrugged nonchalantly, grabbing his mother’s coffee cup and taking a long swig. Hazel couldn’t help but notice how small the mug looked in his hands. The memory of her dream flashed through her mind once more, the way those same hands had slid down beneath her jeans, fingering the white lace of her panties.

Fuck. You’re so fucking wet, Haze.

Red blooms of heat spread from the valley between her breasts, washing across her chest and creeping up the column of her neck. She felt Cole’s eyes on her, watching her visceral reaction to him. Embarrassment only added to the color, and Hazel knew she had to take a reprieve. She rose, mumbling something about needing to use the bathroom before dashing through the back door and into the stillness of the house.

Once inside, she sucked in a deep breath, willing the heat fanning into her cheeks to go away. She could hear Lou scolding her son for being so rude, Cole’s dismissive response only serving to irritate his mother more. Hazel moved away from the door, padding toward the staircase. Her feet moved across the carpeted steps slowly, her hand collecting a thick wad of dust from the banister as she slid along it. Without thinking, she meandered toward Cole’s old bedroom, gingerly pressing open the door and chancing a peek inside.

It was pretty much the same as the last time she’d been in there, except the smattering of bikini-clad models were no longer pinned to the wall. The flimsy single bed had been removed too, replaced with a much larger queen. She remembered sneaking in here with Will, his desperate attempt to find something, anything, he could use to bribe his older brother to let them come to his parties.

“We just need like a nudie mag or something. Mom would kill him if he had a nudie mag,” Will had grumbled, shuffling through the drawers desperately. Hazel remembered the wave of relief that had washed over her when they’d turned up empty handed.

“Forgotten where the bathroom is?”

His voice rang out from behind her, low, husky. Hazel spun on her foot, almost running into him. He was so close she could smell the scent of his cologne, bourbon and cedar, mingled with motor oil and the smell of sweat.

Hazel remained silent, certain any words that left her mouth would give away the fresh wave of desire that had reignited just below the surface. She hadn’t expected Cole to affect her so badly, after all these years, after Max.

Cole smirked, grease-stained fingers running through his black hair as he nodded toward the open window, the awaiting fields serenely framed. “That your dog out there?”

Hazel nodded, fingers twisting together as she saw the black blur of Blue race across the pasture.

“He’s a menace. Came barrelling over to me in the shop with that drenched ball in his mouth. Picked it up when I didn’t throw it straight away and tossed it on my rag.”

“Yeah, he’s not the most patient when it comes to fetch.”

Cole laughed, sinewy arms folding across his chest, his shoulder pressing into the doorframe as he leaned his weight against it. “Can’t imagine him in some cramped Manhattan apartment.”

“It was a tight fit.”

“I’ll bet.” For the briefest moment, Hazel caught his gaze flicker from her eyes to her mouth, his lips rolling together. “Look, I didn’t mean to shit on your boyfriend out there. You know what it’s like, country kids seeing some city yuppie around here.”

“He’s not a yuppie.”

“I’ll have to take your word for it.” His fingers gripped his biceps, head tilting back slightly as he eyed her. “Or you could bring him ‘round this weekend. We’re having a bonfire. Jace and Tyler are coming. I’m sure they’d be happy to see you, and suss out the new boyfriend.”

Hazel swallowed, sensing a bonfire would be the last thing Max would be up for, even less if he knew the interrogation he’d get from the Callahan brothers. Her brows knitted together, the realization that Cole had forgotten someone. “Is Will not coming?”

Cole’s gaze drifted to the floor, the tension in his shoulders intensifying. “Will can’t make it.”

“Why?”

“He doesn’t live ‘round here no more.”

Hazel wanted to pry, wanted to know why the topic of Will tugged at the muscles in his neck, but she could hear the annoyance in Cole’s voice, see the way his jaw clenched at his name, and thought better of it. Instead, she nodded, “Sounds good. I’m sure he’d love to.”

Cole’s brows lifted, disbelief etched in the rugged lines of his face. “I’m sure he would.”

There was nothing else Hazel could say. Cole’s scepticism was obvious, and attempting to defend Max any longer felt pointless. She strained a smile, awkwardly thumbing behind her before slowly turning on her heel. She felt Cole’s gaze remain, no doubt his smug smirk plastered across his stubbled jaw, watching as she trailed down the hallway before disappearing into the bathroom.