The Right Side of My Pillow, стр. 25
Exasperated, Cole blew out a breath. “We’ve discussed this Elise. Cricket is having a rough time, and I’m in a position to help. I’m going to help her.”
“Cricket has asked you not to call her that. She wants you to call her Jade yet you insist on doing it. You can’t just do whatever you want, especially when there are other people involved. And, whatever thing you two once had she is obviously over it. Or, maybe she’s playing the part of the damsel in distress. Who knows? Men seem to fall for that crap every time. After all, she is living in your house.”
“If it makes you feel any better Jade wouldn’t do that, and I’m just trying to help.”
“How the hell would you know? You haven’t seen her in years. If you’re actually attempting to help, then get her a hotel room or put her up in one of the many properties you own. Don’t bring this woman into your house! Did you take into consideration how this might make me feel or how it might look to our friends?”
“Elise, I’ve tried to reassure you because you’re important to me but you also know me well enough to know, I couldn’t give a damn about what other people think.”
Frustrated didn’t even begin to explain how she was feeling. Elise needed a different approach. The glint in his eyes let her know that he was digging in his heels. Unless Jade left on her own, she wasn’t going to go anywhere. “Don’t you think at the very least; I deserve to know exactly how you even know this woman? And, why she is so important to you?”
Internally, he battled how much to divulge, but Elise did deserve some answers. “Look, I met Jade when she was nine, and I was eleven years old.” Cole reached a hand out to caress Elise’s cheek. “When I say we were like siblings. I mean it. She and I literally grew up in the same house. I watched over her, and she watched over me. You can draw a straight line from her pushing and motivating me, during some of the darkest times in my life, to my success. I owe my sanity to her. She could ask me for anything, and there is nothing I wouldn’t give or do for her. It’s that simple.”
Obviously, those weren’t the words Elise wanted to hear. “Those are some pretty strong feelings. Are you sure there’s not more there?”
Cole pulled Elise by her waist into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss against her temple. “I promise you. I have never thought of Jade in a romantic way and honestly couldn’t even imagine it.”
His back was to the door, but Elise could see the hurt look on Jade’s face clearly when she walked into the house, just in time for her to hear Cole say those last words.
Chapter 14
Jade clocked out from work and walked to the parking lot. All she wanted to do was grab a shower, some food, and go to sleep. After getting into her car, she put the key in the ignition and turned. Nothing. It didn’t make a sound. Immediately, she tried it again, and again—nothing. Jade pressed her forehead against the steering wheel as she spoke to herself. “Come on, please don’t do this to me.” After another moment, she lifted her head and turned the key again only to be rewarded with the same result. It was official the car was dead.
She dragged herself out of her car and went back into the restaurant. Maybe Tommy could help her out. He’d jumped her car before. Sarcastically she smirked to herself as she thought that this was a great night for Natalie and Brenda to both have the night off. Jade couldn’t even hitch a ride to Cole’s with either of them. She threw her bag over her shoulder as she made her way through the employee entrance at the back of the kitchen to the bar.
“Hey, Tommy.”
He smiled wide. “What’s up, Jade.”
“My stupid car won’t start. I hate to ask but could take a look at it?”
“Sure, but it’ll have to wait until my next break. Mario’s been on the warpath.”
“God, you’re right. He’s been a bear this week. That’s fine.”
“Good. It’ll be about twenty minutes. Think you can hang out that long?”
She laughed. “What else am I going to do?” Jade sat down at the bar. “Oh…I’ve meant to ask you something. Last Saturday I received a text from someone, but the number was blocked. Only a few people have my number.”
“I know. It took me forever to get it, and you probably wouldn’t have given it to me either if your car hadn’t conked out.” Tommy leaned over the counter and lowered his voice as he flirted with her. “I think you have a thing against long-haired blondes with green eyes.”
Playfully, Jade grabbed a hold of his hair and twisted it around her fist. “Your ponytail is pretty sexy, and if it were dark like Henry Cavill's, I just might put you at the top of my dating list.”
Jokingly, Tommy smacked the bar. “Well, hot damn. I’m making an appointment to get it changed tomorrow. If I had known that’s what it would take to get a date with Jade Lockwood, I would have done it a long time ago.”
He was such a playboy. Jade released his hair and laughed. She wasn’t remotely interested in dating anyone but especially not someone who used women for sport. “Seriously, did you by any chance give it out to anyone?”
“Nah. I wouldn’t give out your number without your permission.”
Jade chewed the bottom of her lip. “I didn’t think you would but thought I’d double check.” A cold chill went down her back wondering who could have sent her that text. It was absurd. She should probably let it go given that her suspicious mind sometimes took her to ridiculous places. Whoever it