The Right Side of My Pillow, стр. 28
Carmen prompted her. “Yeah?”
“We grew up together and have a bond because of our childhood.”
“Darn it.” Carmen’s lips turned downward. “I was hoping maybe there was more. He’s such a great guy, and I’d hate for him to get stuck with the wrong woman. I have four brothers and not a sister in the bunch. Otherwise, I’d definitely introduce her to Cole.”
A geeky looking man wearing wire-rimmed glasses came up behind Carmen and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I leave for five minutes to use the bathroom, and you disappear. Why can’t you ever stay put?”
Carmen placed her hands on his arms then turned slightly around. “I was introducing myself properly to Cole’s Jade.”
His eyes widened as he pushed his glasses back up on his face. “That’s right. Nice to see you again. I hope you’re feeling better.”
Jade smiled warmly. “Much better, thanks.”
“Sweetheart we’re going to be late for the play. We should get going.”
Carmen kissed the side of his cheek. “You’re right. Jade, I hope we can get together for coffee or something very soon. Who knows maybe Doug can convince Cole to invite us over for dinner?” Carmen winked. “Just the four of us.”
Jade caught her meaning loud and clear.
Chapter 15
The countdown had begun. Jade needed to find somewhere else to live and as quickly as possible before the crap really hit the fan. Elise was a viper, and she didn’t want to get caught up in whatever crazy schemes that woman might be planning.
Jade thought back on the night she came home to hear Cole tell Elise how he felt about her, and it was more painful than it should have been. She watched Elise gloat. When he turned and realized Jade was home, he seemed happy to see her. But it was in a platonic kind of way, as it should have been.
It was only a couple of days after the episode at the restaurant when Elise invited her out. Of course they were in front of Cole when she did it. “Jade. I’m sorry it has taken so long for us to schedule a time to get together, but I’ve been so busy with my family’s foundation. Please forgive me.” Her voice was dripping with insincerity. “Cole can’t seem to stop singing your praises, and I can’t wait to get to know you better. Maybe sometime soon we can go to lunch.” Elise looked disapprovingly at Jade’s work uniform. “Maybe even go shopping or have a spa day. I’m sure Cole will treat us to whatever our hearts desire.” Elise looked lovingly at Cole. “You’re important to him, so you’re important to me. I’m hoping we can become fast friends.”
Jade looked from Cole to Elise. Was she for real? This whole performance was D level acting. However, the way he was looking at Elise seemed as if he were eating it up. “Cole doesn’t need to buy me anything.”
Elise purred. “Our Cole is very generous to the people he cares about. But, if him spending a boatload of money on us makes you uncomfortable, I’ll make the arrangements for a nice little lunch.”
It was obvious that Cole had no idea Elise came to the restaurant with all of her bull. Now if Jade declined, she would look like the bad guy. Jade wouldn’t be boxed into a corner either. She stared Elise down. “The other day when we met up at the restaurant, I think we made a lot of headway in getting to know each other. I’m sure we both learned a lot.”
Cole seemed pleased. “You two hooked up already?” He turned to Elise. “You didn’t tell me that.”
Her catlike smile faltered. “It was so brief…I must have forgotten.”
Jade wasn’t going to let her squirm her way out of this one. “Really? I can’t say the same because you left a profound impact on me.”
Cole clapped his hands together. “Great! See, I knew you two just needed to spend a bit of time together and then each of you see would see the same things that I do. How about I order my two favorite ladies dinner? We can set it up in the living room and watch a movie?”
Jade did her best to smile. “Sorry, maybe next time. I’m really beat, so I’m going to head upstairs. You two have a great evening, though.” She walked away from that train wreck of a situation more determined than ever to squash her silly childhood crush on Cole Thornton and to get herself out of his home.
Chapter 16
Jade couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned all night long. Her situation was impossible. Finally, when the first signs of daylight started to peek through her windows, she gave up the fight. What am I going to do with myself? She had no idea. It had been quite some time since she had an entire day off from work. Was she supposed to putz around the house? If Cole were home that wouldn’t work. Maybe after a cup of coffee her brain would function properly, and she could try to figure out her entire life because it was a mess. Jade hadn’t had any call backs from either the housing or job applications. Her mind restless, Jade got out of bed and put on her robe then went down to the kitchen.
Damn. There he was. Dark and handsome sitting at the table reading his digital pad and eating a bowl of cereal as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Before Jade could decide if she were going to come back later, Cole looked up. A warm smile formed on his face. “Good morning. I thought you might sleep in.”
Jade walked into the kitchen and over toward the coffee maker. “I’m so used to getting up early for work that my body is on auto-pilot.” No