Page 45 of Love Unwritten
“What’s your name?” Cole’s smile, while charming and confident, doesn’t make my heart skip or my stomach flip quite like one from the man hovering behind me.
“I’m Ellie.” I hold out my hand and pray he doesn’t notice the way it trembles. Anyone in my position would have a similar reaction, and whoever says differently is a liar because this is Cole freaking Griffin. Legendary vocalist. Genius lyricist. Love child of two rock gods.
Everyone with access to a radio has heard his music, and he is here. In Lake Wisteria!
Cole grabs ahold of my hand and kisses the back of it, all while Rafael watches with flared nostrils. The brush of Cole’s lips against my skin doesn’t elicit a fraction of the reaction Rafael cradling my chin did, and I’m not sure what to make of that.
“Ellie.” Cole tests the name in that deep, husky voice of his. “You’re the woman from the stage, right?”
I nod.
“You have a wonderful voice.” He releases my hand, and it hangs in the air for a second too long before I remember how to act like a normal human being.
Shame replaces my shyness. “Sorry for acting like a complete weirdo. You just caught me by surprise.”
“I’m the one who should be apologizing for freaking you out.”
I let out a soft laugh. “It’s okay. I get it. It’s not every day that someone like you shows up in town.”
“Someone like him?” Rafael asks while glaring at Cole.
Seriously, what is going on with him, and why does my heart flutter at the mere idea of him being overprotective of me?
Cole chuckles. “I’m used to having that effect on people.”
Rafael scoffs. “Ever heard of being humble?”
I shoot him a glare from over my shoulder before returning my attention back to Cole. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing here anyway?”
“My manager suggested getting away for a while and offered to let me stay at his lake house. Thought it would help with my writer’s block or some bullshit.”
“How’s that going?” I ask.
“Not well, but I have a feeling that will all change now that I found you.”
Cole’s comment earns a death-stare from Rafael. The two men size each other up while I stand on the sidelines, suffocating from the testosterone flooding the cramped hallway. They could probably go head-to-head given their evenly matched weight and body types, although I’d put my money on Rafael winning because my ex-boss looks absolutely murderous at the moment.
A few people who seem interested in using the restroom quickly turn around when they get a look at Rafael, which only fuels my embarrassment.
“Do you need something?” I ask him with a surprisingly neutral voice.
“Yes.”
“Can it wait?”
“No.”
Cole’s amused gaze swings between us. “Boyfriend?”
“No,” Rafael and I say at the same time.
“Bodyguard?”
I swallow my laugh. “Absolutely not.” Although Rafael sure is acting like one with the way he stands beside me like a guard dog ready to attack.
“Then why is he here?” Cole props his booted foot against the wall, which stretches his black jeans until his knee pops out of the gaping hole.
“Your guess is as good as mine.” I shoot Rafael an accusatory glance, but he doesn’t notice, his eyes aimed directly at Cole’s face.