Page 27 of Cole's Command

Chapter Ten

Eden

––––––––

STARING AT THE SCREEN, Eden’s gaze hesitated over the name of her next client: Cole Vaughn. Ignoring the way her pulse sped up, she blew out a breath. She didn’t know why she had to check her schedule. Eden knew full well who her four o’clock appointment was. She’d been counting down the hours until his arrival in her head ever since she’d walked into the office.

Why? She inhaled at the thought. What’s so special about him?

As her eyes drilled into his name, she sucked a peppermint and considered the answer. Cole was the guy she’d almost driven by in the darkness of the mountain road last night, but the memory of him had been on her mind ever since. Hell, Cole had even managed to dislodge the ghost of her father, who was normally determined to stalk her within the walls of her apartment.

“I don’t blame you for that, Dad.” Her voice was hushed as she looked upon her father’s photograph. “It’s on me.”

With a sigh, she pulled up Cole’s client record and reviewed what she knew so far—he was a young man from a wealthy family who’d lost both parents at a relatively young age. He had indicated resentment regarding the circumstances of his dad’s passing, although she had yet to get to the bottom of that mystery, and he had admitted to hedonistic tendencies. She chuckled at that, realizing she could hardly pin much on that attribute. Men and women in their twenties often partied hard.

“What else?” she whispered to the screen, her eyes fluttering closed as she recalled the unexpected encounter by the roadside.

Everything about the interaction had been peculiar. Why would anyone be wandering along the street outside the city on their own at that time of the evening? Not only was it dangerous to walk out there without so much as reflective clothing, but it was distinctly unusual. Her weirdest memory from the event, though, wasn’t what Cole had been doing, but how he had behaved.

And how I responded to him.

Her jaw tightened at the vexing narrative in her head, focusing her mind back on the salient matter. Speaking to Cole last night had been downright unnerving. He was characteristically charming, but at one point that allure had shifted into something disconcerting when he actually repeated the exact words Eden had just repeated in her head—her father’s words.

Shivering at the recollection, her gaze lingered on her late dad’s face.

“It was just a coincidence,” she murmured, spinning in her chair to take in the spectacular view and clear her head. It was crazy to think Cole had known what she was thinking. Telepathy had long been fabled among the giants of her profession, but it wasn’t really possible. His capacity to read her had been strange, though, and she couldn’t deny that at one point she could have sworn he was reading her mind. “That’s why I haven’t been able to get him out of my head.”

Staring out at the towering buildings that disturbed the flawless blue-sky vista, the thought cemented. Yes. That was why Cole had been on her mind all night. It had nothing to do with the teasing glint in his gaze or the way her heart rate appeared to accelerate around him, and everything to do with his odd ability to guess what was on her mind.

I hope not. She flushed at the inference, her fingers moving to smooth her hair from her face. It would be humiliating if he truly knew how attracted I was to him. As if to confirm her thought, her nipples hardened beneath her blouse, her face blushing further as she remembered the enigmatic man who’d she’d met on the mountain road.

“Dr. Lewis?”

She leaped at the sound of Joe’s voice, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned in her seat to find him looming in her doorway. “Oh, hi, Joe.” Lost in her thoughts about Cole, Eden hadn’t heard her assistant enter the room, and conscious of her rising agitation, she rose from her seat and greeted him with a smile. “Is everything okay?”

Eden had been happy her assistant hadn’t brought her breakfast that morning. The return to their normal dynamic was a status quo she was keen to see continued.

“Your four o’clock appointment has arrived.”

“Already?” Her gaze flitted to the clock on her computer screen. There were still ten minutes until the top of the hour.

“Yes.” Closing the door closed behind him, Joe grinned. “Apparently, he’s eager. Would you like another drink?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” She’d barely touched the glass of water he’d brought her before her afternoon appointments. “You can send him in.”

Joe nodded. “I will do.”

Retaking her seat, Eden just had time to flatten her skirt before Cole strode into the room, pulling the door shut behind him.