Page 75 of Cole's Command

“Yeah,” Cole chuckled. “I think you’re right.”

***

Cole

WATCHING DRACO’S RED beast grow smaller in the night sky, Cole walked back inside and closed the front door.

“Sorry about that,” he called out. “I didn’t know he was coming back.”

“No problem.” Curled up on the couch, Eden glanced up from her phone. “He’s your brother, after all.”

“Who are you messaging?” His brows knitted as he drew closer. Cole didn’t recall Eden having her phone before Draco’s interruption. “Is everything okay?”

“Whoa!” Raising her palm, she recoiled. “What’s this? An interrogation? I don’t have to tell you what I’m doing on my own phone, Cole.”

“No interrogation.” Cole wanted to trust her, but the reality was Eden knew his most personal secret and the first time he left her alone, she was suddenly on her phone. She could be messaging anyone about him, revealing anything she liked... “I just don’t remember you having the device. That’s all.”

“I got it from the bedroom.” What’s his problem? “Is that allowed, sir?” She emphasized the final word, rolling back her shoulders as she stared him down.

“Your sarcasm won’t help, little girl.”

The sudden urge to spank her was back, but Cole knew the penalty wouldn’t help. They had to talk about this. He wanted to know what she was doing on her device, but moreover, he had to learn to trust her. For this relationship to have any chance, he had to reel back on the ‘possessive asshole’ performance.

“Then tell me what will?” she demanded.

“Look.” He threw his hands up. “I’m sorry. What you do on your phone is none of my business. I’m just...” Hesitating, he grappled for the right words. “You’re the first person I’ve ever been so open with, and I don’t like being this vulnerable.”

“Thanks for sharing that.” Rising to her feet, she threw her handset on the seat and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I appreciate your honesty, and I get it, Cole. I’m vulnerable as well, remember? Even a whiff of what we’ve done in the last few hours will be enough to end my career.”

“I know.” He snaked his arms around her waist, allowing his lips to graze her crown. “We both have things to lose.”

“We have to trust each other.” Her voice croaked with emotion. “However hard that seems. We have to try.”

“You’re right.” He’d reached the same conclusion himself, but acting on the instruction was proving tougher than he’d imagined.

“Look.” Unraveling herself from him, she turned and grasped her phone. “I was looking at my emails. Whatever happens here I still have responsibilities.” Assuming I still have a job to go back to. Thrusting the screen at him, she collapsed back into her chair. “Speaking of which, we have to talk about that, Cole. Much though it’s fun to play your personal whore, I have a life to return to and that starts and ends with my work.”

“I realize.” Scanning down the long list of professional messages, Cole switched off the phone. Her work was not his concern and he had no right delving into her business. Taking one long stride to where she was sitting, he handed the device back to her. “Thanks for the transparency, but you have client confidentiality to think about. I shouldn’t look at your emails.”

“Thanks.” Warmth shone in her eyes. “I appreciate it, but it doesn’t resolve the issue of how I see those clients.” She gestured around the lodge. “This is gorgeous, but I’ll have to go back to my office eventually.” He can see that, can’t he?

“Right.” He nodded. “I see it. I’ll fly you back to yours first thing tomorrow. You can grab a change of clothes and still be in before Joe.”

“Thanks, but how will I get to the office?’ she asked. “My car is still there and I think people will notice a dragon!”

“How about an Uber?” He laughed. “Is that conventional enough for you?”

“Sounds good.” Her expression looked worried. “I’ll remove you from my patient records first thing, but I’ll need you to confirm your intention to leave in writing.”

“No problem,” he confirmed.

“If I’m lucky, I might just get away with it.”

“You have nothing to be concerned about.” Leaning down, he kissed her forehead. “No one saw us leaving together and I’m not going to tell a soul.”

“But the closed-circuit television?” she gasped. “What if that shows us leaving together?”

Clearly, Eden still needed reassurance.