Page 62 of Stolen Summer
“Rough night?” he asked, his eyes indicating the Gothic house behind me.
I never got the chance to answer. Firm fingers pressed into my arm right below my elbow and whirled me around. My nose pressed into a solid chest, and Cole’s kill-me-now scent filled my nostrils.
How foolish of me to think he’d let me leave on my own.
Peeling my face off Cole’s biceps, I glanced up, wishing I hadn’t. A storm brewed in those dark eyes, the flecks of gold like lightning striking across the night sky.
“We came together, and we’ll sure as hell leave together.” Cole’s hard gaze lifted over my head. “Summon my driver.”
I stepped back, catching the valet from the corner of my eye. He glanced between Cole and me, putting together who I’d come with. I swore I saw a flash of disappointment.
Cole waited until he left. “Killer?—”
“What are we doing? Why am I here?” I interrupted before he could finish growling.
“I told you it’s complicated.”
That answer wasn’t going to work anymore. “Get fucked, Cole.” I wrenched my arm out from under his fingers. Perhaps a little too hard. I misjudged the firmness he had on me. I lost my balance, and the next thing I knew, I was fucking falling on my ass, right into a mud pile.
Dirty water splashed up onto my face and arms, and for a jarring moment, the impact stole my breath. I didn’t move. I sat in the puddle, disbelief stunning me. Lifting my hands out of the thick, wet ground at my sides, I stared at my fingers.
Cole towered over me, his brow lifted, and I swore his lips twitched.
Embarrassment and anger flooded my system. “If you so much as crack a hint of a smile, I’ll tie your balls into so many knots you’ll never laugh again.”
He schooled his features, but I could see the amusement he suppressed, igniting the flame in my belly.
“Don’t just stand there. Help me!” I shrilled, holding out my mucky hand. Cole’s gaze flicked to my fingers before returning to my face that wore a less than pleased expression.
Without a word, his hands clasped with mine, tugging me effortlessly to my feet.
“This is your fault,” I grumbled, smearing the crap from my hands on a dry spot on my thighs. Water soaked my ass.
I didn’t want to look at his damn face. I had nothing left to say to him.
Fuming, I took off down the sidewalk with no idea where I was headed, only that it was far from Cole Riley. This time, footsteps followed me. I wasn’t having it.
“Arie, wait?—”
“Don’t Arie me,” I turned to face him before he could grab me as he seemed so fond of doing. I hadn’t expected him to be so damn close, and he hadn’t anticipated me halting. We collided, the side of my head knocking into his face.
Pain exploded. “Ow. Damn it,” I hissed, my hand immediately flying to the sore spot on my skull.
The daggers shooting from my eyes faded at the sight of blood on the hand Cole held to his nose. He pulled it away, staring harshly at the dark stain on his fingers. I’d given him a bloody nose.
Fucking fabulous.
“Oh my god. Shit. Are you okay?” I asked, my hands framing his face so I could look at the damage.
He didn’t pull away from my touch. I took that as a good sign. Using the end of my damp sleeve, I pulled it over my hand and blotted his nose. He winced, and I cringed. “Sorry,” I said softly. “If it makes you feel better, you’re the first guy I’ve made bleed on a first date.”
Cole shook his head. His fingers circled my wrist, pulling my hand away from his nose. “I’m fine, Killer. I grew up with two brothers. Bloody noses were a weekly occurrence in my house.”
I didn’t love the sight of blood. I liked the sight of Cole’s even less, but I was too damn over this disaster of a night to analyze my concern. When I bit my lip, his eyes ensnared mine.
The limo pulled up, its tires sloshing over the wet pavement, to save us from any further calamity.
After rubbing the side of his nose, Cole grabbed my hand. “Let’s go before one of us kills someone.”