No Place Like Home: The Coming Home Series, Book 1 Read online

  “Didn’t think. Past tense.” His fingertip sliding across her cheek made her heart thump hard in her chest. “I’m actually kind of angry at you.” He didn’t look mad though. Perplexed maybe.

  “And why is that?”

  “You swoop in here—”

  “Swoop?” She laughed silently as he nodded.

  “Absolutely. I think you purposefully showed up to throw my life into chaos.”

  “Oh really? And it’s all me?”

  “Yes.”

  “No it isn’t, mister. You have to be all smart and sexy and nice. You protect the world.” She looked around. “Help charities. Have a precious little girl who smells like cotton candy. And you kiss like I always dreamed someone would kiss me.”

  “So, it sounds like maybe we could share the blame?”

  “Possibly.” Addyson shifted against her and mumbled something she couldn’t understand.

  “I need to get Little Bit there home and in bed or she’s going to be a bear tomorrow. Want me to take her?”

  “Since she’s already asleep, why don’t you let me carry her to your vehicle? That way she’ll only have to be jostled once.”

  The look on his face heated her insides. “Are you sure?”

  “I like holding her.” It was the truth and it meant something. Charlie wasn’t anywhere close to figuring out what it was, but she knew she didn’t want to let her go yet. Or her dad.

  Cole leaned forward and the distance between them disappeared. His lips? Soft. His hand on her cheek? Warm. Strong.

  “Best money I’ve spent at one of these carnivals ever.” He led them toward the parking lot and they remained quiet for most of the way. “You didn’t agree to have dinner with me again.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “You’ve got questions, I assume. About Addyson? About this?” He motioned between them and waited.

  “And you’ve got all the answers?”

  “Hell no. But I’d like to tell you about her. Though I don’t normally tell anyone my business.”

  “Why tell me?”

  “Again. No clue. I still blame you.” He pushed a button on a key fob and lights blinked on his vehicle a few spaces further down.

  “Well, far be it from me to withhold the opportunity to allow a man to talk about his feelings.”

  “Feelings, gah.” He made the gagging sound and opened the back passenger side door. Thankfully the person parked next to him had already left so they had plenty of room to maneuver.

  Charlie lifted Addyson into her car seat and gently buckled her in. She wiggled a few times, rubbed her face once, but never woke up. Once Charlie stepped away, Cole belted Addyson in and tucked a blankie around her from the seat next to her. Her little mouth popped open and Charlie’s heart melted just a little bit more. She moved a tiny bit and one of her shoes peeked out from beneath the pink fleece.

  “Ruby slippers.” Pivoting around Cole right next to her, she reached up and touched the sequin shoes. “The Wizard of Oz.”

  He nodded. “Her favorite movie. She watches it constantly. So your ‘man behind the curtain’ comment? That’s why it threw me so hard.”

  She was already a little bit in love with him, which didn’t bode well for when she left. In just a few days.

  Cole closed the door softly. “Have dinner with me.”

  “When?”

  “Tuesday? It’s my mom’s night to keep her so I already have a babysitter. I’d love for it to be sooner but I honestly have so much on my plate at work, I need to get some things handled. And all that’s true but total bullshit.” He moved her back against the SUV and kissed her.

  Senseless.

  “So you do or don’t have a lot going on at work?” Her entire body reacted to him. Instantaneously. Concentrating on not jumping him in the parking lot took more effort than she really had to muster.

  “Do, but that’s not the reason I think we should take a few days.”

  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Softest lips. “Why take a few days then?”

  “Perspective, I think. I’m looking to find my I am an island mantra again. It’s been gone since you walked into my office with that dress on.”

  She smiled again. Seeing him discombobulated delighted her and she tunneled her fingers into his hair. “Then Tuesday sounds perfect. I leave next Wednesday.” Saying it was for both of them. No matter what they felt, wanted, she was still going to be gone in less than a handful of days. “And does perspective mean we aren’t talking or anything so we can get back to that sex-only phase that lasted less than one date?”

  “Absolutely. I’m totally going to cut you off. Cold turkey. It’s the only way to deal with this kind of obsession.” His sarcasm delighted her.

  “So by cut me off you mean text as much as we can like we’ve done all day today and talk on the phone too?”

  “Yep. Pretty much.”

  “Got it.” She giggled and hugged him close.

  “I love your giggle.”

  She sighed and looked up at him.

  “It’s like I’ve known you forever.”

  “We kind of have.” Even if he didn’t remember her. He knew her now and that was all that mattered. “We just lost some time in the middle.”

  “Then I’d say we need to make the most of it.” His kiss. It was a promise. A very, very dark and delicious promise.

  Chapter Six

  “I have to cancel our date.” Cole’s disappointment bled through the phone as Charlie sat in the coffee shop down the block from her hotel.

  “Oh no, why?” Panic filled her system but she tried to keep it out of her voice.

  “Something came up for my mom.”

  “Hopefully everything’s okay?”

  “Yeah. It’s fine, but now I don’t have anyone to watch Addyson, and I don’t trust her with just anybody.”

  Charlie’s heart swelled in her chest, alleviating some of the disappointment. And she had a thought. “Umm, what if I brought the date to you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “How about a picnic? I’ll bring a picnic and we can eat in the backyard. Assuming you have a backyard. I can be there at…” She looked at her watch and figured out how long it would take her to put it together. Kia was at work so she could use her kitchen to get it ready, and the grocery store was on the way. She was supposed to stay at her place tonight anyways, had already checked out of her hotel. But then Kia’d picked up another shift. It might work out perfectly. “Six-thirty-ish. I’ll bring enough for the three of us and we can have a picnic in your backyard.”

  Silence.

  “Umm. Maybe that was completely too forward of me and I should take it all back and we could just reschedule?” Charlie made a face that he thankfully couldn’t see.

  “You’d do that?”

  “Which option are we referring to? The picnic option? Or the remove foot and reschedule option?”

  “The picnic option. You’d really drop whatever you’re doing to put a picnic together for us and you’d be okay spending time with me and my daughter?”

  “I’d love to.” Understatement of the summer.

  “Six-thirty-ish sounds awesome.”

  “You or Addyson allergic to anything?”

  “Nope. But she’s a ridiculously picky eater. As in I keep expecting her to be a corn dog when I go in to get her up in the morning.”

  “Picky eater. Got it. See you at six-thirty.”

  “See you then, and Charlie?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You rock me.” He hung up without saying anything else and Charlie bit her lip to keep from giggling out loud.

  She didn’t succeed.

  * * * * *

  Addyson squealed and ran around their makeshift picnic in the living room.

  “Yo
u made us a Wizard of Oz picnic.” Cole’s voice was a little bit disbelieving and a little bit awed.

  For a few hours of work, Charlie decided it was more than worth it as she sat down with Cole and Addyson in their living room to have a picnic. The outside idea hadn’t worked out due to rain.

  “Yes, I did.”

  Addyson plopped down in Charlie’s lap and squealed again. “Daddy, look. There are fairy wands.”

  “Made out of celery and rice cakes. Held together with peanut butter.”

  Addyson picked one up and took a bite. “Mmm…”

  “She wouldn’t eat that to save her life this morning,” Cole mumbled under his breath. He looked incredibly handsome wearing a dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the top two buttons undone, along with his suit slacks.

  Charlie wore a tank top and shorts, but she hadn’t packed many clothes. For her last day before the flight back to Dallas she couldn’t be too picky.

  “Red mashed potatoes,” Addyson said with wide eyes.

  “For the poppy flowers and the ruby slippers, of course,” Charlie added helpfully as she tapped the red slippers on Addyson’s feet.

  “And little sandwiches shaped like the Lion’s crown.”

  “With turkey and ham and cheese inside because that’s what the Lion would eat to stay strong to help Dorothy.”

  Addyson grabbed a sandwich and took a big bite. “I want to help Dorothy, too.”

  Charlie kissed her head before she thought better of it. “She should be so lucky.”

  “And the fruit?” Cole questioned. “I’m missing something on the fruit.”

  “The horse, Daddy, the horse!”

  Cole closed his eyes and shook his head. “Of a different color.”

  “Yes! And over the rainbow. Red watermelon, orange cantaloupe, yellow pineapple, green kiwi and blueberries.” Charlie held her hand up to Addyson. “High five.”

  The little girl slapped it and then held it up to Cole. “High sive, Daddy.” He slapped her hand. “Now, Charwee. She needs a high sive, too.” Addyson urged her hand up, and Cole slapped it.

  “She’ll be getting more than a high five later.”

  “Yay!”

  Charlie smiled and felt her cheeks heat. She cleared her throat. “And the final touch are the witch’s hats.”

  “Oreos and kisses.” Addyson giggled behind her hands and bounced on Charlie’s lap. “Daddy, Daddy. Can we watch the movie after we eat?” She scrambled up and over to him and held his face. “Pwease pwease pwease!”

  Cole looked sternly at her as if he were debating the merits of her plan. “Yes. Uh-uh-uh, not so fast.” Addyson had started jumping up and down but she stopped and faced Cole again. “Count them off.” He held up a finger and so did she. “You have to take a bath after dinner.” They added another finger. “Brush your teeth.” Another finger and Cole had to help her. “And vitamins.” Another finger with a little bit more help. “Then go to bed right afterward.” They added their thumbs and he clasped their hands together. “And no fussing.” He pulled her close so they were forehead to forehead. “Deal?”

  “Deal.” Addyson nodded once emphatically.

  “Kiss on it.”

  Addyson had already kissed him square on the mouth before he’d finished speaking and she headed back to Charlie. This time she plopped down next to her. “We get to watch the moobie. I made a deal.”

  “Yes, you did. Your dad drives a hard bargain.”

  “I know,” she whispered behind her hand conspiratorially. “No sussing is really hard.”

  “Well, let’s dig in so you can get to your bath and we can sing along to the movie.” Charlie grabbed a paper plate and put food on it for Addyson.

  “You sing, too?” Addyson wanted to know.

  “Of course. Doesn’t everybody?” Setting the plate down in front of the little girl Charlie would have thought she hadn’t eaten in a week.

  Around a mouthful of food she confessed, “Daddy does, but he says I’m not supposed to tell anybody.”

  “But you just told Charlie.”

  “’Course. She’s not anybody. She’s Charwee.”

  A cough really didn’t cover her snicker very well, but Charlie kept her head down and made a plate for herself.

  “Think that’s funny, do ya?” Cole asked as he bit into a crown sandwich.

  “Possibly. Guess we’ll see how funny during the movie when you start singing.” Charlie copped to it and started in on some fruit as she winked at Cole.

  He shook a fairy wand at her and ate the star off the top. “We’ll just see who’s still standing at the end. I’ll get you my pretty,” he added in a very good Wicked Witch of the West voice.

  Addyson then launched into talking and carried the conversation for the rest of the meal.

  All the while Cole stared at Charlie. She knew it. Felt it. Didn’t know what to do with the look behind his eyes so she remained silent and enjoyed listening to Addyson chatter.

  Less than an hour later, Addyson had eaten almost everything on her plate other than what was left on her face and shirt.

  “A napkin, little girl. This is why I want you to use a napkin.”

  Her sleeve was used and she smiled, knowing she was funny.

  “That’s it. Now I’m going to chase you upstairs and wrestle you into the bathtub.” He threw up his hands as if it were a foregone conclusion and there was nothing he could do about it.

  A shriek of delight preceded Addyson jumping up and running behind the couch to hide. Cole stood as well then crouched low as if he were on the prowl.

  “Can’t catch me. Can’t catch me,” she taunted.

  They faced off for a few seconds and then Cole went after her. Addyson eeped and made a break for the stairs. He caught her halfway up and tickled her, making a game of getting ready to take a bath. When he let her go, she scrambled the rest of the way upstairs and Cole called after her. “I’ll be right there. I have to help Charlie with the food real quick. Get undressed and get those dirty clothes in the hamper, not on your floor. Don’t even think about getting in the bathtub before I’m there.” No answer. “Addyson?”

  “Yes, Daddy. Clothes off. No tub. Got it, dude.”

  “Dude. So help me.” He headed back into the living room.

  Charlie had already started gathering the food and taking it into the kitchen. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve got this part handle—”

  Cole’s mouth was on hers before she could finish her thought, much less her sentence.

  A growl rumbled through him. “No one has ever taken the time to do something like that for my daughter.”

  Charlie latched onto his shirt since her knees started to shake. “It was as much for me as it was for her. I love that movie.” Yes, she downplayed it but… “It really wasn’t that big a deal.” The last part was supposed to be in her head but it came out anyways.

  “Yes. It is a big deal.” He kissed her again a bit roughly, deliciously. His five o’clock shadow seemed to light a match to her already primed libido.

  “Why do I say things out loud with you?”

  “Only one four-letter word that I can think of.” He maneuvered her against the wall and pressed his cock against her stomach, not giving her enough time to contemplate what he meant. Love. That four-letter word. “You wreck me. The need to take you again, to make you come? It’s been eating at me for three days now. I hope you know what’s in store for you after the movie and once I get the munchkin to bed.”

  “Daddy, I’m ready!”

  Charlie jumped when Addyson called downstairs and tried to move away. Thankfully they were around a corner so they couldn’t be seen.

  Cole pinned her arms above her head and leaned in close, trapping her body against the wall. “Think about how many times you want to come before I fuck you. I’ll need an
answer before the movie’s done so I know how we’re going to proceed.” He looked down at the small amount of cleavage she had showing above her tank top. “You make my mouth water.” He kissed her again and moaned into her mouth. “I hope you took a nap today because you’re going to need it.” He stepped away, releasing her wrists. “Coming.”

  She didn’t know if he was talking to her or to Addyson, but she sure as hell watched him until he rounded the corner.

  Distantly she heard him make it upstairs and water running in the bathtub, but her brain was sluggish in the best of terms.

  After a few minutes she convinced her muscles to respond in order to pick up the rest of the food. It was thankfully an incredibly mindless task since her head was quite occupied with the question he told her he needed an answer to by the time the movie was done.

  “Charwee, Charwee! I’m Dorofee.” Addyson called her name before she was even downstairs. The sound of tiny feet warmed her inside. The sweet girl with wet hair tore around the corner wearing a nightgown that looked just like Dorothy’s blue gingham dress in the movie. She spun in a circle and jumped up and down.

  “Perfect. All clean? Ready to watch the movie?”

  “Mmhmm. Daddy said I needed to hep you.”

  “All done.” Charlie held up her hands and showed her the Tupperware she had to take back to Kia. “Everything’s put away and the living room’s all ready to watch a movie.”

  Cole’s footsteps coming down the stairs created quite a different sensation inside her.

  She was prepared for him. For her reaction to him.

  She was.

  Until she rounded the corner and saw he stood there in nothing but a pair of running shorts. His body was a sight to see.

  “Do you have jammies?” Addyson asked her as she took her hand and led her to the couch.

  Charlie sat down, collapsed, whatever, and Addyson scrambled up next to her and tucked herself into her side. “Nope, but that’s okay. I’m super comfy and I’m not sleeping here tonight anyways.”