Um that is big. "I showered while you were fixing my car," I mumble, my hands gripping his t-shirt, trying to steady myself against the onslaught of sensations. "Speaking of which, how are you going to pay me back for fixing your car?" he asks, his voice low and husky. I hiss as his teeth graze th
Nicola Taylor After dinner, as we cleared the plates and loaded them into the dishwasher, I couldn't help but feel a sense of companionship that was so rare for me. It was comforting having someone around, someone to talk to, share a meal with, and simply be present with. Cole's phone interrupted t
"Hello, Mr. Harrington, of course. It’s not a problem," I replied, trying to match his formality while inwardly hoping I wasn't making a fool of myself. Amelia then intervened, her tone carrying concern. "Your daughter is in her room and refuses to come out," she informed Cole as she invited us ins
Nicola Taylor "Miss Taylor," a small, timid voice broke through the quiet hum of conversation, prompting me to set my tea down. I smiled warmly as Arabella hurried over and enveloped me in a gentle hug. Her sweetness never failed to touch my heart, though I couldn't quite fathom why she held me i
"Is this a fucking joke?" I yell at Cole softly as soon as we step out of Arabella's room. "Language. She's sleeping," Cole replies just as softly, though a smile tugs at his lips. I punch him lightly in the arm, making him chuckle. “What are you up to?” I ask, exasperated, as he leads me through
Nicola Taylor “No, no, no,” I yell, covering my eyes as I step out of the bathroom, only to see Cole Harrington standing beside the bed, shirtless in just his joggers. “You cannot sleep shirtless around me. Are you trying to seduce me? Do you think this is how you get me to marry you?” I ask, movi
Nicola Taylor “Daddy!” I hear a loud scream, jolting me awake from my deep slumber. Cole and I sit up with a start, our eyes wide as we recognize the source of the scream. Oh god, no. Why didn’t we lock the door? There stands Arabella, her eyes as wide as saucers, clutching a stuffed bunny in her
Nicola Taylor I stared at the clock striking 2 pm as Cole and I sipped our coffee, the silence between us thick with unspoken words. Everything felt rushed, and I wasn’t sure how to navigate this conversation. “We should start our discussion. What are your demands?” he asked in a very professional
Nicola Taylor As I sat on Emma’s worn but cozy couch, “I think I should head home now,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “I miss my kids, and I can’t keep running away. If I stay away much longer, Cole might do something drastic to track me down.” The thought made my stomach ch
Cole Harrington “Where is she?” my mom screamed, her voice cutting through the thick tension in the room as her glare landed on Courtney. Courtney shrank back, but she didn’t respond, her face pale and drawn. My mother had never been a fan of Courtney—not openly hostile, but certainly not warm. S
Nicola Taylor Her apartment was modest but surprisingly clean. A small living room with a sagging couch and mismatched furniture opened into a kitchenette. A door to the left likely led to her bedroom, and there was a pile of laundry in one corner. The faint smell of lavender hung in the air, mixi
“So, what’s going on?” she asked, her tone flat, as if she had asked this question to a thousand strangers and didn’t expect much of an answer. I froze, not sure if I wanted to spill my thoughts to a complete stranger. But something in her gaze—apathetic yet steady—made me falter. My walls were alr
Nicola Taylor The cab came to a screeching halt outside a small café, its warm yellow lights spilling out onto the darkened street like a lifeline. I thanked the driver, handed him a crumpled bill from the cash in my back pocket, and stepped out, realizing with a jolt of panic that I had left my p
Nicola Taylor I stood there, numb, watching the scene unfold in front of me. It was as though time had frozen, and in that moment, the weight of the truth crashed down on me. For six long years, I had loved Cole with every part of me. I had given him my heart, my trust, my soul. Yet, standing there
Nicola TaylorI woke up in a frantic state, my heart pounding as I blinked against the harsh hospital lights. The room was quiet, painfully so, and the sterile smell of antiseptic filled my senses. My head throbbed as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. The clock on the wall read midnight.Fou
Cole HarringtonI couldn’t believe what was happening. I was holding her—her. The woman I thought I had lost forever. The woman who, at one point, had been my everything.Courtney trembled in my arms, her sobs muffled against my chest. My fingers curled instinctively around her shoulders, pulling he
Nicola TaylorAs we tried to catch our breath, the doorbell rang, cutting through the charged silence like a thunderclap. I jolted upright, hurriedly pulling my clothes back on, shoving Cole’s wandering hands away. My heart was still racing from the heat of the moment, but now it beat with a differe