Chapter 9: Scarlett

Scarlett STOPPED ON the walk leading to Cole's front door and stared at the place. Even the sight of his ass in those thin scrub pants wasn't enough to make her glance away from the house.

"Okay, I have some serious house envy. This place is adorable."

"Is it? Come on in." Cole hauled the bulk of the groceries up the stairs and unlocked his door.

Scarlett followed him inside, peering around. Despite the small look of the place the layout was spacious, letting in a lot of light.

"Is this a Rivas house?" She followed Cole into the kitchen.

"Uh, I thought it was a Tudor?" He scrunched up his face.

"No, I mean who restored it." She chuckled.

"I honestly have no idea."

"I bet it was the Rivas."

"Rivas? Who are they?" Cole opened a bag full of frozen foods.

"The Rivas family. They do a lot of restoration jobs and move old houses around. Houses in this style in Texas are usually boxy and claustrophobic. This has been opened up. It feels bigger than it looks. That's the kind of thing the Rivas do.

"Now I've learned something."

"I'll make you a deal; I'll put all of this away if you go get ready to eat. I'm starving." She gave his shoulder a shove. That was dangerous. She shivered and once again her comfortable bra felt like sandpaper.

"If I were less hungry, that deal wouldn't work, but I'm starving. So, deal?" Cole backed out of the kitchen, his eyes doing that thing where they seemed to turn molten and warm.

"Go." She shooed him out of the kitchen then turned her attention to the bags.

She pulled out frozen foods, then things bound for the fridge, making quick work of his grocery haul.

She heard creaky floor boards as he walked down the hall toward the kitchen. At least this time he didn't scare her half to death.

"Where do you want to eat?" he asked.

"Depends, do you want to eat in town or go for a drive?" She glanced up and her mouth went dry.

Sweet baby Jesus.

Cole stood in the entrance to the kitchen wearing nothing but a pair of jeans low on his hips. Those same muscles she'd seen before were making a reappearance, and they were every bit as fine as before. He frowned at his black T-shirt. She'd almost thought her memory had to be faulty when it came to his impressive body. It wasn't.

"Where do you want to go?" He pulled the shirt over his head.

"How hungry are you?" Scarlett gave herself a mental shake and turned back to her task at hand.

"Very." Cole placed his hand at the small of her back and leaned over to snag the bag of canned food.

"Then..." Her skin tingled, and she curled her toes in her flats. This was not the man for her. She would not get involved with him. She swallowed and tried her words again. "Maybe we hit up the grill then? It's mostly hamburgers and stuff, but it's good."

"That sounds awesome. Ready?"

"Yup." Scarlett turned toward the door and mentally tried to pull herself together.

Cole was certainly a distraction from the fight she'd had with Garth earlier. Maybe not the thing she needed, but she was sure as hell going to enjoy the view and his company.

Ten minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of the Ransom Grill. A line of people waited to be seated inside, but they opted to sit on the patio since the fans created a nice breeze and the sun was almost gone.

"You look happier," Cole commented. He still hadn't glanced at his menu.

"All I needed was a reason to smile," she said, reciting a line the groom had said earlier in the day. It had stuck with her.

"Am I that reason?" Cole leaned his elbows on the table. His gaze told her to say yes. It would be the truth. She found herself smiling for no reason when he was near, but he was not for her. This was a relationship doomed to failure. Besides, she was still focusing on her.

"Right now, it's food." Scarlett's cheeks were so warm she knew she had to be blushing.

The waitress bustled over, took their drink and burger orders then left them with nothing to do but look at each other.

Cole studied her, those minty-blue eyes evaluating and calculating. It was unnerving, so she fiddled with the salt and pepper shakers.

"Do you want to talk about what was bothering you?" he asked.

He got right to the point, didn't he?

She hadn't wanted to talk about her cousin. That was work and family, private things. And yet, Benji always swept their problems under the rug. The girls had no constructive suggestions for dealing with Garth. Maybe Cole might?

"Garth is just being-Garth." Scarlett sighed and shrugged.

"And that includes making you cry?"

"It was a stressful day. We had a crazy bride, and he got to me." She was used to both on their own, but together it had been too much today.

"Are all weddings stressful?"

"Most have a degree of stress, but this one was over the top. I'm just thankful that tomorrow's bride is very chill, laid back."

"Does being around weddings make you want to never get married?" He leaned forward, his focus completely on her. Nothing else mattered.

"Actually, I love weddings." Scarlett smiled and propped her chin on her hand. "There's something magical about each and every one. These two people found someone they want to spend the rest of their lives with. I think it's amazing. But...I probably won't get married."

"Why not?"

"Family curse." Scarlett shrugged and sat back in her seat.

"Family...curse?" Cole quirked a brow at her. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. Is it a load of bullshit? Probably, but..." She shrugged again. Just because she thought it was unlikely didn't mean she was averse to being married herself.

"What is this curse about? Weddings?"

"It's a long story."

"I'm intrigued."

The waitress returned with their drinks and burgers, saving Scarlett from having to regale Cole with the whole, sordid history. It was another one of those things that most people knew about. Explaining it to him would be awkward at best.

"This isn't over." He wagged a fry at her before digging in.

For several moments neither of them spoke, too focused on the greasy goodness. She was glad for the respite. When he looked at her, it was so intense and she wasn't fully in control of herself. She needed the time to regroup and get her head screwed on straight.

"Doctor Odell!" A frail, older woman waved her bony hand at him. The other clutched a four footed cane.

"Hi, Pearl," Scarlett said between bites.

Pearl didn't glance Scarlett's way, which wasn't a surprise. The little old ladies of Ransom were known to dote on attractive, younger men.

Cole wiped his mouth then caught Pearl's fluttering hand in his.

"Hello," he said with a warm smile. "How's my patient doing?"

"She's doing so much better. You really handled my Pussy so well."

Scarlett choked on a fry.

Had Pearl just said Pussy?

"I'm glad to hear Prissy is doing well. I'll be seeing you both in a few weeks, right?" Cole patted Pearls hand then nudged Scarlett's foot under the table.

"Pussy won't be happy to see you, but I will. Have a nice night." Pearl waved at Scarlett then inched along toward the exit.

Scarlett peered at Cole over her hand, smothering her chuckles.

"It said Prissy on paper." He shook his head then picked up his burger.

"Do you handle all-" Scarlett snapped her lips shut, but a laugh bubbled out.

"I treat all of my patients with care." The way he stared at her she wasn't sure if patients were what they were actually talking about.

She needed to change the subject.

"I heard Sissy got her license revoked after the other day," Scarlett said. It was a rumor, but one she was likely to believe.

"Really?" Cole tilted his head.

Two other people paused at their table to chat with Cole about their pets. She was content to eat in peace watching the rumor mill working in their favor. Every so often he glanced at her, his eyes saying he hadn't forgotten about her, promising something she might be too afraid to take.

He was a good guy that had been dealt a crappy hand. Somehow he continued to have a good attitude about it and finding his way. It was an admirable how he'd picked up and moved on. He was a perfect mess for her to fall in love with though. The attractive guy on the rebound with boxes of baggage. Yeah, if she didn't stick to her guns and protect her heart she'd fall for him. It wouldn't be anyone's fault but her own.

By the time Cole managed to finish his meal she'd thought herself in circles.

He paid the bill without giving her the chance to split it. They left the patio to a chorus of well-wishes from other patrons and got in the Jeep.

"You've been awfully quiet." He set his hand against her lower back and she almost purred.

She didn't offer an explanation. How could she?

He opened her door and handed her in, showing off manners even Garth couldn't fault.

Cole climbed in, the silence stretching on. Her stomach knotted up at the idea of taking him home and leaving. She wasn't ready to face her cousins again. But she was no match for him either.

"Is it always like that?" He turned toward her.

"You're new and people just want to be friendly."

"That wasn't what I meant, but about that-how did that old guy know Allie took my car?" Cole's gaze narrowed, focused on her.

Busted.

She swallowed and started the Jeep.

"Scarlett?" A note of suspicion reverberated in his voice.

"I might have said a few things to a friend." She sighed and turned her head toward him. "It's just-when I got home Garth and Benji had heard all this crap about you. How you were the bad guy and all of this was your fault. So...I might have said something to my gossipy friend to share your version. I wasn't going to stand for people thinking you're the jerk when we all know AK is a flake."

She shifted into reverse.

Cole said nothing.

"The girls at the office were nice to me when I showed up to talk to Dr. Green," Cole said after a few moments.

"They should be."

"They wouldn't have been if they'd heard what your cousin had, would they?"

"I don't know." Scarlett slid down further in her seat.

"I guess I owe you another dinner."

"You don't owe me anything."

"You've been saving my ass ever since I met you."

"You did pull me out of the mud."

"It was my fault you fell."

"Touché." She turned onto his street, still torn.

"You going to tell me that long story now?" Cole asked.

Scarlett glanced at the clock but it was still early. If she went home and Garth was looking to pick a fight, she'd be miserable all night. Or she could enjoy the company of an attractive man while she got a jumpstart on telling him her history before anyone else got there. After tonight she could do herself the favor or staying on her side of town. He didn't need her anymore, and they didn't have to be super friends. Just friendly.

"Depends, think my wine is chilled?" She'd stowed a bottle in his fridge with the idea of enjoying it at home after dinner while she nursed her hurt feelings.

"I hope so." Cole's smile was wicked.

He got out of the Jeep, her head spinning a bit. A moment later he was at her door. He had it open and his hand out to her.

Oh, God. Every time she touched him she became acutely aware of body parts she never thought about.

Here went nothing.