***
“Busy?” Cole asked, leaning against Kayla’s desk.
“For you, no. What’s up?” Kayla looked up at Cole with a smile.
“Good. Come on, we’re going out for lunch.” Cole said reaching for Kayla’s hand.
“Cole…I have a lot….”
“For me, you’re not busy remember? Come on Kay. And that’s an order.”
“Bully,” Kayla muttered as she stood up and smoothed the front of her chic slim-fit, shape-defining black and white peplum shift dress. She knew she looked elegant in that dress.
“I heard that,” Cole said picking up her bag.
“You were meant to,” Kayla said snatching her bag from Cole and falling into step beside him.
“Love the shoes,” Cole said glancing down at Kayla’s black ankle strap platform heels. Its silver strap gave the shoes a sexy glamorous look.
Kayla chuckled. “Wanna get one for Briana? It will look amazing on her feet.”
“Is that all you girls think about? Shoes?” Cole drawled, as he hit the call button for the elevator.
“Don’t even start Cole.” Kayla gave a mock scowl making Cole roar with laughter as they stepped into the elevator which promptly began its descent to the ground floor.
***
“Okay spill it,” Cole said staring into Kayla’s eyes.
They were seated in an Italian restaurant and the waiter had just taken their orders and delivered their drinks.
“Spill what?” Kayla asked looking at Cole with her striking green eyes.
“Come on Kay, I’m not a fool so don’t treat me as one.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kayla said, looking Cole in the eye challengingly.
“I’ve been watching you for the past two weeks, Kay. You’re not yourself. Something is going on with you and I want to know what it is. We’re not going to leave here until you talk so better start if you have a lot of stuff to do as you claimed.”
Kayla sighed. She knew Cole was not going to let her off the hook till she talked. “You know, the normal thing to do will be to wait till I feel like I want to talk Cowboy.” She said, taking a sip of her drink.
“Not this Cowboy baby.” Cole signaled their waiter. “Hold our orders for now Antonio. I’ll let you know when to serve us.”
“Certainly Mr. Adams.” The waiter said with a bow and left them. He was always thrilled to see Cole because he was a big tipper.
Cole turned to look at Kayla with raised brows, waiting for her to start talking.
“It’s nothing really. I…”
“Not from where I’m sitting Kay,” Cole said, cutting Kayla off. “You’re walking around like someone died. You have circles around your eyes. You’ve lost your spirit. You’re not the Kayla I know and adore. You’re just a…shell. So don’t tell me it’s nothing. Don’t insult my intelligence, Kay. I’ve waited for you to open up but…” Cole threw his hands up, “I’m done waiting.”
“Okay, settle down Cowboy.” Kayla looked down at her fingers, which were gripping the napkin on the table as if it were her lifeline.
She saw Cole’s hand touch hers and gently pry her fingers open to pull the napkin out of her palm. He replaced it with his fingers. The gesture was so sweet Kayla knew she was going to cry. She also knew she was going to tell Cole everything. He was the only person who knew that beneath her tough exterior, lied the softest of hearts. She just hoped her spilling wouldn’t create any problems for Dean because Cole was very protective of her and acted irrationally when it came to her. She remembered when Cole taught her how to throw a punch so that she could punch anyone who fucked with her if he wasn’t around to do the punching himself. Kayla smiled and felt a tear slip down her cheek.
“Shit!” Cole muttered and promptly leaned over to wipe at her cheek with a handkerchief he pulled out of his pocket. “Kay, what is it?”
“Oh my God, Cole I’m not tearing up because of whatever is bothering me. Honest. I’m just…thanks for being you.” She said in a small voice.
“Hey, you’re the sister I never had. And no one fucks with my Kayla. If anyone dares fuck with you, I’m gonna huff and puff and…” He broke off when Kayla burst into laughter.
“You’re nuts you know that? Okay here goes. I…I hooked up with Dean. And…”
“What?” Cole bellowed, his eyes widening. “What do you mean you hooked…”
“Keep your voice down asshole. Do you what the whole frigging restaurant to hear?” Kayla asked turning to look around. “Jeez!”
“You actually slept with him?” Cole whispered, and promptly groaned at Kayla’s nod. “What the fuck were you thinking Kay?”
“That’s just it. I wasn’t thinking.” Kayla said quietly, looking down at her fingers.
Cole sighed and reached out to tilt Kayla’s chin up. “Kay, I’ve known for a while that you have the hots for him.”
“What?” It was Kayla’s turn to exclaim, her face turning rosy pink.
“Don’t bother denying it. I didn’t say anything because I knew you were sensible enough to know he’s bad news. I love Dean like a brother, but I’ll be the first to admit no woman is safe around him. What made you…he didn’t force himself on you did…” Cole’s voice had gone lethal.
“No, no. Nothing like that. I…I might have done the forcing.” Kayla said with a sheepish look, covering her face when Cole groaned.
“Kay…” Dean ran his fingers through his low-cropped hair in frustration. “When was this and what happened after?”
“On the Island. Nothing happened after. I had to promise it was…going to be a one-time thing before he…went through with it.” A frown appeared on Kayla’s face, marring the space between her brows. “Look Cole, this is really none of your business. We’re both adults and we had a deal so…”
“A deal?” Cole actually screeched. “You made a fucking deal to just fuck each other and forget about it? Jesus Kay. You’re not that kind of girl.”
“Well, he didn’t know that initially. He thought I was…’worldly’.” Kayla said giving the word quotations with her fingers.
“Is that what he said?” Cole’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “He thought you were a slut?”
“Cole calm down.” Kayla didn’t like it when Cole got worked up.
“Don’t tell me to calm down. Why else would he make such a deal with you? Of course, he thought you were a slut. Asking for it and all. Fuck Kay!” Cole hit the palm of his hand against his forehead in frustration.
“Well, he didn’t think so for long. And the deal was actually made after he realized I wasn’t that worldly after all.” Kayla said with a shrug.
“At what point exactly did you kids make that deal?” Cole sounded pissed off.