Liability (Suncoast Society #33)(7)

They’d struggled along for almost twelve years before Kim finally had enough. She divorced Craige after one too many arguments where he’d rubbed it in her face that he made more money than her, and that if she didn’t like the way he did things, there was the door, and to not let it hit her in the ass.

Unfortunately, she’d lost the house and a lot of stuff in the process, but she was free and now being paid alimony that would continue for another three years. Not enough in total to pay for a four-year college education, but she was putting it into savings and starting to take online classes.

Cole wasn’t sure if Kim would ever be able to fully repair the rift in her relationship with her parents and two older sisters, a rift largely caused by her relationship with Craige. Cole had met them before, last Christmas, and they seemed like nice people, if a little standoffish with Kim.

He’d also seen his lively, vibrant girlfriend fold up on herself like an old rag, holding herself back, being quiet, a side of her personality he hadn’t witnessed in her before.

More leftover carnage courtesy of Craige, Cole was sure, but they hadn’t really talked much about that day since.

Not for lack of trying on his part.

He parked next to her car and walked around to her apartment. On the first floor, but on the far side of the building, at least her corner unit had a great view of a nearby pond. She greeted him at the door with a kiss, her brown eyes sparkling, her long reddish-brown hair down and loose around her shoulders.

“I’m ready.” She squeezed his hands. “Thank you again for this.” Kim wore a pair of jeans, a dressy blouse he loved seeing her in, and a pair of short boots with chunky heels that raised her five-five frame an additional three inches. At six one, it wasn’t like he minded if she wore heels.

“I’m paying for dinner tonight,” he said. “No arguing. Got it?”

She blushed, again not a normal activity for her. “Thank you.”

He had a decent job at a home health care company. He’d started working there while in college, a part-time clerk in their billing department. Now he was a regional manager of operations in charge of four counties. He owned his own house, and he could afford to pay for their dinners. Plenty of times she would argue with him and fight him when he offered to pay for things, wanting to pay her own way.

He understood why, how she was still in many ways coping from what she’d been through. Against the erroneous image she had of herself, courtesy of Craige and his * family.

Tonight, however, he would take a stand.

Hell, she wanted to give BDSM a try? Then he could put his foot down and be in charge like this, at least.

Even if it might be all he could make himself do.





Chapter Four


Kim York felt a mix of fear and excitement rushing through her as they got into Cole’s car and headed for the restaurant. She didn’t think she had the words to tell Cole how much she loved him for doing this for her. Even if nothing came of it, it meant a lot to her that he was willing to try, to step outside his comfort zone.

Because he loved her.

Just like he hadn’t brought up moving in together again. He’d left it an open-ended topic, one she knew he wouldn’t venture into unless she mentioned it first.

Another reason to love him. Almost enough to make her want to start talking about it again.

I really need to quit being a chickenshit.

She also loved that Cole had taken the initiative and insisted on paying tonight, even though she’d been the one who’d asked to go to this. Tonight she wouldn’t argue with him. It was too close to the end of the fiscal month for her, and she was running dangerously low on cash for expenses. The absolute last thing she wanted to do was dip into her savings, use her alimony for something like this.

One more reason to love Cole.

But she’d thought she’d been in love with Craige, too.

Scratch that. She had been in love with Craige. What she’d also been, however, was too damn young and naive to get married. Which everyone had warned her about, but she’d ignored, thinking she knew better.

Her parents and two older sisters had warned her and pretty much done everything but disown her over it. She was still rebuilding that strained relationship with them. Hard to do when they lived in Orlando and she lived in Sarasota, but this was where Craige had wanted to move to after college, where he’d gotten a job.

Where what few friends she’d had left after the divorce were located.

She reached across the seat and laced fingers with Cole. “I love you.” She had to force herself to speak up over the radio, even though it wasn’t turned up loud.

He gently squeezed her hand. “Love you, too.”

“I mean it. If this is too weird, or if you hate it, or—”

“Honey, it’s okay. I’m keeping an open mind. I already told you that.”

“But I—”

“This is just dinner and talking to people.” He gently squeezed her hand again. “I’m not Craige,” he softly said, silencing her.

This was a conversation they’d had with embarrassing frequency.

She nodded. “I know. I just want you to know I really appreciate this.”

“I know you do.”

They rode for a few more moments in a comfortable silence, other than the radio. “I’m sorry.”