Fall Back Skyward (Fall Back #1)(125)

“I brought refreshments.” I point to the tray.

There’s a burst of clapping as the girl’s dash out of the house, heading for the little table.

Cole unfolds himself from the floor, and walks toward me. He looks so sexy, with the tool belt hanging low on his hips. The gray T-shirt frames his chest, outlining the nipple ring and the toned muscles beneath.

“That look on your face, Snowflake.”

I squint up at him. “What look?”

“You look at me like that every time I’m wearing this tool belt. Do you get off watching me wearing it?”

I grin. “You know I do. You drove me crazy when you took me to your father’s company and I had to watch you walking around while carrying heavy stuff and building things.”

“Say it.”

I quirk my brow at him. “Say what?”

“That I’m good with these tools. You wouldn’t know what to do without me.” He pokes my ribs without warning.

“Ow! That hurts,” I yelp.

“Admit it, and I’ll make you feel better.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re too cocky for your own good.”

He grins wide and bows at the waist. “Thanks for noticing.” He grabs me so fast I don’t see it coming and pulls me into his chest for a hug. The Cole kind of hug.

He kisses my neck and then smacks my rear, and signs, “God. I am in love with a girl who gets horny when she sees me wearing a tool belt.” He leans forward, his lips brushing my ear. “On a scale of one to ten. How wet are you?”

I turn and start walking backwards. “A hundred. And I am in love with a man who turns me on just by looking at me.” I bite my lip and slant my head down, looking at him through my lashes. “A man that drives me insane with every command that leaves his mouth. I am in love with you, always have been, and always will be, Cole Holloway.”

The smile on his face slowly fades as he closes the distance between us. “I love you, Eleanor Holloway.” He cups my face in his hands and leans down to kiss my forehead. “I will never ever let you go.”

I shiver and sigh as his lips leave my skin. “Dinner is almost ready. Come inside when you and the girls are done?”

“Cool. I will clean up first.”

I wink at him and smile coyly. “Oh, don’t clean up. You look so hot when you are dirty and sweaty.”

His jaw drops and his eyes darken. “Fuck.”

I dart a look at the girls and back to Cole. “Watch your mouth, baby.”

“Sorry.” He leans forward and grips my hips. “You love it when I do dirty things to you?”

I lift on my tip toes and nip his chin. “You have no idea. I want you in my bed after the girls go to sleep.”

“I wasn’t intending on sleeping anywhere else.”

“Good.” His hand drops as I turn to leave. I feel his eyes on me, hot and needy. My stomach tightens and heat pools between my legs at the memory of his hands on my skin, his eyes focused on me as if I’m the center of his world.

I turn and catch him subtly readjusting himself in his pants. I’ve become braver during the past few weeks after realizing my man loves it dirty. So after making sure Cora and Joce are distracted, I place a finger on my lips, suck on it and then blow him a kiss. He takes a step toward me, his body coiled tight but halts mid-stride, darting a glance at the girls. He coughs into his fist.

“You will pay for that, Snowflake,” he signs, his chest heaving with ragged breaths.

I giggle and sign back, “Is that a promise or a threat?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “A promise.”

“I’ll make sure you follow through on it.”

He shakes his head, props his fists on his hips and looks at the evening sky as if he’s praying for strength.





After dinner, Sirius hops up on the couch, and stares at me as though to tell me he is glad to be here, and then curls up in the corner and shuts his eyes.

I f*cking love being here too. This is everything I’ve ever wanted. Everything I will ever need. My life is in a great place right now. I still need to fly to New York to wrap up any pending issues at Lawrence and Barnes, and also pick up my things from the apartment Simon and I shared.

Last week Dad and I finally drove to Jacksonville to meet with the client who was interested in working with BH Architects. He was looking to buy a property overlooking St. John’s river in the central business area.

Right after dinner, the girls clear the table and then focus their attention on me.

“Daddy Cole? Stay here until we come and get you.” Cora signs, squinting up at me. “We have a surprise for you.”

“Sure.” My chest warms every time they call me Daddy Cole, knowing they are getting used to the idea of me being their dad.

They turn and dash upstairs without a backward glance. I smile, turning around and stroll into the kitchen. I stop at the counter, taking in the sight in front of me. Nor has added on a little more weight and she looks f*cking amazing.

She’s elbow deep in bubbles, her head bowed as she washes the dishes. She has a thing for washing them by hand, even though she has a dishwasher. She says it’s relaxing and helps to sort out her thoughts.

I grab the dish towel from the counter and walk to her. Stopping behind her, I feel her body shiver with awareness, but she doesn’t turn around. I fist the tresses of hair flowing over her shoulder and lift them to the side. I press my mouth on her skin. So soft I just want to bite her, mark her. I inhale her scent deeply, and unable to help it, nip that luscious flesh with my teeth. Goose bumps pop along her arm. She leans her head back on my chest, giving me half her weight.