Mara knew she wasn't supposed to hear him, but she had better hearing than most people. He was talking himself into leaving, before he did something he'd be ashamed of later.
"The last honest man," she murmured, touching her tingling lips with a trembling hand.
Closing the door, Mara leaned against it, knees weak and heart pounding. She was never impulsive. She always had a plan of action, set goals and accomplished them. Now, she was in a tight spin, plummeting to earth like a meteor. There was nothing to stop her, no safety net.
It was then she realized that her goals and plans had always provided just that for her. She planned carefully so she couldn't fail, wouldn't fall. Each plan held contingencies and safety zones. If one track failed, she had another to follow. With that revelation, years of fears and inhibitions surfaced, revealing themselves for what they really were. Her careful organization, rigid time frames, set schedules, back up plans. Everything was carefully calculated.
"Only you can't do that with the human heart," she sighed, feeling tears form in her eyes. "No wonder I never had time for a man. You can't plan out a man's actions, how he'll react or when he'll do something—unexpected."
It was terrifying and empowering, this epiphany she was experiencing. Awash with unfamiliar emotions, she undressed in a daze and went to take another shower. She didn't try to think, just stood there letting the fears wash away. Suddenly tired, she shut the water off, dried her hair and put on the robe that hung on the wall. It was fluffy and comforting.
Her phone was ringing as she went back to her room. Picking it up, she glanced at the clock. Who would be calling at this hour?
"Hello?"
"Mara," it was almost a sigh. "I had to hear your voice once more before I went to sleep. I want you on my mind while I dream."
"Cole...." She hardly knew how to respond. "Me too," she faltered, feeling like a teenager again.
"Sleep sweetly, Mara. Dream of wonderful things."
"I'll dream of you," she said without thinking. She felt her blush rise thinking how foolish that must sound.
"Me too," he said softly. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
They hung up simultaneously, each wishing they had said more. Cole was annoyed with himself. He was always so smooth, so confident with women. All through high school and college, even into his adult life, he'd been held in awe by other men because of his ability to sweet talk women. He got laid more times in college than any other guy he knew.
"But none of them mattered. This one is different." He shook his head trying to clear it.
Maybe that was why the words wouldn't come out and he got tongue tied. Perhaps that explained why he felt like a fool whenever she looked at him. Or fought himself for control so he wouldn't maul her like a rabid beast. He really liked her and saw himself settling down to something permanent with her. He teased Red about his relationship with Becky. But he had always wished he could find a woman who made him feel the way Becky made Red feel.
"Like I could move mountains, or stop the rising tide." He grinned, flopping back on his bed.
His phone rang, startling him out of his reverie. "Mara?"
"Not unless I got a whole lot prettier," Red's voice sounded crisp and abrupt in his ear. "I took a chance that you'd be home. I half expected you to spend the night with Mara. What happened?"
"I couldn't," Cole sighed, smacking himself in the head. "It wouldn't have been right."
"She got to you, didn't she? I knew she would!" He sounded delighted. "I saw it in your face when you went to get the ball."
"You did do that on purpose!"
"Me? No, bro, I'm just a clumsy oaf. Ask your sister. Good thing she likes clumsy, or I'd be out of luck. I just got off the phone with her. She sends her love—to me. You, she said be careful and think with what's between your ears, and not what's between your legs."
"Becky said that?"
"Not that way, but same implication."
"Did you just call to check up on me, see if I'm being a bad boy?"
"No, just making sure we're on the same page tomorrow. You ready on your end?"
"Yeah. They start filming when?"
"Not until Wednesday. Tomorrow is just a prelim with the director and his team. Location guy will be there too, so you can talk with him."
"Cool. I have to be done by ten. I've got a ten thirty with a client."
"Sleep well, bro."
"You too," Cole hung up.
He picked up the remote and clicked on the CD player. The quiet strands of Sparks by Coldplay started, making him think of Mara again. Sighing heavily, he pulled the bedspread over him, curling up on his side. The music washed over him and he slept.
Mara lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Thoughts of Cole on her mind. Closing her eyes, she could see his face floating before her. His emotions reflected in his eyes, showing her his thoughts as if he'd broadcast them. Twinkling his amusement, clouding in regret, or burning with his desire for her. With these thoughts, she fell into a deep sleep.
©2021 Dellani Oakes
To Buy Dellani's Books https://www.amazon.com/Dellani-Oakes/e/B007ZQCW3A/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
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