Once Cole finished eating, his arm rested behind me again, and his hand never left my shoulder. I was thankful. That tiny touch helped assuage some of the tension.

I leaned back into his hand now. His fingers splayed out, and his palm rested on my skin. A small tingle coursed through me, helping to ease a bit more of the knot in my stomach.

“Yes,” I said to Emma. “Jake’s the one. I haven’t told Sia about Dawn yet. I should.”

“Don’t.” Emma sounded sure.

“Don’t?”

“Tell him what happened.”

“What do you mean?”

“Tell him Dawn took the phone. The friendship is between him and Dawn. It will be easier on Sia if he puts a stop to it; then she won’t be in the middle. He should protect both of them. It’s his friend and his girlfriend, so it’s his job. Not yours, not your friend’s.”

I’d never thought of telling Jake. I was floored. “Thank you. I think I will.”

“Shit, Emma. When’d you get all wise on me?” Cole teased.

She laughed, sinking into Carter’s side, slipping her hand through his. “It’s all because of this guy. Once you go Carter, you always become smarter.” She held her laugh, raising her eyes to wait for Carter’s reaction.

When he heard the rhyme, he groaned, shaking his head. “You didn’t just say that.”

“I did, and it’s true, but—” She held up her glass of wine. “It’s probably more because of this. I think this is my third glass. I’m officially a lush.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “We might need to fly Theresa and Amanda out here. I’m feeling in the Octave mood. Surely there’s something like that around here?”

“Octave?”

“The club Carter owns back home. Speaking of,” he said to Carter, “when are you going to open one here? I took Emma to Octavia in New York, but I think doing another one here would be smart. That’s one of your best business ventures.”

Carter lifted his arm so there was no barrier between him and Emma. She sank farther into his side, and he held her close, his hand resting on her other arm. “When you’ll open it with me.”

“I’ll put in money.”

“I don’t need money.”

This was another conversation for just the two of them. Emma seemed content to listen, so I did the same. I wasn’t nestled into Cole’s side, but his hand was still on the back of my shoulder, like he was silently holding me up. As he talked with Carter, his hand went back to drawing circles.

In the end, Cole remarked, “I don’t know. Maybe. We’ll see.”

“Good enough for me.” Carter’s smile was much less strained than in the beginning. He glanced down, and his smile grew even softer. “Emma’s about to fall asleep if we don’t head out.”

“I’m up.” She yawned. “I’m totally awake.” Her eyes closed…and didn’t open. “See. I’m ready to dance. Nightclub, anyone?”

“Right.” Carter shifted and swept Emma into his arms.

She squealed. “What are you doing?”

“You were falling asleep.”

“Put me down. I can walk. I promise.”

“You sure?”

The two were talking, but they were laughing at the same time. Carter carried her toward the stairs.

As he did, Cole turned to me. He pulled me into his side now that they had gone downstairs. “You okay?”

I nodded. “Your friend is intense. I feel like I just ran a marathon, backward.” My legs felt like lead. Even my arms were heavy.

“Don’t worry. Carter’s just protective. I’m a little less cautious than he is, but he’ll relax. He knows a good thing when he sees it.”

“Really?” I scoffed.

Cole nodded, his eyes warming as he held my gaze. “Really.” He pressed a light kiss to my lips. “You ready to head back?”

“God, yes.” I groaned. “But don’t pick me up.” I stood, seeing a mischievous glint in his eyes.

This was a new side to Cole—a Cole that poked at his friend, trying to get a reaction. I knew the dark and silent Cole. I knew the dangerous side of him, and when we were at my home together, I’d started to see his joking side, but this one was altogether new and unpredictable. I was cautious, learning new terrain, until he leaned in close and dropped his voice low.

“When I pick you up, it’s not going to be because you’re sleepy from too much wine.” Cole stood behind me, his body brushing against mine. “It’s going to be because your legs don’t work for a whole other reason.” As he spoke, he trailed a finger down my spine.

I caught my breath. One touch was all it took to awaken my body.

I murmured, huskily, “Yes. Let’s go home.”

His eyes darkened at my response, and his hand fell to the small of my back. He urged me forward. “Yes, let’s.”

I was surprised to learn Carter and Emma were staying at The Mauricio, so we all rode back together. Emma and I got out first, while Carter waited for Cole. Ken held the door open for Emma and me as we stepped inside the lobby.

“We stay here sometimes,” she told me. “The first was a year ago. We used the fourth floor, and Carter said Cole had residents here as well. I was told not to talk to them, because he keeps his presence here a mystery, so it’s nice knowing you’re here.”