Yearning Absolution (Yearning Series) (6 page)

That evening when Cole and Gwen
arrived home from work. McKayla was sitting in the living room.

“Hi!” Gwen plopped down on the
couch next to her. “Whatcha watching?”

“I don’t know. It’s just on. I have
been thinking more than watching it.” McKayla said turning to face Gwen. Her
unhappy face told Gwen this wasn’t going to be a good conversation.

“What are you thinking about?” Gwen
reached over and took her hand.

“Are you happy being with me?”
McKayla’s eyes locked with Gwen’s.

“Of course. Why would you even ask
that? This isn’t about me spending more time with Cole than you, is it? I
thought we put that to rest the other day.” Gwen took a deep breath. This is
what she feared when she started dating Cole. Having one person get jealous of
the other.

“Well, it’s true. He bought you a huge
bouquet of flowers. You are sleeping in his room pretty much every night now. I
didn’t even see you yesterday or this morning.” McKayla shrugged. “How am I
supposed to feel?”

“Don’t get jealous over the
flowers. They are beautiful and we can all enjoy them. And yesterday I was
sick. I left early from work. I came home and slept in your bed. When I got up
Cole put me back to bed in his bed because I still wasn’t feeling good. I left
early this morning to catchup up at work.” Gwen tried to explain. She had sent
text messages to McKayla but apparently that wasn’t enough. She’d never seen
McKayla be jealous before and didn’t know how to handle it. “See, I came to
your room first. You were gone working, but I was still there sleeping with
your scent.”

“What do you say about getting away
for a week? I have to go on a shoot for a week in Florida. I leave next week.”
McKayla asked rubbing her hand over Gwen’s thigh. She wasn’t used to this
feeling but she felt like Gwen was pulling away from her. It had her mind
freaking out and she was trying to push it back.

“I will see what I can do. I’m
really busy since this is my first project and I want to make sure everything
goes as planned. But I will see if I can get ahead enough at work to take a few
days off. I don’t think I can get the whole week off, but I’ll see what I can
do.” Gwen tried to appease her but she really didn’t see how she would be able
to get even a day off with as swamped as she was.

“Sure.” McKayla scoffed. “I bet
you’ll like me being gone.”

“That’s silly. I love you. I love
having you around and being with you. Just because I can’t escape from work
doesn’t change that.” Gwen frowned. She didn’t want to fight with McKayla over
this. “I promise I will do my best to be able to get away.”

The next week flew by. Gwen had
tried but was unable to get ahead enough for any time off. So she slept every
night in McKayla’s room, knowing that she was going to have a whole week with
just her and Cole.

Gwen sat on the center of McKayla’s
bed watching as she tried to decide what to wear.

“You going to miss me while I’m
gone?” McKayla said looking over her shoulder at Gwen.

“Of course. Don’t be ridiculous.”
Gwen rolled her eyes. McKayla had been making these kinds of comments all week.
It was getting old. Gwen had done everything she could to show McKayla that she
was here just as much as she used to be. The day before Gwen had stayed later
at work because she just didn’t want to come home to deal with McKayla making
her constantly reassure her of their relationship. It was exhausting. The week
she was going to be gone was going to be a nice break for Gwen.

“Be sure text me every day okay?”
McKayla said finally slipping on a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt. “I don’t
want you to forget about me.”

“I can’t forget about you. You are
just being crazy lately.” Gwen sighed. She didn’t know what had caused this
change in McKayla, but she was ready for it to change back.

“Oh so I’m crazy now?” McKayla
scoffed at her. “Thanks.”

“That’s not what I meant and you
know it.” Gwen stood from the bed and walked over to her. She cupped McKayla’s
face with her hands. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m just as in love with you as I
have ever been. Just because Cole is in our life, doesn’t mean we can’t still
be happy. We talked about this before. You said you wouldn’t get jealous. There
is no reason to be.”

“I know. It’s hard seeing you with
him sometimes.” McKayla sighed. She rested her hands on Gwen’s hips. “I’m so
used to having you all to myself.”

“I’m still here for you. Anytime
you need me. You can spend time with Cole and me. It doesn’t always have to be me
and you or me and Cole.” Gwen pulled her into a tight hug.

“I know. I know.” McKayla hugged
her tightly back.

“Well, let’s get you off to the
airport so you aren’t late.” Gwen pulled back and laid a kiss on her lips.

“What are your plans for Friday
night?” Cole asked as he and Gwen rode to work the next morning.

“Nothing. I don’t think I have any
plans.” Gwen tried to think but nothing came to mind. McKayla would be out of
town until Saturday night. “Why? What are you thinking?”

“I have a black tie event that I
need to make an appearance at on Friday.” Cole said. It wasn’t the first one
that had come up since she had moved in with him.

“Ok. That’s fine. I’ll just spend
the evening at the apartment. There is always more work to be done.” Gwen gave
him a smile. It’s what she always did when he went to events. He never took a
date to any event as far as she knew, even before she was in his life.

“Actually, I was hoping you would
come with me.” Cole brought the hand his fingers were laced with up to his
lips. It was how they made the drive to work every day. Even if he took phone
calls or had other work to do, he always held her hand the entire car ride to
and from work.

“Are you sure?” Gwen lifted an eye
brow at him in confusion. She didn’t want him thinking he had to ask her just
because she would be alone. “I’m really okay with not going. It’ll be nice to
have the place to myself for once.”

“I would be honored to have you on
my arm and be able to introduce you as my girlfriend.” His brilliant green eyes
were locked on hers.  “I want to show off this sexy, smart, beautiful woman
that is mine. Plus, I want every woman out there to know that I am officially
taken.”

“You know this will change things
at work, right? People are bound to find out you took me.” Gwen spoke carefully.
He’d said they should keep things hidden at work and she didn’t want that to
get messed up just so she could go out to an event with him.

“Yes. I don’t really care what they
have to say anyway. I’m tired of hiding it.” Cole laughed and leaned forward to
give her hard kiss. “Plus, you know what this will be?”

“Our third date.” Gwen had to think
for a moment. At first, it had been hard to not push him on his ridiculous desire
to wait, but she found that it was actually nice spending time with him without
that sexual pressure.

“Yes. You will be in my bed again.”
A mischievous smile tugged at his lips. “I’ve been a very good boy for plenty
long enough. It’s been six weeks since I last had you and I don’t think I can
wait any longer.”

“You still have to wait the rest of
the week.” Gwen slowly licked her lips. “It’s gonna be a long couple days.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make it worth it
the wait.” Cole traced soft circles on her inner thigh. The car slowed as it
pulled up at the office.

“Tease.” Gwen moaned before they
exited the car and went to work.

The next couple days passed slowly
for both Gwen and Cole. Gwen got multiple texts and calls from McKayla every
day, more than double what she normally did. While she loved talking to her,
they were both supposed to be working and it was distracting. Eventually, Friday
rolled around and Gwen was happy to get a relaxing night away from work.  

“Are you ready?” Cole asked from
behind Gwen. She turned to see his sexy muscular frame leaning against the
entrance into the closet. He had on a very finely tailored tuxedo.

“Almost.” Gwen couldn’t help but
smile at him. She had decided to wear one of her own designs to the party. The
strapless dress fell to the floor with a slit up one leg. The fuchsia colored
material hugged her torso but flowered out around her hips and legs. Her hair
fell in loose spiral curls half way down her back. She’d liberally applied eye
liner and mascara to make her big brown eyes stand out with pale pink lipstick
and blush. Gwen turned back to stare into her jewelry box where she had been trying
to decide on what she wanted to wear.

“Why don’t you wear this?” Cole
asked as he stepped close to her back and held out a box in front of her. She
carefully took the long slender box from his hand.

“What’s this?” Gwen turned to look
up at him again.

“Something I saw and knew would look
lovely on you.” Cole shrugged a shoulder. “Open it.”

“Wow.” Gwen whispered slowly
opening the box. She gawked at the bracelet in the velvet box. There were three
hearts made of diamonds that were interlinked together, a slim row of diamonds
that extend out either side to make the band. It glittered brilliantly even in
the dim lights of the closet. She could only imagine how bright it would
sparkle in the sunlight. She could only stare at it for a few moments as words
had completely escaped her. “Cole, I can’t accept this.”

“Sure you can.” Cole lifted the
bracelet from the box and had it fastened around her right wrist before she
could say anything more. “It was too perfect to not get for you. It reminded me
of how delicate and beautiful you are. How precious you are to me. And of
course, the third heart is for McKayla, her love for you and you for her.”

“Thank you. I absolutely love it.”
Gwen wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and kissed him hard. She didn’t
need to ask how much it cost, she knew it was easily the most expensive present
she had ever been given. Cole pulled back from her kiss and cupped his hands
around either side of her head.

“And I love you.” Cole spoke softly
as he looked deep into her eyes. It was the first time he had spoken the words
out loud to her although he’d thought about it many times over the past few
weeks.

“I love you too.” Gwen’s voice
matched his. A tear ran down her cheek as the words left her lips. Cole’s thumb
brushed across her cheek, catching the tear before he leaned down and tenderly
kissed her.

“We better get going.” Cole said as
he released her. Gwen quickly slipped on a pair of four inch peep toe stilettos
that went with her dress and grabbed her little clutch purse. They made their
way to the elevator and down to the car. 

After a short car ride, they got
out at a big fancy house. Gwen tried to keep her calm. She’d been to many of
these parties when she worked for Finest Companions. That was different, she
had been a paid escort then. Now she was here as an actual girlfriend. She
hoped she could keep from embarrassing herself and Cole.

“It’ll be okay.” Cole said
squeezing her elbow reassuringly as they walked up the short path to the front
door. Gwen looked over her shoulder when she heard a noise. She spotted a man
with a camera in the bushes just on the other side of the drive.

“There is someone taking pictures
in the bushes.” Gwen spoke softly to Cole. He glanced in the direction Gwen had
indicated with her head.

“It’s probably the paparazzi, not a
big deal as long as they keep their distance.” Cole brushed it off as they
entered the house. They were instantly greeted by a tall, trim woman that had
curly blonde hair that bounced around her shoulders as she walked up to them.

“Cole! How nice to see you. I was
afraid you weren’t going to show.” The blonde woman had a deep raspy voice that
didn’t match her youthful face and body.

“Cleo, let me introduce my
girlfriend. This is Gwen Black. Gwen, the hostess of the party, Cleo Woolf.”
Cole introduced them. The two women shook hands.

“Girlfriend? Well, now. Very nice
to meet the woman who finally captured the elusive Cole.” Cleo ran her eyes up
and down Gwen in appraisal. Seeming to give her approval with a little nod of
her head. Gwen kept her forced smile in place as she didn’t know what to say.
“Go enjoy yourselves. I was just sneaking out for a smoke.”

“She’s had more plastic surgery
than any reasonable person would just to keep the signs of smoking from showing
yet she continues to do it.” Cole spoke softly once Cleo had disappeared out
the door they had entered through. Cole guided Gwen down the hall with an arm
around her waist until they entered a large open room. There were around 40
people in the one room. All were socializing around the few couches and chairs
placed in the room, or standing along the edges of the room. Cole pulled her to
him and planted a kiss on her lips before disappearing to get them both a
drink. Gwen stood to the side and watched the crowd. She knew a few of the
faces, but none that she wanted to speak with now that she was no longer in the
escort business.

Gwen’s eyes locked on a short
brunette with bright blue eyes and perfect high cheekbones. The little brunette
was making her way through the crowd towards the bar, where Cole was waiting
for their drinks. Gwen clinched her hands together in front of her around her
clutch purse. Before the brunette could reach Cole, he picked up two glasses
and made his way back to Gwen.

“I think someone is looking for
you.” Gwen raised her chin in the direction of the brunette, who was headed
right towards them.

“Shit.” Cole said under his breath.
“I didn’t know she’d be here.”

“Cole. How lovely to see you here.”
The brunette had made it to them. She ran her hand from Cole’s shoulder down to
his hand, which still held a glass from the bar.

“Cassie.” Cole said tersely.

“Is this for me?” Cassie asked tapping
her nail on the glass in his hand. Cole pulled it back from her hand.

“No, actually it is for my
girlfriend.” Cole said turning to hand it to Gwen, who Cassie hadn’t even
noticed. Her head whipped to look at Gwen, anger apparent in her face.

“Girlfriend? You brought a date
here? You wouldn’t even bring me to events when we were married.” Cassie hissed
at him.

“Cassie, I don’t want to do this
here. Just go back to where ever you came from.” Cole said coolly. He looked
over her head at the crowd, obviously dismissing her. Cassie growled but
stomped off.

“I still can’t believe you were
married to her.” Gwen said. It had been her first time seeing Cassie up close
and she hoped she didn’t have to again. She carefully sipped the drink Cole
handed her.

“Me either.” Cole shook his head.