Falling for Danger

Tori As I locked the front door of Chasea Counselling, a sigh of relief escaped me. It had been a full day, one that left me feeling like I’d walked a mental marathon. After back-to-back clients, my mind was stretched thin, and my only ambition tonight was to relax with something easy for dinner and maybe a show to take the edge off. The drive back to the vineyard grounds was quiet, a comforting balm as the evening light faded over the hills. Jack’s small, cozy house had quickly become my sanctuary. And I was once again thankful that my kind, loving brother had moved in with his partners and given me his home. I loved the vineyard and the privacy, which was so much better than staying in an apartment. I stepped inside and breathed out another sigh of relief. It was peaceful, and I headed straight for the kitchen. I opened the fridge, and my options were limited since I hadn’t been to the store to buy groceries. A half-eaten salad, a few eggs, and some leftover stir-fry from the night before. I grabbed the container of stir-fry, but just as I shut the fridge, a sudden knock at the door startled me. “f**k,” I muttered as I dropped the container. I had no idea who was at the door, but after a long day of listening, I wasn’t in the mood for company. I set the container on the counter and went to open the door. It was Cole and I gasped softly. He stood there with a pizza box and a six-pack of ciders, looking like the sexy man he was. His dark eyes were intense and unreadable and while it threw me off, I found the mystery attractive. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” Cole said with a soft grin. “I thought I would stop by and have dinner with you,” “Oh? That would be great…I…ah…I was just about to warm up some leftovers,” I replied rather awkwardly and inwardly cringed as I silently hoped he didn’t notice the effect he had on me. “Leftovers?” Cole raised an eyebrow and flashed me a wide grin that made me swoon. “Well, how about pizza and raspberry cider?” I laughed as I finally stepped back to let him in. “Pizza definitely sounds better than leftovers, come on in,” I said, but Cole hesitated as he looked over his shoulder. “It’s such a nice evening, why don’t we sit out here?” “Sure…ah…just give me a minute to change,” I said. Cole took his time as he looked me up and down, his gaze felt like a soft caress, and I giggled as I turned away and hurried to the bedroom to change. I got undressed so quickly, I nearly fell on my ass as my pants got stuck around my ankles. I kicked off my shoes and finally managed to untangle myself from the pants. And as I stood in my bedroom, clothed in my underwear, I felt a wave of panic. Cole was wearing jeans and a tight t-shirt which was pretty casual. With that thought in mind, I opted for a pair of black leggings and a loose-fitting light pink t-shirt that was comfortable. I thought about running a brush through my hair, but I didn’t want to keep him waiting. When I joined Cole on the porch, he had opened one of the ciders and was taking a long, slow sip as he once again took in my appearance. I didn’t waste any time as I sat down next to him and grabbed a bottle. “Long day?” Cole asked as he watched me closely, and I flushed under his attention. I was super aware of his presence next to me, his quiet confidence that made the butterflies in my stomach dance. “Yes,” I finally answered. “But it was good,” “That’s good,” he remarked as he tilted his head as he watched me. “Chasea is really lucky to have someone like you,” I ducked my head as I felt a surge of pride wash over me. “One can only hope,” I murmured. We fell into a comfortable and the quietness around us created a rather intimate bubble. I felt myself relax as we sipped on our drinks and ate from the delicious, cheesy pizza. The sound of rustling leaves and the faint hum of evening insects only added to the atmosphere. Despite Jack’s warning about Cole, I couldn’t deny the fact that I was insanely attracted to him and genuinely enjoyed his company. There was something about his calm presence that set me at ease. Although, I still had my guard up. But tonight, as we sat outside on the porch, I was able to push those worries aside and glanced over at him. Cole was gazing out at the vineyard, a thoughtful, yet relaxed, expression on his face. I felt an urge to ask him what he was thinking, but I stayed quiet, content to just enjoy the evening with him. “It is beautiful out here,” Cole whispered, and even though he had broken the silence, I smiled. “Yes, it is,” I agreed. “Thank you for this, Cole,” I then said, and he looked over at me with a frown. “This…this is…nice…I mean, having someone to sit with…” I rambled a bit and quickly bit my bottom lip to stop any further ramblings. Cole smiled as he nudged his knee against mine, the quick, innocent touch sent shivers throughout my body. “No need to thank me,” he said. “Sometimes it’s nice to just have some company,” I nodded in agreement, and it felt as if he understood the loneliness I kept hidden beneath my day-to-day smile. The thought made my chest ache, and I quickly took another bite of pizza to cover my reaction. The longer we sat together, the more I found I was enjoying myself. I wasn’t alone. My tummy was full, and I had a slight buzz from the cider. And as the last light faded from the sky and the stars started to dot the darkness, Cole stood up and gathered the empty pizza box, as well as the six empty bottles. “Leaving?” I asked as I watched him. He shot me a soft smile as he nodded. “Yeah, I’ll get out of your hair. You have had a long day, and you deserve some rest,” he said. His words washed over me, and I was thankful he couldn’t see me blush. Again. “Thank you,” I whispered in response. I watched him walk off, and I felt a flutter of anticipation, and it was a reminder of why I needed to keep my distance. My past had taught me that not everyone who showed up at your door had good intentions. Still, there was a big part of me that wanted to believe Cole was different. Even though it was still too soon to know. I shook my head as he disappeared from view, and I headed back inside. Only time would tell what sort of person Cole truly was.