Edible

27

I hate moving.

The following afternoon, Rachel stared at the boxes surrounding her in her small apartment. Luckily for her, Sarah had wanted some extra hours at Exquisite, and when Rachel had given them to her, Mason hadn’t been around to say no.

She wanted to take the night off. She wanted to sit in her apartment by herself and really think over everything that had and was about to happen. The only problem was that every time she thought about what had happened, she thought of Cole, and that led her to thinking about last night and how his mouth had—

“Open up! We know you’re in there!”

Rachel’s head snapped up, and her eyes latched on to her front door where the shouting and pounding were coming from.

“Don’t try and act like you’re not!”

Oh jeez, save me now. Shelly Monroe was standing outside her door, making a ridiculous amount of noise.

Rachel quickly stood, stepped over the box holding all her DVDs, and jogged to the door.

Just as her palm hit the handle, she heard through the door, “Shelly, keep it down.”

Thank. You. Lena.

With a twist of her hand, Rachel opened the door to find Shelly and Lena standing in front of her. Shelly was dressed in tight fashionable blue jeans and a turquoise sweater that molded to every bodacious curve she had. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, and her face was perfectly made up to make her look like some kind of model. Playboy or runway, Rachel couldn’t quite decide. Lena, on the other hand, looked relaxed and casual but still gorgeous in jeans and a green cowl-neck sweater that brought out her eyes. She’d left all her brown curls out and curling over her shoulders.

“Is there a reason you’re making so much damn noise outside my door?”

Lena shrugged and almost looked apologetic. Shelly held up two bottles of red wine and announced, “We are here to gossip and drink.”

As she peered past her shoulder, Rachel almost groaned as Shelly’s pink lips widened into a grin. “And apparently pack.”

Lena shook her head as Shelly pushed in past Rachel.

“I tried to prevent the invasion,” Lena told her. She stepped forward and hugged Rachel. “But you know Shelly.”

Laughing, Rachel shut the door and turned around to follow Lena back into her small living room. Shelly had removed her shoes, and with her legs tucked under her, she had settled onto the couch in the corner. Shelly had placed the two bottles of wine over on the kitchen counter, and as Rachel noticed them, she wondered if it was bad to start drinking at five in the afternoon.

Lena took a seat on the loveseat against the wall and patted the spot beside her. Moving over to her sister-in-law, Rachel curled up in the corner of the couch and pinned Shelly with an undaunted look.

“Oh, just get it over with already,” Rachel whined.

“You married him!” Shelly shouted as though she could no longer contain herself. Then, she began to laugh like a lunatic. “I mean, I knew you’d cave and sleep with him. Hello? The guy is so goddamn sexy. But damn!” Shelly shook her head as if she were truly flabbergasted. “Getting hitched! Holy. Shit.”

Rachel arched her brow at the blonde with the mouth. It always surprised her that they were friends with the way they bickered and sniped at one another. Then again, that was what family did. Right?

“Well, at least I go after what I want, unlike some who take forever to decide.”

That shut Shelly up quick. “Touché,” she muttered.

“Would you two quit?” Lena asked as she glared over at Shelly.

“Okay, okay. I just can’t believe it. And Mason and Josh? Ha! Talk about being shocked stupid. I still don’t think Josh believes it.”

Rachel couldn’t help but laugh at that. She had definitely shocked the boys. That much was true. Josh, even more so, she figured, considering he knew Cole better than anyone else. Josh had understood how out of character this was for Cole.

“Mason is coming around,” Lena admitted and winked in Rachel’s direction. “Sometimes, you just know. Right, Rach?”

Rachel nodded in agreement. “As crazy as it seems, it definitely feels right.”

“I’m sure it feels very right,” Shelly teased.

“Do you ever think about anything other than sex?” Rachel asked as she looked pointedly at Shelly.

“Well, I try, but honestly, with all the testosterone we have around us, it’s hard.”

Lena snorted. “All the testosterone? There are approximately two men in our lives.”

“Well, three now,” Shelly interjected, looking at Rachel. “And let’s face it. I wasn’t the only one in the club that night, thinking that her guy was like testosterone on steroids. I swear we all just stood in awe.”

When Rachel thought back to that night, she did remember the way Lena and Shelly had stood mute while her and Cole had sparred over a shot of tequila.

Lena tapped Rachel’s foot as she smiled. “Well, in our defense, we were rather—”

“Drunk?” Shelly supplied.

Lena laughed as Rachel stood and made her way to the kitchen.

Pulling out a bottle opener, Rachel uncorked the first bottle of red and poured three glasses. For the rest of this conversation, she had a feeling that she would need liquor. Making her way back to the other women, she passed Lena a glass and then turned to Shelly. When she held it out to her, Shelly shook her head and grinned widely.

“I’m sorry, but for the next nine months, you two will have to drink all the red wine and cosmos for me.”

The room fell silent, and Rachel found herself staring down at the Man-Eater, who had suddenly turned into a gooey ball of mush.

“You’re pregnant?” Lena yelled as she bounced up from the chair and came to stand beside Rachel.

Shelly beamed up at them, nodding like a fool. “Yep. We found out last week.”

“What?” Lena demanded. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Shelly looked at Rachel and chuckled. “Well, there were other things going on. Josh and I were going to tell you all on Monday, but—”

“Oh shit, Shelly. I feel terrible,” Rachel muttered.

As Shelly stood, Lena moved forward and pulled her best friend into a tight hug. “I’m so very happy for you and Josh. I know you both want children so much.”

Shelly hugged Lena back, thanking her, before she turned to look at Rachel.

“Don’t feel bad. When we turned up on Monday night and Josh found out about you and Cole, I don’t think he really wanted to bring this up right then. Not to mention, Mason was freaking the hell out. So, we just decided it was best to tell you guys on our own. Josh took Mase out for beers,” she added with a wink.

Rachel stepped forward and hugged Shelly tightly. “I still hate that I ruined your moment. You and Josh mean so much to me.”

“Oh, stop it. You didn’t ruin it. You gave us one of the most interesting nights of our lives. Not to mention, we were all blown away. You mean a lot to all of us, Rachel, and you caught us all off-guard. No matter how much fun I poke at it, I’m happy if you’re happy. Are you sure this is what you want?”

Rachel moved back and looked at Lena and Shelly before nodding and reassuring them both, “I know it’s crazy, but I don’t think normal applies to me. I love him. He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met, and honestly, he has shocked the hell out of me.”

Shelly leaned down and lifted the glass of wine, handing it back to Rachel. “Well then, how about you two celebrate my amazing news? A baby out of wedlock. I love following the rules. My mother will probably die! Raise your glasses and congratulate all of us on our good taste in men. Damn! How did we get so lucky?”

Lena and Rachel laughed as they clinked their glasses.

“Because we are completely awesome of course!” Rachel decided as she took a sip of her wine and saluted them all.

Two hours later, Lena and Rachel were on their second bottle of wine, and Shelly was pumping for information on Josh.

“So, come on, tell me,” she coaxed as Rachel continued shaking her head. “I bet he was such a cute teenager, all of that floppy brown hair and big brown eyes.”

Lena giggled as she brought the glass to her lips. “I bet they both were, Mason and Josh. How weird that you knew them back then.”

“Well, one is my brother,” Rachel reminded dryly. She didn’t think it was weird at all. It was just part of her life, her history.

“Were they good boys? I bet they were always in trouble.” Lena asked with a grin.

Rachel chuckled at that. “Oh, as teens, they were always in trouble. God, Mom and Dad were forever looking for creative ways to punish Mase. They were also good guys though.”

Closing her eyes, Rachel leaned back in her chair. “Josh’s family was just like ours, but you know that.” Rachel opened one eye to look at a relaxed Shelly. “He has his brother and two great parents, and he was my brother’s best friend. He also happened to be the boy I—”

“Wanted to maaarrryyy,” Shelly sung like an idiot.

Rachel found herself giggling at that. “Yes, I guess I did. It’s a good thing you came along and weaved your sex spell. It rendered him deaf, dumb, and blind to all those around you.”

“Or you would have eloped with him instead?” Shelly quipped.

“Eww, no, you moron. Josh is like a brother to me now. After high school, he went to college with Mason, and my attention was diverted to a different type of man. A man I thought was good for me, but he wasn’t.”

Lena sat up and reached out to Rachel, squeezing her knee. As Rachel raised her eyes to her sister-in-law, she immediately knew that Lena knew about Ben. In the silent communication, Rachel felt the solid support from the newest member of her family.

“So, that’s why you were such a pain in the ass when Josh and I—”

“I was protective, not a pain in the ass.”

“Oh, come on, you were a bit of a bitch.”

Rachel’s eyes widened, and she looked to Lena for support.

Lena shrugged. “You kind of were, but it all makes sense now.”

Rachel slumped back in her couch and blew out a long breath of air. “Well, it’s just that I know what a good guy Josh is. I didn’t want you to jerk him around, you know?”

Shelly’s smile changed from smart-ass to sappy in the space of a minute. “I know exactly what you mean. Josh is a total sweetheart. Strong, caring, and god, he’s so good in bed.” She paused before asking, “Is that weird for you to hear?”

Rachel’s laugh exploded into the room as she shook her head, “Ahh, no. I’d be more disappointed if you said he was terrible.”

“Speaking of good in—” Lena started.

“Um, excuse me, you don’t get to contribute. I do not want to hear about my brother in bed.”

“But you just said Josh was like a brother,” Lena protested with a wink to Shelly. The wine was finally catching up to her.

“Yeah, but he’s not my brother. That’s the difference. Plus, I’ve kissed him. Guess I was always curious if he was a rock star in bed.”

Shelly licked her lips and sighed. “In bed, in his truck…oh, oh, and in the parking lot.”

Rachel’s eyes widened as she stared at the blonde doctor.

“What about Cole?” Shelly asked with a wink. “We’re not related to him.”

“What about him?”

“Bet that guy’s a rock star.” Lena giggled.

Rachel turned her eyes to her sister-in-law, feeling a smug smile pull at her lips. “Well, he has a real sweet tooth when it comes to caramel sauce.”

The satisfaction Rachel got from the way their mouths dropped open was probably unhealthy in some way, but she relished the feeling just the same. She was about to mention the library and the ladder when there was a loud knock on the door.

Looking around the room, Rachel asked, “Expecting anyone, ladies?”

As they shook their heads, the knock came again.

Getting up and placing her glass on the table, Rachel jumped over Lena’s legs, stumbling slightly and giggling as she righted herself. “Whoops.”

As the girls’ laughter filled the room behind her, she straightened her white shirt hanging off her shoulder, ’80s style, and wiped her hands on her black stretchy leggings. Tipping her head back, she shook her hair out behind her, and then she reached out and opened the front door.

All day, Cole had been thinking about getting back to Rachel. It was like she had infected his brain, and now, she was all he could think about. Originally, they had discussed that she would spend the afternoon and evening at her apartment, packing up as much as she could, and he would come and help her with the rest on the weekend. They had agreed to meet tomorrow for lunch, but as far as Cole was concerned, tomorrow was too damn far away. He wanted her now.

So, there he was. He hadn’t even bothered stopping at home to change. Instead, he had come straight from the office.

As the door opened and she came into view, he pounced. Stepping forward through the door, he reached out and slid his hands across her cheeks and into her hair as he backed her up into the small apartment hall.

Kicking the door shut, he kept his eyes on hers. As they widened, she went to open her mouth, but before a sound could slip free, Cole lowered his head and sealed her mouth shut with his own. Sliding his tongue deep between her lips, he turned and walked them back until she hit the wall. Dipping his knees, he pushed his body flush with hers until he was rubbing his cock up against that delicious warm spot between her thighs.

Running one hand down her neck, Cole moved the flimsy material of her shirt off her shoulder, continued sliding his hand down her arm, and then he wrapped his hand around her to cup her tight ass through those sexy black tights.

With his other hand in her hair, he gripped it tightly and tilted up her head to him as he raised his head from her lips to stare down into eyes that had clouded over with lust.

Fuck yes! Now, if I could just get these pants down, he thought as he dragged his palm over her ass, flirting with the elastic band around her waist.

Lowering his head, he placed his lips against her shoulder and bit gently before he swiped his tongue over it, and Rachel let out a loud moan.

“Well, as hot as this is, I think it’s only fair to let you know that other people are in the house.”

Cole’s head came up at the teasing flirty tone, and he froze where he was. He had a hand in Rachel’s hair, and his fingers inside the elastic at the back of her pants. He could feel Rachel’s heartbeat thrumming against his chest as he looked down at his wife.

“Thanks for the heads-up,” he mumbled as her eyes focused on him.

“I tried,” she offered with a giggle.

“Not very hard.”

Rachel arched out her hips and rubbed herself against him. “Oh, it’s very hard.”

Cole could now taste the wine on his own tongue from their thorough kiss. “And how much have you had to drink?”

“Enough to not care that they’re standing here, watching you rub all over me.”

He felt his lips twitch as he looked over his shoulder, still not moving away from Rachel. Right at this moment, she was the only thing hiding his massive hard-on.

“So nice to see you ladies again,” he greeted Shelly and Lena, who were both now standing at the end of the small hallway.

The blonde had a grin across her face and looked like she was barely holding back laughter, and Lena had her brows raised and was biting her bottom lip.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize Rachel was having company this evening.”

The woman Cole knew as Joshua’s fiancée, Shelly, winked at him and Rachel. “I’m sure she’s wishing right now that she didn’t have company either.”

“Shut up, Shelly,” Lena mumbled as she whacked her friend on the arm.

“What? After seeing that, don’t tell me you aren’t going to go home and jump Mason. I’m definitely going to find Josh. That was hot.”

“Oh god.” Rachel finally made a sound from where she was still pinned to the wall. It wasn’t oh god as in she was feeling ultimate pleasure. It was more, Oh god, make them stop.

Cole found himself starting to laugh. When he felt that his body was somewhat back under control, he moved away from Rachel and asked the women, “So, what have you three been up to?”

“Not as much as you,” Shelly pointed out, dropping her eyes to his pants with an inappropriate laugh.

Rachel finally snapped to. Stepping up next to him, she assured him, “Ignore her. We all do.” Slipping her hand into his, she looked up and asked, “I thought we were going to just meet up tomorrow for lunch?”

“Seems like someone was impatient. It’s quite sweet really,” Shelly interjected.

“Does she ever shut up?” Cole asked good-naturedly. He looked first to Lena, who was shaking her head, and then to Rachel.

“No, this is pretty much it. Isn’t it strange that someone as nice as Josh end—”

“Hey!” Shelly complained. “I’ll have you know that Josh totally understands and loves everything about me.”

Rachel leaned into Cole. “Yeah, I’m sure he does. Maybe that’s why he’s always occupying your mouth when he’s around. To shut you up.”

Lena giggled at that, and Shelly glared at her. “What? It was funny.”

Shelly moved back into the living room and picked up her purse and Lena’s before she strutted back to the hallway and handed the purse to her friend. “Well, one thing I do know is we should get going.”

Looking at the three of them, Cole grimaced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Shelly laughed and Lena pushed her non to gently out of the door as she tried to assure him, “You didn’t don’t worry. Have a good night.”

Shelly called back over her shoulder, “A really good night!”

As the door slammed shut behind them, Cole turned to look down at Rachel.

She shrugged. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

Taking her hand in his, Cole tugged her toward the bedroom and snagged the open bottle of wine. Over his shoulder, he told her, “I’m not, yet.”

And as she followed him with a wine-induced giggle, Cole shut the bedroom door, ready to have a nice long drink.