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F I F T Y - S E V E N
Wrapped up together between the sheets of the bed, Colton clutching Kate to his chest, her eyes lingered emotionally at the pretty ring that glimmered on her finger. She didn’t know how long they’d been lying there, but she was in no rush to move.
An abrupt knock on the door interrupted that idea though. Kate frowned, checking the time on her phone, “Who would be coming over at quarter to ten in the morning?”
A month ago, a random knock would’ve made her curious but not startled. The car accident however, had her constantly on edge. Every bump in the night, every phone call from an unknown number, every shuffle of footsteps outside the apartment made her nervous. She felt bad for searing permanent moon-shaped gauges in Colton’s muscular biceps.
“It’s probably Paloma, or maybe Heath,” he murmured comfortingly, sweeping her hair from her face as he rose. “Don’t stress.”
Slipping from the bed, Kate wrapped a robe around her pyjama-clad body, hesitating in the do
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Rude Awakenings F I F T Y - E I G H T
Friday afternoon had fast approached. Kate was grateful to see the end of the week. Work had been incredibly busy and she ended up coming home late most nights. Colton had been as amazing as usual, cooking dinner without complaint and offering her foot massages as they curled up together on the sofa. She was looking forward to spending a weekend of doing nothing, entwined with Colton for the majority of her waking hours.Dropping her bags at the front door, Kate let out an exhausted sigh, hastily kicking off the new flats she had stupidly decided to wear on her busiest day. Blisters littered her heels, legs sore from the copious amount of walking she had done as she flittered between meetings.“Hey, babe,” Colton smiled, his bare back greeting her from the stove. Glancing over his shoulder, he frowned, “Bad day?”“Just busy,” Kate suspired, undoing the buttons of her light pink blouse as she wandered into the kitchen. She kissed his bare shoulder, then his cheek as
Rude Awakenings F I F T Y - N I N E
The pub was bustling, crowded with young club-goers looking to start their club crawls with a few cheap drinks beneath their belt, as well as the wearily-employed hoping to enjoy the start of their weekend with a buzz. Sinking into the plastic-covering of the barstool, Colton downed the frothy amber liquid before pushing the empty glass back at the bartender. Glancing toward the door, his foot tapped impatiently against the steel base of the stool as he awaited Heath's arrival. He’d already been here for over thirty minutes and there was no sign of his friend. Colton rolled his eyes at the thought of Paloma suckering him into staying home.A fresh pint of beer slung towards him, the attractive bartender winking seductively, flicking her platinum blonde hair over her bronzed shoulder.“I didn’t order this,” Colton snapped, averting his gaze as she leaned in closer.Resting her forearms against the polished counter, the woman squeezed her arms against her chest, her
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y
Swinging open the freezer door, Kate chewed her lower lip, staring longingly at the coffee toffee ice-cream and debating whether she should bother with a bowl. She decided against it, grabbing a spoon and retreating to the sofa. Condensation dripped down the blue sides of the tub as she flicked through the channels absentmindedly. Settling on a rerun of some true-crime show, she rested the tub between her crossed legs and began distractedly shoveling ice-cream into her mouth.The baffling cold case that played wasn’t enough to stop her thinking of Colton, wondering what he was doing and when he planned on coming home. Picking up her phone, she dialed his number, holding her breath as she awaited the hoarse growl of his voice. The call went straight to voicemail and Kate let out an aggravated groan. He was so fucking stubborn. Tapping out a message, she hit send and prayed he would turn on his phone soon;I’m sorry for being a bitch. Please come home. I miss you xA
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y - O N E
Stumbling up the staircase, Colton groaned. He had sobered up somewhat, his drinking buddy having left the bar long before Colton was kicked out by the prick bouncer. Rhys had wanted to install an elevator but Colton had vetoed it. Well, he was fucking regretting it now.Sitting down on the steps of the second floor, he fished his phone from his jeans pocket. Over twenty missed calls from Kate in the four-hour span since he had spoken to her last, plus a bounty of text messages telling him to get the fuck home, followed by a final one that told him she was going to sleep and locking the door although she would leave the chain undone.With a fresh wave of energy, Colton rose, hurrying up the stairwell to the fourth floor. He was still angry. The photo of Kate kissing that random piece of shit seared in his mind, burning with a vengeance, but he knew that for tonight, at least, he just wanted to be tangled in her long limbs. He couldn’t explain his own logic, but sleeping
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y - T W O
The sound of her blood rushing through her body was deafeningly loud, her heart pounding viciously against the bony confines of her chest. Scrambling from the bed upon the slackening of his grasp, Kate’s back thudded against the wall, staring in terror at the man she had known long ago. He was just as arrogant, just as coolly composed as he had always been, even as he rose from her sheets, slightly disheveled with a raging hard-on. The air of authority he possessed never wavered, not even a brief flicker of embarrassment coursing through his dignified face.“What are you… h-how did you… why are you even…” Words completely failed her, thoughts speeding through her mind faster than she could process them. Nausea overwhelmed her, knowing that his hands, his mouth had been on her.“Once your sleep-fog has worn off, you’ll be able to comprehend what’s going on,” he chuckled arrogantly.Kate swallowed, honey eyes narrowing on the well-built figure before her clad in noth
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y - T H R E E
“Stop. I’m still angry at you.”Rubbing his tired eyes, Colton sat upright, his gaze swiveling around the room trying to figure out where the fuck he was and what the fuck Kate was talking about. He was alone, tangled in the stiff sheets of his own bed. Confused, he pressed his ear against the thin wall, hearing a suave voice finally respond to her. A male voice. His fists clenched involuntarily, his jaw stiffening in aggravation. The events of last night flashed through his mind as his stomach heaved. She was fucking cheating on him.He rose from the bed, preparing to confront her, demand she explain herself now. But as he slid on his crumpled jeans, he heard the conversation turn, the mention of Seattle echoing through the thin plaster of the wall. His blood ran cold. Scrambling in his headachy fog, he shoved on his boots and skidded through the apartment. His fingers clenched around her doorknob, teeth gritting at the resistance. Fucking locked.He hollered over
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y - F O U R
As the last of the paramedics and police officers filtered from the apartment, Colton extended a weary thank you before closing the door. It had felt like hours that they’d be there, asking questions, developing a clearer picture of what happened. The blonde police officer, Sandy, had arrived half-hour after her co-workers. She was dressed haphazardly, hair loose on her shoulders, and Colton guessed she hadn’t actually been on duty. She had sunk on the bed beside Kate, apologizing emphatically for focusing on the wrong brother. Kate, as compassionate as ever, shook her head, wiping the tears from her already soaked cheeks and admitting she had been just as surprised as anyone. The police department in Seattle had been alerted about Preston’s revelation, and Sandy had assured Kate that they were reinvestigating the case against Harry Abbot.Colton’s head had hung low as he recalled the events of the night before, shame washing over him at the acknowledgment that he had made lif
Rude Awakenings S I X T Y - F I V E
Sweet snores slipped from Kate’s petite body, swathed in the sheets of the expansive queen-sized bed. She looked so damn peaceful; hair still damp from her shower, her mouth ajar against the starchy pillow. Colton reclined on the uncomfortable armchair, finishing the last of his beer and watching the football game. He had needed something to take the edge off, the panic that cascaded through him still fresh and raw. He wanted to be calm and assured for Kate’s sake. Glassy eyes were constantly staring up at him when she was awake, ensuring he was there, that it was really him. Her fear crushed him.Studying the gentle rise and fall of her chest, Colton rubbed his face, dumping the empty bottle on the nightstand. He needed a shower. He should’ve just had one with her, but he didn’t trust himself to give her the space she needed. Instead, he had sat on the toilet, talking nonsense to comfort her that he was there.His knees creaked as he rose, his body still stiff and sore
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