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T W E N T Y - N I N E
Wringing her hands in her lap, Kate tucked the phone between her shoulder and ear and let out a shaky breath. The last person she wanted to be talking to right now was Preston Abbot. His smug arrogance permeated through the phone and she regretted calling him immediately.
“Well Kate, I’m a very busy man. Is there a reason for your phone call or are you hoping to have a catch-up?”
Licking her lips nervously, she struggled to speak. She had been hoping to speak to Alison, Preston’s mother, but she knew it was a possibility that Preston or his father would be on the other end of the line. Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, filling her lungs with a gulp of air, “Y-yes actually. I was wondering... have you heard anything from Harry?”
Preston scoffed as if he were offended before his voice grew cool, “You know I haven’t. I don’t associate myself with criminal scum.”
“So he hasn’t been released?”
“I’m sure he would’ve called our father if that was the
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Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y
As the police drifted through her apartment, taking photos and filtering through her intimate belongings, Kate sat on the lounge, her face hot under the gaze of a female police officer. Her blonde hair was tied in a tight chignon, her cap sitting neatly in her lap. Her eyes trailed over Colton’s frame, his arm slung defensively around Kate's still quaking shoulders. Kate couldn’t tell if she was suspicious of him or attracted to him. They were both valid possibilities.Kate recounted her tale of Harry, the note that had been left, and the belongings that she could definitely confirm had been taken. The police officer smiled sympathetically, noting down the important things and nodding as Kate spoke.She rubbed her hands against her pressed pants, tucking her notepad and pen back into her pocket, “Thank you for the information, Miss Grayson. You can request a copy of the police report to give to your insurance agency if you’d like. I’ll look into Harry Abbot and contact y
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - O N E
Kate stirred in Colton’s arms. He brushed the soft waves from her face, shorter than the rest of her hair and framing her full lashes. Her mouth was ajar, the sheen of her teeth visible as she breathed slowly and steadily. Her fingers curled against his chest, her face trying to nuzzle into the nook of his arm that just seemed to fit her perfectly.He could tell she was in a deep sleep. Spending every night with her for the last few weeks, he had learned her sleep rhythms, what the different speeds of her breathing meant, just like he knew her favorite foods, the way she liked her coffee in the morning, and the things to do to her body to make her toes curl and her pant his name.Their relationship was intense. Arguing was a regular occurrence, but it never lasted long. It was usually a product of Colton’s jealousy or Kate’s disapproval of his behavior and it was settled faster than it started. But it was passionate, and he spent the majority of his days striving to make
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - T W O
The sounds of Colton’s gym cranked through the stairwell. Kate sympathized with the couple in the apartment below. The man had gotten the confidence to talk to Colton about it but his presence was intimidating and after blasting through a bunch of expletives, the poor guy had hurried down the stairs, probably to buy a pair of earplugs.But the couple from downstairs faded from her memory at the hard grunt that escaped Colton’s apartment. Fluttering her eyes shut, Kate envisioned the sight that would behold her upon entering the apartment. There were few things better than the bare, sweaty torso of Colton, his flexed muscles glistening between his beautiful patterned skin. She licked her lips and skipped the stairs two at a time to get to him faster.Dark eyes flickered towards her as she threw open the door, a smirk growing at the flush in her cheeks, “Fuck, you took those stairs fast.”Kate grinned, setting her work-bag down delicately and kicking off her shoes. C
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y -T H R E E
The knock on the door sent Colton racing. Skidding over the broken glass and splintered chair leg, he flung open the door, praying to whatever it was he believed in that Kate would be on the other side.He knew better though. For all her kindness and compassion, she was stubborn as fuck. Just like him.A sharp stab seared through his foot and as he looked up at his guest, he let out an aggressive “Shit.”“Lovely to see you too, Colton,” Paloma scowled, her eyes traveling over his shoulder and to the mess that he’d created. “Fucking hell, what happened?”Waving her in, Colton sagged to the sofa, analyzing the damage the shard of glass had done to the sole of his foot, “Kate’s not here if that’s who you’re here for.”“She’s not answering the door or her phone, for that matter. Do you know where she is?”Narrowing her gaze to Colton, his brows furrowed as his thick fingers and clipped nails tried to burrow out the glass. He shrugged nonchalantly, “Sh
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - F O U R
The stiffening of Colton’s muscles was evident as Kate slipped from the bathroom, the dusty pink material of her floral dress swishing around her calves as she walked. She’d added more waves to her hair, allowing them to cascade over one shoulder. Colton gripped her waist, settling her against his lap while she slid on a pair of nude heels.His breath was hot against her neck, his nose burying into her soft curls, “Couldn’t you have worn jeans and like, a band tee? You look way too good to be having dinner with Wanker.”Kate laughed, the sound trailing around the room as she turned to face Colton, brushing her glossed lips against his, “His name is Wade, and it’s a nice restaurant. I don’t want to look like a slob. You do realize there will be a lot of people there? It won’t just be Wade and I.”“Still, I don’t like it,” he said gruffly. “I’m sure his grandma has some matchmaking plan ready to go.”“And if she does, I will very politely tell her that I’m alre
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - F I V E
The restaurant was small and intimate. Kate had passed it on her daily runs but had never actually been inside. At the front of the restaurant, behind the hostess station, were huge wood-fired ovens where talented chefs prepared pizzas for the already crowded room. The heat from the ovens, along with the large fireplace at the back of the restaurant, flushed her cheeks. She shrugged off her jacket, glancing around the space in hopes of spotting Mrs. Huang or Wade.A long table by the back of the room was filled with people and balloons erupted from the center with the words ’we’ll miss you’ scrawled across them. It seemed a bit much considering he’d be back soon, but Kate shrugged. At the end of the table, Mrs. Huang was seated, deep in conversation with the man next to her.Her matured gray eyes twinkled as she caught sight of Kate, waving her over to the table. She rose on shaky legs, wrapping her arms around Kate in a warm hug, “Oh, I’m so glad you came! Wade said he
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - S I X
“You were right,” she puffed, desperately wiping her mouth in revulsion. She dropped her shoes and purse, scooting past him to the bathroom. She couldn’t get the toothbrush in her mouth fast enough, making sure to scrub the surrounds of her lips until they were raw.“Right about what? Did he fucking try something?”Kate nodded, rinsing her mouth and turning to face Colton’s enraged frame, “He kissed me.”“For fuck’s sake,” Colton barked, his fists clenched by his sides as his shoulders rolled in fury. “I told you!”“Yes, you did,” Kate sighed remorsefully, running her fingers through her hair. “And I should’ve listened. I’m sorry.”Aggravation shook Colton’s tense body, his fist involuntarily rising to strike the delicate plaster of Kate’s bedroom wall. In a sprite movement, Kate’s dainty fingers curled around his wrist, intercepting just in time.Shaking her head, she rose on her toes to cup his stubbled cheeks. He flinched beneath her, and her c
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - S E V E N
Muffled voices rang through the stairwell, slurred words and stumbling footsteps. Colton’s eyes shot open. He’d been unable to sleep for the past four hours, his mind racing from Kate’s declaration of love while his body pulsated at the thought of that fucking piece of shit daring to lay a fucking finger on her. Watching Kate doze peacefully against his chest had calmed him, and he thought maybe sleep would come to him at some point during the night. But as he listened to Wade’s incoherent mumbling and laughter, Colton knew that the only way to overcome his fury was to pummel the shit out of Wade’s fucking stupid face.Rolling Kate smoothly onto the pillow, he slipped silently from the bed, shrugging on a pair of sweats and trying to keep quiet as he raced to the front door. With his heart pounding in his throat, ready to pounce the minute he saw that prick, he turned the knob and widened the door. Wade’s drunken frame floundered up the stairs, a few of his equally drunk frien
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