Mom and I threw our arms around each other. Cole stepped back out while Mom and I had a good long cry session.
Chapter 33
Kensington
Throughout the entire long freeway drive to Beverly Hills, Dad had cautioned Mom not to get to starry-eyed and overwhelmed about meeting Nicky King. He also reminded her several times that Nicky King was a billionaire and that the Modante Winery was never going to provide her with his mega-star, lavish lifestyle. Mom, who’d sat in the backseat giving me a clear view of her in the rearview mirror, had rolled her eyes at every warning and reminder.
But in the end, when the outgoing and larger-than-life rock star swung open his front door and ushered us into his mansion, it had been my dad who had wilted into a simpering, star struck teenager.
It had been my first time meeting Cole’s dad as well, and my nerves were more due to wanting to make a nice impression on my boyfriend’s dad. The fact that he was famous only added to the waves of nausea I’d been experiencing.
But all of our nervousness and trepidation at knowing how to behave in front of a rock legend was quickly tamped down by the natural charm and easy going manner of the man, himself.
By the time dinner had been served, Nicky and my dad were talking and laughing like old friends. And my mom had finally managed to snap shut her mouth after being awestruck by the incredible house and furnishings. I suddenly understood why Dad had kept reminding her about the difference in wealth status. She’d no doubt lament over her shabby, little five thousand square foot house on the vineyard for weeks after our trip to Beverly Hills. The one good thing was that since my dad had gotten home from the hospital, she’d spent a lot more time coddling and fawning over him than nagging him. They both seemed in an even better place since Dad’s health scare, and Dad looked way happier not having to deal with the constant pain. It had been wearing him down, and we hadn’t even realized it.
After dinner, Cole and Rett had settled down for a round of video games, while Finley and Some Pig gave my parents a tour of the grounds. Some Pig had been genuinely happy to see me when I’d first arrived, but the second Finley stepped into the house, no one else existed but her. He’d stayed by her side the rest of the night.
I’d been left alone at the outside table sipping wine with Cole’s dad. He was still just as striking as ever, even with the age lines and graying hair. He poured me another glass of wine. The twinkle in his eyes lent a mischievous and laidback quality to his character. And at the same time, the creases around his eyes and mouth showed he’d pretty much seen it all.
“Kensington,” he said in that incredibly engaging British accent. “That’s such a great name. It reminds me of Kingston, my real surname.”
“It was my grandmother’s maiden name. I think my mom thought it sounded royal and important. I never minded it except when I had to learn to write my name in kindergarten. Took me an embarrassing amount of time to master it as compared to my best friend, Amy.”
His laugh sounded a lot like Cole’s.
Nicky took a sip of wine and then leaned back in the chair. “Let me tell you a bit about Cole. He’ll be mad, of course, but that’s all right.” His diamond ring sparkled in the patio lights as he waved his hand. “Cole is the middle child and that has shaped who he is. Jude and Finley always seemed to need my attention more. But Cole was independent from the start. Never saw him unhappy or moody like his two siblings. He has a big heart. He just doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve like Jude and Fin.”
The door to the patio opened, and Cole walked out. He saw his dad and me sitting alone sipping wine. “Holy hell, Dad, are you out here telling Kensie embarrassing shit about me?”
“Now what embarrassing shit would that be? Of course there was that time—”
“Dad, stop. I’m sure Finley will be pulling out the Easter egg hunt pictures soon enough.” Cole looked at me. “My mom thought it would be cute to dress me like a fuzzy, yellow duck. I was only five, but those pictures still haunt me.”
“You loved that costume,” Nicky said. “You flapped those little wings and quacked all over the yard in it.”
Cole reached his hand out to me. “And now I will whisk my girlfriend away while I still have a shred of dignity.”
“I’ll tell you fun stories later.” Nicky winked at me over the rim of his glass.
“Looking forward.”
Cole’s hand wrapped tightly around mine. He led me along the rose garden to the back lawns.
“I love your dad. He’s so—so regular.”
“Told you.” He looked around the grounds. “Speaking of dads, where did your parents run off to?”
“Finley is giving them a tour of the grounds.”
“Great.” His pace quickened as he led me across the lawn to a giant maple tree at the far side of the property.
“Where are we going?” I asked, having to work to keep up with his long legs.
“Nowhere in particular.” We reached the tree, and he walked me around the back side of it. “Just needed a few minutes away from prying eyes.”
I leaned against him and rubbed my finger over the stubble on his chin. “For what?”
“For this.” His arms wrapped around me and he kissed me.
Want to read more about the characters in Cole (FMX Bros #1)?
Check out the Custom Culture series and Strangely Normal.
(Continue to read Strangely Normal as a free bonus book in this edition of Cole!)
Strangely Normal is where Finley, Eden, Cole and Jude’s story began.
Freefall (Nix & Scotlyn’s story)
Clutch (Clutch & Taylor’s story)
Dray (Dray & Cassie’s story)
Rett (Rett & Finley’s story)
Nix & Scotlyn: The Wedding
Strangely Normal
Tess Oliver
Strangely Normal
Copyright © 2013 by Tess Oliver
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construd as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Chapter 1
Sophie’s small finger poked me hard in the center of my back. “Eden, you should come.”
I rolled away from her only to fall into the mammoth sized hole in the center of the mattress. A hard metal spring jabbed my hip as my sister’s finger stabbed my cheek. I yanked my pillow from behind my head and pressed it over my face.
“Leave me alone, Sophie,” I mumbled.
She climbed onto the sofa bed and tried to pull away the pillow. “You need to come to the kitchen.”
Frustrated, I yanked away the pillow and scowled up at her. “If you haven’t noticed, Sophie, this bed is sort of in the kitchen.”