Trying to control my sudden trembling, I pulled the bandages off for good. My skin was more reddened than before, and far more swollen, but the ink was still pretty.

Veronica leaned toward me, shrugged. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but those are too big for your bone structure.”

There was a right way to take that? I knew the tattoos were beautiful and just the right size for me.

I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of a response.

No, that wasn’t true. I would. “I’m seconds away from giving you a brand-new bone structure.”

She blinked at me as if I was missing a few screws. “I’ve been nothing but nice to you, and you want a go at me?”

That was nice?

“I think the tattoos are perfect.” Cole stepped between us. His narrowed gaze roved over me, lingered in a few select places. I had to fight a shiver. “Tattoos. New hair. New makeup. I didn’t notice it before. You were too wet. I’m noticing now.”

“Wet?” Veronica said, the word almost strangled out of her. “Wet how?”

Scowling, Cole pushed her toward the rings. “Go. Now.”

I kind of wished the floor would open up and swallow me.

She flicked me a confused glance over her shoulder but did as he’d commanded and left us alone.

Getting back on track. He had a problem with my makeover? “Are you saying I’m eye broccoli?”

Frosty barked out a laugh. “Where do girls get this stuff, man?”

“I’m not even sure what eye broccoli means,” Cole said. “That you look bad, and I shouldn’t want to eat you, or that you’re loaded with vitamins and I should.”

Kill me.

Please.

“That I look bad,” I gritted.

“You don’t. You never have.” Cole lifted my wrists and traced his thumb around the designs. When he realized what he was doing, he scowled and dropped his arms. “So. Tell me. Why’d you make all these changes?”

Changes.

The C word overshadowed any pleasure I might have taken from his compliment...his touch. What would change tonight? Tomorrow?

Both hearts sped up, and my nasal passages seemed to clog with cotton.

“Easy, now,” Frosty said.

Cole released my arms to cup my cheeks. “Breathe, Ali. Just like that. In and out. Good girl.”

The moment I calmed, I pulled out of Cole’s hold and shrugged away from Frosty’s. Another rush of embarrassment washed through me. I couldn’t allow myself to rely on these guys in any way.

“What was that about?” Cole asked.

“To answer your other question, the only one I’ll acknowledge,” I said tightly, “I made a few improvements. I wanted to look hot for the night my vision with Gavin comes true.”

Direct hit—a shocker. Cole flinched, even paled. “You were hot the way you were,” he said, staring deep into my eyes. “Whatever you think of me, whatever’s happened between us, that was never up for debate.”

Pretty words, nothing more, and yet the air between us charged, just like before, becoming electric with awareness. Every nerve ending in my body perked up, waiting for...something. Another visual caress. A hand on my shoulder. The nudge of his knee. Anything.

He backed up a few steps, and the charge fizzled. I could still smell his scent, though, soap and something woodsy, a hint of the animal he could sometimes be. Rough, wild, untamed. But underneath it all was the scent of roses...Veronica’s scent.

Maybe I’d consume both their spirits.

“Did you really do all this for Gavin?”

His tone was dead. As if he didn’t care.

As if he’d never cared.

“I did it for me,” I said, and left it at that. I would never let him know how much he was hurting me.

He nodded, some of the tension leaving him.

Tension? I hadn’t noticed it. I wonder what had calmed him. Because it certainly couldn’t have been my admission. He didn’t care, remember? “Where am I in the lineup?”

“You’ll be on patrol tonight. Sunday you’ll rest. Monday you’ll stay here in the gym, in case you’re needed. Tuesday, patrol again. Be ready to go in ten.” He stalked into the locker room.

I remained in place, trying to control my inner turmoil.

Veronica stood in back, watching me.

I scowled at her, daring her to approach. No question she’d come to my Bama expecting to win Cole back by fair means or foul. Well, she’d done it. And she hadn’t even had to work that hard.

“Enjoy him while it lasts,” I called. “Apparently he has Girlfriend ADD.”

She looked away, but not before I caught the blush staining her cheeks.

A blush from her. Why?

Frosty cleared his throat, a demand for my full attention. “Hate to stop you when you’re going balls to the wall, but you need to talk to Reeve,” he said. “Tell her to drop whoever she’s seeing. This keeps up, and Bronx might just snap and play Prison Rules with the guy.”

“How do you know about Reeve’s new boyfriend, Ethan?” I demanded, searching for Bronx.

He hammered at the punching bag with so much force I was afraid his knuckles would crack. Dark hair streaked with blue was wet and plastered to his scalp. Sweat dripped from his temples to his bare shoulders, then down the ripped cords of his abs, and if I’d been with Cole, I wouldn’t have watched those droplets, mesmerized.

Lucky Reeve.

Poor Ethan.

Frosty patted me on top of the head. “Aren’t you cute? As if you don’t know the answer to your own question.”

Right. Kat. “Forget Reeve. Her life, her decisions. Your problem is the fact that Kat wants self-defense lessons, and I promised to give them to her. I know she would love it if you helped.” And with my new...urges, it would be better all the way around.

Uncomfortable with the new direction of the conversation, he shifted from one booted foot to the other. “No. And you’re going to tell her you changed your mind.”

“Are you kidding me? No, I’m not.”

“It’s not that I don’t want her trained. It’s that I want her stronger first. You could break her. I’d definitely break her.”

“Cole didn’t break me, and I’ll be a much gentler teacher. So will you. I’ve seen you with her.”

That earned me another head pat. “Cole went easy on you, sweet cakes. And I’m the worst coach the slayers have ever seen. Just ask them. I’m too impatient with failure, and I’d hurt Kat’s feelings.”

I got snagged on his first words. “Cole did not go easy on me.”

He tsked. “Pretty, but delusional. A smoking-hot combination. No wonder all the boys want a go at you.”

Hardly. “You’re seconds away from a busted nose, Frosty.”

He laughed. “Unlike Cole, I give back whatever’s dished. Just remember what I said about Reeve.” And he ambled away.

As if! “Who’s on patrol tonight?” I called.

Frosty grinned over his shoulder. “There are two patrols going out. Gavin and Mackenzie, and Cole and Lucas. Want to guess who you’ll end up with?”

Chapter 8

A Beautiful Disaster

For several minutes I stood where Frosty had left me, all by myself, feeling forgotten, abandoned. Finally the most unlikely source took pity on me and strode over.

“It won’t always be this hard,” Mackenzie said with a sad smile.

A show of compassion. One I didn’t deserve. Not from her. I guess she’d meant what she’d told me before, about being there for me if I needed her.

I’d find a way to make up for every bad thing I’d ever said to her.

“Here’s hoping,” I replied.

She patted my shoulder before walking away.

A few seconds later, Trina took her place. “When you’re ready, let me know and I’ll take you out to meet someone outside our little circle. You’ll have fun, I promise. It did wonders for Mac when she was in this same situation.”

I nodded, and she was off. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready.

Cole exited the locker room. He’d painted black half circles under his eyes and strapped weapons all over his body. I’d always loved seeing him like this. Strong. Ready for action. Just a little naughty, capable of any deed. Had we still been together, I would have thrown myself into his arms and kissed the breath out of him.