Seven
Dani glanced over at Cole as he pulled into her driveway. She loved him in jeans, but damn, the man looked good in a suit. The cut of his black jacket accentuated the strong line of his shoulders. All she wanted to do was spread her hands across his chest—under the guise of admiring what he was wearing, of course.
Cole put the car in Park and turned off the ignition. Dani’s pulse couldn’t settle on one speed, so it was doing crazy chaotic things in her throat right now. Cole had stated the obvious—they were about to have her big beautiful house to themselves. Did that mean they were about to put the memory of their two false starts to rest? And if so, how did she feel about that? There was so much unfinished business between them, things that had to be said, but she still wasn’t sure she could trust him to truly let her in. She couldn’t trust him not to hurt her again.
Inside, Dani set her purse on the kitchen counter, unsure what her next step was. “Do you want a drink?”
“I wouldn’t mind a little bourbon to take the edge off. That memorial and knowing that Rich was at the TCC has my mind going about a hundred miles an hour right now.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Dani headed into the living room, and Cole followed. Her bar, a stunning handcrafted piece made with dark wood and glass, was in the corner near one of the front windows. Pouring the drinks, she reminded herself that she needed to keep her wits about her, but she, too, needed to soothe her ragged nerves. She was feeling jumpy and anxious, too fixated on the freedom they had right now. If he was on board, they could tear each other’s clothes off right there in the living room. Maybe that was all she needed—to get Cole out of her system once and for all.
“Cheers,” he said when she handed him his glass.
“What are we toasting?”
“How about just that we’re here, together? Nothing like a memorial service to put life into perspective.”
“Hear, hear,” she replied, clinking her glass with his. The bourbon went down like warm silk, leaving behind a pleasant tingle in her throat and a rush of warmth in her chest.
“Ooh. That’s smooth.” Cole tilted the glass and shook his head before taking another sip.
“Nothing but the best. I learned that in culinary school. It’s just that I can actually afford it now.”
Cole surveyed the room. “You really have done well for yourself. The house is beautiful.”
“It’s amazing what celebrities will pay for you to cook for them. The investments I made with the life insurance money from my father have done very well, too.”
“But that’s you. Standing on your own two feet. You don’t need anyone else.”
“I’ve always been that way. Never had a choice. You know that.” Dani choked back the words she wanted to say. She hadn’t beenexactlylike that when they had been together. She’d leaned on him, especially when she was in the stressful home stretch of culinary school. They had been a team once, and she missed that more than anything. The loss became especially apparent when she found herself with two newborns. She would’ve done anything to have had Cole by her side at that time. But he’d made that an impossibility.
“It’s always been one of the things I admired most about you.” He took the last sip of his drink and set the glass on top of the bar. His voice was as warm and smooth as the bourbon, sending ripples of recognition through Dani. She knew what that particular tone meant. He was standing only a few inches away now, his smell so sexy and inviting. “Although you have lots of things to admire.” He gripped her elbow and looked down into her eyes. “Can I kiss you, Dani?”
A breathy laugh rushed past her lips. “Do you realize you have never asked me that question before?”
He was already coming in for what he’d asked for, a clever smile tugging at the corners of his enticing lips. “I never had you turn me down before the other night, either. I’m not taking any chances.”
“Yes, Cole. You can kiss me.”
He cupped her shoulders with his strong hands and planted a soft and sensuous, unmistakable kiss on her lips. A little tongue. Leaving her wanting more. She was dizzy from it.
“No more surprises between us, okay?” he asked.
That question was dripping with serious consequences. She sighed. Nothing between them was strictly fun and carefree, however much she wanted it to be that way, if only for an afternoon. She couldn’t promise no more surprises, so she kissed him, popping up on to her tiptoes. She dug her fingers into his thick hair. He tugged her closer, giving her bottom a squeeze. Dani gasped. “Didn’t you come over so we could figure out what I’m wearing to my first-ever sting operation?”
“Why do I feel like I’m being punished for stopping things the last time we kissed?”
“No punishment. Come on.” Dani made her way up the stairs, Cole behind her. She was definitely aware of the sway of her own hips as she climbed those stairs. Let him get an eyeful of everything he’d been missing out on all these years.
She traipsed down the hall and into her bedroom. “Have a seat in the chair and I’ll bring out a few options.”
Cole marched over to the chair, but only to remove his suit coat and drape it across the back. Dani wasn’t about to argue with the idea of him undressing. He sat on the bed instead, giving it a bounce. “Nice.” He cocked an eyebrow at her while loosening his tie. Dani was about to be the next thing in the room to come undone.
“This will just take a minute.” She retreated to her closet, mumbling to herself, “What are you doing? Do you really want to sleep with him? Won’t that make things so much more complicated?”
“What was that?” Cole called from the other room. “Did you say something?”
“No. Just deciding what to show you.” She rushed over to the far corner, where the full-length gowns she owned were hanging. She chose her three favorites—dark blue beaded, slinky black satin, and a red crepe mermaid gown.
