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“You.”
“Payback.” Rick grinned. “So what happened? Marisa clobbered you in high school, and now you’re moonstruck?”
Marisa observed the back-and-forth between the brothers, a nervous and self-conscious smile on her lips. Still, it seemed as if Rick was willing to be open-minded about her relationship with his older brother—whatever it was.
Cole, on the other hand, looked as if he was praying for patience. “Mr. Hayes made her ’fess up about who doctored the PowerPoint presentation, smart-ass. She was going to lose recommendations for a college scholarship.”
“No, really,” she interjected, “I think that explains my behavior but doesn’t excuse it.”
“You had a good enough reason for doing what you did,” Cole replied.
“I shouldn’t have cared about Mr. Hayes’s embarrassment.” She shrugged. “Chances were good he’d keep his job regardless. You paid a big price.”
“I had it coming. Everything worked out eventually.”
Marisa wanted to argue further, but then she caught Rick’s amused expression.
“What a love-fest,” Rick remarked, looking back and forth between them. “I should get out of the way while you two fall all over yourselves making excuses for each other.”
Marisa clamped her mouth shut. Something had been changing between her and Cole. She felt as if there were silken ties—a lingerie robe sash came to mind—binding her to him. For his part, Cole seemed as if he couldn’t wait to be alone with her again...
Cole linked his hand with hers. “Come on, there are other people I want to introduce you to.”
Rick stepped back. “Have fun. I have my hands full avoiding Mom. She wants to capitalize on my rare family appearance.”
Murmuring a nice-to-meet-you to Rick, Marisa allowed herself to be led away. Cole introduced her to one group after another until Marisa found it hard to keep track of so many family members, friends and associates. In between, she ate Camilla’s delicious food, and Cole had a burger and hot dog while taking his turn grilling.
When they finally reached a lull, Marisa checked her phone and realized they’d already been at the party for three hours.
Cole glanced down at her. “Let’s get out of here.”
She looked around. “But the party isn’t winding down yet.”
He gave her a heavy-lidded look. “Right. It’s the perfect time to go. People will understand we want to be alone. It’ll keep up the appearance that we’re a couple.”
Nervous anticipation spiraled through her. “Where are we going?”
Taking her hand, Cole raised it to his lips. “My place is closer.”
She sucked in a breath. “Okay.”
She’d never been in Cole’s apartment, and it occurred to her that they were crossing another threshold...
* * *
The drive to Cole’s was quick. They made their way through the understated lobby and ascended in the elevator to the top floor.
When he let them into his loft, Marisa glanced around. The penthouse was like the home version of Cole’s office. Masculine and conveying muted power. Everything looked state-of-the-art—from the electronics that she glimpsed in the living area to the appliances visible in the kitchen.
In the next moment Cole backed her against the exposed brick wall for a searing kiss.
When they broke apart, she said breathlessly, “We have to stop this. We’re in a pretend relationship.”
“This is helping us pretend better.”
“I don’t follow your logic.”
“Then don’t. Just go with the flow.”
