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Cole exhaled hard, but the release did nothing to ease the conflicting emotions of need and guilt raging inside of him. He never should have touched Mel, not even to prove a point or discourage her advances. But once his lips had glided across the silky texture of hers, there was no denying he’d wanted that tongue-tangling kiss just as much. Hell, truth be told, he ached for a helluva lot more than just her eager mouth beneath his, and she’d felt every inch of that ache pressing between her thighs.
Dropping into the chair behind his desk, he let out a snort of disgust. The biggest joke of all was on him, because she hadn’t been one bit intimidated by his dominance or sexual aggression. Hadn’t been at all dissuaded from her single-minded purpose to beguile him. If anything, she’d reveled in her newfound sensuality and had used it to shatter every one of his good intentions.
Her ploy had worked too well. And now that she’d begun an all-out campaign to become the woman who would accompany him to the charity auction for the Russell case, he knew he was in trouble.
Big trouble.
CHAPTER SIX
“Hey, hot stuff,” Noah said to Melodie as he came out of his office and into the reception area late the following day. “I’m outta here for the evening.”
Melodie shifted her gaze from the accounting figures on her computer screen to Noah, just in time to catch him checking the time on his phone. “Hot date tonight?” she teased.
A sly smile curved one corner of his mouth. “I never kiss and tell,” he said, and winked at her, giving her the impression that he was, indeed, off to see some woman. “Do you happen to have the MacGregor case file?”
“Actually, I do. I was getting ready to update billing and the MacGregor case is on my list.” She shuffled through the pile of work on her desk, searching for the client file. “Do you need it?”
“Actually, Cole does.”
She glanced up at Noah in curiosity. “If you haven’t noticed, Cole hasn’t been in all day,” she said wryly. And she had a sneaking suspicion that last night’s heated encounter between them was the reason he’d made himself so scarce.
“Yeah, I’ve noticed.” Noah scowled, seemingly annoyed with his brother’s absence at the office. “I’m the one who’s been dealing with him on the phone the entire day, and let me tell you, something has him in a pissy mood.”
Cole was using his cell phone, Melodie assumed, because her boss hadn’t called through the office line. Which also explained why Noah had collected Cole’s message slips throughout the day—he no doubt was relaying client calls to his brother so Cole didn’t have to talk to her.
Noah heaved a put-out sigh. “Cole asked me to drop off the file at his house so he could review the case report tonight. He has an appointment with the client in the morning.”
Melodie stood as an idea struck. “You know what, you seem anxious to be on your way, wherever that may be,” she added with a grin. “And I’d be more than happy to drop off this file to Cole on my way home.”
“Really?” Noah’s tone was hopeful and grateful at the same time.
“Yes, really. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve played courier for the business.” She even had a key to his place that she’d used on occasion to deliver paperwork or some other item when he wasn’t home. “And unlike you, I don’t have any plans for the evening.”
“Thanks, Mel. I owe you one.” Noah came around her desk and gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. “You’re an absolute angel.”
Little did Noah know, the plan she’d suddenly formulated to use this situation to her benefit was far more devilish than angelic. And if anything, she owed him for the golden opportunity he’d just given her.
Noah strolled toward the door and turned at the last minute to flash her a charming grin. “By the way, hot stuff, nice outfit. Go get ’em, tiger.”
He let out a low growl that made her laugh. She glanced down at the leopard-print top she’d paired with a brown suede mini-skirt. She couldn’t help but wonder if Cole would appreciate the outfit just as much as his brother had, especially since she’d worn it with Cole in mind.
Regardless of what Cole’s reaction might have been to her new outfit, Noah’s compliment lifted her spirits and restored her confidence. There was no denying that Cole’s brush-off last night had stung her feminine pride, but his reaction to her reading the erotic letter to him, along with their kiss, had soothed her ego. And it made her realize how those written fantasies could work in her favor to seduce Cole.
Besides, what kind of bad girl would she be if she allowed him to continue to avoid her and the attraction between them? The old Melodie would have heeded Cole’s subtle warning to back off, but she refused to cater to his demands when the kiss they’d shared contradicted his attempt to remain aloof.
And, oh, what a kiss it had been. She shivered at the memory of finally being ravished by Cole—his hot, seeking mouth, his skillful hands, and the press of his hard, aroused body against hers. He’d drugged her with the erotic sensation of his lips and tongue meshing with hers, and she’d melted with the heat and passion and hunger he’d unleashed inside her.
Even now she could recall the heavenly feel of his palm cradling her breast and the exquisite way he’d flicked his thumb across her sensitive nipple. She’d been overwhelmed by the intense throb that had settled in the pit of her stomach, and surprised by the yearning that rose within her—which was abruptly eclipsed by a stark emptiness when he’d abruptly pulled away from her, then insinuated that he regretted the embrace.
From some place deep inside that she hadn’t known existed, she’d gathered the fortitude to set him straight, to make sure that he knew she was a willing participant every step of the way. Not that her assurance had made any difference at all to Cole, who’d obviously berated himself for taking things so far.
She’d gone home last night frustrated, and even more intent on breaking through those personal walls of Cole’s that kept her neatly categorized as a “responsibility.” And while pondering the situation, she came to the conclusion that her erotic letters were the means to seducing Cole and showing him that she was a woman with a very sensual side. She’d witnessed his reaction as she’d read the letter and knew those fantasies were the key to their relationship and a way to force him into acknowledging the attraction between them.
She certainly wasn’t about to give up after one rejection.
Neither could Cole avoid her forever.
A grin curved her mouth as she cleaned off her desk and shut down her computer. Unable to fall asleep last night, she’d stayed up well past midnight penning more erotic letters of her own, all starring Cole Sommers in the role of her fantasy man. She had them in her purse and had planned to slip them to Cole at opportune times during the day. She hadn’t had the chance to put her idea into action, but the possibilities were endless for tonight’s impromptu visit. No respectable bad girl would pass up the chance to seduce her guy’s mind and make him hot and bothered in the process. And, she was determined to prove her capability of handling the Russell case until he had no choice but to admit she was the perfect candidate for the job. And the perfect woman for him.
