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“You think this is funny?”
“Absolutely not. But I’d like to think that you’d go straight to the source if you heard something that didn’t sit right with you.” He cocks his head. A challenge.
“And I would have, but I’ve been preoccupied.” Truth. Hiding from him and ripping my grandma a new one at the top of that list.
“I didn’t invite Mina today. It was a surprise Ruth threw at me when I arrived,” he says.
“You didn’t know she would be here?” I study him. I don’t think he would lie to me.
“I didn’t even know my grandma was in town. I came here expecting to shamelessly flirt with you the whole time. This is not what I expected when I woke up this morning,” he grumbles. I believe him, but it doesn’t hurt any less.
“Look, this is not the time or place to have this conversation.” I huff, hoping to put this to bed and attempt to get through the rest of this party.
“Maybe not, but it needs to be had. You’re still pissed at me. I think I deserve to know why.” I push off the counter. “Let’s go somewhere more private.” He jerks his head toward the front of the house.
Biting my lip, I want to be with him, talk things through, but I also would like to just avoid this whole mess, place it in a box and open it up when I’m ready. Later, in a few days or weeks.
With a sigh, I realize my need to be near this man outweighs all else. So I walk toward the hall, following him into the parlor.
It’s always been such a stuffy room. A couch set, fireplace, fine art on the walls. This is a sitting room that is hardly ever used anymore. It used to be the place Ruth would meet with clients before I opened HEA, Inc. into an office setting.
But the room is spacious and private enough.
“Tell me what else is on your mind, Lays,” Cole says, stopping in the middle of the room.
“We have to end this.” I surprise him because his eyes widen and his mouth opens but shuts quickly. “It’s gone on long enough.”
“I don’t want to end this. It hasn’t been long enough,” he replies.
“One minute you're fucking me bent over your desk and the next you're out on a date with someone else,” I explode.
“Two things. One, that’s not how it is and you know it. I’ve put off nearly every date that has been set up. This week, I canceled my date with Mina because I didn’t want to go out with another woman. That’s why Ruth brought her here.”
I shake my head. “No, I was told you went on a date.” I try to reconcile his truth with what Ruth told me.
“Well, I didn’t.” His tone becomes more heated. “I would never lie to you, Layla.”
I look away from him, trying to give myself a minute to think. When I remember. “What’s the second thing?”
“Your dirty talk turns me on,” he says, taking a step toward me. I feel my body flush in embarrassment. I did get a bit vulgar a second ago. He stands in front of me, and he lifts his hand, placing his finger under my chin, and tilts my head up until I’m looking at him again.
“Lays, we had an agreement. That I would break this off when and if I found someone I wanted to pursue. Truth is, I have found someone. I think about her every fucking minute of every fucking day. I’m utterly consumed by her.” Heat blazes from his eyes as he stares down at me.
I let out a shaky breath.
“In case it wasn’t clear, I’m talking about you, Layla,” he declares sexily, his nose touching mine. His lips brush against mine and I can’t control myself. I close the gap between us and kiss him.
My earlier anger shatters with the hunger of his kiss. His hands are everywhere, while mine fist the front of his polo shirt. I’m drowning in all my feelings for this man and I don’t know that I care as my tongue twists around his.
He pulls back slightly, whispering my name, then buries his face in my neck, hiking my leg up around his hip. I pray that the moan that escapes my lips when his fingers dance across my knee isn’t too loud, even if the party is outside.
His tongue flicks my earlobe before he reclaims my mouth, his fingers clear on their destination as they travel lightly under the skirt of my dress, over my thigh, brushing the seam of my undies.
I arch into him, urging him to continue. He’s always so attentive, so his knowing chuckle tells me he’s teasing me, and I can’t help but pout.
“Cole.” I don’t even care that I’m whining.
“Lays. You want my fingers?” he growls into my ear, then places kisses down my neck. All I can manage is a nod and another whine. Taking my cue, he pushes under the fabric and wastes no time when he finds me ready for more.
