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She rolls her eyes at me. "He's been cranky the whole morning." She bites her lip and murmurs, "Do you think I did something wrong?"
Goddammit, Cole. His sour attitude is affecting this sweet girl, and she doesn't deserve it.
I touch her arm. "Trust me, his mood has nothing to do with you. Give me a moment. I'll talk to him."
Samantha nods as we exit the elevators. She waits there while I stride over to Cole, who's texting on his phone near the entrance that leads to the parking garage.
"Can we talk?" I ask as I arrive next to him. His eyes meet mine, and a muscle twitches in his jaw.
"Can't it wait? I'm busy."
I grind my teeth when he continues typing. "What the hell is your problem? If what happened last night is bugging you, then say it! For God's sake, it was one stupid kiss. You better stop your immature and grumpy attitude because it makes your daughter think she did something wrong. If I knew just kissing had this effect on you, I would have never done it. Lying in a text is childish."
His nostrils flare as his eyes pierce mine. "Are you done, firecracker?"
When I don't answer, he turns to Samantha and gestures for her to come to us. He focuses his attention on her and speaks in a calm and reassuring tone once she stands before him.
"Alisha told me my lousy mood from this morning affected you. I apologize if it made you uncomfortable. It has nothing to do with you. My mind is just full of things. So, please, next time, tell me to stop it, okay?" He touches Samantha's arm with care, and they exchange a moment.
"Now, could you wait for me in the car?" he asks her as he holds up his car keys. "I'll be there in a minute. I need to talk to Alisha."
Samantha grabs the keys, and with a wave, she walks off to the garage. A quiver runs down my spine when he focuses his full attention on me. "As for your accusations, let me be straightforward. I never lied in my text."
I let out a disbelieving snort but inhale sharply when he takes a step towards me. With our bodies inches apart, he lowers his head, and his fiery breath caresses the skin of my neck.
"Listen up."
I close my eyes as his rich voice reverberates through every cell of my body.
"I canceled our workout because I had an important online business consultation at 6:45 this morning. My reputation and paycheck depend on me doing my job well. I can't ignore and lose the trust of my clients, especially not now that I have a kid. I’m working more from my home office after Samantha moved in. So, instead of being immature, I'd call myself responsible."
Even his pissed-off voice is sexy.
"Okay, I'm sorry for that, but I still find you ignoring me in the elevator childish."
"I didn't—"
"You did," I cut in. "You were staring at the wall the entire time."
"God, that mouth of yours really doesn't know when to stop, does it?"
"No. Not when I want clarity," I say with a shrug.
"Oh, then here is the clarity. You're not the only one with a healthy sexual appetite. When you entered the elevator, I was wondering... What is happening underneath that red outfit of hers? Are her nipples hard? Is she horny now?" he rasps, stepping closer, towering over me. His tone should make me angry, but it doesn't, and I can't stop looking at his mouth as he speaks. "I may look calm and collected most of the time, but I’m a man with an animalistic, sinful side that was urging me to take action to get the answers to all those questions. That’s why I was staring at the goddamn wall." He inches even closer, and I can smell the spicy edge of his aftershave as his hot breath brushes my lips. "So, quit blaming me for being grumpy. You threw that explicit information in my lap. I'm just trying to cope with it and not let it go to my head, because like you said, we are not compatible. Stop challenging me, Alisha Alexandra McQueen."
Before I can respond, he makes a one-eighty and charges off. With his words still resonating in my head and affecting my body, I follow him until he's out of sight. God, he has an animalistic, sinful side? My hands search my bag, and as they pull out my car keys, I make my way to the garage. I believe it's time to ask Amanda for valuable insight.
* * *
Since the momentI walked into the store this morning and told Amanda I kissed Cole, she's been trying to convince me to take it a step further.
"Tell him you want to have sex with him," she says as we're walking over the small concrete path to my car.
I roll my eyes when she gives me a shoulder bump.
"Alisha, you said that the sexual tension between you two has tripled in intensity since the kiss. So he's the answer to your 'I can't have sex' problem. A couple of positive rounds of steamy sex with him and your issue will be resolved. What have you got to lose?"
I frown while running my hand through my loose locks. "You should take your advice and ask Brian for sex."
