by Sonya Weiss
Still, he hesitated, and it was then that Maddie realized despite his revenge plot, despite him acting like he was closed off, there was gentleness in his eyes.
She decided to take matters into her own hands. She brought her lips up to meet his and kissed him the way she’d been dying to since the night of the ball. She drank him in and whispered against his lips, “I want you.”
…
At the brush of her lips against his, Cole knew he could easily become addicted to her. He’d suspected it the night of the ball before he’d known who she really was, and now he was faced with the realization this woman could drive him crazy simply with her lips moving under his.
Her mouth opened, and he drank her in, tasting the sweet promise of what was yet to come. She’d started the kiss, but he took control, caving in to the hunger demanding to be fed. He kissed her gently, then fiercely, taking what she offered.
He slid his tongue in between her parted lips, and Maddie moaned, arching her back up to push her chest against him. Cole dragged his hands up the sides of her body to find her breasts, hating that her shirt was a barrier preventing him from touching her skin.
He rocked his hips, moving against her body, and she tore her mouth away from his in a gasp. “Is this what you want?” he whispered as he drew his lips across the side of her neck and kissed the sensitive skin there.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she said in a husky breath as she tried to kiss him.
He turned his head and rolled from the bed, pulling her to her feet and catching her against him when she swayed. “I want to see every inch of you.” He worked the end of her shirt up until he reached her bra. He pushed it up over her breasts and let out a long whoosh of air as his breath escaped.
She was more than he’d fantasized about. His erection strained to be free as his fingers found the hard peaks of her nipples, and he lightly teased them before he lowered his hand and took one in his mouth.
She bunched her fingers in his hair as he sucked. He tried to unbutton her jeans, and she immediately stopped him. “Hold on a second. Fair is fair. Take your shirt off, too.”
Cole whipped his dress shirt off so fast he damn near got whiplash. When he was bare chested, she stepped closer until they were skin to skin. The contact did nothing to calm the fire threatening to burn him alive. He reached for the button of her jeans again, and this time, she didn’t stop him. He pulled them down her thighs, and she wiggled enticingly. In seconds, she stood in front of him in a scrap of black lace panties that the caveman in him wanted to rip off.
He couldn’t make his brain work as he drank in the sight of her body. He’d thought he’d be prepared for the moment that he’d have Maddie Russell standing before him, ready and aching for his touch, wanting him as much as he’d wanted her. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
He felt as inept as a teenager with raging testosterone full of hope of getting lucky because this was Maddie. The girl it felt like he’d wanted all his life. Beautiful, unattainable, back then. Now his.
He wanted to take her hard and fast, gentle and slow, in ways that would leave them both satiated, nearly boneless. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he urged her head closer, taking a moment to drink in her desire-heavy eyes, her lips, the sweetness of her body.
“This is where the foreplay comes in,” Maddie said with a grin when he’d yet to make another move. “You did agree to that, remember?”
He laughed and lowered his hands to the flat of her abdomen, about to show her what was in store, when his phone rang insistently. Cole’s first instinct was to hurl it against the wall. His second was that the reason for the call might be important. He answered impatiently, listened, then said, “I’ll be right there.”
Maddie pulled the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around herself. “What’s going on?”
“Something that I need to take care of at the office.” He’d never hated phones as much as he did at that moment.
“Is it anything I can help with?”
“No.” His body throbbing with unfulfilled need, Cole grabbed his shirt and put it back on. “We’ll pick up where we left off when I get back.”
“Fine by me.” Her sultry smile slipped, and she bit her lower lip. “Was the call about my grandfather?”
Cole hesitated, then decided to tell her. “My investigators found him in Costa Rica, but something tells me you already knew where he was.” She looked away, and the action let him know his words had hit the mark.
She looked back at him defiantly. “I don’t feel guilty for not sharing that information. I told you I would protect him.”
“And I told you that you wouldn’t be able to. Not against me.” Cole strode toward the doorway. “I will get him and drag his ass back to the States. He’s going to pay for what’s he done.”
“He was the only one who cared about the heartbroken little girl I once was. Please.” Her eyes glistened with tears.
Cole looked away from the pleading expression on her face and braced himself with his hands on the doorframe. He fought the surging emotions. The bastard in him wanted to walk away, wanted to get to Samuel Russell, but the emotional wreckage he’d learned about in Maddie’s life kept him rooted to the spot. He silently cursed himself as the thick ice encasing his heart thawed enough to make him turn and face her.
He didn’t know if he believed her, and he wouldn’t make any promises, but for tonight at least, he wouldn’t do anything. He took out his phone and made a quick call to Jake to let him know he wasn’t coming in after all.
When he hung up, Maddie took a deep, shuddering breath. “Thank you.”
“Not going after him tonight is a postponement, not an agreement to stop.”
She nodded and crawled onto the bed, stretched out, then yawned. After a second, she patted the empty spot beside her. “Do you want to continue?”
He was still revved up, but he sensed the vulnerability, her need for something more than sex. “We can wait,” he said, his body wanting to weep from frustration.
“I am a little tired.”
He started to leave.
“Stay?” Her eyes were wide, needing the comfort of a friend, of someone who cared.
Even knowing that would never be him, he moved to lie beside her. She slipped closer and put her head on his shoulder. Then with a deep sigh, she drifted off, leaving Cole awake with the past clawing at him once again.
Chapter Nine
By the time July was over and the days had flown forward into August, Maddie was surprised at the easy routine she and Cole had fallen into. She wouldn’t exactly call them friends, but at least they’d found a comfortable rhythm in working together at the hotel.
Outside of work, they’d spent very little time together since Cole had been flying with his business partners to different states dealing with issues involving their jointly owned company. He’d flown back in this morning, but she’d yet to see him.
While she was thinking about him, he showed up at the door of her office, leaning one broad shoulder against the doorframe, his hands loosely tucked in his pockets. He wore another one of his expensive suits, minus the jacket this time. His white dress shirt spanned across his impressive chest. He was as handsome as a Greek god. Confident and oozing sex appeal. His gaze hypnotizing. His lips…those lips that could do hot, wicked things to her were moving. “Everything okay?”
To hide her reaction, Maddie pretended to be busy with some papers on her desk. “Fine. Why do you ask?”
“I got your voicemail reminding me that your sister and nephew will be in soon for that camping trip. Is your sister arranging a ride, or are you picking her up?” He stepped forward into the office when the hallway began to fill with people leaving a few minutes early to beat the five o’clock traffic.
“I’d prefer to pick them up.” Maddie looked at the clock. The camping trip officially began tonight. She and Cole, along with her nephew and dozens of other kids and parents, would sleep in tents in the middle of the woods at a sit
e a couple of hours outside of Chicago. She stood and swept the papers into an empty drawer.
He moved closer, and Maddie swallowed, curling her fingers into her palms to keep from touching him.
“I can have my chauffeur take you. I’m here to please.”
“Isn’t that my line?” she teased.
He smiled at that. “Come here and kiss me.”
“With pleasure,” Maddie murmured. She sashayed up to him, lightly brushed her lips across his, and felt the jolt all the way to her toes. “Is that enough?”
“Two can play this game, Maddie.”
She arched an eyebrow. “You think you could win?”
“You can judge for yourself.” He pulled her to him, spun her around, and splayed a hand across her abdomen to hold her against his body.
Maddie breathed faster as his other hand bunched her skirt and slowly inched beneath it. His fingers slid to the top of her thigh and around between their bodies to grace the swell of her buttock. She moaned, tilting her head back against his chest as his hand moved around to the front, his fingers finding the edge of her satin panties. One finger edged beneath the material and remained there, close but not nearly close enough to suit her.
She wiggled against him, feeling the response of his body and delighting in his swiftly inhaled breath. As she ground against him, he gripped her hips, urging her closer.
When he brought his hand to just below her breast, Maddie eyed her desk, then said huskily, “I have condoms.”
Cole’s warm breath caressed her ear. “You want to do this here?”
“As long as you’re not a screamer. I’d hate having to explain to my colleagues that you weren’t actually having a religious experience.”
He laughed. “It’ll be the other way around, sweetheart.”
“We’ll see.”
Her phone extension rang, and with a groan, Maddie stepped away from Cole to answer. She listened for a second. “Okay. Not a problem. I’ll head your way.”
She faced Cole again. “That was my sister. They’ve already landed.” Sighing, she began tidying her desk. He reached around her for a folder she’d forgotten to put away. His forearm, exposed by his rolled-up shirtsleeve, brushed the side of her body. Dizzy with need, she closed her eyes and swayed slightly, gasping when his hands descended on her hips.
“What’s going on?”
Nothing that a night of passion can’t cure. Maddie shook her head. “I haven’t told my sister I’m living with you.”
“She wouldn’t approve?”
“She worries.”
He lowered his hands, and Maddie breathed easier without his touch heating up her skin. She concentrated on making sure everything was neat, then stepped out of the office and locked it while Cole waited.
Her thoughts jumped to the impending reunion with her sister and how much she was looking forward to that. If only there wasn’t a cloud hanging over her head. She felt guilty keeping secrets.
Soon she was going to have to talk to Dani and explain what was going on with their grandfather. But when she did that, her sister would know the money hadn’t come from him, and she’d demand that Maddie take it back, which would leave Dani struggling. Maddie would lose sleep again worrying about her sister. If only she could catch a break.
She’d searched every inch of the place but still hadn’t found anywhere her grandfather had hidden money. Next week, she planned to go deeper over the operating accounts to see if she could find a trail where the money might have been moved.
Outside the hotel, Maddie waited with Cole while the valet brought the car around. “After I pick up my sister, I have to make a store run. Sam loves s’mores, and I forgot to pick up the marshmallows.”
He opened the passenger door for her. “I’ll deal with that while you get your sister so you won’t end up having to rush around before we leave for the trip.”
She put her hand on his arm but quickly lowered it when it sent tingles up her spine. “Thank you.”
…
Maddie knew showing up at the airport in Cole’s car was going to earn her a grilling from Dani. As soon as Sam was buckled in the back and had earbuds in while he played a game on his tablet, her sister pounced.
“Nice car. It wouldn’t happen to be Naked Shower Guy’s, would it?”
“How did you—” With a groan, Maddie stopped talking. “Joy.”
“Yep. She told me you put your things in storage and moved in with Cole.” Dani shook her head. “I know that we all practically grew up together, but we didn’t interact that much, so it’s not like you really know the guy.”
“I know, but it was the right thing to do.”
“I researched him after I found out you were involved with him.” Dani glanced over her shoulder to check on Sam. “He’s got a great reputation for giving in the community, but he also has a reputation as the guy you don’t cross. I’m concerned about you.”
Maddie took an off ramp toward Cole’s house. “I promise you that I’m fine and I know what I’m doing.” To change the subject, she said, “Andrew is meeting you at Cole’s?”
“Yes, I’m going to help him set up some stuff in his new apartment. After that, I’m giving him some pointers to get through a summer math course he hates.”
Maddie unfastened her seat belt. “If you can help me get through my college math, you can help anyone.”
Dani laughed and opened her door as Cole and Andrew came outside.
“My favorite girl,” Andrew said as he helped Dani out of the car and into her wheelchair. “Let’s get rid of these guys”—he patted Sam on the head—“and then the real fun can start.”
“Not more fun than me.” Sam dug his backpack from the car and slung it across his shoulders. “We’re going to roast marshmallows.”
“I’m going to miss out, that’s for sure. Sorry I couldn’t go with you.”
Sam shrugged and looked at Cole. “Can we go now?”
“Sure thing,” Cole said after exchanging a look with Maddie.
She knew what he didn’t. Her nephew wasn’t a fan of long goodbyes. He’d done his fair share of keeping a stiff upper lip since the accident.
Dani moved over to her son and kissed him on the cheek. “Did you pack—”
“Yes, Mom.”
“I just want to make sure—”
“Mom.”
Dani sighed and backed away. “I’ll see you when you get back.”
Maddie hugged her sister. “I’ll take care of him,” she whispered, knowing it was hard for Dani to let Sam out of her sight.
“Are you someone’s dad?” her nephew asked as they drove toward the interstate.
Cole glanced at the rearview mirror. “No, I’m not.”
“I’d like a dad. But I want my dad.” Sam dug his tablet out of his backpack and held it in his lap for a second. “I can help you set up the tent.”
Cole nodded. “I’d appreciate that.”
“And I can bait my own hooks when we fish.”
“That’s good you learned how.”
Sam stared out the window. “My dad taught me.” He looked at Maddie. “My aunt Maddie scares the fish away when she falls out of the boat.”
Maddie laughed. “It was an accident.”
“What happened?” Cole shot her an amused look.
“I had my eyes closed and earbuds in, jamming to music, when a fish jumped out of the water and right into my lap. He went one way, and I went the other.”
“So what do you think we should do to keep that from happening?” Cole asked Sam.
Her nephew thought for a second. “Get her another boat.”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
Maddie laughed again. “I have to warn you, though, if we get into a boat race, I’ll beat you.”
“She’s good,” Sam said grudgingly. “But she can’t beat me at this.” He waved his tablet around.
Maddie fake scowled. “Because you cheat at that game.”
“I don’t.
I’m better.” Sam looked smug, then peered through the window with a sigh. “Are we there yet?”
…
The tent went up in record time. Cole felt a strange lump in his throat when Sam dusted his hands together and looked up at him with a tentative smile. It was clear that the little guy was still hurting over the loss of his father. If money could buy Brody’s life back, Cole would give whatever it took in a heartbeat.
Maddie was off unpacking the supplies they’d bought, and it was up to him to take Sam to the area where they’d have the marshmallow roast later. From their viewpoint, he could see dads gathering with their sons. Sam suddenly stared at his sneakers and kicked at the dirt. Cole could swear he saw the glint of tears in the boy’s eyes, and he put his hand on Sam’s shoulder. “It’s okay.”
Sam’s jaw stiffened, and he looked away. “Boys aren’t supposed to cry.”
Cole knelt in front of him. “Did your dad tell you that?”
Sam shook his head. “Shane Franklin did.”
“The reason your dad didn’t tell you that is because it’s not true. Everyone cries.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “Even you?”
“Even me.”
“Oh. Did your dad die, too?”
Cole swallowed. “No. My friend did.”
With all the wisdom of a six-year-old, Sam nodded. “That sucks.”
“Yeah, it does.”
“I sleep with one of my dad’s shirts. I hide it under my bed until after Mom turns the light off,” he blurted out. “Don’t tell my mom.”
“I won’t.” Cole felt like a horse had kicked him in the heart. He stood and nodded his head toward the group. “You ready?”
Sam trudged slowly along beside him, his expression downcast, but as soon as he was welcomed into the group of boys he’d known for the summer, his face brightened. Minutes later, when the event leader said it was time for the treasure hunt, Sam rushed back over, waving a card listing all the toys that had been hidden. “We have to win.” He glared at another little boy.
“Is that Shane?”
Sam nodded. “He said he always wins.”
