by Susanna Carr
He skidded to a stop. “You’re up.”
“Morning.” She couldn’t contain the joy inside her. She felt gloriously, vibrantly alive. She took a step forward, ready to open her arms wide and greet him with a loving embrace and a long kiss.
“Here, this is for you.” He held out a coffee cup.
“Oh...” She stopped in midstep and slowly dropped her arms. Her chest tightened as she saw the hunted look in his eyes. He didn’t want to be here. Correction, she thought, as the joy fizzled, he didn’t want to be here with her. “Thanks.”
She was the one who felt awkward as she accepted the cup. She noticed how careful Cole was not to let their hands touch. She glanced up through her lashes but he wasn’t looking at her.
“Are you okay?” she asked quietly.
“Me? Yeah.” He held his coffee cup with both hands. “You?”
She knew he was ready to bolt. Whatever she did next was important. She had to tread carefully.
Angie stared at the cup as she turned it in her hands. “About the wedding rehearsal tonight...”
“I’m going.” His voice was harsh.
How did he know what she was going to say? “You don’t have to.”
“We made a deal,” he reminded her. “I’ll keep my side of the bargain.”
“But that was when you needed to look into Heidi’s accident,” she said. “The whole reason we pretended to be together was so you could get behind-the-scenes access. That’s no longer an issue.”
He gave her a cold look, his eyes narrowed and his jaw set. Cole suddenly moved and set his coffee on the table. “Angie, do you want me to stay away from the wedding?”
“What? No!” She was making a mess out of this.
“You were ready to get rid of me last night. You’re still trying. But I gave my word and I’m taking you to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.”
“I wasn’t trying to get rid of you.” She closed her eyes. “I thought we were getting caught up in the pretense.”
Cole looked at the floor and shuffled his feet. She saw the tips of his ears turn bright red. “I know that last night was...”
Awesome. Amazing. Incredible. Take your pick. She held her breath as she waited for Cole’s next words.
He exhaled and started again. “Last night you gave me comfort when I needed it.”
She blinked as he said those words in a rush. “Comfort?” she repeated. “You think that was comfort?” She gave him her heart and soul. She showed him how she felt with every touch and every kiss.
“You’re important to me, Angie,” he continued. “Though last night I didn’t know if I was out of your life or back in your bed. You obviously don’t know what you want but I don’t want to be pushed out and then pulled back in over and over. I’ve had enough of that in my life and I don’t need it from you. We’ve finally got back to where we are friends and I don’t want to risk that over last night.”
She flinched as his words drove into her like a twisted knife. Friends? They just made love and he wanted to be friends? Angie swiped the tip of her tongue along her dry lips. “Do you usually have sex with your friends?”
“I’ve never had a friend who was a woman,” he admitted. “It’s different with you. I think this is all I can handle right now.”
That hurt. She loved him and he didn’t love her like that. He didn’t love her enough. She was in the same place she was a year ago. Only this time, she thought they were getting closer. Instead, she pushed him too hard, too soon. This guy didn’t want a second chance anymore. She’d scared him off. The best he could offer was friendship.
“So...” He gave her a quick look. “We’re good?”
She wanted to hide. She had put herself out there and had given him everything. She was renewing her commitment to Cole but he wanted to keep her at a distance. It was like a slap in the face but she refused to show her hurt.
“Sure,” she said, praying that he couldn’t see she was dying inside. “You never can have enough friends.”
14
“THAT WAS THE longest wedding rehearsal ever,” Angie muttered to Cole. They were standing at the window of the fancy restaurant in Seattle’s downtown waterfront district and watching the other guests at the post-rehearsal dinner. She was glad he was there with her. She could express her real feelings with him. “I am starving. I don’t think I can face another of Brittany’s home videos without something in my stomach.”
“That rehearsal was pretty intense,” Cole said. “I’m not surprised Robin kept making mistakes. Brittany was putting a lot of pressure on her.”
Angie rubbed her stomach and looked longingly at the empty table settings. “I don’t know who was the worst taskmaster, the bride or the minister.”
“Cheryl,” Cole decided. He had sat quietly in the back of the church, thinking it would be a quick walk-through of the ceremony. An hour later he had been stunned at the focus on detail. “She is like a drill sergeant.”
“How can someone that tiny be so scary?” Angie leaned against the wall and studied Brittany’s assistant. “I think the best man may be traumatized for life.”
Cole looked at where Cheryl stood. At first glance the curvy blonde appeared almost sweet and nonthreatening. Maybe it was the pink leopard-print dress or the way she flirted with the men. But Cheryl was tenacious and didn’t back down until she got the results she wanted.
He cast a quick glance at Angie, who wore a black pantsuit and flat shoes. The jacket was big and her shirt was buttoned all the way to the high collar. The pants had a wide leg. Last night she wore a skintight dress that showed a lot of skin. Tonight she was hiding her body. Her femininity. She was dressed similar to the groomsmen.
“What’s with the suit?” he asked.
She slowly looked at him and then at her outfit. “What’s wrong with it?” she asked with warning.
He shrugged. “I liked what you wore last night.” The little black dress had been out of her comfort zone. She had shown a side of herself she wasn’t confident about. But she had given him a glimpse and he thought it meant something.
“You made that obvious,” she said. “But don’t read anything into it. It wasn’t like I was dressing for a date. I wore it so I would blend in at the strip club.”
“And what is this?” He reached out and flipped the lapel. The fabric was surprisingly soft.
She straightened the jacket lapel. “This is what I wear when I’m hanging out with the guys.” Angie glared at him. “Why the sudden interest in my outfit?”
“Why the sudden interest in hiding behind several layers of clothes?” he countered. “You weren’t last night.”
“I’m not hiding. You are,” she accused. “We made love last night and then you turn around and say ‘Hey, thanks for comforting me. Let’s stay friends. No hard feelings.’”
Made love? Her choice of words intrigued him. “I was doing you a favor. My past is my burden, not yours. I knew you would see me differently and I was giving you an out.”
“You weren’t giving me a choice. You’re pushing me away. Again,” Angie stressed. “Only this time you’re not walking away. No, this time you’re putting me in the friend zone where you know I don’t want to be.”
“How am I supposed to act? You were the one calling it quits last night. I tried to do better. And suddenly we’re having sex because you felt sorry for me. Excuse me if I don’t jump up and down with joy for getting pity sex from you.”
“Pity sex?” she hissed, her eyes wide. “Cole, that wasn’t pity. That was...”
“What?” he asked when she stopped and pressed her lips together. “See? This is what I get when I tell you stuff. I don’t want your pity. I’m not a charity case. I’d rather have your anger than have you feel sorry for me.”
“That’s not how I see you,” she said. “I see a man who struggled and made something of himself without the support of a family. I see a guy who tracks down the forgotten because he had once been left behind. That’
s not pity, Cole.”
Cole stared in her eyes. She was sincere, but there was something else. Respect? Love? He couldn’t be sure. His heart started to pound. “Then what—”
“Angie,” Robin said as she approached them. Her cloud of perfume enveloped them when she stopped at Angie’s side. She gave them both a cautious look. “Am I interrupting something?”
Angie was the first to break eye contact. “No, Robin. Not at all,” she said with a polite smile. “What’s up?”
How could she do that? Cole wondered. She had him off balance and desperate for answers. He wanted to drag Angie away from this party and find out if he still had a chance with her. Instead, he clenched his hands and tried to find the last of his patience.
“Did you notice that you’re in every picture and video with Patrick?” Robin asked, gesturing at the television screen set up in the corner, causing her martini to slosh in the glass. “I didn’t realize you two were that close.”
“They’ve been best friends since kindergarten,” Cole said. Friendships were important to Angie. Her circle of friends was small but long-lasting. She’d break up with a boyfriend but her friends were forever.
“And you never went on a date?” Robin asked as she took a sip of her drink. “Not even once?”
“What can I say?” Angie said with a shrug. “I’m always in the friend zone.”
Cole stiffened. He knew that was aimed at him. “That’s not true,” he said as he grasped the end of her ponytail. “Becoming your basketball buddy was the last thing on my mind when I met you.”
“That’s because I’m better at basketball,” Angie said before she turned away and faced Robin. “I’ve never dated those guys but they’ve given me lots of dating advice.”
“And none of their tips worked,” Cole pointed out as he gave her hair a tug, demanding her attention. Her friends had tried to make her into the kind of woman they’d date. He had wanted the real Angie. A woman who could challenge him on the field and who could bring him to his knees with a simple touch.
“Weird.” Robin smacked her lips and frowned at her martini glass. “Have you tried the Britini? It’s really sweet but it has a kick.”
“No, thanks.” Angie held her hand up as Robin offered the glass.
“It tastes a little different tonight. I’m not sure why.” Robin puckered her lips. “So, tell me, Angie. Which of the groomsmen are single?”
Angie jerked her head back at the maid of honor’s question. “Tim and Steven. I don’t think either of them even brought dates tonight.”
“Good.” Robin leaned against the wall and studied the men on the other side of the room. “I haven’t decided which one I want.”
“For what?” Angie asked.
“A bridesmaid always hooks up at a wedding.” Robin gave her a strange look. “How do you not know this?”
Angie turned to Cole. “I haven’t heard of that tradition.”
“It doesn’t apply to you because I’m your date,” he said as he wrapped his finger around her ponytail. “Don’t forget it.”
“How could I?” Angie said sweetly.
“Angie, you hit the jackpot and landed a stripper. It really isn’t fair.” Robin rubbed her forehead and looked at her martini glass. “I probably should put this down. It’s stronger than I remember and it’s giving me a headache.”
Angie tried to step away from his hold but he wasn’t letting go. He was rewarded with a glare as Robin set down her glass at her assigned seat.
“So, you know all the guys here, right?” Robin asked Angie as she tugged her pink strapless dress in place. “Which ones have you dated?”
“None of them,” Angie replied.
“Seriously?” Robin studied the men and then studied Angie. “Not one of these guys made a move on you? What are you doing wrong?”
The question seemed to fluster Angie. “I...I don’t...”
Cole curled his arm around her waist. “The problem with growing up with these guys,” he said, “is that there’s no mystery left. They know each other’s secrets, embarrassing moments and questionable dating history.”
“Ah, got it. Finding out is half the fun.” Robin fluffed out her hair and yanked up her strapless dress. “I’m going to go flirt with the redhead. What’s his name? Tim? Wish me luck.”
* * *
“LET GO OF my hair,” Angie told Cole as she watched Robin sashay toward the group of men. “Don’t make me pull out my self-defense moves.”
“You should know better than to put your hair in a ponytail. It puts you at a disadvantage.” Cole said as he reluctantly let go.
She felt like Cole was the one who put her at a disadvantage. She was very aware of him and she couldn’t think straight. Her skin tingled when he touched her and she wanted to lean into him when he drew near. But he didn’t seem to have the same problem. He wanted to just be friends.
“I have to ask since Robin brought it up,” Cole said. “Why haven’t you dated any of those guys?”
“There was no mystery left,” she said in a monotone. “We know each other’s secret—”
He stepped closer and rested his hand on her hip. “The real reason,” he whispered in her ear.
They’re not you. Cole was a mix of strength and gentleness, of hard-earned wisdom and quiet humor. She was amazed at his level of curiosity and patience. He was everything she wanted in a man. In a partner. No man could compare to Cole.
Maybe that was why she was thinking of marriage when they hadn’t discussed it. She saw something in Cole that he didn’t see in himself. He didn’t have a family but he valued the connection so much that he dedicated his life’s work to reuniting relatives. When they had been together, she instinctively knew he had claimed her as his own. His way of making a commitment wasn’t by living together or exchanging vows. He would protect and take care of her, even if it meant keeping his distance.
“Come on, Angie,” he cajoled. “You can tell me the truth. Why haven’t you dated any of the men in your life?”
“Lack of interest,” she finally said. “On my part and on theirs.”
“Don’t be too sure about that.” He gave a sidelong look at her friends. “I think Tim has always had a crush on you.”
She rolled her eyes. “You weren’t worried about that while we were dating. But why should you? You knew no one would notice me.”
“That’s because you don’t want to be noticed,” he accused. “It’s like you want to be invisible. The day I met you in the gym you had on sweatpants and an old T-shirt. I noticed you right away. You thought you were blending in but you had no idea how smoking hot you are. You walked right by me on the treadmill and I tripped.”
“I remember that part. But what did you think when you first noticed me?” she asked. “Did you think I should let my hair down? That it was a shame I didn’t do anything with my appearance?”
“I liked the way you walk.” Cole’s eyes took on a carnal gleam. “How you moved. It was powerful and sensual. I couldn’t stop watching you.”
Angie felt the heat crawl up her neck. She wasn’t expecting that. Most people saw what she lacked. How she could improve and what a makeover could do for her. Cole saw something else.
“What about now?” she challenged. “Do you think I’m sexy in this suit?”
“You can’t hide from me, Angie.” His voice was a rasp. “Not even in that jacket.”
Angie shivered and she buttoned up the jacket. She wasn’t sure if she liked hearing that. “It’s not that bad. I like it. It’s comfortable.”
“Wear whatever you want,” he said. “It won’t stop me from remembering how you feel underneath me, hot and naked.”
“Stop it. Someone might hear you.” She looked around and caught Cheryl’s eye.
“I know what you look like when you’re going wild. For me,” he said, his tone thick with satisfaction. “Go ahead and hide. But know that I’m imagining peeling those clothes off you, layer by layer.”
�
��Cheryl is coming this way. Behave,” she pleaded. “Stop looking at me like you want to pin me against this wall and have your wicked way with me.”
Cole’s smile was slow and sexy. “Now there’s a thought....”
“Have you seen Robin?” Cheryl asked as she tapped her pen against her small clipboard. “She’s supposed to make a speech before we show the video of Brittany’s college years.”
“She went to flirt with Tim,” Cole told her. Angie could feel his gaze on her. She adjusted the high collar that suddenly felt coarse and confining.
Cheryl glanced over at the groomsmen. “No, they said they haven’t seen her.”
“She was complaining about a headache,” Angie said. “Something about having too much to drink. I’ll go see if she’s in the bathroom.”
“Oh, you don’t have to,” Cheryl said, trying to stop her. “You’re a guest.”
“I know but you have so many other things on your to-do list,” Angie replied. “It’s not a problem.” It would also allow her to break the spell that Cole was weaving around her. He was too close. He saw things about her she wanted to keep hidden.
Angie hurried out of the room and looked around for the restroom. She saw the sign and turned, bumping into her friend Steven.
“Hey, Angie,” he greeted, his voice loud and slightly slurred. “Can you believe Patrick is going to be married tomorrow?”
Angie watched in horror when she saw Steven’s chin wobble as tears formed in his eyes. “Steven, keep it together.”
“He’ll be the first of us to get married.” He flung his arm around her shoulders and she staggered from his weight. “I never thought that would really happen.”
“I’m surprised that a woman is marrying Patrick on purpose,” Angie said as she tried to push Steven to stand on his own, “but I guess we underestimated him.”
“Sssh.” His fingers fumbled over her mouth. “I could have sworn you would be the first to marry in our group.”
“Because I’m a female and therefore dream of weddings?” she asked. She never daydreamed about a wedding ceremony. She had no interest in dresses and tiaras.
