Chapter 31
YASMINE
I’m standing in my office at FusionTech with Becca by my side, electric excitement sparkling through me, thrilled by the delivery that has just arrived.
“Oh, boy, that’s clever.” Becca dips her head and inhales a whiff of the sweet, floral fragrance of the buttery soft petals.
Cole Hart is a little too clever, and now that he’s found me, he’s determined to make himself known and not let me drift away again.
I kinda like it. It’s possessive in a way that makes me feel desired and like I’m his.
Stop these nonsense thoughts immediately, Yasmine. You’re not his.
Although he hasn’t reached out to me through the Wildcard app for three days, I understood his silence meant he was probably planning something.
There’s no way he’s going to let me off that easily.
It sort of annoyed me at first but like cat and mouse, I thought I’d play him at his own game and stayed silent too.
The last thing I want to do is look too eager. Or am I wrong? Hell, I don’t know what I am doing anymore.
“I don’t understand why people give flowers,” I say, disgruntled, pointing at them.
I sound bitter and cold-hearted, but I’m not.
I just don’t get it, and I explain my reasoning to Becca.
“They hold many meanings for different occasions. I find it confusing how giving flowers can blur those lines. You might give them for birthdays, to show love, or as an apology; they’re also used for funerals.
It’s strange to give flowers as a gift in both life and death situations.
While flowers are beautiful and fragrant, still, I don’t… ”
“You’re one helluva difficult woman to please, Ms. Montgomery.” An amused, masculine voice cuts me off mid-rant, causing me to spin around on the tips of my toes.
“Cole?” I gasp, my brain glitching at his sudden Houdini appearance. Why does he look so hot all the time? It’s unnatural to be that good-looking on a Friday afternoon, especially when he’s been in court all day.
I only know this because I checked today’s court records.
Our roles have switched; I’m now the one tracking every move he makes.
For research purposes, of course.
Self-conscious about my appearance, I run my hands through my hair to fluff it out then glide my fingers under my eyes to wipe away any mascara smudges.
Having been stuck behind a computer for three days and nights straight, pulling the Hart Law app proposal together, I must look tired and bedraggled.
I’m in desperate need of a cool shower because I’ve been feeling queasy all day.
Even the frigid air-conditioning hasn’t helped.
Becca thinks it was the tuna sandwich I ate at lunch, although I started feeling shitty before that so it couldn’t be that.
“What are you doing here?” I question, feeling off kilter.
“I am here because, one,” Cole begins, “I wanted to check you received the flowers I sent.” He points to the beautiful bouquet. “And two, to take you out to dinner.”
“Oh, wow,” Becca whispers, ping-ponging her gaze in the space between us.
“I’ve already told you.” Several times at the staff conference. “I can’t do that because of work.” I’ve got to give him ten out of ten for effort, though. It’s admirable.
“Oh yes, you can,” he says, pushing his hands into his pockets, then he casually leans against the doorjamb as if he owns the goddamn place.
He tilts his head to the side, motioning toward the busy office, where somehow no one is doing any work; they’re all looking this way as if we’re an exhibit at a zoo.
“I just spoke to David, your boss. Great guy, actually. He’s cool with me taking you out to dinner to discuss the proposal, but I also explained that we were already dating before we discovered FusionTech were pulling together an app proposal. ”
I scoff at his ridiculous lie. “We’re not dating,” I blurt. He bent the truth to get his own way.
I shouldn’t be reveling in his pursuit of me, but I am. It feels comforting, like a warm, fuzzy sensation spreading through me.
Becca, whom I forgot was still here, coughs to clear her throat and excuses herself, chuckling as she leaves. “Enjoy dinner.” I knew she would be on his side. Traitor.
Glued to the spot, unable to make sense of what’s happening, I fold my arms across my body and wait to see what he does or says next. He’s so unpredictably cocksure of himself, and he’s got me intrigued. Also, I’m enjoying having him here way more than I should.
With all the skill of a Casanova, Cole pushes himself off the doorjamb, closes my office door, then shuts the blinds, concealing us from everyone’s prying eyes in the office.
Tongues won’t just be wagging; they’ll be falling off from gossiping about Cole Hart, the state’s most successful estate planner.
I only discovered this after researching Hart Law, after I left their staff conference, which I should have done before attending the other day.
Wow, the Hart brothers are incredibly successful and good-looking—ridiculously so.
They own one of the tallest buildings in San Francisco and, between them, hold stakes in half the city through real estate investments.
Their charitable donations to local children’s and homeless charities are also impressive.
They nearly keep the city running and actively support their beliefs both in court and on the streets.
It’s surprising I didn’t know who they were before; however, I’ve never needed a lawyer, so that’s possibly why.
“What are you doing?” I whisper. Why did he shut the blinds?
Excitement races through my veins as he eats up what little space there is between us, coming toe to toe with me. Cole reaches up to cup my face. “This.” He plants a soft kiss on my lips, and I let him, my body coming alive and humming with delight in one of the softest kisses of my life.
It’s not rushed or rough. It’s a ghost of a kiss, one that tells me he’s serious about me and we are more than a one-time thing. I can feel the sentiment through his touch, weaving through my entire body.
I kiss him back, softly, slanting my mouth against his, almost as an apology, to say, Sorry, please forgive me for ever doubting you, when what I should be doing is pushing him away and telling him this is ludicrous and we should stop.
But I don’t. My resistance to him is futile, and I find myself melting into him like sugar in hot tea.
The need to touch him again has me running my fingers through his dark locks I’ve been desperately wanting to touch again as our breathing grows hot and heavy, pleasure escaping our lips between kisses.
Cole pulls me closer still, digging his fingers into my hips and rubbing his pelvis against mine, while his thumb brushes the skin of my cheek.
What started off as a soft kiss transforms into a passion-heated one.
On the night we spent together, he made me feel alive, beautiful, desired, something I haven’t felt before or since then, but now he’s lighting me up from the inside out again and I know in my heart he’s the only man for me. It’s how I felt from the minute I met him.
Grabbing onto the back of his neck, pulling him to me, I open my mouth for him to slide his tongue between my lips, and I moan when our tongues touch for the first time.
They greet each other like long-lost lovers, because it’s been weeks since we first kissed.
He tastes like fresh mint and bad decisions, good ones too, and I’m not ashamed to admit I want more.
The world spins fast, and I almost struggle to keep up.
He gently sucks my tongue and my clit throbs in response as it remembers the things he can do with his wicked tongue and mouth. Delicious things that can make me come in minutes.
He wraps his arms around my waist, holding me firmly. I can feel his erection pressing against me, heightening my desire to get him naked. I don’t want to wait another night without him.
Our kiss trails off, and when he leans back, our stares entwine, and he gulps loudly. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you either.” My voice is full of confidence, with hope blossoming in my chest. “You want to date me?” I ask breathlessly. He’s so bold and brazen to tell my boss that, and he turns my strength soft with that exact look he’s giving me now.
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise, throwing myself at you and making myself look like an idiot in front of your work colleagues and boss.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Crazy about you. I have been since the minute you stepped on that airplane.”
I chuckle because I was in panic mode for most of the flight. “I wasn’t at my best.” It was my lowest point. He watched me unravel that day, and still he’s reaching for me anyway.
“We all have our flaws, but to me, you are perfect.”
Holy swoon alert. Somebody catch me before I fall, although I’m pretty sure that’s already happening.
“Thank you for the flowers.” I fiddle with the collar of his suit jacket, not sure what to do with myself.
“Since your favorite color is black, I would have ordered black roses, but I called several florists, and none had them.”
“You should have sent Queen of the Night tulips.” They are a deep, velvety maroon-purple color, making them look black.
“I’ll remember that for next time.”
Next time.
His hand finds my waist, and I inhale sharply when he pulls me firmly to him, his lips hovering over mine, my stomach no longer queasy like it has been all day, but butterflies dance there in its place.
“Join me for dinner?” he asks hopefully.
I didn’t think I had a choice.