Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“That chocolate cake was to die for.”
Coulter turned his head toward Alex and smiled. Taking advantage of the fact that they were in the elevator alone, he slid his body directly in front of hers.
Without a word, he cupped her cheeks and took her mouth in his. The kiss was soft. Unhurried. His body ached when she parted her lips.
Their tongues languidly danced as he savored her sweet taste. When the ding came, he regrettably pulled himself away.
“To die for, indeed.”
Lips that were swollen from his kiss curved. “Coulter?”
Oh, how he loved it when she said his full name.
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“The doors.”
Coulter frowned. “The what?”
“The doors.” She chuckled. “They’re about to close.”
The elevator doors, dipshit.
Moving lightning fast, he spun on his heels and shot out a hand to keep the doors from sliding shut. Alex’s soft laughter sounded from behind him, and Coulter smirked as he stepped to the side.
“After you.”
“Why thank you, sir.” She did a little curtsy move before stepping past.
His shoulders shook with a deep chuckle as they turned right and headed down the hall. They made it a few short steps before Alex froze. She snaked out a hand and gripped his forearm with noticeable force.
“Colt,” she hissed quietly.
He stopped mid-stride, turning her way with a frown. “What’s wrong?”
Rather than responding aloud, she motioned to something up ahead. When Coulter turned that way, following her line of sight, his stomach immediately dropped.
What the actual hell?
Gordan Crawford was standing outside Alex’s apartment. A man he recognized as Cyrus Vas—the prick’s years-long bodyguard—was with him.
Cursing beneath his breath, Colt took Alex’s hand securely in his.
“What do we do?” she whispered low.
“Follow my lead and speak as little as possible.”
Too much talking upped the odds of someone slipping up and saying something they shouldn’t. He didn’t know why Crawford was here, or why the hell he was standing outside Alex’s door. Especially when he was supposed to be in L.A.
“Just act normal,” Coulter muttered. A beat later, he became Cole Morris, sending a smile their visitors’ way. “Well, this is unexpected.”
“Mr. Morris?” Crawford’s entire face gave away the man’s surprise.
A flash of anger raced behind his hardened gaze.
“This is surprising.” A smile appeared as he turned to Alex, taking her free hand in his.
“Alexandria.” He kissed her knuckles. “Pardon my sudden intrusion. I would have called first, but this was a last-minute trip, and it seems we never can find the time to talk on the phone.”
So you randomly show up at the woman’s home at night and completely uninvited?
Coulter ignored the fact that he’d done the very same thing the night before and watched her with a protective eye. Last night was different. He needed to see her and set things straight. And their conversation was one they’d needed to have in person.
Crawford’s appearance made no sense and sent every one of Colt’s protective instincts firing on all cylinders. Inching a bit closer to Alex, he watched her reaction. Ready to jump back in if he sensed it was needed.
“Gordan.” She smiled politely, slowly pulling her hand free. “W-what are you doing here?”
He turned Crawford’s way.
Yeah, dickhead. What the hell are you doing here?
“I’m in town on business, but unfortunately the trip is a short one. I fly back the day after tomorrow, which is why I’m here this time of night. I assure you, this is not common nature for me, showing up the way I have, but I really wanted to discuss working with you.”
“It couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” Coulter took it upon himself to ask.
Crawford’s smile never so much as wavered, but the cold look gave away the man’s displeasure.
“I’ll be in meetings all day tomorrow. And like I said, Alexandria and I keep missing each other over the phone.
” To Alex, he added, “I had Cyrus drive me here from my hotel on the off chance that you’d be home. ”
“Guess we timed things just right, then.” Coulter sent him an overly expressive grin. “Lucky you.”
“Gordan, I appreciate the interest in my work, and the flowers you sent, though unnecessary, were beautiful. I just don’t think this is the right time for me to take on a project of such a large scale. I hope you can understand.”
“But Alexandria, you couldn’t be more wrong. Now is the exact time for you to do a showing at my gallery. The amount of exposure you’ll receive will save you a decade’s worth of struggling to get it on your own.”
“I get that, but while I appreciate the offer and your kind words about my craft, it’s just not going to work for me. Not right now, anyway. I’m sorry.”
That’s my girl.
“You’re making a grave mistake by turning me down.”
Did he really just threaten her?
Sure as hell sounded that way to me.
“Okay, it’s late.” Coulter slid his smile from Gordan to Alex. “Why don’t you go on inside and give me and Gordan a minute to talk.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” He put a hand on her shoulder and gently brushed her with his thumb. “I actually have some business to discuss with him myself since he’s here. Don’t worry. I won’t be long.”
In a purposeful move, he leaned in and kissed her lips.
With a look that said she hoped he knew what he was doing, Alex turned back to Gordan with a smile. “Goodnight, Gordan.” To the other man, she said, “It was nice meeting you, Cyrus.”
Coulter waited until she was safely inside before dropping the friendly-guy act. With his hands on his hips and his voice dropping low, he demanded, “Why are you really here?”
“I think it’s you who should be answering that question. You’re supposed to be getting everything in place for our deal.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing? I told you Owens’ daughter was flying into Charlotte this week. Her flight lands tomorrow afternoon.”
“Good. I’d like to be there when you and your boys pick her up.”
Coulter shot him down in an instant. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”
“I think you forget who’s in charge, Cole. Let me remind you, it’s me. I’m the one calling the shots, not you.”
“Not with this, you’re not. Think about it, Gordan. Something goes sideways and you’re there, you’ll be royally screwed.”
“If you’re as good as they say, then things shouldn’t go sideways.”
“No, they shouldn’t, but you know as well as I do how unpredictable life can be. Look, I’m trying to protect you, okay?”
Damn, it’s hard saying that shit with a straight face.
The asshat arched an arrogant brow. “I appreciate the concern but I pay Cyrus a lot of money to protect me.”
“I’m not talking physical harm.” You moron. “Ever heard of a thing called plausible deniability? I mean, shit.” He raked a frustrated hand through his hair. “You just being in Charlotte right now puts you at risk.”
Cyrus shot his boss a look. “Told you coming here was a mistake.”
The unexpected comment took Coulter by surprise. “You did?”
The bodyguard-for-hire—who happened to be the size of a tank—nodded with a look of annoyance. “As you can see, he didn’t listen.”
“Why not?” he asked Crawford. “What was so damned important you couldn’t wait until after the sale to come to Charlotte?”
Cyrus cleared his throat, the sound pulling Coulter’s attention back that way. In a silent response, the other man’s dark gaze slid from his, to Alex’s door, and back again.
He’s here for her.
His chest grew tight and his stomach began to churn. Crawford had flown all this way because Alex had been avoiding his calls.
Oh, hell no.
“You need to leave, Gordan.” Coulter did his best to convince the sick prick to leave.
“Now. Tonight. I don’t care what you had planned for tomorrow; you need to figure out a lie good enough to explain the digital footprint you made by coming here, then keep your ass in L.A. until the auction is complete.”
“And if my reasons for being here are personal?”
“Alex isn’t interested in you.” He took a broad step forward. “You need to forget about her and move the hell on.”
Cyrus coughed, but it sounded a lot like the guy was doing it to cover up the words, “Told you.”
Crawford’s stare grew cold as ice. “You didn’t forget about her, did you, Cole?” He glared. “You and Alexandria both made me think there wasn’t anything real between you. Yet here you are, in her apartment building, holding her hand and walking her to her door.”
Stick with the cover.
With a shrug, “Cole” explained, “I had some downtime the other day, so I decided to drop by her gallery and ask her to dinner. She agreed, and we just spent the evening catching up. Anything else you’d like to assume?
“Nice try, but I know a man who’s smitten when I see one. I do wonder, though.” Crawford’s head gave a slight tilt. “What would Miss Webb think if she ever discovered your little side business? Or the real reason you were at my gallery that night?”
Bypassing the comment about his presumed feelings toward Alex—and who even uses the word “smitten” anymore, anyway—Coulter inched closer to where the man stood.
“You threatening me now, Gordan? And before you answer, keep in mind, if I go down, you’ll be right there with me.”
Fiery daggers shot straight through him from Crawford’s sinister glare.
“Be very careful, Cole. You know the kind of man I am, as well as the extent of my reach. You want to stand there and lecture me about keeping my head in the game?” he scoffed.
“Seems to me you’re the one getting distracted from the goal.
This auction was your idea, remember? I put my plans on hold based on nothing but your word.
You’re supposed to be very good at what you do, yet you’re out on a date instead of preparing for the implementation of our plan. ”