Chapter 16
Laney
He glanced up in surprise and immediately rose from his desk, walking to me. My palms were a little sweaty.
“What are you doing here?”
“You seemed in need of some cheering up.”
“Definitely.”
“Sooo… I thought I’d help you with that. We have two options. If you still have work to do, I can just sit on the chair in front of your desk, be quiet, and munch on all the goodies I bought.”
“What’s the alternative?”
“We’re going for a walk in a place I chose and eat all the goodies there. I think you’ll like it.”
Cole stepped closer, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
He touched my lower lip with his thumb. “I can’t get any work done with you here, Laney.
You’re a temptation I can’t resist.” He pinned me with that intense gaze.
I caught my breath. Every nerve ending heated up when he looked down my body and then back up.
“Do you have a deadline? I don’t remember you saying anything. I wasn’t sure if you were staying here late because you wanted to just blow off steam from the morning meeting or… I’m just gonna shut up now. I can go.”
“No fucking way, Laney. Why are you so nervous?”
“I’m not sure.”
He took my hand, squeezing it lightly before bringing it to his lips and kissing it. “Let’s go.”
“My… what a gentleman,” I teased. That fire dancing in his gaze was a telltale sign that his thoughts were anything but gentlemanly.
“For now.” His voice was low and rich, and it turned the simmer inside me to a full-blown fire.
I nodded appreciatively. “So I can add patience to your list of qualities.”
Cole laughed. “You have a list?”
“Of course.”
“Care to share it?”
“Hmm… I think not. I fear it might make you think you can get away with anything.”
He gave me a grin that I could only describe as… cheeky.
“You having a list already accomplished that.”
“Wait a second… does that mean you don’t?” I pressed my lips in fake mutiny.
“Course I do. And unlike Ms. Secretive here, I’m more than happy to share it. I like that you’re fierce and smart and a fighter.”
I sighed, lacing my hands around his neck. “Damn. How’s a girl supposed to keep her guard up when you say things like that?”
“You don’t need that guard with me, Laney. I promise you don’t.”
I licked my lips, looking him straight in the eyes. “I’m sorry… it’s just habit.”
“Do you trust me?” he murmured.
I nodded. “Completely.”
“Then don’t try too hard to keep that guard up, okay?”
I nodded, my throat clogged with emotions. God, how did he know just what to say to put me at ease? I wasn’t feeling scared, or uneasy. Just happy to be here with him.
He led us out of the building, and I tried not to blush too much at how close he kept me with his arm around my waist. Luckily, we only encountered one person, and he was looking at his phone, so he didn’t even notice us.
“Where are we going?” he asked once we were outside.
“The High Bridge Park in Washington Heights.”
“Lead the way.”
According to Google Maps, the park was fifteen minutes away from the Upper West Side, so we Ubered there.
I debated asking him about the mediation this morning, but then figured he’d talk about it if he wanted to.
I held one of his hands in my lap, palm up, drumming my finger on his skin.
When I looked sideways, I was startled to find him watching me intently.
I’d intended to help him relax, but he was on fire.
As soon as we got out of the car, Cole pulled me flush against him.
His lips covered mine in a ferocious kiss.
He pressed his thumb just under my chin; the rest of his fingers were on my neck.
Then he slid his hand to the back of my head, holding me in place.
He explored my mouth like he was starved for me.
He twined our tongues again and again, until I rocked back and forth.
Oh God, that tension building inside me was unbearable.
I pressed my thighs together—most of the tension was focused there.
The way he kissed me just reached deep inside me, past any barrier and guard.
Oh, this man. He was going to change me completely; I could feel it in my bones.
From the moment I’d met him in Rome, I’d wanted to do things differently with him.
We laughed when we both gasped for breath. He still had one hand buried in my hair, the other firmly on my waist, brushing his lips against my forehead. My entire body was humming.
“Let’s go,” I said. I took two steps forward before stopping, looking around with a frown. “Wait… I think this is the wrong direction.”
Next to me, Cole was flashing me his cheeky smile again.
“You could find the most obscure street in Rome without a map but get lost in New York?”
“Your kiss was just too…”
“Disorienting?” he suggested. I pinched his arm, laughing when he affectionately pulled me sideways to him.
“Yup. That kiss was so hot it made me forget my sense of direction.”
“I know where the entrance to the bridge is. Come on.”
The High Bridge was the oldest one in New York, and it used to be an aqueduct.
It was even more romantic than in pictures, with the wrought iron railing along it and old-fashioned lampposts.
The park was at the other end of it, a sea of green with the water tower on top.
When we reached it, we searched for a bench that was a little out of the way. We had a gorgeous view of the park.
“Now, let me get out the goodies.” I put everything between us on the bench.
“Healthy snacks not your thing, doc?”
“Not really. Besides, you seemed down when you messaged me, so I bought comfort food.”
I dug into the marshmallows. Closing my eyes, I popped one in my mouth, enjoying the exquisite taste on my tongue.
I only blinked my eyes open when Cole made a low sound in his throat…
like he’d tried to subdue a groan or a growl.
His pupils were slightly dilated. The grip on his own marshmallow was so tight that he’d changed its shape.
My sexy date was on fire. And I’d managed that just by humming in delight at my marshmallow?
Hmm… well this was an easy tactic to take his mind off the unpleasant meeting he’d had.
I mean, I had this whole plan mapped out where after dinner I lured him to his own apartment (I was betting he had the same plan) and tried one of those full-body massages on him.
I was sure that I was going to take his mind off everything.
But if I could start distracting him during this picnic, all the better.
I just had to bring my inner siren out to play.
Easier said than done, since I was used to scrubs and zero flirting.
But now I was wearing jeans and a black top with a decent cleavage. I could put that to use.
“Want to talk about your day?” I asked, trying to lean forward and press the sides of my arms into my bra somewhat clumsily. The idea was to push up my boobs a bit.
Cole swallowed. “Laney, if you keep doing that, there will be no talking at all. Fucking hell, woman, do you want to drive me crazy?”
Heat coiled through me. I instantly relaxed my arms. Clearly, my flirting and seduction techniques needed work.
“Well, yeah. But maybe not right now,” I said quickly.
Cole chuckled, and his expression brightened a bit. Okay, so I’d accomplished my mission anyway. That was good enough for me.
“Nah, it’s fine. I got over it. Gabriel’s an asshole, and let’s just say I don’t like bullies,” he said.
“That’s understandable. So what’s going to happen now?”
“Schmuck thought I’d just cave in to his demands to avoid all the hassle of going to court. He was wrong.”
He clenched his jaw. His shoulders became rigid.
“Okay, I see you’re getting tense again. The idea was to help you relax.”
“Trust me, Laney. This is relaxing. That day in Rome was the first time I just completely shut off my business brain. Whenever I’m with you, I just forget about everything else.”
“I like the sound of that. Let’s see if I can manage that now too. I have an idea. Why don’t you lie down? I can feed you,” I said confidently.
He lay on the bench, head in my lap, looking up at me. I grinned, shoving a marshmallow in his mouth. I threw the next one in the air and failed to catch it. Cole burst into laughter.
“Maybe not,” I muttered.
“I like where this is going. Your breasts are right over my mouth when you lunge for it.”
“Hey! I thought you didn’t want to be tempted.”
“I know, but you put them right in front of my mouth. What am I supposed to do?”
I giggled, just taking out more marshmallows before remembering the bag of chips I’d bought too. I liked watching Cole relax in my arms and forget about his troubles.
We stayed on that bench right until sunset, but after that, it got chilly.
“Shall we move a bit?” I asked. Cole pushed himself up from my lap, rising from the bench.
“I have a better idea. I’m kidnapping you,” he announced, pulling me up by one hand. His voice was a delicious mix of seductive and conspiratorial.
“Where?”
“We’re going to this amazing place known as my apartment. It’s really close.”
“That’s true. I didn’t realize that.”
“I confused that compass badly with that kiss, huh?” He playfully tapped my temple.
I pinched his shoulder lightly. “Stop being so full of yourself because of that.”
“Impossible.”