Chapter 20 #2
But Cole catches sight of me, says something to the woman, and heads over toward me with a smile. “Hey, sunshine.”
Sunshine. The nickname hits me differently, smooth and languid, with how tingly the Cape Cod Colada has made me feel.
“Sorry,” I say, “I didn’t mean to interrupt your… moment.”
He raises his brows. “My moment?”
“You know. Her.” I nod at the woman, who’s already chatting with someone else. “The beautiful woman you were just putting the moves on.”
He huffs out a low laugh. “I wasn’t putting the moves on anyone. That’s Miller’s cousin. We were just making fun of him together. The little shit deserves it sometimes. I mean, he’s like a brother to me, but my god, that ego is out of control.”
My cheeks heat. “Oh. I just assumed… I mean, you must have a million groupies in your DMs. Girls love athletes, right?”
For all of Cole’s bad PR, his dating life has never been part of that.
Of course, I assume in private he’s cycling through models and Instagram hotties like most professional athletes.
But I’ve never even heard a single rumor about dating drama.
Maybe he has a rock-solid NDA. Or just leaves them all totally satisfied with no negative feedback.
“Yeah, I mean…” He shrugs nonchalantly. “A lot of random women try to get me into bed. That doesn’t mean I’m interested. If I were, I probably wouldn’t have come to this party without a date.” His eyes dip down to my lips, then back up. “And… what about you? Haven’t heard you mention a boyfriend.”
I make my voice as light and breezy as I can.
“Nope. I’m married to my job, I guess.” I don’t know why I keep talking, but the words are tumbling from my mouth.
“It’s a seriously committed marriage, too.
I haven’t been on a date in forever. And for all the New Year’s Eve parties I’ve been to in my life, I’ve never kissed anyone at midnight before.
Forget the Nor’easters’ championship drought.
That is the saddest record in the world. ”
I sink my teeth into my lower lip to get myself to shut up, instantly embarrassed at everything that just spilled out of me. “That was absolutely too much information, wasn’t it? Sorry—”
I can’t even get my full apology out. Cole’s palm presses against the wall above my head, and he leans in. I’m caged in to my left against the wall by his arm.
“Why the hell do you keep apologizing? Don’t be afraid to say what you’re thinking.”
My breath comes out weird and fluttery as he looks down at me, the angle nearly making me dizzy. He’s so much taller than me; it’s ridiculous. I can see the flecks of bright green in his eyes.
“That’s a little hypocritical coming from you.” I force myself to hold his stare. “I never know what you’re thinking, and you hate sharing more than anyone I know.”
He laughs, a low timbre, but he doesn’t move an inch.
The intensity of his attention makes me feel vulnerable and powerful all at once. What an intoxicating cocktail that is, and it’s entirely new to me. I don’t think any man has ever looked at me like this. If they have, I was probably too busy with my head in my work phone to notice.
I’d remember seeing this look. Because it’s seeping under my skin, making every inch of me sizzle.
I’ve always thought Cole was gorgeous. But this look in his eyes makes me want to grip onto the dark waves of his hair and pull him right down to my lips.
“I think you know me better than you let on,” he says. “For instance, I think you might know what I’m thinking about right now. I’ll give you three guesses.”
I shouldn’t indulge this little game. But that’s a hard thought to focus on when my head is swimming like this.
I roll my tongue along my teeth, pretending to think. “You’re thinking about that save you missed last week against Toronto.”
“Ouch. Guess one is wrong and hurtful.” His lips flick upward. “Lucky for you, I like it when a woman knows how to be a little mean, especially when they’re sweet on top.”
My stomach rolls with heat, and I swallow hard.
“You’re thinking… that New Year’s Eve is a meaningless celebration and that January 1st is just an arbitrary date that doesn’t change anything?”
“Wrong again. Well, I might actually agree with that one. But it’s not what I’m thinking. One last guess, Cassie.”
“You’re thinking…”
I pause, losing myself as we stare at each other. I can feel the heat radiating off him, can feel the fast thump of my heart in my chest. If I turn my head to the side, my cheek would press against the delicious, firm muscle of his arm.
I want to turn my head.
I want to bite his biceps.
It nearly shocks the breath out of me, just how much I want to do it. I want to do all sorts of dirty things I’ve spent my twenties not doing because I was too hyper-focused on my career to have much fun.
Oh, god, my career.
My head is dizzy, but that thought breaks through, just for a second. Just enough.
“I need some air,” I whisper. “I’ll—I’ll be on the patio.”
It’s torture, but I force myself to drag away from the vice-grip pull of his energy and rush off into the crowd.