“Good morning.”
Rachel tilted her head back to meet his gaze full-on. “Morning.”
“It’s not good for you?”
Trying for nonchalance, she shrugged. “Semantics.”
“Semantics, I care about, so I’ll ask you again. Is it a good morning?”
Deciding to go for honesty since she was standing there butt-ass naked, she nodded. “One of the best in a long time.”
“I’m pleased to hear it,” he admitted as he stepped back. “So, what time should I expect you tonight?”
Rachel quickly went over everything she had to do, but she found it was difficult to concentrate while she was so…jeez, naked!
“Uh, would you mind if we have this conversation after I’m dressed?”
“Yes, I do mind. I actually prefer you naked.”
Rachel scoffed, “Like that’s a huge surprise.”
“So? What time?” he pushed as though she hadn’t even asked a question.
“Well, I only work at the flower shop today until four. Exquisite is closed on Mondays, but I do need to call Mason and tell him I won’t be able to make dinner.” Thinking about that for a moment, she winced at the twenty questions she knew she would get. “Actually, maybe I’ll call Josh.”
“Why Josh?” Cole immediately questioned.
Rachel warily lifted her gaze to him. He seemed to notice her reaction because he rephrased the question.
“I was just curious why you would call him. I didn’t realize you were that close.”
Rachel nodded. “He’s like a brother to me.” She then raised her chin. Challenging him, she asked, “Is that going to be a problem? Because if it is, we might as well forget this whole thing right now.”
Cole moved away and walked over to the clothes valet. He lifted his wallet and slid it into his back pocket. He turned and walked back to her, holding out his phone. “No problem. Why don’t you give him a call?”
Rachel took the phone and looked him in the eye. “I feel weird calling him with no clothes on.”
Cole gave her a look, conveying to her that her lack of clothing was the least of her worries, as he dropped down on his knees before her. “Then, you’re going to feel really weird with what I have planned. Call him, Rachel.”
Looking up at her from where he was kneeling, Cole wondered what the fuck was the matter with him. He needed to get out the door and to the office. But when he had walked into his room to say good-bye, he had seen her standing there, naked, except for the little black ribbon, and his cock had different ideas.
He needed one more taste.
He heard her dial the number, and as she waited, resting up against the wall, she glared down at him. He reached up and flicked the little hood piercing he was now fascinated with. He knew he was a perverted fuck, but as the phone must have connected, he couldn’t help the grin that pulled at his mouth when she realized what just happened.
Rachel stared down at the man at her feet. He was such a contrast, kneeling there in his perfectly tailored suit, and she had to admit the sight completely turned her on. She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t realized what the sneaky jerk had done until the call connected and Josh’s voice came over the line.
“Cole? Really? You’re calling me at six thirty in the morning? Man, you need to get a life.”
Fuming, Rachel pulled Cole’s phone away from her ear and aimed furious eyes down at the man who was now blowing a warm breath between her thighs. Reaching down, she gripped his hair and tugged his head away from her body. Unrepentant, he grinned at her and raised a questioning brow as if to say, What do you want me to do about it?
Pulling the phone up to look at it, Rachel quickly hit the end button. She was about to toss it on the bed when it rang like a fire alarm in her hand. Cole chuckled as she glared at him.
Against her flesh, he whispered, “I dare you.”
“I don’t care. If I answer this, it is going to cause mass chaos.”
“And do you really want me to answer it?” he asked her calmly.
Good point. There was no telling what he would say. Nope. It could go straight to voice mail. She hit the off button and threw it on the bed.
Cole kissed her hard between her legs. Then, rising to his feet, he gave her a kiss that almost blew her mind.
Who knew the suit would have such a dirty side?
“You need to tell them, so they don’t worry.”
“I will.”
“Where’s your phone?” he questioned.
“It’s in my bag by the front door.”
Cole nodded once and gave her another quick kiss. “Wait here.”
As he left the room, Rachel was shallow enough to take a moment and think he looked just as good leaving as he did coming. Literally. So, she stood with her back and ass against the wall until he walked back in. He handed her the phone and waited patiently for her to dial the number.
Bossy man.
When the phone connected, Josh answered for the second time.
“Rachel? Jesus, what’s with everyone this morning?”
She laughed at the grumble in his voice. Even as a teenager, he had never been a terrific morning person.
“Sorry to wake you, Josh.”
“You didn’t. Someone else did.”
Her eyes flew to the larger-than-life presence standing in front of her with his arms crossed.
“So, um…I’m not going to be able to come to dinner tonight, and I was wondering if you could let Mase know.”
There was a pause. As she stood there naked, she felt as though he could see her through the phone, and her guilt made her think he was about to call her out.
“So, why not tell Mason yourself?” he asked, his voice groggy.
“Well, um…that’s a great question,” she hedged.
She locked eyes with Cole’s. Rolling his eyes, he reached out and grabbed the phone from her. Rachel squeaked as she slapped at his hand and tried to get it back. In hindsight, she realized she must have looked extremely ridiculous, but that didn’t bother her one bit. What bothered her was the fact that Cole was about to—
Yep, too late.
“Joshua?” Cole waited for his friend and business associate’s brain to catch up.
“Cole?”
“Yes. Rachel is here with me.”
He waited for one, two, three seconds, and that was when the question came.
“What the hell is she doing with you at six thirty?” Josh paused. “Is she in jail?”