“You mean Bradley?”
“I don’t know his name.”
The color was coming back to her face. Now she looked more confused than scared. “You called in a P.I. firm because you saw Bradley Slander kiss me?”
“I called in a P.I. firm because you spent the afternoon with Bradley instead of doing your job.”
“I was with him for two minutes.”
Cole snorted. “That must have been disappointing. And, by the way, if that was Bradley Slander, he sure hasn’t been scorned yet.”
“You think I was having sex with him?” Her question ended in an incredulous shout. Then silence took over the room and she stared at him with impressive indignation.
Okay, if her reaction was anything to go by at this point…
“You kissed him goodbye,” said Cole.
She paced across the room. “He kissed me. On the cheek. In public.”
“You didn’t exactly slap his face.”
“I didn’t exactly kiss him back, either. He’s smart, and he’s unpredictable. I just wanted him to go away.”
“I saw what I saw,” Cole insisted, but his voice was losing conviction.
“You saw him kiss me on the cheek, because that was all he did.”
“You didn’t have to smile.”
“I was gritting my teeth.”
Cole swallowed, allowing that he might not have connected the dots in precisely the right formation.
“Cole, I spent the afternoon researching the Thunderbolt. And I’d slit my wrists before I’d sleep with that man.”
Something relaxed inside Cole. Bad sign, he knew. But there was nothing he could do about it.
Her eyes burned an emerald fire as she moved closer. “And I’m insulted that you jumped to that conclusion. Just because I slept with you-”
“I’m sorry.”
“-doesn’t make me-”
“I’m sorry.”
She took a breath. “You’re a cad, you know that?”
He nodded. “I’m a cad.”
She poked him in the chest with her index finger. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
He nodded again. “I am.”
She poked him, and this time he captured her hand.
She looked up into his eyes and her voice softened. “I’m a very reliable person. I could get references.”
“I don’t need references,” he whispered.
She searched his expression. “Then what do you need?”
What did he need? He needed to be sure that emotion wasn’t overriding reason when it came to her. He needed to know she was on his side. He needed to know she didn’t have an ulterior motive.
She sighed into the silence. “Once, just once, do you think you could give me the benefit of the doubt?”
“Yeah,” he answered. “I will.”
“Good.”
He inhaled the scent of her hair and something primal rose up inside him. She might not have been interested in Slander, but Slander was sure as hell interested in her. Cole felt an overpowering need to stamp out the other man’s taint.
He needed to hold her, to kiss her, to remind himself that he was the one she’d made love with. It might be an over-reaction, but the blood of pillaging Vikings pounded through his veins. Ericksons took what they wanted, and Cole wanted Sydney.
He wanted her bad.
He bent his head, bringing his lips down onto hers. He forced himself to keep his arms by his sides. She could step away if she wanted. He wasn’t holding her, but he wasn’t holding back, either. He was going to kiss her until she told him to stop.
But she didn’t step away, and passion crested within him. His hands went to her hair. How he’d missed its satiny texture. He cradled her head, taking a small step forward, his body coming up against hers, her heat flaring against his skin.
“I missed you,” he whispered, the words almost painful. “I missed you so much.”
Had it only been a week since they’d made love? It seemed like an eternity.
“I missed you, too,” she sighed, her soft body snuggling into the hollows of his own. “I know you’re marrying someone else…”
“And I know this is just business for you…”
Their kiss deepened. He wished he could absorb her, keep her, bind her so tight she’d never touch another man. Never look at another man.
He plucked at the buttons of her blouse, needing to feel her satin skin once more.
Her blouse fell open and his fingertips skimmed their way over her stomach.
He covered one lacy cup, filling his hand with the weight of her breast. Her nipple poked into his palm and he wanted to rip off her clothes then and there. She wasn’t going near another man. Ever. Ever!
He didn’t care that it was only business. His hand convulsed around her breast, and the other went to her buttocks, dragging her tight against his body, leaving no question about the strength of his desire.
“Cole,” she moaned, her body going lax.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, supporting her slight weight.
“What you do…” she groaned.
“What you do,” he muttered back.
She wound her arms around his neck, holding him tight, her lips searing his skin.
“Cole, please,” she gasped.
“Anything,” he said. “Anything.”
“We have to go.”
“Huh?”
She stopped kissing, released him, her breath coming in short gasps. “We have to go to Miami.”
Cole felt as though he’d been bucked off and hit the dirt sideways. “What?”
“I found out… Gwen called… We need to go to Miami.”
He stared down at her open blouse, her lacy bra, the creamy breasts that mounded up like ambrosia. “Now?”
“Now. Bradley’s here. We can’t waste any time.”
Cole pulled back, irrational anger bubbling up at the mere mention of Bradley’s name. “Is that what you call this? A waste of time?”
She closed her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. “Don’t.”
Fine. Forget it. They’d drop everything and fly across the country to play hurry up and wait. “Sure, we’ll go to Miami.”
“You think I want to stop?”
“Just say it-you’re stopping, aren’t you.”
She tightened her jaw, bringing her hands up to her hips. “Cole Nathaniel-”
He froze at the intimate sound of his middle name.
“-I want you more than I’ve ever wanted any man in my life. And if I had my way-”
“You want me?”
“Yes.”
“But we’re leaving?”
“Yes! Bradley’s going to stake out the hotel.”
“But, you definitely want me.” Suddenly life didn’t seem so bleak. Miami was only four hours away. They could be there before morning. Nothing to do before the antique stores opened up…
She shook her head. “Yes, I want you. Should I make up a sign or something?”
“And you’ll still want me in Miami?” He’d take it in writing if she’d give it to him.
“Not if you don’t shut up.”
Cole grinned. “Shutting up now.”
“Good. Grab your bag.”
“Should I call a cab?”
“No. Let’s duck out the back way and catch one a few blocks down.”
He gave her a squeeze. “It’s sexy when you go all secret agent on me.”
She shot him a look of impatience. “Want meter is going down.”
“Shutting up again.”
“Good thinking.”
Nine
The minute the door swung shut on their Miami hotel suite, Cole pulled Sydney into his arms. Passion burst to life inside her, and she fumbled with the buttons at his collar, loosening his tie while he shucked his jacket.
She moaned her satisfaction, burrowing her face into his neck, inhaling deeply. She didn’t know what it was about his scent, but if they could bottle it, they’d make a fortune. She flicked her tongue out to taste his skin, then she suckled a tender spot near his collarbone.