And her nipples.
Of course, she kept those hidden, but he’d seen their outline. That sight seemed to be branded on his eyeballs. He’d been stealing glances at her chest all evening, hoping to see them again.
This had to stop. This was the third time she’d touched him and he liked it too much. He, Slater and Flynn had made a pact of sorts that their employees would be off limits. It made sense. No one wanted the complications or the potential threat of a lawsuit. Also, it really was hard to find good help. Hiring new people was a pain in the ass, from interviewing to training. One person had the ability to disrupt the entire vibe of the staff and it was stupid to jeopardize their business unnecessarily.
“Yes, that hair is something. It’s real, isn’t it?” Ruth asked, then laughed when he gave her a look that said she had to be kidding. “So, because he’s such a handsome man and famous too, do you think he might fetch a high price at a bachelor auction?”
Cole almost spit out the sip of water he’d just taken. “Bachelor auction? What bachelor auction?”
Ruth smiled, all innocent-like. “My sorority sister is heading up a bachelor auction to benefit a battered women’s shelter. I want you to be one of the bachelors.”
Fedora gasped and smacked him on the arm. “You should do it.”
“What? No way. Bachelor auctions are offensive. I’m not a piece of meat.”
“What a surprise,” Fedora said. “The man objects to being objectified, like women are every minute of the day.”
“Hallelujah, sister,” Ruth said.
They actually high-fived.
Cole gritted his teeth.
He wondered if his mom had orchestrated this “one woman advantage” in order to convince him to agree. She surely hadn’t communicated with Fedora ahead of time, but in his experience, women stuck together when it came to feminist issues. Unfortunately, he didn’t see any way he could back his position without appearing like a hypocrite.
“Sorry,” he said. “Knee jerk reaction. It’s not the objectification I mind, it’s the fear that I’ll stand there like an idiot while no one bids on me. I’m nothing special.”
“You’re very special,” Ruth protested.
“As my mother, you’re legally bound to say that.”
“And you were an NHL player,” Ruth said. “Anyone who’s a hockey fan will be eager to spend some time with you.”
Cole shook his head. “Again, poll a hundred hockey fans and most of them most likely have never heard of me.”
“You know what?” Fedora said. “Here’s the thing about volunteering to help charities. It’s not supposed to be about you.”
His mother sat there looking smug.
Disgruntled, he said, “I’ll look at my calendar.”
Chapter 4
Fedora considered the evening a triumph. Her goal had been to dazzle Cole like he’d never been dazzled before, and judging by his reaction when he saw her in her orange halter dress, she’d short-circuited his little brain. What a moment that had been. She’d heard his knock, opened the door and the look on his face! Not to mention his inability to form a sentence. And his eyes had kept returning to her chest. That’s right, Boss Man, I have breasts. He’d been off his game almost all night.
Although maybe his mother had something to do with that. Watching their mother-son dynamic had fascinated Fedora. Ruth Ripley was quite a handful. Fedora still couldn’t quite believe she’d taught her how to say ass-face in Spanish. How could she blame Cole for being befuddled? He was only a man trying to keep up with two vivacious, clever women, after all. She almost felt sorry for him.
Yet if she were to be truthful, she’d felt a little off tonight too, probably because she was playing the role of girlfriend. There was a definite line between how friends acted and how lovers acted and Fedora had done her best to cross it, starting with that kiss on her doorstep. She chuckled to herself thinking about how that peck on the lips had derailed him so soon after he’d regained the power of speech. It was so much fun to fluster him, she’d found herself touching his hand or his shoulder, and even sliding her fingers through his hair, just so she could see his reaction.
Problem was she wanted to do that some more. She’d always thought Cole was hot for an older guy. He had a rocking body with toned arms and legs and rock hard abdominals—at least she assumed they were rock hard. She’d never actually touched them. His hair had just enough gray in it to make it interesting and his crinkly eyes…to die for. But he was her boss and this was all a sham.
Too bad.
“I’ll be right back,” Cole said to his mom, when they pulled up to Fedora’s apartment building.
“Don’t worry about me,” Ruth replied, taking out her phone. “I’ll play this game I’m addicted to.”
As soon as they were out of earshot of the car, Cole said, “Hey, I thought we agreed it was just going to be this one date and that was all. Why did you agree to meet her tomorrow?”
Someone had his boxers in a twist.
“Same reason you agreed to do the bachelor auction. Your mom’s Jedi mindpower,” Fedora said. “If she were President of the United States, I swear she’d have Congress eating out of her hands. It’s just a cooking lesson. I promise I won’t tell her we’re engaged or anything. I want to learn how to make real wonton.”
“Well, be careful,” Cole said, glancing over to where his car was parked. “I think she likes you too much.”
Fedora laughed. “No such thing.”
“I’m serious, Chevy. She really likes you, so when I end up telling her we broke up, it’s going to really disappoint her.”
“Are you saying I should have been a bitch tonight? Because I didn’t get the memo on that.”
“No. I…I just didn’t think this through.”
“Agreed. You shouldn’t have picked someone as likable as me,” she said with a smile. She patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. I can plant the seeds if you want. Tell her that I’m not interested in settling down or something.”
“Yeah, that’d be good, I guess.”
They got to the second floor landing and Fedora got her keys out. “Okay. Thanks for dinner. It was fun.”
When she went to unlock the door, Cole said, “You’re forgetting something.” He took her by the shoulders in a light grip and turned her toward him. “My goodnight kiss.”
He was standing so close, uncomfortably close. She was suddenly extremely aware of his masculinity. And his cologne was faint but amazing. She shook her head as if to clear it.
“Sorry. I forgot,” she said, more flustered than she wanted to admit.
Her heart was beating much faster. Even though she’d kissed him just a few hours ago, this was different. Last time, she’d initiated it, a quick surprise strike. It had amused her to knock him off balance. Now the shoe seemed to be on the other foot.
“Your mom’s probably not even watching,” Fedora said. “She doesn’t seem to be the peeping tom type.”
He got even closer. “You never know,” he said in a low rumbly voice that didn’t even sound like him. He brushed a thumb over her jaw and she almost jerked back.
“Cole, come on. Stop fooling around. Just kiss me and get it over with.”
“I’m not fooling around. There’s no way we can get away with the kind of kiss you gave me before. Hello kisses are much different than goodbye kisses and you know it.”
She put her hands on his chest in an attempt to keep him from getting too close, but it turned out to be a big mistake. He was all muscle.
The last guy she’d been with had not been athletic. In fact, he had a slight pair of man boobs, which she’d found a little off-putting. Cole’s pectorals were solid with zero fat and she had to resist the urge to run her hands all over them.
“Stop cringing,” he said. “I ate like five breath mints in the car.”
“I…it’s just weird. That’s all. Apurate. Your mom’s going to wonder what’s going on.”
He smile
d as he put his large, warm hands on her waist. “My mom knows exactly what’s going on. Put your arms around my neck,” he said.
She did, gingerly, awkwardly. Her heart was banging inside her chest and while part of her wanted to escape to the safety of her apartment, certain tingling parts of her wanted to see if he was a good kisser.
“And relax,” he said in that low, surprisingly seductive voice. “You’re not getting a root canal. It’s a kiss.”
“Okay, okay. Just stop talking about it.” Exasperated, she grabbed his head, pulled it down and plastered her lips to his.
She did her best to keep her lips shut while making it look passionate, like in movies from the forties where the kiss was supposed to be ardent, but it was clear no tongues were in action. But Cole had other ideas.
Her lips were tightly pressed together, while his were soft and pliable. He was stroking the small of her back, under her denim jacket and she could feel the warmth from his body even though their torsos were inches apart. So many feelings swirled inside her—confusion, surprise, reluctance…and a flicker of desire. He nibbled at her lower lip temptingly, patiently and she couldn’t help but respond. It had been a while since she felt so deliciously alive. Her arms, so stiff just a moment ago, relaxed. She gave in to temptation, pushed her hands through his hair again and kissed him back.
The reaction was immediate.
Cole opened her mouth with his and his tongue swept in. The desire that had been dancing on the edges of her consciousness flared hot and strong. Lord, the man could kiss. There was no question who was in control here. Cole drew her firmly against his lean, hard body and took possession of her mouth. She couldn’t resist the pull of his unleashed sexuality. She didn’t want to. She didn’t want the kiss to end. Need and want won over caution, especially when his hand slid from her lower back down to her butt cheek.
He squeezed.
She moaned.
Holding onto his shoulders, she hooked her leg around his hips so she could feel the firm ridge of his cock against her sex.
Again, the reaction was immediate. Without breaking the kiss, Cole pivoted and pressed her up against the door while his hand closed around her bare thigh and slid to her butt. Bending his knees slightly, he rocked against her and the pleasure made her moan again. She had to stop this before it went too far—like all the way into her bedroom. But it felt so good. Just a little while longer…
“Busquense un cuarto!” came a male voice from the street level.
Her body sang at the suggestion of “getting a room.” They were both breathing hard and she was more excited than she’d been in a very long time. But sanity squelched that impulsive idea. She had a hard rule against dating her boss.
“Cole. Come on,” she said after tearing her mouth away from his. “Your mom’s waiting for you.”
He sighed, touched his forehead to hers. “Damn. I knew that. I really did.”
With obvious reluctance, he let go of her butt and she removed her leg from his hip. Her dress fell into place and when he took a step back, the sudden chill made her shiver.
“I’m not sorry that happened,” he said. His brown-eyed gaze pinning hers.
She considered then shook her head. “Me either. But it complicates things.”
“Yes, but I need to get my mom home. She’s had a long day. We’ll talk tomorrow, okay?”
“Sounds good.”
He gave her one last searching look then turned and went down the stairs. She stepped to the railing to watch him go. Her lips and various other parts of her body throbbed in the aftermath of that searing embrace. That had been a game-changer kiss. Up until then, she could have continued to see him as good old Cole Ripley, ex-hockey player turned brewpub owner, happy go lucky boss with an eccentric mom. Now, that was clearly impossible.
As Cole returned to the car, he tried to get a hold of himself. What had just happened? One minute he’d been irritated that Fedora had made plans to learn how to make wonton with his mother. The next he was making a move on her.
Fedora!
She was his employee, but one he considered a friend. What the fuck was he doing grabbing her ass?
Stupid fucking question. He was losing his mind and letting his dick take over, something that hadn’t happened since he was in his twenties. Said dick was still stiff and eager, making it difficult to walk normally down the stairs. He slowed his pace, rolling events over in his mind.
His awareness of Fedora as a woman had simmered under the surface all evening, starting with her makeover from sexless to stunning, the ambush kiss, the casual touches, and most of all, the unforgettable sight of those nipples. More times than he cared to admit, he’d thought about teasing them with his fingers, his mouth, his teeth. Fuck. It had been unsettling, what with his mother sitting right there next to him. He’d alternated between lust and self-castigation for hours, so it wasn’t surprising that he’d leapt at the first opportunity to take action.
But what had made him blow it and lose control? Returning to the “scene of the crime”? The crime being the Pageant of Nipples?
Really, it didn’t matter what caused the lapse in judgment. It had happened and tomorrow he’d have to deal with the aftermath.
When he got back into the car, his mom said, “That must have been some goodnight kiss.”
You don’t know the half of it, he thought.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. She’s so pretty and so nice. No offense, but she’s nothing like the women you usually date.”
“Gee, thanks,” he said, glancing over.
She batted at his arm. “You know what I mean.”
“No, I actually don’t.” He felt a little surly from sexual frustration and he shouldn’t have been taking it out on his mom, but there it was.
“I mean Fedora is the type of girl I could see you settling down with. She’s the whole package. She’s beautiful, which is normal for you, but it’s a casual beauty, not a calculated one.”
He glanced at her. “I still don’t get it.”
“All right, remember Tony Grobinski?”
“Tony…?” He frowned, searching his memory. “Little jerk from peewee hockey?”
“The same. He used to walk around like he was God’s gift. He was good and he knew it and he made sure everyone else knew it too. Now, think about Flynn. He was ten times, a hundred times better than Tony, and he never flaunted it, he never made it seem as if he was aware of his skill, nor did he expect you to pay homage to it. That’s your Fedora. She’ll never be a flaunter. That’s why it didn’t work out between you and Megan. You didn’t do enough to feed her ego. You couldn’t have done enough. Fedora is a grown-up who doesn’t need you to do that for her. If there’s a sudden rain, she’ll laugh and dance around in it, not get angry because it ruined her hair.”
Cole realized his mom was absolutely right. Megan had been his last relationship. She was beautiful and smart, and great in the sack, but mercurial and clingy. Unlike Fedora.
Fedora was everything he liked in a friend and nothing he expected in a lover. But could she crossover and be a lover? Judging from that volcanic kiss just now, the answer was a resounding yes. Did she want to? Again, if he were to guess, he’d say that her ardent response meant she did, but was that a road they both wanted to go down? Because there was still that pesky boss-employee problem and the agreement he’d made with Flynn and Slater.
Chapter 5
Fedora stopped at the grocery store on the way to Cole’s house to pick up the ingredients for the wonton. Ruth had given her a list—bone-in pork chops, green onions, ginger root, shrimp, canned bamboo shoots, and wonton skins—and Fedora had offered to pick them up. In culinary school, she’d learned how to make dishes from many different cultures, but no matter how skilled the instructor, there was no comparison between school learning and learning from someone’s mother. In Fedora’s experience, mothers made the best teachers. They possessed an authenticity that often transferred in the ac
t of teaching and Fedora knew that even if Ruth had written down her recipe in great detail, her wonton wouldn’t come out as good as if Ruth showed her, one on one.
Having never been to Cole’s house before, she used a GPS app to find her way. Cole lived in Coronado, like a lot of current and retired Barracudas. Coronado had some of the most valuable real estate in California. It wasn’t unusual for homes to sell for seven figures.
Cole’s house didn’t fall into that category, but it was still head and shoulders above the shabby apartment building Fedora lived in. The Cape Cod-blue two-story looked modest and well-maintained. Lilies and birds of paradise brought a burst of color to the yard. His front porch had an old-fashioned swing, but unfortunately, his welcome mat had a dead bird on it.
“Hey,” Cole said when he opened the door.
“Watch out there,” she said, pointing.
He looked down and grimaced. “That’s a present from Harry.”
Fedora had heard of Harry’s championship hunting skills. Cole said he’d brought down so many birds, he felt obligated to hang cat-proof feeders from his upper balcony to try and make up for it.
“One of the reasons I don’t have a cat,” she said, sidestepping the tiny carcass.
“Cats are great.”
As if knowing they were talking about him, Harry padded over and rubbed his flanks against Cole, weaving between his legs.
“Cats are snobs.” As Cole took the grocery bag, Fedora circled the cat. “Hello, Harry. Nice to see you, Harry. See? He’s totally ignoring me. I don’t think he even knows his name.”
“He needs to get to know you first, that’s all.”
“Nice place,” she said as he shut the door.
“Thanks. I’ll give you a tour later. Is there anything in here that needs to be refrigerated? My mom’ll be here in a few minutes.”
“Yeah, there are some pork chops in there. And the wonton skins should be kept cold too.”
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