There was no way in God’s creation he’d allow this opportunity to pass. For weeks, he’d been racking his brain to come up with a way to see her. No matter how hard he tried to not think about Elle, she constantly popped up in his thoughts.
Although seeming unsure, she lowered to the chair. Immediately, Buddy leaned over and proceeded to lick her hand, his large body shaking and tail wagging furiously.
Elle’s laugh made Sully smile. He’d have to reward Buddy later for breaking the ice.
“Be still, Buddy,” he commanded. With obvious reluctance, his dog obediently relaxed onto the ground, seeming happy when Elle continued to scratch behind his ears.
“He’s so well trained. I could use you with my cousins,” she said. Then seeming to realize her implication of them becoming friends, she swallowed visibly.
“What can I order for you?” Sully asked with a nonchalance he didn’t feel.
“Latte, with a shot of vanilla please.”
Elle looked down to Buddy who’d lowered his large head to between his paws. If only she could be as relaxed. Here she was, waiting on Sullivan Cole to bring her coffee and all she could think of was how to run to her car and leave. She felt too strongly about him, what sprung inside was a feeling that went right past attraction. It would be hard to not act nervous around him. His actions were disconcerting. If anything, she expected resentment. Instead he was cordial, very friendly and seemed genuinely glad to see her.
After all, she’d not accepted his apology and, for all intents and purposes, their last parting had been less than amicable. Way less then friendly.
When he reappeared and held open the door for two women who giggled with overly bright enthusiasm, Elle let out a long sigh. Sully was a dream.
He placed the latte on the table and looked to her bag, which she’d placed in the empty chair. “You’re not working.”
“I need to tell you something.” She waited for him to sit and leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. “When you came to my office to apologize. I should have accepted it.”
His gaze moved to the side as he considered her words. “Do you?”
“Yes. At that time I was angry and hurt. But I understand what happened.”
“My actions were not to be understood or accepted. I disrespected you and deserved what I got.”
They sat in silence for a while as she went over her emails and Sully took back to his book.
Taking a break from replying to emails, Elle opened a request for a quote and realized she’d received a great deal more work lately. Thankfully, due to the ranch and resort deal, she was able to be choosier about which jobs she accepted.
Over the laptop, she caught a glimpse of Sully. The corner of his mouth lifted at whatever he read and she had to admit that spending the afternoon at a café with a handsome man across the table would be hard to beat.
“What are you reading?” His hand covered the cover of the book so she couldn’t make the title out.
“Espionage Thriller.” He showed her the cover of a well-known author. “Helps me prepare for the week ahead.” With a boyish grin, he looked to her laptop. “I should probably do what you’re doing.”
“Everyone has their own way of relaxing. I spend my Saturdays and Sunday morning doing housework and spending time with my family or shopping. Sunday afternoons, I go over my email so I can be ready for Monday. Helps me not stress out too much in the morning.”
Sully remained quiet as she clicked her document closed and shut the laptop. When she slid it into the bag, he stretched. “Time to go?”
“I have to grab something to eat and get home.” As soon as she said it, hope sprung he’d want to join her. Truthfully, she’d been done with work over an hour earlier, but prolonged it to stay with Sully.
Oblivious, Sully picked up their empty cups and took them inside the shop. He returned and poured what was left of his water into a dog bowl and waited for Buddy to drink. “Where are you planning to eat?”
There it was. The possibility of more. “Probably a wrap from over there.” She pointed to a small restaurant with outdoor tables. “I love their chicken salad.” Elle hesitated. “Would you and Buddy like to join me?”
He looked to the restaurant and then to Buddy. “Sure. I’ll meet you there, let me walk him around and see if he needs to visit a bush or something.”
Moments later, they were seated at an outside table with huge wraps and soft drinks. Without the distraction of the book and laptop, Elle wondered a how conversation would go.
It turned out Sully was easy to talk to and they had many things in common, from music to movies. They even liked the same foods as they’d ordered exact lunches. That the afternoon went extremely well, surprised Elle. The nerves were gone and instead replaced with an easy feeling of getting to know someone.
Almost two hours later of interesting discussion, jokes and even more butterflies, Sully walked Elle to her car. She placed her bag on the seat and turned to say goodbye.
Sully stood close, his eyes looking from her eyes to her lips. “I’d like to see you again, Elle. Spend time with you.”
“I’d like that, too.” Elle replied just as his lips covered hers, Elle closed her eyes and gripped his shoulders. This time the kiss was not as chaste as the time before. Perhaps a bit too intense for being out in public, but the thought would not occur to her until later.
His arms circled Elle’s waist and Sully pulled her against him. Not wanting him to move away, she leaned against him and nibbled at his bottom lip. His body was hard and felt right against her. Sullivan Cole was in very good shape.
He was...
Perfect.
Nine
“I’m glad you cleared things up with the young man.” Her mother poured soda into a cup and lowered to sit next to Elle on the wicker loveseat at her mother's screened in porch. “I wondered how long before you bumped into each other.”
Elle let out a breath. “I am looking forward to our date. We seem to get along very well, but I still worry about all the women. He seems like a serial-dating-gigolo.”
Margie laughed. “I doubt he’s a gigolo. He’s very wealthy, so Sully doesn’t have to sell the goods.”
“Oh my God, Mom!” Elle laughed. “The goods?” She chuckled and her mother nodded.
Her mother patted her hand. “It’s all about grace dear. You shouldn’t judge based on perception. Let his actions and words speak to you, not what you hear or read about him. That’s where people go wrong all the time, allowing others to influence how they feel or see things.”
“You’re so right Mom. I am so lucky to have you to stop me from being crazy.”
She and Sully were going to see an action movie and then have a drink at a small pub Elle loved. Much to her amusement, he’d suggested the latest chick flick, which she wanted to see, but feared sobbing in front of him.
“Hopefully I won’t show up on the society pages as his latest conquest.” Elle flicked at a fly. “Shoo.”
“Did you hear? Your cousins are on dating sites. It’s going to be a hoot hearing what they’ve gotten into. I can’t wait for tonight.” It was family night at the Mexican restaurant and, of course, her aunt had already called to remind them.
“I have to agree with you on that one, Mom. It’s definitely going to be interesting.”
The office loomed and Sully hurried into the building. There would be a roomful of people waiting for him, partners surrounding the large conference table and secretaries fretting over whatever was demanded of them that morning.
Sully exited the elevator unable to keep from relishing the rush he always felt when facing the prospect of a day filled with work and problems to deal with.
“Mr. Cole,” a young man neared. “I am Phillip, Sharon Logan’s assistant. She is here and requests a word with you in private before the meeting.”
Sully glanced at his watch. “I don’t have time. Will barely make it in time...” He stopped midsentence at seeing the woman
stood inside his office.
As usual, everything about Sharon was attractive. Her long hair fell in waves past her shoulders. In a power red dress and black heels, her slim figure perfectly accentuated.
“Good morning, Sullivan. I just need a minute of your time.”
“Sharon. As you know, we have several execs waiting in the other room. I don’t want to waste their time. Perhaps after.”
“No now.”
“What is so important that it cannot wait?”
“I’m pregnant.”
His stomach clenched. “That’s not possible. We used precaution. And it was that one time about a month ago. Are you sure?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I’m going to keep the child.”
Immediately, his thoughts went to Elle and how he’d not have a chance to get to know her now. There was no way he’d allow a child of his to grow up without him in his or her daily life.
“We’ll get married.”
“Of course.”
She waltzed out of the office, not waiting to discuss anything further, leaving Sully reeling. His life had just taken a turn he’d not expected. No matter how shrewd or aloof Sharon was, he knew she’d not lie about something that could be easily tested.
The woman was as rich as him, if not wealthier and owned one of the biggest horse breeding programs in Montana.
“Sully, the meeting is about to start.” His assistant, Stacia, gave him a curious look. “Are you all right? You look pale.”
“I’m fine.
Just great.”
Elle could only stare at her cell phone display dumbfounded. The text was short and to the point. Sully cancelled their date and added he’d not be able to see her again.
When the first tear slipped down her cheek, she rushed to the door, closed and locked it. Leaning on it, she allowed more tears to fall. It was silly of course, to cry over someone she’d not started dating yet.
At the same time, something about him had felt so right. It was as if she’d been waiting her entire life for him. The peace in her soul, the lightness in her chest that came when spending time with Sully was like nothing before.
Finally behind her desk again, Elle wiped away tears and blew her nose. It was time to finally put Sullivan Cole in the past. He was not the man for her no matter what her heart demanded.
The phone rang and it was her cousin, Jennifer. “Hey you’re not going to believe what I just heard at work?”
Jennifer, who worked for the state protocol office, always had the best gossip. Most business executives came to her office on a regular basis with their assistants in tow. The bored underlings made for easy prey and if anyone could wheedle information from them it was Jennifer.
Elle smiled, glad for the distraction. “Tell me, what did you hear?”
“Phillip, Sharon Logan’s assistant told me his boss is preggers.” Jennifer waited for effect. “Guess who she says the baby’s daddy is?”
“Brad Pitt?”
“Close. Sullivan Cole.”
Elle’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?” Her voice elevated two octaves at the thought Sullivan was sleeping with someone while pursuing her. “That low down...”
“Wait,” Jennifer interrupted. “Phillip knows for a fact, Cole is not the father.”
Sometimes Jennifer’s flair for drama was a bit much. “How would Phillip know?”
“Oh honey, assistants know everything. The last time Sully slept with Sharon, she was already pregnant. She went to his place to purposely get some, just to set it all up.” Jennifer laughed. “I bet the girl outside your office can probably tell me how many times a day you fart.”
“Jenn...who’s the baby’s father?” Elle snapped, which made Jennifer excited at knowing she’d hooked her.
“It’s Randall Newman. The owner of the Double Wabble.” Double Wabble was a new franchise that sold hot dogs and steak strips encased in batter that was popular with teens. No one else seemed to like the food. Elle suspected the teens gathered because the Double Wabble logo looked suspiciously like twin phalluses.
“Seriously?”
“Newman’s assistant, Nancy, is a total bitch. I don’t like her. All about getting attention. But all I have to do is start acting like I’m jealous of her and she spills faster than an oil tanker in the Gulf of Mexico.”
It almost worked, Elle was curious to know more about Nancy. Instead, she focused on Sullivan’s issue. “Why would Sharon not want the guy, Randall, to know he's the baby’s father?”
“He’s greasy and slimy. I’m sure she was drunk when she did him. From what Phillip said, their fling lasted about a month. You think someone can stay drunk that long?”
“Eww. He is not very attractive if I remember the commercials. Is it the guy in the bright orange jumpsuit that parachutes into a huge bowl of batter?”
“That’s him. Isn’t the thought of Sharon with him totally wacky?”
Elle sighed. “I’m not sure about that. She’s attractive, but has that hard look about her. How does she plan to sell the baby off as Sully’s? He can get a DNA test. I’m sure she wouldn’t lie about something like that.”
“Phillip says Sharon is counting on Sully believing her because she never lies. Actually she lies a lot, but never gets caught. Also, Sharon told Phillip that he would have to seduce Sully’s secretary, to make sure she has the inside scoop on whatever Sully is doing. I’m calling Stacia next!”
“Oh my goodness. Is he going to do it?”
“Oh crap. Gotta go!” Jennifer hung up.
What to do about the situation? There was no way to warn Sully without throwing Phillip under the bus. She leaned forward, not exactly feeling better. So he’d had sex with someone since they’d met. Yes, the woman had purposefully seduced him, but nonetheless, it still hurt. Then again, she had no claim on him and their parting had been less than amicable.
There had to be a way to let Sully know. Perhaps if she put her mind to it, she could be as creative as Sharon Logan.
It turned out that evening the choice became easy. Elle sat back with a glass of water. She’d done her yoga routine and was ready for a lazy evening of television and the couch. Although her mind kept returning to Sully’s predicament, she decided to relax that evening and not worry too much over something she had little control.
At the sound of the doorbell, she groaned. Hopefully, it was a package being delivered. The delivery guy would usually ring once and leave, so at the second ding, she reluctantly got up.
Her heart did a double flip when Sully, framed by the doorway, gave her half a smile. “Need to talk. Got a minute or two?”
“Of course.” She moved back to allow him in only to be engulfed in a tight hug. It was not for her that he held on so tight. Sully needed reassurance so she rubbed his back and allowed the hug to linger.
When he finally released her, she took his hand and led him to sit. “How about a glass of water, straight up?” It was hard to keep her voice neutral when she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs and let him know the truth about Sharon.
The dejected man did not deserve to be lied to. It was obvious he was torn between the right thing to do and what he truly wanted.
After handing him the glass, which he emptied and placed on the coffee table, he remained still, not looking at her. “I want to apologize for cancelling. I told myself I would step away from you because of a sudden change in my life. But I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“I feel the same about you, Sully.” She nudged his shoulder with hers. “I need to tell you something. However, I can’t explain anything and I just need you to trust me on this.”
His darkened gaze met hers. He leaned forward and she allowed it. Her heart melted when his lips pressed against hers in a tentative yet sweet kiss. Eyes fluttering shut, Elle cupped his jaw loving the feel of his unshaved skin.
He moved back and nodded. “Okay, hit me. What do you need to tell me?”
“Ask for a DNA test.”
He blinked and frowned. “How did you know?”
“I’ll allow you this one question. Let’s just say one of my cousins has a lot of contacts. She calls me with gossip and inside info.”
“Who did she...”
She pressed her finger to his lips. “No more questions.” She reached for the remote. “Let’s watch people make stupid choices.” The latest episode of house hunting came on the screen and she settled back against him. “Relax, Sully, things will work out.”
When he let out a sigh and rested back putting his arm around her, Elle prayed Jennifer was right. Otherwise, this would be their last time together.
He began to nuzzle her neck, each press of his lips on the sensitive skin sent tingles of awareness through her entire body.
Although she suspected it was more out of need to be reassured that he was with her at the moment. She couldn’t help but want more and dragged her fingers through his hair and allowed her head to fall back exposing more of her throat.
It wasn’t the time to think. Not that she could’ve even if attempting to.
When she turned her mouth to him, the kiss turned from exploration to desperation.
It was impossible to hold back the need. God she wanted him so badly.
They were meant for each other, Elle was sure of it. All thought vacated her mind in that instant and nothing mattered more than to be with him.
Between heated kisses and caresses, she pulled Sully’s shirt over his head at the same time he removed her blouse. Barely able to keep from touching each other, their mouths fused, they tumbled back onto the couch dragging, pulling and tugging until all the rest of the clothing was done away with.
Sully was perfect, his well-formed body demanding exploration with her mouth and hands. Unable to resist, she pushed him back onto the couch and splayed her palms over his chest loving the feel of the taut muscles twitching at the touch.
While continuously massaging the skin Elle leaned forward to trail her tongue down the center of his chest. Sully let out a deep moan and cupped the back of her head an encouragement she didn’t need.
Montana Born and Bred Page 6