Take A Chance (Lake Placid Series Book 4)

by Natalie Ann

  “That’s a little hard to do when I’m flying the chopper.”

  “Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. So then what?”

  “I held the chopper steady, or as steady as I could, while the sniper took the guy out. We didn’t have a choice. It’s always the last option and we were out of options.”

  He hated that it happened that way. He hated that the odds were the teenage girl could have gotten hurt too, but they couldn’t risk him crossing the border with her. The troopers on the ground couldn’t get to them fast enough in the off-road terrain. It was him and the sniper, or no one.

  He was just glad he wasn’t the one to make the call, like when he was in the Air Force. Not this time. Someone else made those decisions, lived with the end results, and he preferred it that way. Instead, he had to be the one to hold it steady and pray the sniper hit his target.

  She nodded her head when he looked over at her. “Is the girl okay? I heard she was injured.”

  “She’s pretty beaten up, but she’ll survive.”

  He pulled his truck into the parking lot of a restaurant and shut it off. He was just ready to get out when she asked, “How do you feel about it? I mean, I’ve never had a patient die before. I’m not sure how I’ll feel about it if or when it happens. How does it feel to have someone die when you’re working?”

  No one had ever asked him that before. “I try not to feel anything more than knowing we saved a life.”

  “That does outweigh it, doesn’t it?” she said.

  Her easy acceptance humbled him. “It has to.”

  They walked into the restaurant. “Have you ever shot anyone before?”

  He held her stare once they were seated. “Just curious?”

  “Actually I am. I mean, you’re in law enforcement and you’ve been to war, I know that. So it’s kind of a stupid question, I guess.”

  “I haven’t directly shot anyone in my current job. I did in the Air Force.”

  “You still carry that weight around, don’t you?”

  She was too wise for her own good. “It’s hard not to.”

  “I’m sure. I’m sorry for texting you. I shouldn’t have. I don’t want you to worry about me back home imagining the worst. I think my mind got the best of me, but I’ll be more prepared next time.”

  He couldn’t tell if she was putting on a brave front or just being truthful. Probably a bit of both, and he surprised himself by saying, “I guess if I want to be honest, it’s nice having someone worry about me.”

  She reached her hand forward and placed it on his. “I’ll try to keep it to a minimum to make you feel better. You don’t need to worry about me while you’re working, so please don’t.”

  ***

  Later in bed, Cole pulled her close and hugged her tighter than he had before. He had an overwhelming urge to feel her body against his in peace for the moment. “Are you in pain?”

  “No, why?” she asked.

  “Because it’s not hard to miss your wince when I enter you. I tried to go slow. I expected it the first time, even on Sunday. I really didn’t expect it today.”

  She started to squirm and tried to pull away, but he didn’t let her go. “It’s not that really. I think I’m having a reaction or something.”

  “A reaction to what?”

  “The condoms,” she said. “I think it’s them, but I don’t understand it. I wear gloves at work, and have no problem at all.”

  “But this is different. A more sensitive area,” he said, guessing.

  He was surprised she seemed so embarrassed about this, especially coming from a medical perspective.

  “I’ll pick up another brand,” he said.

  “I’m on the pill,” she blurted out. “I’ve been on it for years.”

  He laughed. “Not to prevent pregnancy, obviously.”

  “Ha ha. No. For medical purposes. We could just use that as protection if you want. If you don’t, I’ll understand, too,” she rushed out to say.

  “If you’re sure?” he asked.

  He’d never been unprotected before, but surprisingly wasn’t opposed to it with her. That should mean something, but he compartmented that thought way back in his brain.

  “Yes. I mean, if I’m still having an issue, I’m going to be really bummed to think I’m allergic to sex.”

  Her disgruntled face lifted the last remaining weight of the day. “You’re one of a kind. I doubt that will be the case. I’ve got a clean bill of health. Unless of course you need to do a complete physical. You know…for medical purposes.”

  “You’re something else,” she said, kissing his chest.

  “Then I guess we go well together.”

  “I guess we do.”

  Approve

  “Look at you!”

  Rene turned around to see Cole standing in the open doorway of his bathroom, his dress shirt unbuttoned and hanging open, his black pants barely staying on his hips since he hadn’t fastened them yet. His feet were bare. There was nothing about him that turned her off and everything that made her want to strip him naked.

  “Too much?” she asked.

  “Not at all. This is a different side of you and one I’m enjoying.”

  She turned her back to him again, looked at herself in the mirror, and finished applying the last bit of shimmer around her smoky eyes. “Lip gloss or not?” she said, holding the tube up.

  “Yes, but not until after I’ve kissed you, or you’ll have to reapply.”

  He walked forward and reached his hands for her hips, then yanked her forward and kissed her hard. Who would have thought a little black dress, an updo, and some makeup would create that reaction in him?

  “If I’m lucky, I’ll be reapplying it all night,” she said with a giggle when he lifted his head.

  “Then you might get very lucky. It’s hard for me to believe you’re the same girl that was walking around with my T-shirt hanging down to your knees, wet hair, and your glasses on an hour ago.”

  “Good or bad thing to believe?” she asked.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure. I like how you change it up. I like the new you, I like the old you, and I’m loving you right now.”

  There was a roaring in her ears. He only meant the way she was dressed, how she looked. He didn’t mean he loved her. No, that wasn’t what he meant, even if she wished it were.

  “I’m glad to know you approve of all the sides of me.”

  He kissed her again, long and deep, and part of her just wanted to take her dress off and stay in with him tonight.

  “Oh. I approve all right. I’ll approve more when I get you out of that dress.”

  That was exactly what she wanted to hear. In the last month they hadn’t spent a ton of time together. It was difficult between his job and hers, but they were making it work. A few nights a week if they were lucky, maybe even a few stolen meals on breaks between them.

  As much as she’d like to spend more time with him, she understood the constraints of his job. She’d lost track of the number of times he was called in when he wasn’t scheduled.

  Her job didn’t seem to be much different right now, either. Especially the weeks she was on call…like this week. With any luck they could get through the dinner with no worries.

  “I can’t wait for you to help me out of it. Until then, I really want to see you all dressed up. Get to it, or we’re going to be late.”

  Stealing one more kiss, he turned and went back to his room. “Am I going to be the only date there?” he asked loudly.

  When Max had returned from his week off in February, to everyone’s surprise, he’d gotten married to Quinn. He’d said that since Quinn didn’t have any family other than her brothers and sister, and Max just had his kids and his parents for the most part, they married quietly that weekend in New York City, then took a few days for a short honeymoon.

  “Celeste will be there with Caleb. Nick and Mallory, and probably Amber and Ava with dates. Pamela’s spouse should be there, and I’m not sure about
Dena or the rest of the crew. Most everyone will be coupled up.”

  All the girls in the office had been upset when Max returned and they’d missed out on his wedding. Tonight was just a small get-together to celebrate. Something all the girls decided to pitch in for, despite Max and Quinn’s protests.

  When Rene had gone to Nick and Mallory’s to tell them Max had gotten married, Mallory had just laughed at her. “Of course I know, Rene. She was my maid of honor. You don’t think I’d be invited to her wedding?” Mallory had asked.

  Rene felt like a fool for not putting things together after the fact. She’d known Nick and Mallory went to New York the same weekend, but didn’t think anything of it.

  After glancing at herself one more time in the mirror and deeming herself as ready as she could be, she turned and walked back to Cole’s room.

  There he was, his shirt and pants buttoned up, and he was currently putting a tie on. She walked forward. “I’ve always wanted to do this to a man,” she said, reaching out and taking the ends of the tie from his hands.

  “Do I need to get you a stepstool?”

  “Very funny. But if you could squat down, that would help.”

  Instead he pulled her over to the bed, sat down and yanked her between his open legs.

  She got a little breathless there for a moment, then found herself and adjusted his tie just right. The same way her mother always did for her father when they were getting ready to go out for a night.

  She lifted her eyes to his, caught his stare, one of fire and possibly something deeper. Then she really wished the night could be had right here in his bedroom. The two of them, with no interruptions.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” he said smiling.

  “Probably the same thing you are,” she said back, cocking her head to the side.

  “Until later, then.”

  “I’m going to hold you to it.”

  ***

  Cole held the door to the restaurant open for Rene, then placed his hand on the small of her back, ushering her in to the private room.

  When he saw the long table, he was relieved to know he wouldn’t be sitting just with his sister alone, or heaven forbid, Rene’s brother. The last thing he wanted or needed was the undivided attention of the two of them.

  Unfortunately, an hour into the dinner, he realized there was no way out of it. Everyone had their eyes on him and Rene. It didn’t help any when Amber walked in and sat down next to Rene, then said, “I’m so glad you’re on call tonight so I can drink.”

  “You picked this date and did that on purpose,” Rene had said back, her eyes narrowing.

  “Yep, I did,” Amber said, laughing. “You don’t hold your booze well and you don’t need any liquid courage to talk to Cole now. You get to go home with him sober.”

  Rene had flushed in front of everyone, opened her mouth to say something, then closed it when she noticed Nick staring at her with a puzzled look on his face.

  “Is that why you were buzzing that night?” Cole whispered to her.

  “I want to just forget that night,” she said and looked away from him.

  He wouldn’t be deterred, though. Instead he turned her head and gripped her chin, then lowered his head and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Thanks for drinking too much wine that night,” he said softly for her ears only.

  Except when he looked up, all eyes were on the move he’d just made. Including his sister’s. The look she was sending him was one that made him want to grind his teeth. Fate my butt, he wanted to say, but didn’t. Not now and not here. But he knew there’d be a time when his sister would have him cornered, and tell him Rene and he were just meant to be. Fate, she’d say, and he’d deny it.

  The night seemed to progress just like that. It was as if Amber opened a can of worms and everyone had little remarks about his and Rene’s relationship. Nothing major, nothing embarrassing really, but a ton of attention that he didn’t want.

  If the looks Rene was giving everyone were any indication, she didn’t want it, either.

  It was kind of annoying that everyone was so focused on them. Throwing hints out almost, trying to find out what was going on, how serious they were, what their next steps might be.

  To him, he was fine with the way things currently were in their relationship. A few nights a week was working for him and it seemed for her. It’s not like she ever complained or asked for more time. It was a good thing. Sort of…

  It was early yet, barely two months, so he had no clue why everyone was making such a big deal about the two of them being together. Only, he knew it was the longest he’d been seen with someone before. And someone of her caliber.

  Someone who didn’t have flings, who was smart and sweet and naive, and someone who wouldn’t put up with him and his reputation. Though, honestly, he didn’t think his reputation was all that bad.

  “I can’t wait for this night to end,” Rene said quietly in his ear.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because I feel like everyone is waiting for us to jump each other, for us to argue, or me to cry.”

  He was glad to know he wasn’t alone in his thoughts. “I don’t think anyone is thinking exactly those things, but I understand where you’re coming from.”

  “At least Nick is behaving,” she said.

  “I didn’t expect otherwise.”

  “I know you two came to terms,” she said, sounding grouchy to his ears.

  “It’s what men do. Now your coworkers, they’re another thing. Are they like this with you at work?”

  “It’s worse at work. They’re being mild tonight.”

  It just proved to him once again Rene had a good sense of humor and could roll with the punches, because there was more than one comment sent around about her being tiny, the newbie, naive, sweet, tender, and let’s not forget something about weak around super powers. He wasn’t sure what that one meant, but most of the girls in her office burst out laughing when Amber made the remark.

  “Well, one night we’ll have to get together with some of my coworkers and their dates. They can be crude, but nothing like the sly remarks here.”

  “Oh, don’t let the girls fool you. They are plenty crude. Normally it’s directed at me or Max. Now that Max is married, they might let him off the hook. Then again, they might not. It will probably get worse for him, too.”

  “How does he feel about that?”

  “He laughs and tells them not to be so jealous. Honestly, it’s a good office. We have fun working and that helps. But, sure, I’d love to meet some of your friends.”

  He hadn’t realized he’d made that suggestion until she said that. He’d never really done that before. Brought anyone he was seeing around his coworkers. He’d never really dated anyone long enough to bring them to events or parties, just a night out in the bar, if that.

  Dinner had been cleared, and dessert was being set down. Celeste got up and made her way closer to them. He’d been happy she was at the other end of the table, but knew that she wouldn’t stay there for long.

  “Rene,” Celeste said, squatting down between them. “I was just telling Caleb that it’d be nice if Cole could bring you over for dinner sometime.”

  “I’d like that,” Rene said before Cole could stop her.

  What was he going to say? No, he didn’t want her anywhere near his sister, where she could start putting ideas in Rene’s head? Or worse yet start questioning Rene on all the things he’s terrified of? No, that wouldn’t go over too well.

  “Cole,” Celeste said. “Let me know which day works for you. Maybe one night next week when you’re not working, or before you go in?”

  “I’ll get back to you,” he said, squinting his eyes.

  She laughed at him. “See that you do, or I might have to stop into Max’s and visit the girls in the office for a little chat.”

  There was a subtle threat there, telling him his time was up in terms of avoiding his family in regards to his relationship with Rene.


  “We love it when you come in,” Rene said. “Especially when you bring desserts.”

  Amber, who was close enough to hear the conversation, jumped in and said, “Bring in something with liquor in it, so Rene loosens up and tells us more about Cole. She’s been a hard shell to crack.”

  Nick, who was just a few seats down, looked shocked. “Rene, hard to get information from? Are we talking about the same person?”

  “Maybe I don’t want everyone to know everything about my life,” she said sweetly.

  “That a girl,” Max said from a few spots over. “Put everyone in their place. They need it now and again.”

  “I’m trying,” Rene said.

  Cole slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Anyone who has a problem with it can come talk to me.”

  There was a bit of silence at that statement, and it wasn’t until he looked back at his sister that he realized why. She was staring at him with her jaw open. Too late he realized he’d almost snarled those words across the table in a threat.

  The first person to break the silence was Caleb. “Guess I’m the only one not afraid of that tone.”

  Cole dropped his arm down, then looked at his future brother-in-law. “You used to be.”

  “You’re more bark than bite.”

  “How about a ride in the chopper?” he asked, grinning.

  “Sure,” Caleb said. “I’m on to your tricks now.”

  After that, everyone went back to their own conversations and Cole put the last few minutes from his mind, wondering what the hell just happened and what everyone was really thinking about them now.

  No Idea

  “So you decided to stop avoiding me?”

  Cole sighed. He hadn’t technically been avoiding Celeste since Max’s dinner a few weeks ago. “I’ve been busy. Besides, if I was avoiding you, I wouldn’t have answered your calls or responded to your texts.”

  “Very true. But you and I know there is avoiding and then there is avoiding.”

  Celeste and her double meanings again. He chose to not comment on that either. “What’s up?” he said instead.