Madalina met Cole’s gaze, then followed him deeper into the suite, through a doorway into a separate bedroom. He turned to walk backward, one brow arched up, as if to say, This is new. And it was. Madalina took the initiative, closing the distance when the back of his knees hit the bed, and peeled his shirt up over his head. There wasn’t any reason to try and pretend like they didn’t both want this—she knew better. Their scorching glances, hot kisses, and simmering passion were only precursors to what came next.
Branding his chest with nips and suckling kisses, she mapped the topography of his skin with her palms, sliding over sinewy muscle and the hard ridge of his hips. When her hands skimmed around back, she encountered the cold steel of a gun in his waistband. It was a reminder of how deadly he could be. Slipping it from its hiding place, Cole set the weapon on the nightstand without a shift in attention and allowed her to explore at her leisure. As thoroughly as they’d loved each other before, there were still countless places on his body to discover. When he skimmed both hands into her hair, tipping her head back away from his chest, Madalina met his eyes. She got lost in the intensity of his gaze, the way he let her know with just one look how much she affected him.
“I’m glad you’re here. I want you to know that this is all of me. I don’t have anything else to hide, nothing else I’m not telling you,” he said in a quiet voice.
After a moment she said, “I believe you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
The following morning, after a particularly hot shower and while Cole was downstairs securing breakfast, Madalina fished out her phone to give Lianne a call. She didn’t want to leave her friend in the dark any longer than she had to. Lianne answered in the middle of the first ring, sounding as if she’d been up for hours.
“Madalina! I’m so glad to hear from you. Tell me what happened last night. Cole didn’t give me any details,” Lianne said.
“I know. That’s why I’m calling you now. I wanted to check on you to make sure you’re okay and to tell you that Cole got me away from the agents. They took me right out of your house—which was why we didn’t want you to stay there overnight. Anyway, I’m safe, and I’m glad to know you are, too.” Resting in a chair by the window, one leg curled beneath her, she stared out at the bright, sunny morning.
“Of course, I’m okay. Where are you now? In a hotel somewhere?”
“Yes. Cole and I had a long talk before we came here to get some sleep. He’s down getting coffee and something for breakfast, so I thought I’d call you real quick.”
“Ugh. I’m telling you, Mad, it’s torture not being able to go home. Mrs. Bartell is fine and all, but I miss my privacy. I miss my things.”
“I know. Cole will be turning the dragon over day after tomorrow, so hopefully everything will get back to normal.” Or almost normal. Madalina had no idea what she would do once the threat was over. Going back to her usual routine at the boutique seemed underwhelming after all this.
“And how are you feeling about that? You changed your mind about the dragon—I didn’t expect you to,” Lianne said.
“You know, when it comes right down to it, the dragon just isn’t worth the heartache. I can’t keep looking over my shoulder the rest of my life. Besides that, the agents started threatening to question my family and friends, and although I knew it was a possibility, hearing it in real time did something to me. I don’t want to worry about them going after you or Mom and Dad. Cole’s right. It’s not worth anyone’s life. I can be stubborn about things, but this time I have to let it go.”
“So you really did decide to forgive him. You’re absolutely positive he’s not using you again?”
“I feel pretty confident that he’s told me the truth about everything. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here. I’d be with you at Mrs. Bartell’s, wishing we could go home.”
“Just how serious are things getting between you and Cole, anyway?”
“I’m not sure how serious. He’s made it clear that he came back for me, though, and that I’m the first woman that he’s ever wanted to get to know more intimately. As upset and angry as I was over his duplicity, I have to admit—I’m more attracted to him than I’ve ever been to anyone else. It’s not just the sex—which is fantastic—but all the little things. The way he smooths the hair back from my brow, the tender kisses he’s capable of, the vicious way he protects me when I’m in danger. It’s all of that and more. I can’t help but be overwhelmed by him. And I want more. I want to see where we’ll go after the agents get the dragon back.” She took a deep breath in the aftermath of the unexpectedly long reply. When discussing Cole West, Madalina could go on for hours.
“It sure sounds like you’re in deep to me. Does he know you prefer more serious relationships? You’re not the type to flit around from guy to guy, and I don’t mean harmless flirting. Anyone can do that.”
“He knows. What’s ironic is that he doesn’t usually get involved for more than a night or two. Sometimes I wonder if he’ll suddenly get tired of me, and that’ll be that. There’s nothing I can do if that happens, but I hope it doesn’t,” Madalina admitted.
“Yeah, I can see where you’d be eyeballing that sideways. I wouldn’t get too hooked up on him if I were you. Wait and see what the next six months bring. Is he going to stick around after you get this problem taken care of?”
Madalina opened her mouth, then closed it again. For several moments, she wasn’t sure what to say. “Honestly, we haven’t gotten that far. We’ve been tentatively overcoming the other things that needed fixing. He’s mentioned introducing me to his family, but I got the impression it wasn’t a big deal. That meeting the family in his eyes isn’t the same as some people make it out to be. Important, sure, just not a commitment in itself.”
“I get what you mean. Meeting the family sometimes has serious overtures. It’s good he wants you to meet them, though, even casually,” Lianne said. Then she added, “I just hope he doesn’t take you away from here. What will we do with the boutique?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Madalina hastened to assure her. “I’m not leaving Southern California. This is my home, and that’s our business. We’re lucky we’ve got a manager and part-timers to take our place in an emergency, but I don’t want to leave it after all this work. I’m not going anywhere.” Even as she spoke the words, Madalina considered the odds of whether or not she would follow Cole back to Rhode Island.
A nagging voice inside insisted that she might not just follow him to Rhode Island, but anywhere he decided to go.
“Hey, Brandon. What’s the news on the dragon?” Cole, balancing a tray of food and two cups of coffee in his hands, stepped into the elevator. He punched the button for the correct floor, phone trapped between his shoulder and ear.
“Brother—man, it’s about time you called,” Brandon replied in a buoyant voice. “The guy here, Radnee, has made impressive progress. Worked all night, and he’s almost done. What’s going on with you?”
“Good, good. How does it look? It’s all right on my end. I managed to get Madalina away from the agents. We’re waiting for the meeting to transfer the dragon.”
“Looks like a dead ringer. You know, you could have called me if you needed an extra hand.”
“I need you there to guard the dragon. I’m pretty sure the agents won’t try anything, but we’ve learned in this business to never say never. It’s just a waiting game now.” Cole stepped into the hallway once the elevator doors opened.
“Here’s what happens next. I want you to bring both dragons to the hotel—Thaddeus already gave you that information—and drop the replica outside my door. Text me before you do it, so I know it’s there. Keep the real one with you and rent a room here for tomorrow night. The next day, when I take the original to the fair, guard Madalina’s room. No one in or out. Including her.”
“You don’t want me going to the festival with you?” For th
e first time, concern tinted Brandon’s reply.
“I’ll be fine. It’s her I’m worried about. I don’t expect trouble—and it seems that’s exactly when trouble strikes. This time, I intend to be doubly prepared. So guard her room while I’m gone. I don’t think I’ll be longer than an hour or so.” Cole paused outside the hotel room and fished out his key card from a front pocket.
“I don’t like it, Cole, but if that’s what you’re determined to do, then I’ll provide backup where you need it,” Brandon said.
“Excellent. See you soon.” Cole ended the call, juggled the tray, the phone, and the card, and let himself in the door.
Twenty-four hours later, on the evening before Cole returned the dragon, Madalina stood before a mirror in the bedroom and turned a half circle. The hem of the 1940s-style dress flared prettily around her legs, showing off a modest bit of calf. Cinched at the waist with a three-inch-wide belt, the floral design complemented her hourglass shape and was a refreshing change from the jeans and T-shirt she’d been wearing the last two days. Somehow, she’d managed not to complain about rewearing old clothes. Cole had accepted a delivery earlier in the afternoon that changed everything; he’d packed her off to the bedroom with a dress box and shoe box, blocking whatever else he had in the hall with his body. He was full of surprises, and she loved it.
The last two days had been filled with long conversations, endless hours between the sheets, and witty banter here and there to add a little levity to the serious mood. Now, here she stood, attired in a new outfit that Cole must have picked out, waiting for him to call her out to the living room. Because she sensed he was pulling out all the stops, she’d styled her hair in gentle waves and applied a light layer of makeup (that he’d provided along with the dress).
She had no idea what was going on, but appreciated the diversion. Thinking about Cole’s trip tomorrow to return the dragon had weighed heavy on her mind.
A cordial knock at the bedroom door drew her attention.
“Come in,” she called, smoothing her palms down the skirt.
Cole swung the door wide and smiled. Attired in a fine suit of steel gray and white, with black polished shoes, he looked dapper and elegant. The shadow of whiskers she’d grown so used to feeling against her skin when they kissed was gone.
“You look lovely,” he said.
“And you look . . . devastating.” Madalina marveled over the change.
“Well, don’t stand there gawking. Come out here.” He held out a hand.
Madalina stepped across the room, placed her hand in his, and let him lead her into the living area. Three vases of white lilies decorated the suite near the small table, which now sported several covered plates of food and freshly poured glasses of wine.
Putting his mouth near her ear, he said, “I thought we deserved a little something different tonight.”
Cole enjoyed watching Madalina’s expression shift when she spied the flowers and table laden with food. She looked more than pleased.
“No one’s ever brought me flowers before,” she confessed.
“It’s suitable, then, that I’ve never given any to a woman before you.” He led her to the table and pulled out a chair. Once she was seated, he dusted a kiss on her brow.
Madalina tilted her head back to stare at his eyes. “Really?”
“Really.” Winking, he circled the table and settled across from her.
“Not even a corsage for your prom date?”
“How do you know I even went to the prom?”
“Because I bet you were a jock in high school, which means you played baseball or football, and almost all the jocks go to prom. It’s a see-and-be-seen type of thing.”
“I did play football—”
“Don’t tell me! Defensive lineman. There’s no way you played QB.”
He laughed. “You follow football. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. I figured you’d rather be out on shopping excursions, or with friends having drinks rather than watching a game. And no, I didn’t play QB. I was a defensive end.”
“I knew it. So, did you go to the prom?”
“Yes, I did. My date was—”
“A cheerleader.”
“—was the entire defensive line. We all went stag.” He uncovered their plates, setting the lids aside on a trolley.
Madalina gasped, then laughed. She had such a delightful laugh. Cole decided there’d been too little of it in their acquaintance so far. He asked, “What about you?”
“You’re the reason girls like me had a hard time getting a date at all. I went with Percy Leeling, who happened to be the fifth name on the I need a prom date fast list that circulated the weekend before prom. Yes, I was that desperate. If you were hoping to get the prom queen or the head cheerleader or something, you’re way off base with me.” She picked up her fork and stabbed a black olive.
“I would have pegged you as prom queen, no problem. Were you a total nerd in high school, or what?” He couldn’t stop chuckling over the idea of a prom date list.
“Nerds need love, too,” she said in a simpering voice.
He laughed. “Yes, they do. A certain nerd in particular will get even more love later on tonight.”
Covering an amused noise with her napkin, she changed the subject. “Seriously, you didn’t have to do all this. But I love it.” She made a vague gesture to the flowers, the food. The outfits.
“I know I didn’t. I wanted to. Besides, I figured you were about ready to crawl out of your skin without a new change of clothes. I sent your other ones down to be cleaned.”
“You know me well for such a short acquaintance. Every time I get near my duffel bag, we wind up on the run or something, and I’m stuck without anything.” She ate the olive, then sipped the wine.
“Tomorrow, after the exchange, we’ll make sure we get you your things.” He ate almost everything on his plate, enjoying the comfortable atmosphere. He didn’t rush and didn’t rush her. Dinner—lemon chicken and steamed vegetables—went over well. Cole found himself distracted often by Madalina while she ate, with her peculiar habit of cutting everything into tiny bites, and the small sips that left a vague imprint of her lips on the glass, as red as the wine within. The companionable silence, broken only by the tink and clank of utensils on fine china, was a welcome respite from the conversation he knew they needed to have. In the aftermath of the meal, he could avoid it no longer.
“All right. So here’s how tomorrow will go down. I’m going to meet the Chinese agents at the Summer Festival—”
“Are you positive that’s the best place? There will be hundreds and hundreds of people there.” Madalina frowned.
“That’s the point. I want a lot of people around.”
“So the men don’t try to make a move on you?”
“Yes. Before, they’ve had the element of surprise. This time, I’ll be able to get someone’s attention immediately if I need to. Anyway, I’ll make the exchange near the funhouse at four o’clock, and then I’ll wait until they depart before leaving myself. I wanted you to know the timeline so you won’t worry.” Cole resisted an urge to reach over and drag a thumb across Madalina’s appealing mouth. Addicted to the supple softness, he dredged up memories that threatened to distract him from the topic at hand.
“Cole?”
“Hmm?” He jerked himself out of his own thoughts, inwardly amused that she had such an effect on him. The dark layers of her hair fell loose around her face, a mane of black that had felt silky and slinky every time he’d run his fingers through it. Her eyes, though. He got lost in the pale blue color, happy to drown in her effortless sex appeal. Sex appeal she didn’t realize she had.
“You’re not listening to a thing I’m saying.” Madalina snapped her fingers in front of his face.
“Yes, I am.” He lied.
“Then what did I just say?” S
he crossed her arms over her chest, lips twitching at the corners like she was trying to suppress a smile.
“That you, uh, wanted to, er . . .” Cole cut his lame reply off when she laughed. She sounded delighted instead of angry, teeth shining behind her smile. Get your damn mind out of the gutter, man. There’s business to deal with. “Yes. Tomorrow. Anyway. I think we should stay here another two days, just to let the whole thing blow over. Then, if you’re up for it, we can make a trip to your house. I know you’re anxious to get in there and see what, if anything, you can salvage.”
“I’ll do whatever you think is best.” Madalina paused, then said, “The house is going to take a lot of work.”
“Yes, it is going to take a lot of work. I’ll help you with it.”
“Really?” She cocked her head inquisitively.
Cole realized that she wasn’t sure what would happen to them once they were free to come and go as they pleased. He hadn’t made specific plans beyond helping her get her house in order, and seeing her life returned to something approaching normal. “Yes, really. I’ll find a place to rent close by, maybe, since it’ll take a few weeks at least to clean everything up, fix the holes in the wall, and repaint.”
Madalina toyed with the napkin, folding and bending a corner in repetitive motions. Cole tried to gauge her mood, her reaction. She seemed curious, pensive, contemplative. The last few days had been almost blissful; reality was about to set back in, and he sensed she wasn’t sure what to do. Or say.
“What? Is that not all right with you?” he finally asked.
“No, it’s great. I wasn’t expecting you to . . . stay . . . and help, I mean.”
“Or you just weren’t expecting me to stay at all.” He based his guess on Madalina’s somewhat stammering reply.
Escaping Vegas (The Inheritance Book 1) Page 20