Jody loved the fact that he’d decided to share it with her. “I can’t wait to get a closer look. We are allowed to right?”
“Yes. How do you feel about taking a walk and having lunch too? I packed a few things.”
Damn, he’s romantic too. She was in trouble with this one. Smart, funny, sexy, and romantic. He was going to be hard to resist. But did she want to? No.
“It sounds perfect. And I even brought sunscreen.”
Cole laughed. “Somehow I had a feeling you’d be prepared for anything.”
You have no idea how right you are. “I didn’t have any sisters, but my mom was all the teacher I needed.”
“Then let’s head down to the beach.”
Even though it was hot, the constant breeze made it feel cool. As they made their way, Cole wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer. And so much for being cooler.
* * *
Cole could tell she was impressed. Did she think he hadn’t thought about what to do? He wasn’t the average guy. Dinner and drinks were fine, but he liked an adventure, an outing. He knew she didn’t expect that from him. That was good. She was someone who liked control, and sometimes you just have to let it go to have a good time.
Sitting on the beach provided just that. They watched boats coming and going while enjoying the picnic lunch Cole had prepared for them. It wasn’t much. He was skilled at many things, cooking wasn’t one of them. But he had stopped at the store and purchased a variety of sandwiches, drinks, and even some fruit. Wine would’ve been nice, but there was no alcohol allowed on the property. With her there, she was intoxicating enough.
They talked more about lighthouses; what he really wanted to do was stop talking. It was a beautiful spot, and he was enjoying it with an equally beautiful woman. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
“I am. It’s so peaceful here that I could just curl up and take a nap.”
Cole smiled. “I do have a blanket, but I hope I’m not boring you,” he teased.
She leaned into him. “Blanket? Hmm. Maybe a snuggle instead of a nap.”
He laid back and pulled her down to him. With her head on his chest, body pressed against him, he wrapped around her, pulling her even closer, and rested his hand on her hip. When she tipped her head and looked up at him, he couldn’t resist. Those luscious lips of hers were only inches away and his for the taking.
Tightening his grip, he pulled her up higher against him. His kiss, gentle at first, was short lived. When she purred, he practically lost it. As he kissed her more eagerly, he was filled with pure, raw desire. Damn, he wanted her. He’d have pulled away, but she was returning his kisses fiercely. Instead, he gently prodded her to open to him. He was desperate to taste her. A warm throbbing sensation started building, and there was no doubt she could feel it as she was practically lying on top of him. He wanted nothing more than to touch every inch of her. This of course, wasn’t the place. The last thing he needed was the Coast Guard harassing him for indecent behavior on a public beach.
Slowing things down wasn’t easy. His blood was running hot and so was hers. Pulling his lips from hers he said, “Maybe we should keep this adventure moving before we’re asked to move.”
Jody lifted her head and looked around before rolling off of him. “I think that’s a good idea. Making the front page once is more than enough for me.”
Cole laughed as he got up and offered her a hand. “Trust me Jody, nothing’s going to top the photo.”
She smiled at him. “I know. Roxy is a sweet ride.”
“Don’t tell her I said this, but she’s never looked as good as she did with you sitting on her.” He enjoyed watching Jody blush. How could someone be so sweet and spicy at the same time? If he was lucky, he’d get to find out. Grabbing the blanket and the basket, he said, “What do you say we continue our tour another time?” It was his way of securing another date.
“I’d like that. And maybe you can come over for dinner Tuesday and we can discuss it in detail.”
He took hold of her hand as they made their way back to the car. “Home-cooked meal?”
“I’ll cook it at home, if that qualifies as home cooked,” Jody chuckled.
“Works for me. Why don’t you let me bring dessert?” What he really wanted was her as dessert.
“Anything chocolate works for me,” Jody replied.
“A woman after my own heart. I know a dairy farm near my house that has a death-by-chocolate cake that will have you on a sugar high for days.”
“Gee, what will we do to burn off all that energy?”
Cole felt his body come alive once again. Oh I can think of plenty. “I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
He’d been attracted to many women, what guy hadn’t? But there was something different about Jody. Cole didn’t want to move so fast that he didn’t actually get to know her. She probably was the most interesting woman he’d met in a very long time. Cole hadn’t been looking for a serious relationship, but he wasn’t out for a one-night stand, either. His reason for taking his time with Jody wasn’t because she wasn’t willing. It was because he needed to know what he wanted. The last thing he needed was to become emotionally attached. It didn’t fit into the plan he had mapped out for himself.
So why the hell am I doing any of this? It was simple: he couldn’t help himself. That made spending more time with her dangerous. Looks like I’m going to play with fire. And I’m not sure I give a fuck if I get burned.
As they drove back to her place Cole told himself not to go inside. If things heated up behind closed doors, there would be no stopping. He hadn’t brought any protection with him, which was foolish, and Cole wasn’t one who ever took that kind of chance. So he gave her a kiss goodnight and left the same as he arrived, frustrated and alone.
Chapter 5
It had been a long day at work. Larry had decided to show up and check on things. That wouldn’t have been a bad thing, but what he was really doing was hiding out. Larry went into the office and shut the door. No lights had been on, and Cole could hear the snoring echoing throughout the building. Thankfully, all the guys had been on the road, so there wasn’t anyone there to give Larry any shit. Cole was tempted, but not that stupid.
When the door finally opened Larry said, “Don’t do it.”
“Do what?” Cole had left a bunch of papers on the desk before Larry arrived. Some big jobs, some small.
“Have kids. It’s…” Larry yawned and stretched. “I don’t know how people do it with more than one. This tiny little baby has a set of lungs that I swear the neighbors hear when she cries. And guess when she likes to do it?” Cole didn’t say a word. “Every two hours all night long.”
“I hear it gets better,” Cole stated. He really was only going on what his sisters told him. Half the time he wasn’t fully listening either, just nodding so they felt like he understood. How could he? The only time he was up all night long was when a sporting event went into overtime.
“So what you’re saying is I should come back to the office and let you stay at my house,” Larry said gruffly.
“You’ll never pay me enough for that.”
“Hey, let’s not tell anyone about my…nap.”
Cole nodded. “I didn’t hear or see a thing. But it could be your snoring waking her up. You might want to get that checked out,” he teased.
“I’d need to be able to sleep in order to snore. All right, I’m going back home. Are you sure you got this all under control?”
“I do, but I have a question. Did you want me to start processing invoices as well?” Cole knew how to do them, but didn’t want to overstep.
“I trust you. Hell, right now I trust you more than I do myself. Yeah, you have full reign. And when I get back, let’s sit down and talk about the future.”
Yes! “Sounds good. And you know where the office is when you need another break.”
“Why don’t you text me tomorrow about ten? Just let me know if there’s an issue. I’ll let you
know if I’m coming in or not.”
Cole laughed. “I’ll make sure to have the desk clutter free.”
“Thanks. Now I’m off to see my little angel.”
Once Larry was gone, he checked the time. The guys should be returning to drop off their forms and stock up the trucks for tomorrow. Another few hours and he’d be at Jody’s for dinner. There was still time to call and tell her he’d take her out to eat instead. It probably was the smart thing to do. Now he needed to stop and pick up dessert, which in his mind was going to lead to something else. One thing he knew about women, they loved chocolate. And I’m looking forward to tasting it on your lips.
Yeah. His mind had already blown past dinner and dessert. That kiss on the beach had only been a teaser. Tonight he was coming prepared. If things got hot and heavy, he wasn’t shutting it down.
The phone rang and unfortunately, it was time to get back to work. And hopefully he’d remain busy enough not to think about her until tonight. Her green eyes and sweet, seductive smile popped into his mind. Yeah. Didn’t think that was going to happen.
The next few hours were hell. It was one emergency call after another. At one point he thought for sure he’d need to cancel his dinner date. That really would suck, because she was cooking for him. That took time and prep. He was going there empty handed, but at least he was showing. It was too close, time wise, so he had to make the choice: chocolate cake or a shower. He opted for the latter. Hopefully she wouldn’t be too disappointed, and he could make it up to her another time.
But when he arrived at her door, he could hear a high-pitched alarm going off. There also was a lot of cussing going on inside as well. Cole was tempted to break down the door. Instead, he knocked loudly. If she didn’t answer, then he was entering, one way or another.
He waited and was just about to kick it in when she finally answered it. The room was filled with smoke and he asked, “It the apartment on fire?”
She waved her hand and turned, heading back inside. “No. Just our dinner.” She mumbled something and left him standing there.
Cole went inside and closed the door behind him, then walked over to a window and opened it up, then another. “Are you sure you’re okay in there? Should I call the fire department?” He knew there was no need. If there had been, he’d have scooped her up into his arms and gotten her out of there.
“Don’t you dare call anyone,” Jody shouted from the kitchen. When she returned to the living room, he bit his tongue. She was holding a pan containing something beyond crispy, and it was still smoking. “Let’s just say this is one very dead duck.”
She looked absolutely adorable, her bottom lip in the cutest pout; he wanted to kiss it away. But he could tell she really was upset. Teasing her about her cooking skills was not going to set the mood he had been going for.
“Would it make you feel better to know I don’t like duck?”
She wrinkled her nose and said, “I have a feeling you’re just saying that to make me feel better. Which I do appreciate, by the way. I also made candied yams.”
“I love yams,” Cole said.
“Don’t get excited just yet. They look just like this duck. I’m not sure which one started the fire. Guess it doesn’t matter. Dinner is a loss. But at least I have coffee and we can enjoy dessert.”
“Yeah, about that. I was caught at work later than I expected. So….”
“No dessert?” Jody asked. He shook his head. “You’re joking right?”
“I wish I was. We can go out and eat.”
“No. I wanted to make something special for you. Now I’d settle for something edible. Are you picky?”
“If you’re asking if I’ll still eat the duck, the answer is no.”
Jody laughed. “I’m not out to kill you. But I was thinking that I have some leftovers in my refrigerator. And my microwave doesn’t smell like smoke either.”
“Depends. What do you have?”
“Chinese. And it’s always better the next day. At least I tell myself that all the time.”
He’d really rather order takeout and have it delivered. “Why don’t I help you clean this up and then we can eat.”
“You’re my dinner guest. I can’t have you scrapping pans and doing dishes.”
“Okay, then I’ll just scrap and you can do the dishes,” he stated.
“Since I think it’s going to take muscles like yours to get this stuff off, I’ll take you up on that offer. Thanks.” He followed her into the kitchen and it looked like a bomb had gone off. “I think things got a bit out of control in here.”
You think? “Where would you like me to start?” This was why he didn’t cook. The cleaning up sucked.
Jody opened a drawer and took out some frilly thing with flowers on it. She walked over and put it over his head. “Turn please,” she ordered.
“What is this?”
“Your apron.”
He turned around and she tied it. When he turned to face her again she looked him over. “A bit small, but not bad.”
“You mean a bit ridiculous,” Cole stated flatly.
Jody leaned up against him and said, “Adorable.”
Cole laughed. “I think you need glasses.” Holding the bib of the apron away from his chest he said, “It’s not really my style.”
Jody giggled. “Guess what? It’s not mine either. The place came furnished and this is what I got. But at least you won’t get dirty.” She pulled out a second apron from the drawer that was made of denim material.
“Why didn’t you give me that one?” Cole asked.
She blushed and shrugged. “Maybe I’m not as sweet as I appear to be.”
Hopefully I’ll find out later. “You’ll pay for this. But for now, let’s get the dishes done so I can take this thing off. It’s bothering me.”
Jody laughed. “It’s not even touching your skin.”
“Trust me sweetheart, it’s hurting me in places you can’t see.”
She responded by handing him the roasting pan with the burnt duck. “Then I guess we better be quick. I wouldn’t want there to be any permanent damage.”
Oh, you’re really testing my self control sweetheart. Instead of claiming her lips, he took the pan and started to chisel away. The hot water was steaming up the room. Not quite the heat he’d been looking for, but he had to admit, all his dates with Jody, were…memorable.
* * *
The night wasn’t a total loss. She got to spend time with Cole. The date hadn’t gone exactly how she had envisioned, but why should her cooking dinner have been any different than any other time she saw him? Each time they saw each other it was full of surprises, just this one wasn’t a good one. She was half tempted to put all the blame on Cole for things going haywire. If she hadn’t been so darn distracted with getting pretty for him, she might have noticed the smell coming from the kitchen. Oddly enough, after several outfit changes, she picked shorts and a T-shirt.
That’s what I get for trying to wow him with talents I don’t have. But the night was still young. There was no reason for him to rush off. There was no way Cole was shy, yet he seemed unsure of what to do. Part of her was, as well. Asking him if he wanted to stay and watch a movie would work, but she wasn’t in the mood to watch TV. What if he said yes, then she was stuck?
Jody was many things, but bold wasn’t one of them, at least not in her personal life. If this was business, then watch out, she was a go-getter. Could she use that same energy with Cole? Why not? Besides, he did promise her dessert.
“I’m not feeling very satisfied,” Jody said, leaning back on the couch.
“I don’t know. You were right, those leftovers were tasty.”
“But you promised me something…sweet.” Was that too much? Sounded kind of corny, even for her.
Cole looked down at her and said, “I did. Would you settle for a kiss until I can make it up to you?”
It’s a good start. “I don’t know, that cake sounded really good. It’s going to have to be
one hell of a kiss,” Jody challenged.
Cole leaned over and kissed the top of her head. She looked at him and blinked, then shook her head. Time slowed as they sat there and stared into each other’s eyes. He ran his thumb along her bottom lip, before he leaned down and kissed it. She moaned and arched towards him.
It was as though something within them had ignited. Her breath escaped her as his lips captured hers again. There was nothing slow and gentle in this kiss. It was desperate and filled with desire, and the urgency of it shocked and excited her. His lips tugged on hers and his tongue teased her mouth, forcing her to open for him. Not that he needed to. He was only giving her what she wanted.
He pulled back and looked her in the eyes, “Was that sweet enough?”
“I’m not sure. Can I have another taste?”
He kissed her again and it lit a fire within her that was hard to control. She trembled and she clutched at his shirt. With more and more intensity, he pushed her deeper into the couch. If they weren’t sitting, she wasn’t sure her legs would’ve supported her.
Cole’s hands slid down to her collarbone, and continued down the sides of her breasts, before stopping at her waist. She covered his with hers, urging him to rip it off. He gripped the fabric of her top in his fists but stopped and only stared at her.
“What is it…?” she whispered.
He shook his head and didn’t reply. Instead, he tugged her shirt over her head, and she watched as it flew across the room. Then he reached his hands behind her, unhooked her strapless bra, and flung it in the opposite direction. He made a sound of appreciation right before his lips started tugging at her hardened nipples.
She gasped as the fire spread throughout her body, and her mind tried to zero in on what he was doing to her. It was impossible to think of anything when he was touching her like that. He lifted his head and said, “You’re damn sweeter than chocolate.”
Jody moaned and pulled him back to her. The origin of this out-of-control need within her…she’d worry about that later. At the moment, all she wanted to do was feel his touch, feel the closeness of his body. His touch was like a spark of electricity and he was driving her wild.
Drive Me Wild Page 4