Under Pressure
Page 13

“Who could that be?” I ask quietly
“Room service.”
What a nice surprise. “When did you order that?”
“Before joining you in here.” He opens the steamy sliding door, reaches behind him to capture one of my hands, and guides me out. I wring out my wet hair quickly and follow him. Cole grabs a big fluffy towel and throws it around my shoulders. His thumb goes to my chin, and he lifts my head until my lips are poised open.
He dips his head and gives me a kiss so full of emotion and tenderness that I grow needy for him again. My heart clenches, everything I feel for this man right there on the surface, threatening to bring tears. Honest to God, I’ve never experienced such a deep level of intimacy with anyone before. Is it because this is Cole, my best friend, or is there more going on between us?
I slide my arms around his waist and hold him so I don’t sink to the floor in a heap of quivering need. Looking for a distraction—something, anything to get my mind off the riot of emotions coursing through me—I glance at the torn foil on the counter.
“How lucky that you just happened to find a condom on the counter,” I say.
He inches back. “Yeah, I know, right?”
“If you ask me, I think you put it there on purpose. That you had every intention of climbing in here and having your way with me.”
His grin is crooked and adorable. “Then I won’t ask,” he says. He reaches around me to give my ass a fast slap. “Stay in here. I’ll get the door and let you know when the coast is clear.”
“I can come with you.”
He knots a towel around his waist. “No, don’t. You’re only in a towel.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
At first I think he’s kidding, then I notice there is no amusement in his voice. “It covers more than my bathing suit, Cole.”
His jaw clenches. “Yeah, and you look as sexy as hell in both, and I don’t want the delivery guy gawking at you, okay?”
I look as sexy as hell in both?
I let loose an exaggerated breath and fight valiantly to suppress the things I’m feeling for this man. “Okay, fine,” I say, deciding to stay in the bathroom to chew on that as Cole goes to let in room service.
I wait behind the door, and when I hear Cole give the guy a tip and shut and lock the main door, I step into the room. When I see the kitchen has delivered all my favorite breakfast foods, my heart goes a little wobbly. Would Jared have even known all my favorites? Was it possible that I had been trying to change him into someone like…oh, shit.
I am in so much trouble here. Cole is the man I was trying to turn Jared into. The man I’ve always wanted to be with. But he’s not a guy to commit, and his life is in Colorado. If I ask him to stay—and there’s no saying he’d want that, anyway—I’d be trying to change him, too, and that would lead to resentment and heartache.
Maybe I need to put a stop to this affair right now.
“Cole—”
“Come on, I’m starved,” Cole says, and drops his towel like getting naked in front of me is now the most natural thing in the world. I stare as he tugs on a pair of jeans and zips them up.
With my thoughts running a million miles an hour, I let my towel fall to the floor. I glance around for something to wear, but since I came to his room last night dressed only in a bathing suit and white knit cover-up, it’s all I have to wear this morning. I grab the see-through dress and slip into it. It does little to hide my body, and I adjust it when one of my nipples pokes through.
Cole sets the plates out on the small table. I sit in one of the chairs, and Cole fixes my coffee with cream and one sugar. I take a much-needed sip.
“Mm, heaven,” I whisper, wanting to talk to him but not knowing how to start or what to say. The truth is part of me knows I need to stop this madness, but there is another part of me that wants to finish out this weekend with him.
He dishes up the hotcakes, bacon, fruit, and maple syrup. “Eat. You’re going to need your energy for a long day.”
I reach for my fork. “If I eat all this, I’m going to need a nap.”
“You can nap on the bus.”
I groan. “I’m not looking forward to a five-hour bus ride.”
“I know, but it will be worth it. This adventure is right up your alley.”
“I guess I am kind of looking forward to seeing the endangered species in their home. I’m glad they’re being taken care of properly.”
Cole takes a sip of black coffee, his face going serious as he chews on a piece of bacon. “Remember when we were kids, and you always talked about opening your own shelter for rescue dogs?”
“Yeah.”
“You don’t talk about that anymore.”
I shrug. “Work is busy, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day for me to find a place or get things in order.”
“So, you’d still like to do that.”
I nod. “Yeah, I would.”
“What was it you wanted to call it? Bed and Barkfest?”
I laugh. “I can’t believe you remember that.”
His bare foot touches mine beneath the table. “I remember everything, Reese.”
So, do I.
“Tell me about your job in Colorado,” I say, remembering the times he talked about opening his own adventure camp. Is that something he still thinks about?
His face lights with a smile, and it’s clear he loves what he does. No surprise there. Unlike me, Cole always was an adrenaline junkie who needed adventure to thrive.
“I love it.” He gives a slow shake of his head. “The rapids, the scenery, the steep stretches, and the whitewater.” He opens his hands wide. “It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. For most people, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and I get to do it every week. How lucky am I, right?”
“Very,” I say, unease moving through me. I keep telling myself I’m a big girl and don’t need Cole, but it’s going to kill me when he leaves again.
“One of the trips includes camping and visiting a cattle ranch. You should come visit. I’ll take you out.”
“No, thanks,” I say quickly.
“One of the rafting trips includes horseback riding. You’d love that.”
“Can I skip the rafting and just do the horseback riding?”