Operation Date Escape

other woman?”
    “What other woman?”
    “The one Joe said you had moved on to.”
    “There is no one else. Hasn’t been since I met you.”
    “But I thought...”
    “Why would I want any other woman in my life?” he said no longer teasing. “Hell, Kelsie, you make life so much more exciting when I’m with you. Always throwing me a curveball when I’m expecting a fastball straight down the center. I want that. I want you.”
    Her heart was in her throat. That was the most romantic thing a guy had ever said to her. And at the same time the most frightening.
    “Damn you, Cole Maxwell. Saying things to me like that is an unfair tactic.”
    “Is it working?” he asked, his expression almost boyishly hopeful.
    “Yes,” she said with a sigh. “It is.”
    He straightened and opened the door, reaching for her hand. “Good. Because I wouldn’t have been the only one who would have been disappointed if you had decided not to stick around for the picnic.”
    She let him pull her out of the car, meeting his gaze as he slid his arms around her waist. “If you’re referring to my mother, it wouldn’t matter because I’m not sure I’m ever going to speak to her again anyway.”
    He chuckled. “Your mother doesn’t seem like the type who can be avoided for very long. But I wasn’t referring to her. I was referring to Nanci.”
    “Nanci?”
    “Yeah. She’s out back with Joe.”
    She put up her hand. “Hold up. Are we talking Nanci, as in my best friend Nanci with an ‘i’ instead of a ‘y’?”
    He nodded.
    She stiffened. Was everyone she knew in on this blind date set up? “Are you telling me my best friend knew you were who I was going to be meeting here today?”
    “Yes and no.”
    “Which is it, Cole? Yes or no?”
    “Both actually.”
    “Do you mind telling me how that’s possible?” she asked, her irritation growing.
    “Joe decided not to tell Nanci you were coming until they arrived at the picnic.” He pointed to the driveway. “That’s his silver Explorer parked next to the mailbox, so I’m assuming she knows now. Joe was afraid she might let it slip if he told her any sooner.”
    At least her friend hadn’t turned traitor on her like her mother had. “I don’t like being lied to.”
    “No one lied.”
    She shot him an accusing glance.
    “Well, not really. I am your blind date. I’m taking you to my crew’s annual picnic, and one of my nicknames is Max. So you see, doll, no lies.”
    As much as she wanted to let him have it for pulling this crazy stunt, she couldn’t. Cole had gone to all this trouble just to see her again. And she had to admit it was the perfect plan to get her to go out with him again. He knew she wouldn’t have accepted if she’d have known it was him she was meeting that afternoon. And , despite all her protests, it felt good to be in his arms again.
    She sighed in surrender and relaxed in his arms. “You are crazier than my mother.”
    “Thanks. I’ll consider that a compliment.”
    “Cole...”
    “Yeah?”
    “Why do you call me that?”
    “What?”
    “Doll.”
    He kissed the top of her head. “Because that’s what you remind me of with those big beautiful green eyes. Those incredible lips.” He bent to brush his lips lightly over hers. “And this perfectly petite body.” His hands glided up the sides of her shirt to graze the swells beneath it.
    She shuddered. He made her feel so unbelievably sexy. She whispered his name, pressing into his touch.
    He responded by threading his fingers through her hair and lowering his mouth to hers once more, this time deepening the kiss.
    She clung to him, her body aching for more. But the flow of laughter drifting out over the privacy fence pulled her back into reality.
    She pushed away, trying to catch her breath, trying to think about anything but sex with Cole. “Something smells good.”
    “You mean besides you?” he teased then bent to nibble playfully at the nape of her neck.
    She shuddered as the heat of his mouth eased along her flesh. “I was referring to whatever’s cooking on the grill.” The words came out in a half-whisper as she tried not to recall how that same mouth felt moving over other parts of her body.
    Thankfully, he ended the sweet torture. “Come on, let’s go see if it tastes as good as it smells. Or, then again, if you’d rather we could always go back to your place and have emotionless sex.”
    More heat moved up her already sensitive neck to settle in her cheeks.