Playing to Win

lips swollen. She pressed her fingertips to her lips, her tongue flicking over them. He saw the shock on her face as the cold slap of reality hit her, too.
    Goddammit, but he wanted to lay her out, undress her, and put his mouth on every part of her until she came apart for him. The desire was written all over her face. If only they’d been in the right place, he could have taken his time with her, undressed her piece by piece and discovered all her secrets.
    But he damn well wasn’t going to do it here. He needed hours with her. All night.
    “I know, we got carried away. Let’s go to my place.”
    He felt her shudder. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done this. I keep losing control with you. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
    He swept his hand over her back. “There’s nothing wrong with you. We both want this.”
    She slid off his lap and stood, adjusted her dress with shaky hands. “I don’t. I mean I do. God, Cole. I’m not a tease. You have to know that. But my job means everything to me. It’s the only thing I have and I won’t sacrifice it.”
    He saw the regret in her eyes before she grabbed her bag from the bench and turned away from him, walking down the path back toward the reception hall.
    Cole stood and watched her walk away. His cock was still hard and throbbing. He’d need a few more minutes before he went inside.
    He knew better than to pressure a woman who said no. But there was more than just her job standing in their way.
    He didn’t know what it was, but he intended to find out.



NINE

    SAVANNAH HAD ALMOST CHANGED HER MIND ABOUT going to Cole’s parents’ for dinner.
    But she always kept her promises, and since she’d been invited, she was going to go. It might be a little uncomfortable considering what had happened between her and Cole the night of Gavin and Liz’s wedding, but she was a professional. She could handle it.
    She’d thought long and hard about that night. Okay, she’d thought of nothing but that night since it happened, since it burned in her nonstop. Her body still throbbed from Cole’s kisses, from his touch on her body.
    Damn man. And damn her inability to stop kissing him.
    It wasn’t going to happen again. She had a career trajectory and it didn’t include screwing up her job by having sex with one of her clients.
    Good god she could ruin her career if she was caught.
    No more. She was pushing hot Cole out of her head and only client Cole was going to remain there.
    She brought a plant over to Cole’s parents’ house for Sunday dinner. A bottle of wine was so provincial.
    Cole’s mother seemed pleased. She beamed with delight and thanked Savannah profusely.
    Cara was beautiful, and Savannah guessed her to be in her mid-fifties. She had long, thick, very dark hair that she pulled into a ponytail, the most expressive brown eyes, and she was always smiling.
    “Come with me into the kitchen.” Cara led her through the hallway.
    The house was modern and beautiful, with marble flooring in the entry, wood throughout the expansive house, and dark tile in the kitchen. There was a definite Italian influence in the décor. The kitchen was filled with stainless steel appliances, a dark granite countertop, and a center island with a sink and a seating area.
    “I love your home, Cara.”
    “Thank you. So do I. We used to live in a tiny three-bedroom in South City that Jack and I had bought when we first got married. Over the years it had gotten run-down and in need of repair, but with Jack’s income as a welder and mine as an office assistant, there was only so much duct tape we could put on the old house to keep it together. We put all our money into the kids and making sure they got college educations. Of course it helped that Cole got the football scholarship.”
    “I’m sure it did.”
    “When Cole got his first contract, he bought us this house. It was my dream house. I’m Italian, so I decorated it with my love of my heritage.”
    “I see the Italian influences. It’s lovely.”
    Cara gave her a smile. “Thank you. I love this place so much, and there’s plenty of room for the kids—though they don’t live here anymore—and any grandchildren they might bless us with someday. Sadly, neither of them seem in any hurry to settle down.”
    “Busy with their careers, I imagine.”
    “True. Though Cole will be thirty this year. Alicia is just getting started on her career. I’m just anxious to hold some babies and fearful