CHAPTERONE
I need you ASAP!
I need you too, baby…give me fiveminutes.
NOOO! Please, I’m desperate!
Okay, okay, I’m walking into my officeright now.
My phone buzzes, and I look down at itwith relief. “Cole.”
“Shh, Kate I’m here. How’s my Cookietoday? I’m sorry I left before you woke up. I’m just eager to get done withbusiness so I can give you my full attention.”
I sigh as Cole’s seductive voice rumblesthrough the phone. He puts me at ease, and I sink down onto the side of thebathtub. “It’s okay, I understand.”
“So, what’s my Cookie wearing right now?”
I scrunch my nose, confused, “t-shirt andjeans.”
“Kate,” Cole growls. “What are youwearing?”
“Oh, um, hot-pink, lacy-boy short pantiesand a matching bra.”
Cole groans from the other end of thephone.
“The bra even has a cute little bow inthe middle.” I giggle.
“Oh god, Kate. Touch those beautifulbreasts for me, give them a good squeeze.”
“Cole!” I whisper, embarrassed andslightly turned on, my cheeks burning with heat.
“Feel my need, baby. I love thosebeautiful things. In fact, have Keaton bring you to the office, and I’llsqueeze them myself, I will—”
Pound, pound, pound.“Kate?” My momshouts from the other side of the door.
I’m so startled, I lose my balance,sliding backwards into the tub, and dropping my phone. I flip over onto myhands and knees and grab my phone. “Cole?”
“Kate, who’s that?”
“Katie, do you have a stomachache? I broughtPepto-Bismol. I know how your tummy can get.” My mother huffs.
I groan, coming back to reality, and thereal reason I need to talk to Cole. “Cole, you’ve got to come home now. My mo—”
“Katie Cook. You better answer me or I’mgoing to get that security guy to break down this door.”
“Mom,” I yell, with a mixture ofirritation and frustration. “I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.” And my lastname is Holt, not Cook. I huff, mildly insulted.
“Your mom?” I can’t place Cole’s tone.“Your mom’s here in Vegas?”
I run a hand through my hair, wanting topull it out with frustration. “Yes, Cole, you’ve got to come homenow.My mom, my grandma, Annie, Laura, Jill, and Aunt Kathy are all here.”
There’s only silence on the other end ofthe line. “Cole, are you there? Oh hell! Cole?” I’m on the verge of tears. Iknow this is the last thing that Cole or Luke’s security team needs, butthey’re my family. I just can’t say,‘Sorry; this is a bad time’. Come back whenCole’s not in the middle of a billion-dollar business merger and I can’tforget, some guy has been threatening us and we can’t go anywhere without abodyguard. Oh yeah, I almost forgot I was kinda sorta kidnapped. Sheesh!Besides, things have been tense enough with my family, I don’t need to make anymore waves with them.
I hear Cole take a ragged breath. “Didyour mom say why they’re here?”
“No, they wouldn’t tell me. She said whenyou got home from work, they had a surprise for us. The sooner we know whatthey want, the sooner we can give it to them and they’ll go home. Please. I’mfrazzled, I don’t know what to do.”
“Katie.” My grandma taps on the door.“Your mother said you needed some Pepto-Bismol, that you were having diarrhea.”
