“That’d be lovely.” She smiles, thentakes a drink of her wine.
Cole’s hand skirts up my thigh, pattingmy leg, and then, of course he leaves it there. Under normal circumstances, Iwouldn’t mind, it would make my body sing with want, but tonight it just addsanother layer of anxiety. I notice he has a glass of wine sitting next to himand I pick it up, taking a long drink. It has a crisp taste and soothes as itgoes down. “Mmm.”
Cole gives my leg a light squeeze, and hetakes the glass from me, drinking the rest of it. Thankfully, the server showsup to take our order. I didn’t really have time to look at the menu, but thenagain, my mother told me I was having salad, so I don’t need to look. He goesdown the row, getting everyone’s order. When he gets to Cole, I’m surprised andthankful for his alpha ego for once. “Yes, I want an order of the sirloin,medium, with a side of vegetables and the house salad. And my wife will havethe same.” Cole turns to me. “How do you want it cooked?”
“Medium rare,” I tell the server. I canfeel my mother’s eyes on me, but I don’t dare look at her. She doesn’t let upall through dinner and I can’t take her darting eyes and pursed lips, so Ibarely eat anything. I need a break from all this. Everyone is just too much. Iturn to Cole, who’s sitting on the end. “I need to use the ladies’ room.” Whichis accurate enough, since in my book, “ladies’ room is code for “I need abreak’.
Laura, who has ended up on the other endnext to Preston, stands as well. “I’ll come with you.” Cole lets me out and wewalk towards the back. “Please tell me we are getting more alcohol.”
“Hell yes, but let’s find the restroomfirst. I need a moment to let down my guard. Inside the woman’s restroom,” Ibreathe a sigh of relief. I feel like I’ve been carrying a load of heavy rocks.“Are you okay being around Race?”
“Sure,” Laura gives me a small smilethrough the mirror as she reapplies her lipstick. “He seems uninterested. Race,Kit, and Cooper, who’s super-hot by the way, seem preoccupied with something.Jill even tried getting their attention, they gave her a polite answer and wentback to what they were doing.”
“Oh, huh.”
Laura grips my arm. “What’s going onKate?”
I glance towards the door, then pick atmy fingernail. “What do you mean?”
“Oh please. We all feel the tension.What’s with all the security? There are like six security guys lingeringaround. Two of them followed us to the bathroom.”
“Oh, just Cole being Cole.” That wastotally unconvincing.
Laura smacks my arm. “Don’t lie.”
“Okay—um, I’ll tell you, but later at thevilla.”
“Promise.”
“Yes, I promise.”
“Okay, good. Now can wepleasegetsome alcohol?”
At the bar, Laura waves at the bartenderand holds up two fingers.
“More chocolate cake?” I ask.
“Yes, please!”
I pick up my shot. “To making the best ofa bad situation.”
“To Karma; payback’s a bitch.” We bothlaugh and down our drinks, and Laura holds up two fingers again.
Laura grabs her fresh drink. “Todesirable men and the things they do to make us sweat.”
“Laura!” I hiss.
“Tell me it’s not true?”
“I—well.”
“See, you can’t.”
“Yeah, you’re right. To my Hot FerrariGuy.” We pick our drinks up, I put mine to my lips but stop. I feel hot breathon my neck and know I’ve been caught.Shit to getting caught, and I downthe drink.
“Kate.”
I swear, if I hear one more person say myname in a condescending tone, I’m going to scream. “Coulter.” I turn around andCole moves closer, pinning me to the bar. I turn my head, looking at Laura.
