The Bridesmaid's Best Man (18 page)

He heard Angie's scream and the sound of a body slamming against the ground. His heart twisted with fear. Cole let out a roar as he crashed through the last of the shrubbery and found Angie wrestling on the grass with Cheryl.

Angie struggled as she rolled back and forth with Cheryl. Her hair was flying out of her bun and a long grass stain streaked down her dress. Dirt and scratches covered her arms, legs and chest.

He rushed forward but Angie had staggered to her feet and was pointing at Cheryl. “Don't you dare move,” she told the assistant, who lay limp and moaning.

“Need some help?” Cole asked as he wrapped his arm around Angie's waist. He peered into her eyes and frowned when he saw a bruise forming under one of them.

“You can call your friend, that woman who was the first police officer at the strip club. Cheryl confessed to injuring Heidi and Robin.”

“You don't have any proof,” Cheryl said weakly.

“You were also seen in a physical altercation with Angie,” Cole said, refusing to look at Cheryl. “And you have me as a witness.”

Cheryl made a face as if dismissing his claim. “Who's going to listen to a stripper?”

“Hey.” Angie bumped Cheryl's hip with her shoe. “His name is Cole Foster and he's a private investigator and a former cop.”

“What?” Cheryl said in a squawk. “Brittany didn't say anything about this.”

Angie shook her head. “You've really got to stop using Brittany as your only source of information.”

Cole saw something gold glitter in the dirt. He bent down and picked up a thin bracelet.

“That's mine,” Angie said, extending her hand.

Cole held her fingers gently and slid it onto her wrist. “How did you lose this in a fight?”

“Cheryl tried to take it.” She held up her wrist and let the sunshine gleam off the gold. “She thought she should have it.”

“You said I could be a bridesmaid,” Cheryl wailed.

“Cheryl, I may be just a close friend of the groom's and I may have a bad attitude toward weddings, but I'm wearing this bracelet because I earned it.” She lowered her hand. “But don't worry, Cheryl. You're going to get a pair of metal, police-issued ones. You definitely earned those.”

19

“I
CAN
'
T
BELIEVE
Brittany kicked you out of the wedding again,” Cole said as he carried Angie into her apartment. “After all you did for her.”

“I don't mind,” said Angie as she lifted her arm and allowed the bracelet to sparkle under the hallway light. “I still got a bracelet out of this deal.”

“And least this time Tim and Steven argued on your behalf,” he stated, shutting the door behind them. “I thought they were going to go slide in the mud in solidarity with you.”

Angie smiled. “I think they wanted to blow off some steam. It had nothing to do with me.”

Cole wasn't so sure. He knew Angie's friends were impressed by her taking down Cheryl and finding out the real reason behind the accidents. They were very vocal in their displeasure when Brittany refused to have Angie continue being a bridesmaid based on her scruffy appearance.

“Cole, you can put me down now,” Angie told him as he brushed past the sofa and went straight to the bed. “My ankle is just twisted. And that wasn't from Cheryl. That was from hurrying in these heels.”

“Obviously the only safe place for you to wear these shoes is in bed with me.” He laid her down. He took off his jacket and wrenched off his tie. Cole felt the anger and fear roll through him again as he cupped her jaw and studied her scratched-up face. “That is some black eye.”

She shrugged. “It'll heal.”

He caressed her cheek. “I never should have left you alone in the church. I knew Cheryl was behind all this. I knew she was out to get you.”

“Don't blame yourself, please. We had no proof. And I had everything under control. But I was glad I had you as backup.”

“I will always be there for you.” He leaned down and kissed her gently. “I, too, argued to keep you in the wedding.”

“Oh, I heard. The whole church heard. At least I got to see Patrick get married. That's all I really wanted.” She pulled at the frayed hem of her dress. “The minute I saw these stains down the front of me, I knew there was no way Brittany would let me walk down the aisle.”

Cole couldn't believe the bride's ingratitude. “Like I said, after all you did for her.”

“I know, right?” Angie's eyes twinkled. “It's okay. I saved the day and the wedding went on. Patrick knows I did it for him. And I uncovered how crazy Cheryl really is. I wonder what will happen to her.”

“She was saying a lot when they took her away.” Cheryl's excuses and explanations were not going to help her case.

“She felt invisible because the most important person in her life didn't share her feelings. I thought I understood how she felt but I was wrong. You see me, even when I try to hide.”

“It's pointless to hide from me.”

“It is,” Angie agreed as she pulled Cole down on top of her.

“Angie,” he warned as she rolled over so she was on top. “Forget it. You need to rest.”

“Later,” she promised as she placed a sweet kiss on his lips. “Right now, I need to be with you.”

And he needed to be with her. He realized that days ago but had been slow to act on it. Her pseudo-accident changed that.

“Angie, when I was trying to get to you, I had this one thought going through my mind the whole time.” He felt almost queasy as he remembered the bitter taste of fear. “I was worried that if something happened, I would never have the chance to tell you that I love you.”

He felt the tension in Angie's body before she lifted her head and looked into his eyes. “Now's your chance.”

He frowned. “Weren't you listening? I just did.”

“Cole,” urged Angie, “tell me exactly how you feel.”

Cole didn't feel nervous as he held her gaze. He wanted her to know. He wanted the world to know how he felt about this woman. “I love you, Angie. At first I thought it made me weak. Vulnerable. I didn't want to show how much you meant to me because I would give you power over me.”

“What changed?”

“You've always had power over me, whether or not I told you how I feel. From the second I met you. But you didn't use it against me.”

“Cole, I'm going to let you in on a little secret.” She leaned forward until her mouth was a kiss away from his. “I'm not powerful but you make me feel that way. Like right now. I'm excited and anxious. I feel safe but adventurous. When you look at me like that, I want to be everything to you.”

“You are,” he insisted. “And I was lost and miserable after I left you. I believed I was doing the right thing but I wished every day that I hadn't ended things. And it was a mistake that I waited so long to see you again.”

“I won't lie, Cole, it hurt when you took off,” she said, her eyes darkening as she recalled the pain. “I tried to get over you but I couldn't.”

“Yeah, I remember your face when you saw me on stage.” She had been confused and angry. It gave him a little bit of hope that she still had feelings for him.

Angie sat up straight and tightened her legs around his hips. “That reminds me, no more undercover work, especially in a strip club.”

“Don't worry. I'm never doing that again.” The only woman he wanted tearing his clothes off was Angie. “The one good thing that came out of that is that you owe me a lap dance.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Says who?”

He moved restlessly underneath her as he imagined her performance wearing nothing but those impractical heels. “Come on, Angie. Let me watch you.”

She hesitated as if she were actually considering his suggestion. “How much cash do you have?”

“That depends,” he said as his gaze traveled down her body. “What are you offering to do?”

* * *

A
NGIE
SUDDENLY
FELT
shy. Shy, but intrigued. She nervously licked her lips. “There's no music.”

“Doesn't matter.” His voice sounded gravelly as she saw the lust sharpen his features. “I just want to watch you.”

Angie liked the idea but it would be so revealing. She wanted to seduce Cole and make him go wild underneath her. Show him how she felt. Get pleasure from his pleasure. She wanted to be as bold as she used to be.

But she wanted him to do more than just watch. “Guide me through it.”

“You don't need any help,” he said with a smile. Slowly, he slid his hands under his head and shifted to find a comfortable spot on the bed. “Go for it.”

Angie stared at him and her heart did a strange little flip. His rumpled white shirt was pulled tight against his broad chest. His position was almost casual, but his expression was serious. He was giving her all the power. And showing her he was open to anything, while still encouraging her. She could do whatever she wanted and he would enjoy the ride.

She tentatively rolled her hips for him and then raised her short skirt. The fabric was slick and silky against her bare legs. She ran her hands along her thighs, imagining how Cole would often touch her that way when he was overcome with desire. She splayed her fingers over her breasts before skimming them along her throat and cheeks.

“Stop teasing,” Cole said hoarsely. “Give me all you got.”

She smiled and dragged down his zipper, then pulled his belt free. “Take off your clothes,” she requested.

Cole did so, his actions quick and impatient. When his underwear hit the floor, he settled back on the bed, his penis thick and proudly erect. Heavy anticipation crashed through Angie as she grasped the base of his cock. Cole hissed between clenched teeth and bucked into her hand.

Angie bit her lip as she watched Cole's reaction. Yes, she was giving him pleasure, but he was giving her his trust. Cole was tough, he could take control again any time he wanted, but what he wanted was for her to have it.

“Take off your dress,” he said, mimicking her earlier request of him. “Keep the shoes on.” He grinned playfully.

Angie reached behind her. She couldn't wait to lie with Cole, skin on skin. “I need your help.”

Cole rose and sat up. Angie watched him intensely, her sex clenching as her peaked nipples rasped against the tight material. She couldn't hide her shiver as Cole lowered the zipper. His hands were large and strong against the simple, fragile dress. She wanted him to rip off the fabric. Instead he peeled it off her gradually. She stretched, exaggerating each move as the intense arousal soared through her. She arched her back and thrust her breasts.

Once he removed her dress, Angie slowly exhaled, her breath echoing in the charged silence. She laid her hands on Cole's shoulders, her fingers digging into his muscles. She could feel his hot gaze on her breasts. Her skin tingled as Cole licked his lips. She waited for him to take her into his mouth.

“Keep dancing, Angie. Show off your body.”

Angie held back a frustrated cry. Dancing wasn't on her mind. There was no music, except for the thrumming beat of her heart. His mouth was right at the tips of her breasts. She wanted to feel his tongue on her. She wanted him to tease her everywhere until she was begging for mercy.

She would have
him
begging for mercy, she decided. Angie caught his eye and fondled her breasts, moaning from the unreal pleasure. She felt Cole's burning passion when she gasped while pinching her nipples. She pinched harder, tilting her head back and calling out his name.

Angie slid her hands down her flat stomach before cupping her sex. She held his gaze. She no longer felt shy. She felt powerful. Naughty. Demanding. She dipped one hand into her panties and stroked the slick folds of her sex.

Cole drew her hands to her sides and held her hips. He slid something cold and metallic along her skin. She looked down and stilled. “I-is that...”

“This is the key to my apartment,” he said softly. “I want you to have it.”

She stared at the silver key chain. It was simple and elegant with just one key. He had made a key for her. And bought the key chain with her in mind. Excitement pulsed through her, but she was afraid she was misreading his gesture. “Why?” she asked and caution fought with elation.

“I want you to move in with me.” His voice was a whisper as he stripped her panties down her legs. The key chain slipped from his fingers and fell on the bed.

“Are you sure?” she asked, helping him remove the last item of clothing. Her legs wobbled as she straddled him again. She didn't want to push him into anything.

“Yes, this is just the beginning,” he said as he placed his hands on her hips and guided her down. “One of these days I'm going to convince you to marry me.”

Angie groaned as Cole stretched and filled her. His words reverberated in her head. She leaned into him, sinking deeper as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

“I'm all for marriage,” Angie said as she vibrated with need. “I said I wasn't going to marry. But that was because I thought you didn't want marriage.”

Cole threaded his fingers through her hair and held her tight. She couldn't look away from him even if she wanted to. “I'm going to marry you, Angie.”

“Yes.” She rocked forward and back, setting a wild pace, chasing the pleasure. Cole held on to her, surging against her pressing hips. His thrusts were hard, relentless until he found his release. He kept her tightly in his arms as he pulsed into her and she climaxed.

Cole fell back onto the bed, taking Angie with him. She sank against Cole as she tried to catch her breath. The blood pounded in her ears and her heart beat against her ribs. Her skin was hot and sticky with sweat but she didn't want to move. She could stay curled against Cole forever.

“I'm going to ask you again,” Cole said roughly as he held her beside him. She noticed his hand trembled as he stroked her damp hair. “I don't want you to think I said it in the heat of the moment.”

“The answer will always be the same,” Angie said before she kissed his neck, his cheek and mouth. “Today, tomorrow, or on our golden anniversary. I love you, Cole. And the answer will always be yes.”