“This wouldn’t be your choice ofvenue?” he asked while leaning into me, his arm draped over my chair.
I shook my head. “Actually, I don’t goout much,” I admitted before immediately wishing I hadn’t said that.
“Why’s that?”
I pondered his question, unsure how toanswer him.
“It’s a simple question sweetheart,”he added when I hesitated.
“You can’t ask the question and thendefine what a simple answer is,” I replied feeling slightly affronted.
He shocked me by taking my chin andgently turning my face so I was looking at him. He looked at me with suchtenderness that it made my stomach pitch. “Fair enough,” he murmured moving tosqueeze the back of my neck again with his large hand. His touch, yet again,sent spikes of pleasure through me.
“This place is way too crowded,”Connie complained loudly over the music. “Let’s go somewhere else.”
This was a perfect opportunity for meto make my escape. If I sat next to Cole any longer, and God forbid, in a moreintimate environment, I was done for. There were too many elements from my pastthat reminded me to stay away from him. “Connie, I think I may actually headhome,” I told her over the noise as I felt Cole stiffen at my side.
“What! No you can’t,” she complained.“It’s too much fun getting to hang out with you, foronce,” she emphasized with a raised brow.
“How about I promise to come out moreoften?” I bargained with a smile.
She pouted for a moment beforeshrugging. “Fine. But I’m holding you to that,” she warned before hugging megood-bye.
Kat turned to me and we exchanged alook. She was gauging her chances of convincing me to stay, and I was silentlytelling her that it wasn’t going to happen. She nodded simply and sighed.
“See you at home,” I said.
“Thanks again for the drink. And fordefending my honor, warranted or not,” I said to Cole, and smiled slightly as Igathered my purse.
“You can thank me when I’ve droppedyou off in front of your place,” his voice rumbled.
I looked up at him with wide eyes.“What? No, I’m just calling a cab. You stay and hang out with your friends,” Iargued, my anxiety rising as I realized that he wasn’t going to go away aseasily as I’d hoped.
Instead of answering me, he turned tohis friends and started issuing farewells. There were many handshakes and roughman hugs before he turned to me expectantly, gesturing that I could lead theway. Great, now I had no way of getting out of this, and everyone would nowthink we were going home together. I groaned under my breath, but I started tomake my way through the crowd, waving to Connie and Kat who looked beyondthrilled about the situation. I rolled my eyes at them. I felt a warm, largehand press on my bare back, guiding me protectively through the masses ofdrunken people.
“Are you okay to drive?” I asked,thinking of it for the first time as we got out into the fresh air and muchquieter street.
“Wouldn’t offer to drive you if Iwasn’t,” he answered simply, shrugging on his leather jacket.
“Okay,” I murmured as I followed himto his bike.
“You don’t have a jacket?” he askedreproachfully.
“Ending the night on a HarleySportster wasn’t really part of my plan,” I answered dryly.
He looked at me for a moment beforeshrugging. “Fair enough,” he said, and he smiled as he handed me his sparehelmet. “You know your Harleys, huh?” he asked as I climbed up behind himcarefully, trying to keep my dress in place.
“You could say that,” I mutteredsimply.
He gave me a look as though he wantedto pry, but thought better of it and instead started the bike up.
We roared off toward my house and Ihad to admit that, yet again, I loved being on his bike. It felt exhilaratingyet safe--dual emotions seemed to be commonplace in his company.
When we pulled up to my building, Iimmediately stiffened and sucked in my breath. Our front door was slightlyajar, certainly not the way we’d left it.
Cole turned off the bike as I stayedglued to the seat, fear percolating through my system.
When I hadn’t moved he shiftedslightly to look at me. “What is it?” he asked, his eyes following my widenedgaze.