“Keep it.” To keep our shoulders from touching, I move a little to the left but it doesn’t help the pressure on my appendage. Much like the freakish lightening in Frankenstein movies, sparks bridge the space between us and I come to life.
Closing my eyes, I conjure cockroaches as big as a house and how I drove the porcelain bus after a night of heavy drinking. Nothing eases my swelling below the belt. Seeing Danni again flipped a switch and turned my dick into the randy horn dog of its youth.
All things considered, I congratulate myself for the way I nonchalantly cover the offending party with my coat.
It all goes to hell when she leans over and whispers in my ear, “Want to get out of here?”
Chapter 2
Danielle Adams
The last I heard, Cole Abbot was stationed overseas but I shouldn’t’ve been too surprised to see him here. You see, the fates and I have this on-again, off-again relationship and tonight, they decided to throw me a party.
I did well to keep my cool as I entered the room. I ignored how he pushed his brother out of his seat. I was an ice queen until he broke out the stupid linen handkerchief. Now, it’s like the last ten years never happened.
My vibrator’s favorite go-to fantasy man puts a hand to my lower back as we exit the funeral home. Outside, I shiver due to the wind chill and the drop in the temperature. I convince myself the trembling has nothing to do with him.
“A storm’s coming.” My Vermont accent returned the minute I crossed the New York State border.
Cole glances up at the two gold rings circling the moon, then his dark eyes return to my face and flicker to my lips.
“Ay-yup. Two Brothers?” He still spends words like hundred-dollar bills.
“I’m sorry?”What the hell is he talking about?
“Bar. About a mile south on Main Street.” His sexy grin makes me wonder. Is he messing with me on purpose or being his usual, annoying self?
Whatever.“I’ll meet you there.” Hoping he’ll drive off, I pause but he insists on walking me to my rental car and waits for me to turn the key before jogging back to an old Ford pickup.
Having lived in New York for some time, his old-fashioned manners do something weird to my heart and I can’t say I like it. I should head straight to my hotel but I owe Stacy. Perhaps, if I’d come a day sooner, or called her, or done anything at all, she’d still be alive.
A smarter woman would avoid Cole Abbot like the plague and I was going to do just that until I noticed his uniform. He’s the local law and I need him.
About a mile down the road, I park, bang my head on the steering wheel, and finger the printout of Stacy’s email in my pocket. I still can’t believe she’s dead. How does a healthy, twenty-eight-year-old woman, fall down the stairs? Was she on drugs? Drinking? Was her message to me a coincidence or an indication of something far more sinister?
I abandon the idea of waiting for Cole outside when my mascara freezes to my cheek. Stomping the snow off my boots, the guy behind the bar glances my way. He looks somewhat familiar but I can’t place his name which for me, is normal.
“Danielle? Is that you?”
“Hi, ah, ah?” I give him a big smile and like most do, he fills in the blank.
“Joe Zsolt. Science class? Junior year?” His brows raise, waiting for me to show some form of recognition.
I can’t place his face but I learned long ago there’s no point in explaining my prosopagnosia. People scoff at my facial blindness like I’m lazy and making excuses.
Covering up my disability, I force a big smile. “Oh my God. You look so different, I mean handsome, I meanmorehandsome. How have you been?”
“Great, great. I never properly thanked you for helping me pass chemistry. You look amazing. Are you in town for long?” Beaming, he shakes my gloved hand.
“No, I’m-”
“She’s here for Stacy’s funeral, then returning to the city.” Cole’s dark eyes flash to where I extricate my fingers from the bartender’s.
“I’ll have a beer. You?” As he steps closer, I inhale his scent and my tits harden.
“Old fashioned. Top shelf bourbon.” I point out my poison as those two share a surprised moment.
Hey, I like what I like.
