“Dammit,” I muttered.
“Don’t worrydarlin’I’ll stick to my side of the bed,” he said with a wink.
“No one said anything about us sharinga bed.” I smiled sweetly. “You should be more specific with your bets,” Ipointed out.
He merely grinned and headed off touse the bathroom.
I found a table and sat down, sippingmy second beer and realizing that this was the best date I’d ever been on.Aside from the slightly strained start of dinner, the rest of the evening hadbeen light and fun. It felt very natural to be with him. The frequent stomachflutters weren’t so bad either.
“Buy you another?” a deep voice askedas I looked up at a scruffy looking biker.
“No thanks,” I shook my head.
“How about a game then?” he asked,gesturing to the pool tables.
“I’m here with someone,” I repliedfirmly.
“I don’t see anyone.” He shrugged,making an arrogant show of looking around.
“Then you should look behind youasshole,” Cole’s voice rumbled from behind him.
“Shit, Jackson sorry man. I didn’trealize,” the guy apologized when he got a look at the very angry man behindhim. He obviously knew Cole and clearly knew he had seriously fucked up.
“Get lost, now,” Cole gloweredangrily.
The guy threw up his hands in agesture of apology and walked away. I shot a hesitant smile up at Cole, tryingto assess his mood.
“Can’t leave you for a second,” hemumbled while sitting down next to me.
“I’ve fended for myself pretty wellfor twenty six years,” I reminded him. “Plus that guy was harmless,” I waved myhand in a casual gesture while taking a sip of my beer.
“I still don’t like it,” he grumbled.
“Do you want to go?” I asked when itseemed clear his mood wasn’t going to improve.
He simply nodded and we stood to puton our jackets.
“Hey,” I said softly, putting my handson his chest and looking up at him. “Don’t let two minutes ruin what wasotherwise a great date,” I said, meeting his fierce gaze.
His expression softened considerablyas he put his hands gently on either side of my face. He was capable of atenderness I’d never experienced before, and I shuddered a bit as he put hislips softly to mine.
“Deal,” he murmured as he pressed hisforehead to mine.
I smiled, taking the hand he offeredand followed him out of the bar and to his bike.
My stomach tightened with anxiety whenwe turned onto my street, wondering what the night would bring with him stayingover. It was, technically speaking, our first date, but I doubted I’d have muchrestraint if I was sharing a bed with him. My head and my body seemed to have adifference of opinion when it came to Cole.
When he pulled the bike to the curb Iturned in surprise when he showed no signs of getting off.
“Not on a bet,” he shook his head, hiseyes smoldering into mine.
“What?” I demanded,surprised at how disappointed I was.
He grinned at my clear frustration. “Noton a bet,” he reiterated. “You invite me in, it’ll be because you want me tospend the night with you. Not because you lost a bet. Anddarlin’,that day will come soon. I’m not worried about it,” he said as he winked at me.
God, he was so infuriating. Not onlywas he now denying me what I’d started to look forward to, but he wasmaddeningly arrogant.
“Suit yourself,” I huffed.
