“The girl behind the desk didn’t believeI was your wife. She called security, and I guess the bridal shop called thepolice thinking I’d stolen the dress, so security called the police.”
“I managed to leave you a voicemail whenI was in the conference room at the Upper House. Didn’t you get it?”
“No, my phone got smashed when MelvinMartins tried to punch me.” Cole caresses the bruise on his cheek.
I gasp, my eyes going wide. “What do youmean, he tried?”
“Luke pulled a gun on him, and then Idecked Melvin, and one of his security guys hit me.”
“Cole.” I cringe. “Guns and fighting?That’s all really bad.”
“Kate.” Cole turns me so he’s looking atme. “I’m the one who caused it to get out of hand. I thought they had kidnappedyou. Really, they just wanted to know why the sale was taking so long. I’m theone who made a mess of things, I just—I lost it. Luke was the one who kept his cooland handled the situation.”
“He’s the one who saw me leaving with thepolice. What does Harris Thompson do for you?”
Cole’s jaw tenses and then ticks. “He’sthe head of casino security. Why?”
“He’s the one who called the police andfiled the charges against me. I told him who I was, but he didn’t believe me.”
“Harris is good at his job when it comesto the casino. They filter everything else through Luke’s security team. Did hehurt you?”
“I—uh,”
“Kate.” Cole holds me at arm’s length,looking me over. “Don’t lie to me.”
“No, he didn’t hurt me. The police showedup. If I’d kept my mouth shut, he would have hardly paid me notice.”
“I’m sorry, I haven’t talked to Harris inalmost a month. He’s been away. So he didn’t know about you and me. As for thewoman at the front desk, that I’ll check into. I’m so sorry you had to go downto the jail. I was horrified when I found out. I’ve never seen Luke so upset.He tried to tell the police there’d been a mistake and who you were, but theofficer dismissed him. I thought him and Harris were going to get into it.”
“It wasn’t that bad. I mean the sittingin jail part. The whole being handcuffed and read my rights was horrifying. Isat in this holding room with Elvis and Elvis, and about ten other Elvis’.”
“Oh my gosh, of course you did.”
“It wasn’t bad. They all thought I’dbeen left at the altar or something. They were all nice to me.”
Cole rubs his hard length between my legsand I let out a slow moan of want.
“Lower.”
“Mmm, I’m getting there baby.”
“Hmm, what time is it?” I ask, stretchingout across the bed.
“Time for another round of you and me.”Cole runs his hand down my chest and over my hip.
“Hmm, we may never get out of this bed.Maybe that would be a good idea, seeing how I can’t seem to avoid trouble, nomatter how much I try.”
“It’s not you, Kate. It was bad timingand bad luck.”
I sigh. “I hope that’s true.” I roll overonto my stomach, bunching a pillow under my head, sleepy from a day of too muchdrama and a whole lot of loving.
Cole runs his hand up my back and downagain. “Kate, it’s true.” And he gives my ass a playful swat.
“Ooh, Mr. Holt, I wasn’t aware I’d beennaughty.”
“Cookie, look at me.”
I tilt my head up to him. He wants me tosay the words, but I don’t believe him. “I want to believe you. It’s just hardwhen there’s so much stacked against me.”
