I lean forward over the bar, and Coopsalutes me with his drink. I raise my hand to get the bartenders’ attention.“Kate, Cole, what will it be this evening?” Derek asks.
“I’ll get a whiskey neat. What do youwant, Kate?”
“Hmm…Diet Coke.” Cole’s eyebrows raisewith shock, but he doesn’t say anything. I pull on his arm. “Dance with me.”
“Now?”
“Now…all night. We’re celebrating,right?” Even though I don’t really feel like we’re celebrating.
“We do have all night.”
“Cole, please.” I whine.
“Anything for you, Cookie.” Cole pulls meinto the middle of the dance floor. He stands behind me, his body flush withmine. The rhythm of the music is exotic, the beat fast, and the volume deafening.I close my eyes and raise my hands above me. This is exactly what I needed. Iclear my head and I let the music carry me away. Cole’s hands roam along mybody, skimming them up and down my arms around my stomach. They linger on myass for a while and then he lets them fall lower, running them up and down mythighs and under the hem of my skirt. I turn around, tangling my hands in hishair, grinding into him.
After the third song, Cole leans in.“Come on baby, let’s go get drunk.”
“Yes, please,” I lean in whispering,nipping his earlobe. He takes my hand, leading me to a secluded VIP area whereAlan, Kit, Race and Cooper are sitting. Kit has a woman with long blond hair onhis lap, and Race is whispering to another woman with short spiky brown hair.“Looks like you boys are back to normal.” I smile and laugh. Cole slides in,hitching me up. “Hey.” His hand sneaks up under my dress, resting on my thigh.
“Better than normal.” Kit reassures,kissing the blonde’s bare shoulder.
“You all deserve it.”
“Nice to see you, Kate.” Race smiles.
“It’s nice to be seen.”
I turn to Coop. “Where’s your girl,Cooper?”
“I’m taking my time, waiting for theright moment.”
I laugh, reaching for my drink on thetable. “Well, get busy, you don’t have all night, brother.”
“If you’ll excuse me.” Alan gets up,walking over to the bar and ordering a drink.
“What wrong with Alan?”
“He’s an old fart.” Cooper snorts,downing the rest of his drink.
I glance at Cole. “I’m not sure. He’sbeen that way ever since we finished up the sale.”
“He was in favor of the sale.” Racedeclares.
“Yeah, sorry Kate, he voted with youbecause he knew we were all for selling.” Cooper gives me a look of pity
“It’s okay. I pretty much knew that.”
“I would’ve loved if you’d told us whatyou were thinking this morning.” Kit jests between kissing the blonde on hislap.
“I wanted to.” Cole’s hand moves higherbetween my legs. “But someone stopped me.” Cole dips a finger between my foldsas I try to take another drink. “Oh my…” I groan out, and everyone looks at me.“I just love Diet Coke so much.” I’m going to be slowly tortured to death if Idon’t do something. “Um, maybe Alan will tell me what’s going on.”
Cole smiles, shrugging, “You can try.” Heholds my head whispering to me, “this doesn’t get you off the hook baby, sohurry back.”
Pleasurable sensations shoot down myspine to my core. I hook my arm around Cole and whisper, “if I’m getting minetonight, then so are you.” I flick my tongue out, tasting his skin, then pushmyself off his lap and head toward the bar.
“Alan, hey,” I say, coming to stand nextto him.
“Katie girl, what are you up to?” Alangives me a tight smile and then downs his shot.
