He caught the slight curve of her lips. “Then go right ahead.”

“I think not only do you have secrets, but you’re sexually repressed. That’s why you have this job helping other people. Focus on someone else so you don’t have to deal with your own issues—whatever the hell they are.”

She let out a soft laugh. “I can guarantee you I’m not sexually repressed. I know exactly what to do with a man in the bedroom, and am given multiple opportunities to do so. But thank you for offering to save me, Cole. Unfortunately, I’m in no need of saving.”

She started to pull away, but he held her tight. “I’m not throwing you a line, Savannah. I’m attracted to you. And I know you’re attracted to me. What I want to know is why you fight so hard to deny what’s between us.”

“Because we work together. A line has to be drawn.”

But she hadn’t denied the attraction. That was progress.

She pulled away again, and this time he loosened his hold on her.

“You’re leaving me on the dance floor again?” he teased.

She paused, then slipped her hand in his. “Walk off with me. Let’s go to the bar and get a drink.”

He went with her to the bar. She ordered a glass of champagne, while he ordered a whiskey. She perched on one of the bar stools while he leaned against the bar.

“You’ve met my family. Tell me about yours.”

She sipped her champagne, staring out over the dance floor. “Not much to tell. I had a very unremarkable childhood.”

There was a lot she wasn’t saying in that statement. “No brothers or sisters?”

“No. Just me.”

“How about aunts and uncles or grandparents.”

“None of those, either.”

“So…what? You’re an orphan?”

“No.” She finally looked at him. “It was just my mother and me.”

“Oh. Did your dad die?”

“I have no idea. I never knew him.”

“Ouch. I’m sorry, Peaches.”

She shrugged. “Don’t be. You can’t miss something you never had. I managed just fine without him.”

“Still, I imagine it was hard to grow up without one of your parents.”

“I have no idea. Like I said, I never had him so it wasn’t like I missed him or anything.”

“So your mom pitched in and did double duty?”

She looked away, and it was clear her mind wasn’t on the present anymore. “Something like that.”

She downed the contents of her glass of champagne in two swallows, then slid off the bar stool. “Now I really do need to go. Good night, Cole.”

He wasn’t going to let her get away. He’d dug open this wound and it was up to him to close it. He caught up to her.

“Wait.”

She stopped, looked up. “What now?”

He winced at the raw pain in her eyes. “Let’s take a walk out back. You just poured down a pretty hefty glass of champagne. How about you let that settle before you drive?”

She paused, then nodded. “Fair enough. I do need to clear my head a little.”

He grabbed a bottle of water on the way out the back door.

The gardens were nice, with a path fringed by overhanging trees and bushes lining the sides. There was a waterfall at the end of the path, lit up by twinkling lights above. Romantic, he supposed, but what he liked about it was the privacy. And even better, no one was out here, so he tucked her arm in his and they took a leisurely stroll. A breeze had kicked up, obliterating the hellish heat that had blanketed the city during the day. They could at least breathe without the humidity suffocating them.

She wasn’t talking, so he let her simmer in silence for a few minutes while they walked the path.

“I don’t need you to handle me.”

He paused, turned to her. “Isn’t that your job?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m taking a beautiful woman who’s upset for a walk. You’re the one who handles people.”

She rubbed her temple. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“No. I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have pried into your personal life. Not my business.”

She looked away to stare at a rosebush. “It’s my fault. I never talk about it.”

“Maybe you should.”

When she turned to him, he saw sadness in her eyes and wished he could turn back the clock, erase the time when he’d pried about her past.

“It’s best if I don’t.”

He didn’t agree. Things held inside festered. “Look, I’m like the worst person in the world to give advice since you obviously know I have character issues, but that shit boils inside you. Eventually it’ll find its way out.”

She laid her hand on his arm. “There’s nothing wrong with your character, Cole. Nothing that I’ve seen of your behavior indicates you’re anything but a fine, honorable man. Remember, it’s all about image.”

He liked what she’d said about him. It struck something deep inside him that was rarely touched. He also liked her touching him, didn’t want to do anything to change it.

But he wasn’t going to take advantage of her when she was vulnerable. That would make him the as**ole the media portrayed him to be. “Well, my image needs work. That’s why I have you.”

He covered her hand with his and continued walking down the path.

“You confuse me,” she said.

“Do I?”

“Yes.”

“How’s that?”

They stopped at the end of the path where the water fountain and lights met. Benches surrounded the fountain, so he sat her down, opened the bottle of water, and handed it to her. She took a couple sips, then recapped the bottle and handed it to him.

“You’re angry and tense half the time, and the other times just so damn sweet. I don’t know what to make of you.”

“I’m just a regular guy, Savannah. Not perfect, but not the big bad ogre the media makes me out to be.” He shrugged. “I have flaws. Maybe mine go under the microscope more than the average guy.”

She shook her head, then raised her hand and swept it along the side of his face. He actually found himself holding his breath, and he never did that. Not for any woman. But he did for Savannah, because her hand was like silk across the roughness of his face and he wanted to lean into that buttery softness so she’d continue to touch him.

“No, you are most definitely not just a regular guy, Cole.”

He shouldn’t do this. In fact, he’d just made a mental promise he wouldn’t. But he couldn’t help himself. He laid an arm around Savannah’s shoulders and tugged her against him. She went willingly and her head tilted back.

This time, she knew what was coming. Her lips parted, and he took the kiss.

He’d meant to just brush his lips across hers, something brief, and then he’d let her go. He wanted to give her comfort, a little reassurance. But that’s not what this was about, because a hunger took over, especially when she touched him.

Heat burned through him, and when she leaned into him, the inferno burst. He groaned and hauled her onto his lap, deepening the kiss, letting his hands roam over her back and down her sides.

She felt good. He wanted to feel more of her, wanted to taste more than her sweet, sassy mouth. His tongue dove inside and tangled with hers, and she whimpered.

He swept his hand across her rib cage. As he listened to the sounds of approval she made, he palmed her breast. She arched against him and his cock, already hard and straining against his pants, jerked.

He slipped his fingers inside the opening to her dress, inside her bra and found her nipple. He brushed his thumb over the taut bud and Savannah whimpered, sucking against his tongue.

Jesus. She made his balls throb. He could take her right here in the garden, undo his pants, pull out his cock, and pull her astride him. She could ride him until they both came. He needed her so badly he was shaking. Her lips licked across his, her tongue taking his in a frenzy of need and desire.

She wanted this as much as he did. He felt her desperation.

But the breeze whipped her hair across his face, reminding him where they were.

Outside. In the garden at his cousin’s wedding. Where anyone could come out. And as hot and oh-hell-yeah ready as he was to slide inside her, he wouldn’t do that to her out here in public.

He pulled his hand away and righted her dress, leaving his hand on her rib cage to feel the hard thump of her heartbeat. It felt good to know she was in this as fiercely as he was, that it wasn’t one-sided.

Savannah drew her lips from his. Her eyes were glazed with passion, her lips swollen. She pressed her fingertips to her lips, her tongue flicking over them. He saw the shock on her face as the cold slap of reality hit her, too.

Goddammit, but he wanted to lay her out, undress her, and put his mouth on every part of her until she came apart for him. The desire was written all over her face. If only they’d been in the right place, he could have taken his time with her, undressed her piece by piece and discovered all her secrets.

But he damn well wasn’t going to do it here. He needed hours with her. All night.

“I know, we got carried away. Let’s go to my place.”

He felt her shudder. “I can’t. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done this. I keep losing control with you. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

He swept his hand over her back. “There’s nothing wrong with you. We both want this.”

She slid off his lap and stood, adjusted her dress with shaky hands. “I don’t. I mean I do. God, Cole. I’m not a tease. You have to know that. But my job means everything to me. It’s the only thing I have and I won’t sacrifice it.”

He saw the regret in her eyes before she grabbed her bag from the bench and turned away from him, walking down the path back toward the reception hall.

Cole stood and watched her walk away. His c**k was still hard and throbbing. He’d need a few more minutes before he went inside.

He knew better than to pressure a woman who said no. But there was more than just her job standing in their way.

He didn’t know what it was, but he intended to find out.

NINE

SAVANNAH HAD ALMOST CHANGED HER MIND ABOUT going to Cole’s parents’ for dinner.

But she always kept her promises, and since she’d been invited, she was going to go. It might be a little uncomfortable considering what had happened between her and Cole the night of Gavin and Liz’s wedding, but she was a professional. She could handle it.

She’d thought long and hard about that night. Okay, she’d thought of nothing but that night since it happened, since it burned in her nonstop. Her body still throbbed from Cole’s kisses, from his touch on her body.

Damn man. And damn her inability to stop kissing him.

It wasn’t going to happen again. She had a career trajectory and it didn’t include screwing up her job by ha**g s*x with one of her clients.

Good god she could ruin her career if she was caught.

No more. She was pushing hot Cole out of her head and only client Cole was going to remain there.

She brought a plant over to Cole’s parents’ house for Sunday dinner. A bottle of wine was so provincial.

Cole’s mother seemed pleased. She beamed with delight and thanked Savannah profusely.

Cara was beautiful, and Savannah guessed her to be in her mid-fifties. She had long, thick, very dark hair that she pulled into a ponytail, the most expressive brown eyes, and she was always smiling.

“Come with me into the kitchen.” Cara led her through the hallway.

The house was modern and beautiful, with marble flooring in the entry, wood throughout the expansive house, and dark tile in the kitchen. There was a definite Italian influence in the décor. The kitchen was filled with stainless steel appliances, a dark granite countertop, and a center island with a sink and a seating area.

“I love your home, Cara.”

“Thank you. So do I. We used to live in a tiny three-bedroom in South City that Jack and I had bought when we first got married. Over the years it had gotten run-down and in need of repair, but with Jack’s income as a welder and mine as an office assistant, there was only so much duct tape we could put on the old house to keep it together. We put all our money into the kids and making sure they got college educations. Of course it helped that Cole got the football scholarship.”

“I’m sure it did.”

“When Cole got his first contract, he bought us this house. It was my dream house. I’m Italian, so I decorated it with my love of my heritage.”

“I see the Italian influences. It’s lovely.”

Cara gave her a smile. “Thank you. I love this place so much, and there’s plenty of room for the kids—though they don’t live here anymore—and any grandchildren they might bless us with someday. Sadly, neither of them seem in any hurry to settle down.”

“Busy with their careers, I imagine.”

“True. Though Cole will be thirty this year. Alicia is just getting started on her career. I’m just anxious to hold some babies and fearful both of them will focus on their careers instead of love, marriage, and those grandchildren I want to have.”

Savannah laughed. “I’m sure it’ll happen eventually.”

Cara went to a pot on the stove, stirred, then replaced the lid. “Maybe. Maybe not. Honestly, it’s up to the two of them. I try not to interfere. Much,” she said with a wry smile. “So tell me about you, Savannah. I love your Southern accent. Where are you from?”