Page 97 of L.O.V.E

“Natalie.”

Oh, God.That voice. Thick and warm, like melted caramel. I was toast. I couldn’t look. I couldn’t let them witness my crumbling dignity.

“Linda. Charles.” Cole cleared his throat. “I’d like you to meet my mother, Felicia.”

“Oh,” I whispered, smiling, feeling ten thousand pounds lighter and one hundred percent the fool.

A horrid gasp came from my mother, so loud I jumped, spilling wine over my fingers, but not on my new Armani dress, thank you Jesus.

“Felicia?” Mom shoved her glass of wine into my free hand and threw her arms around Cole’s mom.

Felicia laughed, then bellowed, “Linda? Is it really you?”

I met Cole’s beautiful, dreamy eyes, all the more spellbinding under the blue lighting, and I knew I needed to fight the hypnotic pull, but I couldn’t remember why.

Before I could say hi, or apologize for my mom’s behavior, or peel the two women apart, Cole snatched the drinks from my hand, set them on the table behind him, and caught me in his arms, sweeping me back to the dance floor.

An old, airy tune played, and he pulled me close, cinching my waist with one arm, securing my hand with his other. He’d clearly had lessons because we swayed and twirled through the crowd, and even with my two left feet, we didn’t so much as brush against another couple.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, breathless and so turned on by the friction between our bodies I could barely feel my legs.

“My dad and your uncle go way back. Remember?”

Oh, yes. I’d met his father on the street all those months ago.

His lips grazed my ear, eliciting a shiver. “And I knew you’d be here.”

Heaven help me. I tripped, his voice, his confession making me dizzy. That strong arm of his held my weight, then tightened, securing our bodies.

On a twirl, I caught sight of our moms, now sitting at a table with their arms around each other, each of them dabbing tissues under their eyes.

“What do you suppose is happening between our mothers right now?”

“No clue,” he said, his lips dangerously close to mine. “How have you been?”

I dodged, avoiding any accidental lips-locks. “Do you think we should find out how they know each other?”

“I don’t want to talk about my mom while you’re in my arms.”

“Aren’t you worried?” I stretched my neck to see over his shoulder. “What could they be talking about?”

He had the audacity to laugh. “They’re planning our wedding. Plotting grandchildren.”

“But they’re—”

His lips covered mine in a hard, no-holds-barred kiss, those strong hands holding me rock solid against his steel frame in the middle of the dance floor in front of my uncle’s family, friends, and colleagues.

Was everyone staring?Oh,God. I couldn’t open my eyes. I couldn’t move, breathe, or think straight because Cole held me like he owned me, claiming me in public for the world to see.

He broke the kiss. Solemn eyes met mine. “You’re not kissing me back.”

“I can’t,” I said, staring at his full lips.

“You want to.”

God, those dimples. “It hurts too much when I have to stop.”

“Because you want us as much as I do.”

---