Page 51 of Perfect Fling

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Saturday arrived beforeErin was ready. The Bar Association dinner dance was at the Pierpont Hotel, thirty minutes from Serendipity. This yearly event was important to her, though not for the reasons Evan had said. She enjoyed her job and even if she didn’t plan to take over Evan’s position or run for political office, she had a reputation to maintain. And she would need her career after the baby was born.

She didn’t kid herself that tonight would be easy, not with Evan determined to make a statement and Cole equally insistent on keeping her away from her boss. Still, Erin had a statement of her own to make. She’d begun on Wednesday night at Joe’s, and she’d continued at work, no longer treating Cole like the man who guarded her but like one she cared about. Had a relationship with.

At first he’d seemed uncomfortable with her public touches and endearments—as if he’d never had a girlfriend before, one where they were committed and outright affectionate, but he’d slowly warmed to the idea.

In the meantime, she’d gone maternity shopping with her mother on Friday’s lunch hour, Cole hovering in the background as her bodyguard. Thanks to the salesgirl’s expertise, Erin now had stylish clothing to go forward with this pregnancy, and she felt better about herself when she walked out of the house than she had before. She was still able to disguise her slightly swelling stomach with flowing tops, but she knew soon enough that wouldn’t work. For now, she had time.

Early Saturday evening, she showered and dressed for the event, taking special care with her hair and makeup, wanting to make an impression on the man in the other room. She’d chosen a formfitting lapis-colored dress, held up with a gorgeous crystal brooch on one shoulder, draped in the right places to accent her breasts and not her stomach, and which hit above the knee. Sparkly silver shoes picked up the glitter on the brooch. Appropriate for a work event, yet a touch sexy enough to appeal to the man who was now officially sharing her bed.

***

Cole waited forErin in her family room. He paced, acknowledging to himself how uncomfortable he was with the idea of going out in public as her date. This wasn’t a part of his normal life. Hell, he didn’t have a normal life outside of undercover work. But if he was going to have a kid, he supposed he should get used to various conventional situations and events. Dating Erin—well, it wasn’t something that would continue once the baby was born. They’d agreed on that.

The sound of a door opening drew his attention and he turned to the stairs. Erin stood at the top, glowing from head to toe, in a gorgeous blue dress that showed off her long legs, set off by high heels. Her face was made up in a way he’d never seen before, and though her fresh-faced look appealed to him on a gut level, this Erin took his breath away.

He walked to the bottom of the stairs, held out his hand and grasped it when she met him at the bottom.

“You look spectacular.”

Her beaming smile was the only thanks he needed.

“You look pretty hot yourself, Mr. Sanders. Ready to deal with a room full of stuffy lawyers?”

He let out a laugh. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for that.” But for her he was making an exception. Not just as her watchdog, but as her date.

He refused to delve too deeply into that.

On the drive over, Erin surprised him by bringing up the stalking. “The longer we go between incidents, the more worked up I get.” She placed a hand over her stomach.

He reached over and grabbed her, lacing her fingers through his. “Don’t think about it. Stress isn’t good for you, and as long as I’m around, all he or she can do is try to scare you. Nobody will get near you, remember?” He squeezed her trembling hand.

“Thank you,” she said in that husky voice he liked so much. “And tonight? Whatever Evan pulls, ignore him, okay?”

Cole remained silent, unsure he could make that promise.

“Cole? He’s all bluster. A true politician.”

“Who wants you.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” Erin laughed. “He’s only stepped up his rhetoric about us as a power couple now that you’re around. I think he likes getting to you because he knows you’re a worthy opponent. Don’t give him the satisfaction.”

Cole let out a rumbling growl.

“I’ll take that as an okay.”

“For you? I’ll do my best.” He slid his hand to the exposed skin on her thigh and ran his thumb back and forth over the silky flesh.

“Thanks.” The sound came out reed-thin.

He grinned and kept his eyes on the road. He was adept enough without looking. “So tell me what to expect this evening.” He inched his hand higher, until the pad of his fingers hit the elastic on her panties.

She squeaked. “Cole!”

“Yes?”

Before she could tell him to stop, he brushed his thumb over the front of the silken material, pressing downward on her sensitive nub. She stiffened, sighed, and gave in, spreading her thighs as far as the tight dress would allow. Beneath his touch, she was warm, damp, and aroused.

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