Bet On Love by Barbara Witek Read Free Book Online Page B

married because I have a booming career in L.A., you have your research here, and Abbey doesn’t want to move. Besides, we don’t love each other, right?” I paused for a second, but he just stared at me again with that damn unreadable look, so I quickly continued. “Of course we don’t. So see, it’s a pretty simple solution,” I rambled and returned my gaze to the screen of my laptop which continued to scan for available flights.
    “If you say so,” he replied, frustrating me even more because he certainly hadn’t said otherwise, then he sat next to me on the brown leather sofa.
    “Do you mind?” I tried to inch away, the casual brush of his thigh against mine sending my meter into overdrive. “You’re not helping.”
    “With what?” There was that devilish smirk again. There was no doubt he was attracted to me, but I’d learned the hard way, attraction alone wasn’t enough.
    “Ugh, my concentration, that’s what,” I snapped and glanced again at the revolving hourglass on my screen.
    “You clicked a button. Since when does that requires a lot of concentration. Why don’t you just admit it?”
    “Admit what?” I tried to steady my shaking hands over the keyboard.
    “That we’re good together.”
    I dared to peek at his hooded lids and relaxed mouth leaning ever so slowly toward me.
    “Since when does that require marriage?” I smirked. “It takes more than one night in Vegas, babe .” I sat straight and moved the computer off my lap to the table top in front of us. Cole slid down the back of the sofa when I stood.
    “You wound me, yet again.” Cole placed his hands over his heart as he lay there, and I rolled my eyes.
    “You are so full of it.” I couldn’t help but laugh when he pulled me back on the couch next to him. I hated how he could do this to me with so little effort. It was one of those things that always made our friendship special.
    I’d fallen perfectly in the crook of his shoulder, and his arm snuggled me closer. He kissed the top of my head, his voice soft and low when he spoke, “Find any flights?”
    “I needed to answer some emails, so I just started checking. Then you came along and distracted me.”
    “Mmm...I’d like to say I’m sorry, but I’m not. Distraction can be a good thing. Can I get you a drink? No Jack in the house, but I have wine.”
    My brain warned me where this was leading, and my heart wasn’t listening. If I could have one more night with Cole Martin, I made a silent vow I’d be happy for the rest of my life alone. Oh hell, if this would be the last time Cole and I were ever together, I wanted to be sober enough to remember every detail. Tilting my head up, the heat in his gaze looked as hot as the fire inside my body.
    “I’ll pass for now, thanks.”
    In an instant our mouths came together as our passion fed off each other. His hands cupped my face, and I combed my fingertips through his hair. He tasted like sweet tea and spicy brown mustard from his turkey sandwich.
    With gentle ease, he maneuvered our bodies so I was lying flat underneath him. He propped himself on an elbow as not to crush me with his weight, and I wrapped one leg over his to hold him there. My body ached with his touch, and I longed to be skin-on-skin against him. I started to sit up, pulling at his shirt until I yanked it over his head. Wrapping my arms around his back, I kissed his chest and I rubbed my face against the soft brown hairs.
    Cole didn’t leave me wanting for long, removing my blouse and kissing the valley between my breasts until I breathlessly begged for him to kiss my lips. His kiss was full of heat and longing. We each fumbled to unbutton the other’s jeans. There was no way we’d make it to the bedroom.
    Ravage was never a word I’d use to describe my love making with Grant, or any of my other relationships for that matter. With Cole I became consumed and I couldn’t get enough. I kissed him everywhere. My hands roamed freely across his body