His Obsession Next Door (In the Line of Duty) by Cathryn Fox Read Free Book Online Page A

suit?”
    “Do you have one or not?” he bit out, much harsher than he intended. But goddammit, Gemma had completely thrown him off his game and lit a dangerous fuse inside him, one he’d better find a way to extinguish before he did something he could only regret later.
    “What’s gotten into you? You look like you’re ready to go off.”
    “Nothing,” he said, raking his hands through his hair. “Look, I didn’t mean to bark, it’s just…I think I should go to the benefit tonight.”
    “You want to go to the benefit?”
    “Yeah. If we’re going to help Gemma out, I should learn a little more about what she’s trying to do over there.” While it wasn’t a lie, it wasn’t the entire truth either. But he wasn’t about to tell his friend, a guy who took him in when he had nowhere else to go, that he couldn’t stand the idea of Gemma being there with another man. Fuck. There was an unwritten rule amongst his comrades, an honor amongst the brotherhood. They took care of each other’s families, they didn’t lust after them, and Jack was fully aware Gemma was his late friend’s kid sister.
    Jack gave him a long, thoughtful look before disappearing into his bedroom. He came back with a suit inside a zipped garment bag. He handed it over and asked, “You sure you know what you’re doing, Cole?”
    “Yeah,” he lied, never more uncertain in his life. “Can I leave Charlie with you? I don’t want him alone for any length of time after his surgery.”
    “You know it,” Jack said. “Colby would love the company.”
    Leaving his dog in good hands, he tossed the fabric bag over his shoulder and hurried back to his condo. He jumped in the shower, then dressed. Close to an hour later, after opting for his truck over his bike, he made his way to the other side of town.
    He stepped into the grand entrance and took in the opulence of the upscale hotel. A concierge made his way over to him. “Right this way, sir,” he said, guiding him through the lobby to the ballroom at the far end.
    A woman sat outside the closed doors and smiled politely as she asked for his invitation.
    “Cole Sullivan,” he said, trying not to fidget or pull on his starched collar.
    “Yes, of course.” She sifted through the envelopes on her table until she found the one with his name on it. “But you’ve missed the speeches,” she said and pulled open the door for him.
    Cole walked into the dimly lit ballroom and took note of the people milling about. A waiter came by with a glass of champagne. Even though he was a beer drinking kind of guy, he accepted to be polite. Keeping to the shadows, he scanned the room, looking for Gemma. The second he saw her, his entire body tightened with a need that nearly rendered him senseless.
    His throat dried as he watched from a distance, taking in the familiarity of her hand gestures as she spoke passionately to a benefactor. As he registered every delicious inch of her, he drew a fueling breath and noted the slow tremor making its way through his body. He worked to bank his desires, but unfortunately, his damn cock refused to cooperate. Watching her for the last few days had played havoc with his libido, and there was no denying she’d gotten under his skin in a way no woman had ever done before. He panned her contours and the sight of her in that sexy cocktail dress evoked a myriad of sinful thoughts, mainly going over there and dragging her to one of the rooms upstairs where he could finally have his way with her.
    “Cole,” a familiar voice said, and he turned to see Audrey Matthews coming his way, her arms outstretched. Shifting his stance and knowing he’d been caught admiring Gemma, by none other than her mother, he took a swig of champagne to wet his parched throat.
    “Audrey, how are you?” He bent to give her a hug. “I’ve been meaning to call.”
    Blue eyes that mirrored Gemma’s glistened as Audrey looked him over. “Gemma said you were back.”
    “Yeah, and listen, I