The Trouble With Coco Monroe by C. C. MacKenzie Read Free Book Online Page A

cue her chin tilted.
    ‘I’m absolutely fine.’
    ‘No. You’re not. Physically and emotionally you’re too delicate, too vulnerable. I’m a protector, always have been, always will be. So that means your fragility is pressing all my buttons.’
    With an over-dramatised sigh, he gave her wide eyes.
    ‘I’m a guy. Which means if a beautiful woman kisses me the way you did, believe me I can be up for sex anytime. But usually I like to have dinner, talk, find common ground, get to know her. You know, normal stuff like that.’
    Now that delectable mouth pouted in a way that made him want to kiss her. ‘But, you do know me.’
    He could tell by the way she frowned and bit her top lip that the lack of logic in their discussion, how it had turned on her, had struck home.
    Now he slowly shook his head.
    ‘Baby, you haven’t spoken a civil word to me in years. We’ve got sidetracked. Taking you to bed is not why you’re here.’
    Coco didn’t know how to respond to the lethal combination of the jerk of her pulse, the liquid flutter of arousal deep in her belly and bitter disillusionment.
    Stupid.
    She was so stupid to believe he actually cared about her.
    When would she ever learn not to challenge this man?
    All he’d done was to show her who was in control, who was the boss.
    ‘What do you want?’ she demanded.
    Now he straightened, leaned his elbows on his knees.
    His eyes never left hers.
    ‘Just call me the peacemaker.’
    So dear daddy had sent him to build bridges, had he?
    Typical.
    If he told Rafe to jump, Rafe would ask how high.
    Why couldn’t she be attracted to a person who had enough character with enough backbone to be his own man?
    Battling with deep sense of bitter disappointment in him, in herself, Coco wondered why the hell she was surprised.
    Sinking to the edge of a chair, she sipped her water.
     
    ‘Between my father and you I’m being driven crazy.’
    ‘What do you want, Coco?’
    ‘Independence,’ she shot back. ‘Look it up. It means liberty, freedom, self-determination.’
    ‘I know what it means. Unfortunately, just at this moment, you can’t have it.’
    She knew he was right. Even understood the reasoning behind it, but that didn’t mean she had to put up with him poking his nose into her business.
    ‘Did you wheedle an invitation to this wedding?’
    His cheeks went red.
    Gotcha.
    ‘I might have.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘You’ve no protection. The place is crawling with paps, long lenses. Your father was concerned. I’m concerned. End of.’
    ‘So I’m a part of your job description?’
    That lethal smile flashed.
    ‘If you like.’
    ‘I don’t like,’ she snapped.
    ‘You didn’t bring a date.’
    What the hell did that have to do with anything?
    ‘I brought Louise. You didn’t bring a date.’
    ‘I’m working. I never mix business with pleasure.’
    How the hell did that make sense when he’d just kissed her senseless and played her body like a violin?
    ‘You’re a walking cliché, Rafael.’
    And in more ways than one.
    Tall dark and handsome could have been invented to describe the son-of-a-bitch.
    His response was a small curve of that amazing mouth.
    ‘Don’t you find it boring baby sitting me?’
    That smile went wide.
    ‘No man in his right mind would find you boring, doll face. Fishing for compliments?’
     
    Deciding not to lower herself to his level, Coco took a very deep breath.
    ‘Do you really believe that cornering me at my friend’s wedding was a clever idea, Rafael?’
    ‘You haven’t left us with a lot of choice.’
    ‘Us?’
    ‘Your father, your brother. And me. You can’t resign in a fit of pique. There are commitments to be honoured. You’re the face of the cosmetic line. Promotions have been lined up for weeks, months ahead. How is storming out of a meeting proving that you’re mature enough for a seat on the board?’
    He was right.
    Bastard.
    In some ways, she regretted the way she’d handled it. A better idea might have been