“The sofa has recliners built into it, so the table is far enough that it won’t get hit,” he explained as he handed her one of the glasses and sat on the rug in front of the sofa.
“Ah.” She slid to the floor beside him.
“Here’s to an evening with lovely company,” he said, holding his glass toward her.
“Thanks…and cheers.” She clinked her glass to his. Then she took a sip of the golden wine. Tart and sweet flavors danced on her tongue. “Mmm. This is good.”
“I’m glad you like it,” he said with a smile. Then he glanced at the tray. “Are you as hungry as I am?”
“I could eat a buffalo.”
“Thank God. Let’s dig in. Tell me if there’s anything you haven’t tried before.”
She enjoyed listening to him walk through the offerings on the tray, which ranged from goat cheese to prosciutto to caviar. He included some stories about the first time he tried each of them, making her laugh hard enough that she almost spilled her wine.
By the time they finished the appetizers, her glass was empty and she was feeling much more relaxed. The smell of the pot roast floated around them, making her mouth water.
“So, let’s play Getting to Know You, starring Everly Wallace,” he said, turning slightly so he faced her. Only a foot separated them.
Normally she would have balked, but the wine helped ease her nerves enough that she shrugged instead. “What do you want to know?”
He grinned and rubbed his hands together. “We’ll start small. What’s your favorite food?”
“Pizza.”
“You’re making my heart swell already. What toppings?”
“Just about anything. Pepperoni, sausage, and mushrooms is a fave.”
“Favorite song?”
“
Rolling in the Deep
by Adele.”
“Soulful. Favorite color?”
“Blue.”
“Favorite movie?”
That made her pause. “Gosh, I haven’t seen a movie in years.”
“
Years?
” He gaped at her. “What about on TV?”
“I don’t watch much TV outside of sports, and that’s because I can study while the games are on. Instant replay and all that.”
He continued to look aghast. “But that means you haven’t seen
The Avengers
.”
“Ah…no. But I do know
of
The Avengers.”
Waving his hands at that, he said, “No, no, no. This must be rectified. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen
The Avengers
.”
“Well, I guess I know your favorite movie.”
“It’s right up there. Though the original
Iron Man
kicked some serious ass, too.”
“Do I get any credit for knowing that Robert Downey, Jr. starred as Iron Man?” The look he gave her made her laugh. “All right, I’m a pathetic excuse for a human being,” she said. “Maybe we should go check on the pot roast.”
He continued peppering her with questions throughout dinner, but she didn’t find it invasive. It probably helped that he knew something about her past, she thought, as he knew how to ask questions that didn’t make her uncomfortable. A second glass of wine with dinner also helped keep her nerves at bay. By the time she forked in her last bite of pot roast, she believed that he was asking the questions out of more than just casual interest. It was a heady realization.
Cole Parker was interested in her
.
She asked him at least as many questions as he asked her. She found out his favorite color was also blue, his favorite type of music was hip-hop, his favorite food was his mom’s biscuits and gravy, and he was terrified of clowns. Since they’d both grown up in the Atlanta area, they compared some of their favorite places to eat and visit around town.
When they finished eating, Everly rose with her plate. “You were right,” she said. “I loved your pot roast.”
“I’m glad. Let me get that,” he said, reaching over and taking her plate from her. “Around here, the dishwasher is automated.”
“Ha ha.” She followed him over to the sink with their wine glasses. When he took them from her and set them beside the sink, she rolled her eyes. “Just because you have a housekeeper doesn’t mean you can’t do a few things for yourself.”
She picked up the dishrag and drew some of the soap from the nearby pump. Then she ran some warm water to wash the glasses.
“Harsh,” he said. “Well-played, as I now feel elitist and guilty. But harsh.”
“Then funnel your guilt into drying these and putting them away.”
He did so without complaint, she was pleased to note. They cleaned the rest of the kitchen together. Then he took her hand and started pulling her back toward the bedrooms.
“Um, where are we going?” she asked, feeling a twinge of panic.
“I’ve devised another scheme to keep you here with me even longer,” he replied. “It involves you and me in the dark…breathless with—”
“Cole Parker,” she interrupted, trying unsuccessfully to pull her hand from his. “I don’t know what you think we’re about to do, but…”
She trailed off when he pushed open a set of double doors and she saw where he’d brought her. She’d forgotten all about seeing this room on her initial tour. Her breath caught in her throat when he leaned down close to her ear.
“Ms. Wallace,” he whispered, “will you go to the movies with me?”
Chapter 21
Cole had only used his home theater a few times. When he was alone, he usually just watched television. But when Everly said she hadn’t seen a movie in years, the idea of making her stay to watch one was too tempting to resist.
He put on
The Avengers
, even though he knew she hadn’t seen any of the Marvel movies leading up to it. He gave her a brief overview of the backstories of the main characters, then settled in to watch it with her.
Not long after the movie started, he lifted the armrests between their large, leather theater seats and took her hand. She looked briefly at their hands, then at him. When she smiled and returned her focus to the screen, he figured she was blushing. But she didn’t pull away.
Had she ever held a boy’s hand in a darkened movie theater? he wondered. Had a boy ever stolen a kiss from her when the lighting dimmed enough to provide cover? Had she ever had giggling conversations with her friends about such an experience, the way his sister Avery used to?
He didn’t think so. He didn’t think she’d had any of that.
Well, better late than never, he thought. It would be his pleasure to introduce her to such things. She deserved to experience them.
The movie ended much too quickly, he thought. He was surprised at how disappointed he was that their time together was coming to an end. She really was great company, he thought. He just liked being with her.
“That was well worth your praise,” she said after they watched the scene following the credits. “Just watching Loki get pulverized was worth the price of admission.”
He grinned. “Best part, right?”
“Oh, yeah.”
They got up and headed back to the front of the house. Since they walked past the guest room where Everly had gotten ready, she stopped to gather her things and pull on her socks and boots. As she rejoined him and he led the way downstairs, he tried to think of something else to keep her there. Why hadn’t he planned on a dessert?
“Thanks so much for everything, Cole,” she said as they neared the back door. She set down her bag and began putting on her coat. “I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”
“I’m glad you did.” He tilted his head as he approached the door leading to her car. “Sounds like it’s coming down pretty hard out there.”
He turned on the outside light and looked out the window beside the door. Then he smiled and did a mental fist pump.
“Is that ice?” she asked, walking up behind him. “Jee-zus. Look at the driveway!”
“Yes, it’s ice. It’s sleeting.” Catching her gaze, he said, “I can’t send you out in that. It wouldn’t be responsible of me.”
“I have all-weather tires now,” she said soberly.
“If my driveway is covered in ice, then so are the roads of Atlanta. Just because you have all-weather tires doesn’t mean the other drivers on the road do. Ergo, you’ll be staying here tonight.”
Her eyes widened. “Cole, I can’t—”
“Uh-uh.” He took her arm and pulled her away from the door. “I said ‘ergo.’ That means I win this argument.”
“What?”
“I don’t know what it means, but in the movies, whenever someone says ‘ergo,’ it’s because their point is irrefutable. I win.”
She stood there staring at him. Her mouth opened, then closed. Then she shook her head as if to clear it. “Okay, okay. Let me call my grandpa.”
He barely resisted removing her coat to keep her there and cement his victory. Instead, he tried to act nonchalant as he turned off the outside light and listened to her check in with Jake. The conversation didn’t take very long.
When she disconnected, she looked at him. “He’s fine and Jonette is scheduled to be there in the morning. He said he’d rather I didn’t try to drive home in this weather.”
“I knew he had good sense.”
One corner of her mouth lifted. “Well, I’m assuming you didn’t command the weather like Thor to keep me here all night. What’s next in your grand scheme?”
“Hold on. Let me bask in the hotness that is you referencing Thor.” He paused, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m good.”
She couldn’t contain her laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
“That I am.” Considering her initial question, he looked around. “Well, we sure as hell aren’t exercising. How about a swim?”
“I don’t have a suit.”
“So?” he walked over to a panel and pushed a few buttons. The lights in the room darkened and the pool glowed softly. “Wear whatever you’ve got on under your clothes.”
“Um…”
He expected to hear a loud protest, so to see her considering the idea had him going still. She might actually do it? His heart did a dunk in his chest at the thought.
“I’ll go upstairs and get in my suit,” he said. “Feel free to hop in whenever you’re ready.”
“Um…”
In hopes she wouldn’t find her voice enough to argue, he picked up her bag and coat and took the stairs two at a time.
* * *
Everly watched him go. She raised a hand as if to keep him in place, but by then he was out of sight.
Swim? With Cole Parker? In just her bra and panties?
The very thought had warmth flushing all along her body. Shouldn’t she be following him upstairs and telling him she wanted to find something else to do? Why was she still standing there?
Was it the wine that had her even considering this? That couldn’t be. They hadn’t had a drink in hours.
Her grandpa’s voice filled her head.
It’s time for you to live, my girl
.
All right. She could do this.
Battling her nerves, she took a deep breath and unzipped her coat. Thank God Cole had dimmed the lights. She carried her coat over to a lounge chair and folded it over the back. Then she sat down to remove her boots and socks. Thinking of the makeup she put on earlier, she went into the bathroom to wash it off, not wanting the pool water to make her look like a drowned raccoon. She’d have to keep her eyes closed underwater since she was wearing her contacts.
Just as she returned to the lounge chair and reached for the button of her jeans, Cole bounded back down the stairs wearing only his board short-style swimsuit and holding a couple of towels. Her confidence faltered.
“What are you waiting for, Ms. Wallace?” he asked with a grin. He tossed the towels onto another lounge chair and then jumped into the deep end.
You can do this
, she thought again, taking a steadying breath.
While he was still resurfacing and clearing water from his eyes, she unzipped her jeans and slid them off, revealing the black bikini-style panties that matched her lacy black bra. She was relieved that she’d decided to shave her legs earlier. Although she’d never expected to swim, one never knew what could happen when out on a date. And here she was.
She folded her jeans and set them on the lounge chair. Taking one final deep breath, she pulled her top over her head, then set it neatly by her jeans.
Her gaze shifted to Cole, who was suddenly silent. She realized he was staring at her with a rather strange expression on his face. Had she somehow managed to shock the world-famous Cole Parker?
She didn’t speak, but walked over to the stairs. His eyes followed her every move. He had yet to meet her gaze. He was honed in on her body. Something about that was empowering.
Liberating.
Although she had no experience with playing the temptress, the situation felt right to give it a try. Dark, seductive lighting…clear, warm water…a hot, transfixed male. Yeah, she was pretty sure the circumstances were right. She just didn’t know if she had it in her.
She slowly descended the steps into the water. “So, Mr. Parker,” she said in a casual tone, “what shall we do in this magnificent pool of yours?”
“Um…”
He didn’t move as she walked from the shallow end to where he stood with the water lapping at his waist. She allowed her gaze to move over the hard muscles of his upper body as she approached. Even as she fully appreciated his fine physique with a woman’s eye, she felt pride for helping him maintain it.
“The water feels wonderful,” she said.
She walked to his side until the water reached her belly button, then came to a stop less than a foot from him. His gaze finally moved to hers. For the first time, she read stark desire in a male’s gaze. Her pulse raced.
What in the world was she doing? Temptress? Yeah, right.
“Everly,” he said.
His voice was low. Ragged. He closed the distance between them. Her nerves shimmied.
Oh, God. Was he going to kiss her? What should she do?
He paused. His eyes swept over her face. Whatever he read there had him backing up. Once again, she felt both relieved and disappointed.
Why was she so awkward with guys? With intimacy?
“You’re not nearly wet enough,” he said then.
Her mouth fell open. Then he grabbed her and leaped with her into the deep end. When they surfaced, she laughed and splashed him for dunking her. She realized the pool was filled with saltwater instead of chlorine as she pushed her hair out of her eyes.