Rescue Me(14)

Reminding himself who she was, he tried to convince himself it was for the best. He'd finished her lesson as agreed, and they could be done with each other. She could find something else to do and he wouldn't have to see her again.

"Thanks for the lesson," she said, interrupting his thoughts. "It was more fun than I expected."

"You're a fast learner."

A hint of a pleased smile played around her full lips, making him think of how those lips had felt under his. It looked as if she was about to say more, but then her eyes darted behind him. "Brother Bear, right behind you," she muttered. Then more loudly, "Hey, Bran!"

"How did it go?" he called to them as he approached.

"She's a natural," Cole said, noting her startled expression. It was true. She'd picked up on the nuances of sailing faster than most of his students.

"Perfect. I'll tell the activities coordinator to block off more time for you this week."

Meredith stiffened beside him. She was obviously still opposed to spending any more time with him. "I don't know," she began, her eyes darting between the two men. Brandon's eyes narrowed suspiciously. He didn't miss a thing. "I mean, I would hate to take up all of Cole's time, and I want to make time for some dance classes too."

"Nonsense. Cole is the best, but he still has plenty of availabilities this week. Unless there's another reason you don't want to take lessons? You need to have some fun, Mere."

Her shoulders slumped slightly, and Cole wondered about the dynamic between them. She seemed to do whatever he wanted her to, which contrasted sharply with the impression he'd had of her before. She didn't strike him as the type to take orders from anyone.

Taking her silence for agreement, Brandon clapped his hands together. "Great. I'll book another lesson for tomorrow."

"Great," she echoed, staring off into the distance.

Despite his determination to not get involved any further with her, Cole was surprised to find he was relieved that they'd have another day together. "See you tomorrow then," he said, giving her a casual grin.

"So you will," she said through clenched teeth, turning her back to Brandon to pierce him with those startlingly blue eyes. Her meaning couldn't have been clearer. She was doing this, but not for him, and not because she wanted to.

Unsure where the need to change that came from, he resolved that by the time he was done with their lessons, she'd be wanting him to show her a lot more than how to sail.

***





Cole worked on the rigging, the midday sun beating down on his back and drenching him in sweat. Better to stay busy than to think. Meredith would be back for their second lesson before long and he was trying his best to keep her off his mind.

Not an easy task considering he'd dreamt of her the night before and woken up with a raging hard on. He didn't understand how she'd invaded his thoughts so completely in such a short amount of time, but he didn't like it one bit. After giving it much consideration, he'd decided maybe she was right and they would be better off forgetting that first night. He didn't have the time or the inclination to be so wrapped up in knots over a woman. Even if she was one of the most intoxicating women he'd ever met.

He continued working on the boat, preparing it for a day at sea, when he became aware of a tingling sensation on the back of his neck and realized someone was watching him. Glancing up, he saw her standing before the boat, hotter than any image a dream could conjure, wearing an impossibly tinier gold bikini than she'd worn the day before, and he felt his immediate response begin to raise its own sail. He felt like a frigging fourteen-year-old boy unable to control his body when he was around her.

"Come aboard," he called over his shoulder, gesturing toward the door. She did so wordlessly, and he tried to keep his focus on the task at hand. Easier said than done with her standing there staring at him with those eyes. God, those eyes.

"How long until we can get started? I have some other things I want to do today." Her voice was cool enough to chill the blazing Florida sun.

He turned and faced her. What was her deal? Hot and cold. She'd been that way the entire previous day. "If you don't want to do this, you are more than welcome to show yourself back to the beach." He didn't mean to sound so harsh, but she had him so on edge.

Meredith crossed her arms over her chest and jutted one hip out, a stance he was becoming familiar with. "It doesn't matter what I want to do. This is what Brandon wants." Her voice took on a strange tone.

"What is that supposed to mean? He's not master of you, even though you seem to act like it. I've known him a long time and I can't say that I've ever known him to be the domineering type, but the dynamic between you two is just weird."

She shifted and wrapped her gauzy swimsuit cover more tightly around herself. Cole was disappointed as the smooth stretch of her stomach disappeared from sight but tried to focus on what she was saying. "It's not that. Not at all. Brandon is the best brother I could ever ask for."

"Then why can't you seem to think for yourself when he's around?"

That had her riled up again. Was it wrong that he kind of liked it when she got angry? Maybe it was the flush rising up her neck from her chest. His eyes followed the path down to her breasts before he could stop himself, and the memory of what they had felt like pressed against his chest came rushing back.