Rescue Me(21)

They moved through the dance perfectly, but there was considerably less need and chemistry between them. Whether it was due to having an audience or Meredith's own inhibitions, he didn't know.

He hadn't a clue what to do about her. He wanted her more than he could remember ever wanting a woman. She was so unbelievably sexy. Shit. He knew he was walking straight into trouble, but he didn't care anymore. Thinking back to what she'd said their first night on the beach, he was certain she'd wanted a night together. And he'd been more than ready to take her up on it. What was he supposed to do with that? Good sense told him to hightail it from the room and tell her he couldn't dance with her, but he knew he wasn't going to be reasonable.

He was going to convince her to see where this lust building between them could go.

They finished their dance and Katrina rose from her seat on the floor. "Wow. That was incredible. You guys look like professionals. This is going to be the best class ever." Her eyes were alight with excitement.

Meredith pulled away from him quickly and went to stand by Katrina. No lingering in his arms this time.

"Thanks," Cole murmured.

"I'll let you two get back to it," she said with a glint in her eye.

Good.

"Actually, I need to take care of some other stuff. I'll go with you." Meredith still wasn't looking at him.

Not so good.

Before he could form a response, Meredith had gathered her things and was standing by the door, waiting on Katrina. "I think we've got enough for the first class. It won't be necessary to practice again before next week."

Cole remained silent.

"If you say so," Katrina said doubtfully.

Meredith finally turned to him with a much too bright smile. "See you around." And they were gone.

Cole leaned back against the wall where he'd been pressed between her legs just moments earlier and banged his head against it. She was going to be the death of him.

***





Cole signed in at the activities hut the next morning and leaned against the counter, watching Meredith behind his sunglasses. He'd had another night full of erotic but frustrating dreams starring none other than the hot little sex goddess that stood talking to Taylor, one of the other water sports instructors.

He tried to keep his eyes off her so he could focus on preparing for his next lesson, but it was impossible.

She'd gone and booked a surfing lesson with someone else. Was she trying to drive him mad? Cole knew he was just as good as any of the instructors there, but she'd chosen someone else.

He attempted to fight off his frustration. He wasn't the jealous type. Ever. If he wanted a woman, he could have her. Until Meredith. She seemed to be the exception.

Ten minutes later his lesson still hadn't shown up, so he settled himself on a beach chair to wait, watching Meredith and Taylor head out into the water.

"Hey, Cole." He looked up to find the activities coordinator approaching him.

"Hey Susan, what's up?"

"Your lesson canceled, so it looks like you have a few hours off."

"Thanks." He offered her a smile and she went back to the hut. His eyes were drawn back to the surf where Taylor was holding Meredith up on the board to get her familiar with the feel of it and to practice her stance.

He didn't like how Taylor's hands were much lower than necessary on her waist to help her stay balanced. He knew he should go do something else, try to be productive, but he couldn't make himself walk away.

She threw her head back, laughing at something Taylor said, and Cole felt an old familiar anger surge through him. He didn't like it. It was too similar to what he'd felt with Jessie. That was exactly why he had no business fixating so much on one woman. He was bound to get hurt in the end. Best to stick to his rules and stay far away from someone who made him want to peek out from behind the walls he'd worked so hard to build up.

By the time they were finished, Cole was seething. She'd been having fun. A lot of fun. With someone else. Taylor ran his hand down her arm in a manner that Cole found to be way too familiar. Before he knew it, he was pushing up from the chair and stalking toward them.

"We need to talk," he snapped, completely ignoring Taylor.

"See you tomorrow," Taylor said, starting to walk way.

"Actually, she has a lesson with me tomorrow," Cole said, appalled at the intensity of anger in his voice as he still didn't look at Taylor.

If he was taken aback, he didn't say anything. Instead, he shrugged and said, "Sure. Whatever, man."

When he was out of earshot, Meredith turned on Cole. He was becoming all too familiar with this particular stance. Hands on hips? Check. Flashing eyes? Check. She was ticked.

"Are you planning on making a habit of calling the shots in what I do and with whom I choose to do it?"

He grabbed her arm and pulled her back toward a shaded area of palms, not wanting to hash this out in front of the entire beach.

"Are you making a habit of flirting with any and every guy in the resort?" His voice was sharper than he'd intended, but he didn't care. All his frustration was pouring out as he stared her down.

"You're kidding, right?" The ice in her blue eyes could have frozen even the hottest fire.

"Not at all. What the hell happened yesterday? Are you going to pretend like there's nothing between us? This is the second time you've turned tail and avoided me."