Rescue Me(24)

Brandon looked at him pointedly, but Cole glanced away and shook his head. She was missing something, but now wasn't the time to talk about it.

"You still up for dinner later?" Cole asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, I'm good. Mere, Cole is going to be joining us for dinner. If that's okay," he amended. I know I told you I'd spend one on one time with you, but I haven't had any time for Cole either and I haven't seen him much in years."

Cole quirked an eyebrow at her as if to say this could be interesting.

"I wouldn't miss it," she said, placing a kiss on Brandon's cheek.

"Great. Cole, I think they need you for a report, and I need to get back to the office, but I'll see you later. Seven?"

"Sounds good," Cole said.

Brandon turned to leave and Cole raked his eyes over her, the familiar heat radiating between them. "You know this is a bad idea don't you?"

Meredith nodded. "The worst."

"I'm in if you are."

Oh, she was in. Deeper than she'd ever intended.





CHAPTER SEVEN



Cole sat at the table in Bien waiting for Brandon and Meredith to show up. He pulled at his collar, not used to the buttoned shirt, and it felt stifling. Thank God he hadn't had to wear a tie. Not that he would have had one if he was supposed to. He tried to focus on the menu while he waited, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the moment he'd had with Meredith on the beach. She had looked so vulnerable. He wasn't sure how that made him feel. He was no good for her, that much was certain. She was too sweet for him. He'd only hurt her in the end.

Which was why he knew he shouldn't take this thing any further, but he felt powerless to stop it. She had taken over his very brain cells and he didn't think he could keep himself from having her. He needed her, almost like a craving. If he were smart, he would end it before they had a chance to get started. But when he looked up and saw them approaching he the table he knew that wasn't going to happen. He was beyond the point of walking away without having her in every way possible. Guess he wasn't as smart as he thought.

How did she manage to look sophisticated and proper, but at the same time scream out, do me now? Her dress was long, sweeping the floor, but the plunging neckline and thigh high slit were enough to do him in. But he could keep things easy. He had to.

"Look at you," Brandon said. "All cleaned up. Did you shave?" he added with a smirk. "I thought you'd given that up while you were here."

"Shut up," Cole muttered. "It's a fancy restaurant.”

Brandon pulled a chair out for her at the small round table, and as she sat down, she leaned into him and whispered so that Brandon couldn't hear. "I don't like it. Takes away from your bad boy image."

"Like bad boys, do you?" Cole chuckled. Her slitted eyes told him everything he needed to know.

"So Meredith tells me you're dancing with her for the class next week?" Brandon asked dubiously. "You're full of surprises."

"Don't get used to it. Just helping you out, bro."

"He's actually pretty good," Meredith said with a secretive smile. "His moves would surprise you."

Brandon grunted. "I've seen his moves, and all I've got to say is he better keep them to himself."

Meredith let out a peal of laughter that had Cole's body coming to attention. Everything about her seemed to affect him. In a good way.

He pretended to listen while they talked about what wine to order and attempted to scan the menu, but his eyes kept coming back to her chest. There was no way she was wearing a bra with that dress. He wondered if she was wearing underwear. Maybe a thong like the night on the beach? He shifted in his seat, his dick swelling uncomfortably in his dress pants, and tried to get his thoughts back on track. If he didn't get her alone soon, he thought he might die.

"The mother of the girl today wanted to send special thanks to you, Cole," Brandon said. "She said dinner is on her."

"That's completely unnecessary," Cole protested. "Just doing my job."

Brandon turned to Meredith. "Did you know Cole is one of the top search and rescue officers in the Coast Guard?"

"Taylor said he was in search and rescue, but he didn't tell me anything else."

Taylor. Cole squashed down the unfamiliar pang of jealousy again. It was ridiculous when he was the one Meredith wanted. But old habits died hard. Trying to forget it, he said, "It's nothing."

"Don't be modest. He's led some of the best teams out there."

"That sounds scary," Meredith said. "Especially if it was anything like today."

"Today was actually nothing compared to some of what we've seen," Cole said gravely. "It's tough. And we don't always have a happy ending like we did today. But when we do, it makes it worth it. It's nice to make a difference." He stopped talking. It wasn't like him to be so open about himself, but Meredith brought out a strange new desire to talk about anything and everything with her.

"So what about you? What do you do?" He diverted the attention to Meredith.

"Meredith works for one of the premier financial institutions in New York," he said, beaming at his sister.