Rescue Me(42)

He picked her up and sat her on the smooth rock ledge, wedging himself between her legs and grabbing a foil package from the cooler. She rocked against him, wanting him inside her right then, but once he covered himself he paused and lifted her chin so he could fix his eyes on her again.

In what had to be the most sensual moment of her life, he kept his gaze unwaveringly on hers and entered her inch by torturously slow inch. She gasped as he filled her and held her against him. When he began to move within her slowly, she couldn't fight it any longer. A single tear snaked its way down her cheek.

"Meredith," he whispered again, kissing the tear away and capturing her mouth with his.

She squeezed her eyes shut against the flood that tiny gesture threatened to unleash. When they came together, she knew her heart was breaking into a million fractured pieces that could never be put back together again.

Because she finally admitted, if only to herself, what she'd been fighting against so hard. She loved this man with every fiber of her cracked heart.

***





Cole gripped the bouquet of roses tightly in one hand, a bottle of champagne cradled in his arm. He couldn't believe what he was about to do.

The afternoon at the grotto and on the boat had been the best of his life. Meredith was purely and simply everything he could ever want and he knew now that he couldn't just walk away. It was impossible.

After they'd returned, they'd gone to the dance club to participate in the open ballroom session, and it had only intensified what he was already feeling. When it was over, he leaned down to tell her that he had to get something and he'd meet her in her room in an hour.

He questioned his sanity over and over in that hour but was determined to follow through with his plans. He still had a lot to work out, but he wanted to tell her how he felt. He couldn't let her leave without knowing.

So he'd picked up some flowers and champagne and was going to make their last night together one she'd never forget.

He glanced around as he approached her room and noticed her door was cracked, so he pushed it open and walked in. Maybe she'd be waiting for him naked on the bed. A guy could hope.

"Hey, baby," he called out. "Close your eyes. I've got a surprise for you."

She didn't respond so he continued down the hall into the living area, stopping dead when he rounded the corner.

"Surprise," Brandon said dryly.

Shit.

Cole stood there dumbfounded. He had nothing to say. How could he play this off? And did he even want to anymore?

He sat the flowers and champagne down on a table and took a step toward Brandon, raising his hands with his palms out.

"Somehow I don't think those are for me."

"No," Cole began slowly, searching the room. He didn't see Meredith anywhere. He lowered his hands. "They're for Meredith."

"Obviously."

"Where is she?"

"What the hell, Cole?" Brandon's eyes were on fire, his body tensed as if he were ready to spring. "You son of a bitch."

"Let me explain."

"Explain what? That you've been screwing my sister behind my back? After I warned you to stay away from her. Jesus, what the hell is your problem?" He balled his fists and took a step toward Cole.

"Brandon!"

Cole's attention was diverted to where Meredith had just come from the bedroom, her phone hanging limply at her side and her face paling.

He started toward her, but Brandon cut him off. "No way. You stay away from her."

Meredith came forward and placed a hand on her brother's arm, but he shook it off. "Don't touch me. How long has this been going on?"

"I didn't want to upset you," she began, trying to get his attention, but he ignored her, his eyes piercing Cole like he wanted to kill him. Hell, he probably did.

"How long?" he repeated through clenched teeth.

Cole sighed. "Since her first night here."

"What?" Brandon took another step toward him and before Cole had a chance to react, he reared back and slammed his fist straight into Cole's jaw. He stumbled back but didn't return the punch. He probably deserved that one.

"Brandon, stop," Meredith screamed, coming in between them. "Give me a chance to explain."

"Explain what? That you ignored what I told you? Both of you. That you were sneaking around behind my back with the worst possible choice of a guy you could make?"

That stung, despite that it would have been the truth not very long ago. Cole hadn't done a good job over the years of proving himself to be a great catch, but things were different now. Because of Meredith.

"How can you say that? He's your friend." Meredith's eyes were shooting fiery daggers at her brother.

"He's no friend of mine if he's going to seduce my sister, then leave her like she's no better than the rest of his cheap whores."

Meredith fell back as if she'd been hit and Cole got right in his face. He may have deserved some of what Brandon said, but there was no way in hell he was going to talk to Meredith like that.

"Are you kidding me?" he roared. "Meredith isn't like a single one of those women."

"Damn right. So what the hell is wrong with you?"

"It's not like that. Hear me out."