Rescue Me(9)

Her hands flew to her gaping mouth. No, please no. She had not gone back to someone else's room. Maybe Brandon had found her and brought her to his room. But she knew that wasn't what happened. As her head began to clear, memories from the previous night came flooding back.

Cole.

She remembered dancing with him and how it had been one of the most sensual experiences of her life. They had left the club and walked along the beach. She also remembered deciding, in what could only be attributed to her altered state of mind, that she'd wanted to sleep with him. Have a one-night stand. Completely out of character. Her body flushed as she recalled their kiss in the sand. And then? She wracked her brain and came up with nothing. Had he brought her back to his room and had sex with her?

She walked hesitantly back into the bedroom, trying remember what all had happened the night before. Her suspicions were confirmed when she caught sight of the jeans and shirt draped across the armchair. They most definitely belonged to Cole. She pulled her robe more tightly around herself, and only then realized that she wore nothing under it. Where were her clothes? She looked around desperately.

This couldn't be happening. She had never done anything like this before. Even though it had been her suggestion she couldn't believe he'd gone through with it. He must have known she was drunk. Suddenly her cheeks were burning for an entirely different reason. He had some nerve! She'd heard about guys that had little consideration for a woman as long as she seemed willing and pliant, but she felt shocked and disappointed that Cole had turned out to be one of them. Not that she'd taken the time to actually get to know him.

It infuriated her.

Meredith jumped at the sound of a low male voice and the click of a door lock coming from the other side of the bedroom door. She must be in a hotel suite like her own with a living area beyond the bedroom. Running to the door, she pressed her ear against it and tried to hear the conversation going on in the next room, but she couldn't make it out. Cole's muffled voice mingled with another male voice that was even quieter.

She debated waiting out their conversation so she could face him down and let him know exactly what she thought about him for taking advantage of her. But the idea of seeing him again had her pulse racing, and as irrational as it was, she was half afraid she'd fall right back into his arms. Which was now officially the last thing she wanted to do. Since she didn't think she could trust herself to see him again, she decided she'd be better off finding a way out while he was distracted. Then she could spend the rest of the trip avoiding him. Maybe he'd be leaving in the next couple days and she wouldn't have to worry about him any longer.

She rushed around the room looking for her clothes, grabbing her head when the quick movements sent a stabbing pain through it. Dammit! She couldn't find them. She couldn't very well walk back to her room in a bathrobe, but she didn't seem to have a choice. For all she knew, she would have to trek across the entire resort to get there.

Her gaze settled on the floor length curtains. Was she lucky enough to find a way out the back? She pulled back a sliver of the curtain and peeked outside. The window overlooked the beach and there was a large balcony that stretched beyond the room she was in. No one was visible from where she stood.

Smiling in relief, she pulled the curtain back further and eased the glass door open as quietly as possible. With one last glance at the room, she slipped outside and slid the door shut behind her.

The voices were louder out here, and Meredith realized there was another set of sliding doors leading from the balcony into the living area, and they were open.

Now what? It looked like the only option was to vault over the railing and make a break for it. As she shook her head at the absurdity of the situation she caught a glimpse of red fabric draped over a chair on the other side of the patio. Just beyond the open doors where Cole and whomever he was talking to were sure to be standing. There was no way she could get across to get her dress.

Cole's voice drifted out to her. "Don't worry, I've got it covered. I've been doing this for years."

I'll bet. Meredith became angry all over again. She was just one of his many conquests. She scoffed, then immediately slapped a hand over her mouth, leaning against the wall with her eyes shut. So much for a stealthy escape.

"Do you have someone in there?" the other person said, their voice still slightly muffled. At least that's what she thought they said. It was hard to hear over the sounds of waves crashing and birds singing. Any other time she'd love to enjoy the view of the early morning beach coming alive, but not today.

The voices became quieter until she didn't hear anything else. Had they left? Taking a risk, Meredith peeked around the corner and saw the front door cracked a couple inches. They must have moved outside.

Not believing her luck, relatively speaking, Meredith rushed to grab her dress, and glancing furtively around to make sure there were no early beach goers nearby, she yanked it up over her hips and fastened it around her neck, leaving the robe where it fell to the ground.

She debated for half a second whether she should look for her shoes, but decided against it. She'd rather get the hell out of there. It was really too bad, they were one of her favorite pairs.

Swinging a leg over the balcony rail in a very unladylike fashion, Meredith dropped the two feet down to the ground and made a beeline for her room.

***





If Brandon didn't stop his incessant worrying, Cole thought he would snap.