Her First Noel

“You will. We both will if we’re going to have it down for the New Year’s party they already have booked. Not their fault we’re running behind, and if we miss it there’s a huge revenue loss we’ll take, you know that. It’s in the contract.” My dad steps away and I look at Cole, who lets out a pained breath.

I force my lips into a sympathetic smile. “He’s a workaholic.” I turn to watch my dad walk away, then look back at Cole, his blue eyes and kissable lips so sexy he could be on the cover of a magazine.

“That he is.”

“Is the contract really that bad?”

“No. I wouldn’t have let him sign it if it was. There’s compensation to pay, but only if we don’t meet all the deadlines. The New Year’s party isn’t even mentioned.” Cole pauses and I swear he must be able to hear my heartbeat, or the pulse that’s throbbing between my legs. “So, you going to look for another job out of town?”

I swear I hear something like disapproval in his voice, and I can only dream that he might not want me to be so far away.

“Not sure. I’ll take what I can get. But I think I’m going to try to stay closer to home. Mom isn’t doing so great with me so far away.”

He makes a sound in his throat like he’s holding back a laugh, then runs his hand down his face. “Sure your Dad would like you closer to him as well.”

What about you? Would you like me closer too?

Because I’d like to be closer to you.

Way closer.

I feel like I’m about to have a heart attack.

Looking over at my Dad, standing with some of the guys, I see just a handful of women. Dates. Wives. I realize with a sinking feeling that I don’t know if Cole has someone, and that thought crushes my chest, thinking of him with someone else… But I’m sure a man like him—a sexy, successful, confident alpha male—must have someone waiting for him in his bed.

Trouble is, I want him in my bed.

But I’ve resigned myself to the fact that that will never happen. And I’ll probably die a virgin. Because the thought of ever being with anyone else makes me sick to my stomach.

With a jolt, I realize I’ve been gawping at him for longer than is comfortable and search for something to say about being closer to home. “It was a little lonely being away…”

“No boyfriend you’re leaving behind?”

“No!” I snap the word a little too quickly, and feel myself sinking into the floor. I need to chill the hell out, but being this close to Cole is making my head spin. “No boyfriend. What about you? I mean, not a boyfriend…a girlfriend…lady friend…?” Kill me now. I try to act casual as I look around the room, but the answer to my question could very well bring me to my knees. “No date tonight?”

My throat tightens as I wait for what seems like an eternity, but when he shakes his head, I can’t hold back the sigh of relief that escapes.

Cole grins. “No date for a very long time. Years.”

My eyes go wide. “Years? I’m sure you wouldn’t have trouble finding a date.”

“Not interested.” I watch his Adam’s apple move as he takes a sip of his Coke, then his eyes pin to mine. “In dating.”

The way he says it makes me feel funny and the throbbing between my legs intensifies.

“What are you interested in then?” I manage, trying to not sound too eager, but wanting the conversation to keep going. “Skydiving? Fishing?”

God, I’m so lame.

“Oh, I’ve got my interests.” I swear his eyes settle on my tits for a beat longer than a man looking at his best friend’s daughter should, and I’m fortified by the heat I feel growing between us.

In a moment of complete insanity, I throw a line out and see if I can sink my hook into the man that’s made my heart ache for so many years.

“I’ve got my interests too. I wonder if yours and mine might—”

My father appears at Cole’s shoulder, clearing his throat. “Sorry, baby, I need to borrow Cole for a second.” My dad jerks his head toward the front of the room. “Time for us to give out the bonus checks and wrap this party up before they drink the bar dry.”

“O—okay.” I nod on a shrug, breathing a sigh of disappointed relief that I didn’t have the chance to finish my last statement. At least I avoided the embarrassment that surely would have followed.

Cole gives me one last sidelong glance, then licks those perfect, sexy lips and follows my dad to the front of the room as I try to keep from following behind him like some stupid lost puppy.