It pleased Holly that Cole wanted her to see the bed-and-breakfast. “I’d love that.” She stepped to his side at the sink and turned off the water. “Wrap this around your hand and call Abe back. You’re going to want to talk to him.”
He ignored the ice and studied her. “What’s that look you’re giving me? What’s up?”
She sighed. “That guy who Jacob tussled with at The Tavern tried to pick a fight with Abe and Jacob last night at some gas station.”
“That son of a bitch,” he said, ignoring the towel, the burn apparently forgotten as he reached for the phone. He dialed Abe and then glanced at the towel. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Thank you.”
She tried to hand him the towel again, but Abe answered and Cole launched into conversation, towel forgotten again as he paced and talked. Holly sighed and set the towel down, shoving a hand through her sleep-rumpled hair, before digging in to try and save breakfast. By the time Cole hung up the phone, she’d concluded it was a hopeless effort. The eggs were watery and the bacon burned and greasy.
Cole set his phone back down, hands on his lean hips, his lips a thin, hard line. He was clearly not happy. “You’re meeting Sheriff Jack today about those research questions, right?”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “This afternoon. Hopefully, before my sister gets in. She’s already on the road. Should be here by dinner.”
“Good,” he said, his tone firm, decisive. “I’ll ride along. We can get some food on the way. I want to talk to the sheriff before this situation with Jacob gets any more out of hand.”
She shook what felt like cobwebs from her head. “Wait. You’ve spent a week-plus hiding me away in your house, and now suddenly you decide we’re going public? You think you might want to ask me?”
A dark challenge flickered across his handsome features. “You have a problem with people knowing we’re dating?”
That drew her up short. “What? Dating? Are we dating? Is that what this is?”
He picked her up and set her on the counter, gently but firmly, nudging her legs apart to step between them. “You got a problem with that?” he challenged, his deep-chocolate eyes daring her to answer wrong. “Because I have to tell you, Holly. I’m done pretending this is nothing. And if you think I’m letting you hide me away any longer, you’re wrong.”
“Me?!” she demanded. “You’re the one who hasn’t suggested leaving the house.”
“Because you have a gossip phobia,” he countered.
“I don’t!” she said. “I didn’t want to get caught in your truck with my dress up to my waist. I thought you—”
His hands slid to her face, an impassioned look etching his features. “You thought wrong.” His eyes searched hers. “Holly. I’m not letting you go back to Houston without finding out why you make me so crazy.”
Her heart squeezed and she struggled to form words. “I make you crazy?”
“Yeah, baby,” he said, pressing his forehead to hers. “You make me over-the-top crazy.”
Sweet wonder slid through her. “You make me crazy, too,” she whispered.
She smiled inside and out. This big, gorgeous, wonderful man was crazy about her. And she was crazy about him.
Still. The moving-home situation twisted in her gut. “Cole.” She bit her lip, a bit nervous. Pressing her hands on his chest, she leaned back. “I need to tell you one thing.”
He tensed, a muscle in his jaw jumping. “There’s someone back in Houston.”
“No!” she said, her hand brushing his cheek. “Nothing like that. I just . . . well . . . I came home for the holidays thinking of moving back to Haven. No one knows. I didn’t want to be pressured to make a decision. But I need you to understand that if we don’t work out, well . . . I won’t be tucking tail and running back to Houston. Stay or go, I’m deciding based on what is right for me.”
His eyes darkened, dilated. “Fair enough. As long as you know I plan to influence your decision.” His palms pressed her T-shirt up her legs. “Starting now.” He nibbled her ear. “I’m going to eat you for breakfast. Then you can take me to lunch.” He went down on his knees, inched her legs farther apart, and then, with a gentle repositioning, he lifted one leg, and then the other, over his shoulders.
He leaned into her, his breath warm as it feathered her clit. “I’m going to taste you now, Holly.” His eyes held hers, and he lowered his head, watching her as he suckled her sensitive nub into his mouth.
Holly gasped at the intimate contact and waves of pleasure shimmered through her limbs. Suddenly, he was licking her, exploring her with a firm, confident tongue that quickly built sensation into writhing desperation.