He gave her a cold look, his eyes narrowed and his jaw set. Cole suddenly moved and set his coffee on the table. “Angie, do you want me to stay away from the wedding?”
“What? No!” She was making a mess out of this.
“You were ready to get rid of me last night. You’re still trying. But I gave my word and I’m taking you to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.”
“I wasn’t trying to get rid of you.” She closed her eyes. “I thought we were getting caught up in the pretense.”
Cole looked at the floor and shuffled his feet. She saw the tips of his ears turn bright red. “I know that last night was...”
Awesome. Amazing. Incredible. Take your pick. She held her breath as she waited for Cole’s next words.
He exhaled and started again. “Last night you gave me comfort when I needed it.”
She blinked as he said those words in a rush. “Comfort?” she repeated. “You think that was comfort?” She gave him her heart and soul. She showed him how she felt with every touch and every kiss.
“You’re important to me, Angie,” he continued. “Though last night I didn’t know if I was out of your life or back in your bed. You obviously don’t know what you want but I don’t want to be pushed out and then pulled back in over and over. I’ve had enough of that in my life and I don’t need it from you. We’ve finally got back to where we are friends and I don’t want to risk that over last night.”
She flinched as his words drove into her like a twisted knife. Friends? They just made love and he wanted to be friends? Angie swiped the tip of her tongue along her dry lips. “Do you usually have sex with your friends?”
“I’ve never had a friend who was a woman,” he admitted. “It’s different with you. I think this is all I can handle right now.”
That hurt. She loved him and he didn’t love her like that. He didn’t love her enough. She was in the same place she was a year ago. Only this time, she thought they were getting closer. Instead, she pushed him too hard, too soon. This guy didn’t want a second chance anymore. She’d scared him off. The best he could offer was friendship.
“So...” He gave her a quick look. “We’re good?”
She wanted to hide. She had put herself out there and had given him everything. She was renewing her commitment to Cole but he wanted to keep her at a distance. It was like a slap in the face but she refused to show her hurt.
“Sure,” she said, praying that he couldn’t see she was dying inside. “You never can have enough friends.”
14
“THAT WAS THE longest wedding rehearsal ever,” Angie muttered to Cole. They were standing at the window of the fancy restaurant in Seattle’s downtown waterfront district and watching the other guests at the post-rehearsal dinner. She was glad he was there with her. She could express her real feelings with him. “I am starving. I don’t think I can face another of Brittany’s home videos without something in my stomach.”
“That rehearsal was pretty intense,” Cole said. “I’m not surprised Robin kept making mistakes. Brittany was putting a lot of pressure on her.”
Angie rubbed her stomach and looked longingly at the empty table settings. “I don’t know who was the worst taskmaster, the bride or the minister.”
“Cheryl,” Cole decided. He had sat quietly in the back of the church, thinking it would be a quick walk-through of the ceremony. An hour later he had been stunned at the focus on detail. “She is like a drill sergeant.”
“How can someone that tiny be so scary?” Angie leaned against the wall and studied Brittany’s assistant. “I think the best man may be traumatized for life.”
Cole looked at where Cheryl stood. At first glance the curvy blonde appeared almost sweet and nonthreatening. Maybe it was the pink leopard-print dress or the way she flirted with the men. But Cheryl was tenacious and didn’t back down until she got the results she wanted.
He cast a quick glance at Angie, who wore a black pantsuit and flat shoes. The jacket was big and her shirt was buttoned all the way to the high collar. The pants had a wide leg. Last night she wore a skintight dress that showed a lot of skin. Tonight she was hiding her body. Her femininity. She was dressed similar to the groomsmen.
“What’s with the suit?” he asked.