Page 70 of Perfect Fling
“Let’s all go out back. It’s nice out.”
“This way.” Cole led them to the kitchen and the sliding doors, taking them out back.
Erin didn’t seem all that surprised to see them, and when Cara stripped off her top, revealing a bikini that Mike couldn’t stop ogling, Cole wondered if Erin hadn’t invited the couple over without his knowledge.
At this point, nothing Erin did should surprise him. Acting like the host of the house, he offered everyone a drink, brought sodas out back, and finally got himself settled in a chair next to Mike.
“You look like hell,” Mike said, stretching his legs out in front of him.
“Thanks. Aren’t you two supposed to be at work?”
Mike grinned. “It’s Cara’s day off, and I’m the boss.”
“Any news?” Cole wanted Victoria caught already.
Mike shook his head. “Positive ID on Victoria Maroni as the one who paid Brass to shoot Erin, but that’s all. In the meantime, I’ve got people watching Erin’s house and your apartment. We’ve both got people in Manhattan covering Maroni’s favorite places before she went into Witsec. And we’re discreetly showing her picture around Serendipity at places like the supermarket or Joe’s. Nothing.”
Cole exhaled low and hard. “I’m losing it,” he muttered.
“I noticed there haven’t been any looks between you two, no little touches. What gives?” Mike eyed him warily.
Cole didn’t have much to lose by telling the truth. “You’ll be happy to know I’ve come to my senses. I’m giving Erin space until this is over and I’m gone.”
Mike raised an eyebrow. “You are one stupid fuck. Almost as dumb as I was,” he said, laughing.
“What’s so funny over there?” Cara called out.
“Mind your own business, baby.”
“You’ll pay for that later,” she promised, blowing him a kiss.
Erin let out a gleeful laugh, obviously appreciating her brother being put in his place by his wife.
Cole merely rolled his eyes.
“Hey, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it,” Mike told him. “So what happened between you two? Why aren’t you still behaving more like a couple?”
Cole adjusted the frames of his sunglasses and looked over the freshly manicured lawn. “Nothing is going on between us anymore.”
Mike rocked forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees, staring at Cole like he could see inside his skin. “When my sister’s happy, that makes me happy. So when she convinced me she could get that from you, I backed off. What’s changed?”
Cole didn’t do the buddy-buddy talk thing, but with Mike pressing him, he had no choice. “Once she’s safe, I’m back to work. You tell me if it makes any sense to keep up something that has to end. Especially when she’s admitted she wants more than I can give her. Being with her only hurts her, and that’s not something I ever wanted to do, no matter what you might think.”
Mike studied him, assessing him in silence. “How about this,” he finally said. “You play things your way... for now. But when you’re losing your mind over losing her, and you don’t know which end is up? Call me. I’ll kick your ass the way Sam kicked mine.”
Cole didn’t know what Mike meant, and before he had a chance to ask, both his and Mike’s cell phones rang.
His gut screaming, he answered. Mike did the same. Both men had brief conversations, then, hanging up at the same time, met each other’s gaze.
Mike merely nodded, giving Cole permission, not that he needed it.
Cole turned to the women. “Erin?”
Mid-laughter over something Cara said, Erin turned, her beautiful face void of expression when she looked at him.Intentional, no doubt,he thought, his heart lurching. He ignored the sensation.
“What is it?” she asked.
Though he wished he could handle this without involving her, he knew she’d never forgive him for keeping her in the dark. “Enforced confinement has just come to an end. Sam just arrested a woman lurking outside your back windows.”