Cole by Tess Oliver Page B

“Shit, I’m rambling. Maybe there was a lot of tequila in those drinks.”
    “You’re not rambling, and I like listening to you. And I don’t say that about too many people.”
    She unfastened her seatbelt. I was disappointed thinking she was ready to hop out already. Instead she turned to face me. “I don’t know why it’s so hard. I don’t even have a tall order when it comes to the right guy. I want someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Someone, who, if I’m crying, can just listen with a sympathetic ear and who can make me laugh through my tears. I want someone who makes my knees wobble when he takes my hand or caresses my arm. See, not a big list, but so far, that person has eluded me.” She pressed her fingers to her mouth. “Oh my gosh, I am just babbling like a chattering bird. Stop me. No, I’ll stop myself. That’ll make more sense. Tell me—what it is you’re looking for, Cole? Or maybe you’re not looking for anyone.”
    “Sometimes I think I’ll just stay single and have a good time and see where the future takes me, but whenever I hang out with Rett and Finley or Jude and Eden and all the others, I feel a little twinge of loneliness, like I’m missing out on some big secret that they know but that I won’t ever hear until I find someone. I don’t have a tall order either. I want to find that girl who’s on my mind all the time, whether I’ve had a shitty day or a great day or just an ordinary and boring day, I want to be thinking about her. Oh, and before you praise me for being deep and thoughtful, I will add that a great pair of legs is a bonus.”
    She nodded a little more enthusiastically than she’d intended and she pitched forward. I reached over and took hold of her arm to keep her from slipping off the seat.
    “Oh my gosh,” she laughed, “I don’t think I’ve been this drunk since college. I should probably go inside before I do something completely embarrassing, or worse, throw up the tequila.”
    I hopped out of the truck, walked around and opened the passenger door. She struggled some to get out of the seat and had to yank hard to get the train of her dress out of the truck. Again she tottered forward. This time I caught her against my chest.
    She peered up at me from beneath heavy black lashes. “I’m a disgrace to the princess uniform. But you are every bit the prince.” She steadied herself and stepped away from me. Total disappointment. She braced one hand against me as she yanked off her plastic slippers.
    We walked up the steps to the front door. I faced her, and she closed her eyes for a kiss. There was nothing I wanted more than to kiss her, but this wasn’t the night. I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. She looked up at me with round green eyes. Her luscious mouth turned down in a frown.
    I gazed down at her and brushed my thumb across her bottom lip. “I’m dying to kiss you, and I will kiss you  . . . soon, but I want you to remember it. Is it all right if I call you?”
    “I think I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.” She walked to the door and pressed the keypad. She glanced back at me over her shoulder and flashed a smile that I’d already memorized. “Later, Charming.” She slipped inside.
    I pulled out my phone on the way to the truck and dialed her number.
    It took her a few rings to answer. “Hello?”
    “Charming here. You should have dinner with me tomorrow night. Ball gown and plastic slippers optional.”
    Her laugh was just as cute through the phone.
    “Have to check my royal appointment calendar.” She paused. “Is seven o’clock too late? I’ve got stuff to do after work.”
    “Stuff?”
    “Yep, princess stuff. O.K.. That’s getting old. I can be ready at seven, but if that’s too late—”
    “Seven it is. Good night, Kensington.”
    “Good night, Cole.”

Chapter 9
    Kensington
    I looked back at the little girl on the pony. She was grinning so widely, I could see every tooth in her mouth, or at least