was able to follow the conversation. The little boy looked at Cole before taking a huge bite of toast.
“Kelsey is nine, and Lacey is seven.”
“I want to play with them,” Ethan announced.
Cole laughed out loud. “They live far away, buddy. In Seattle.”
Unfortunately, her son would have no idea where that was.
“Oh,” he said, his tone disappointed. “Maybe someday?”
Cole looked at Andi and she gave a slight shrug.
“Maybe,” Andi agreed quickly, wiping the crumbs from her son’s mouth gently.
Ethan made a face, but let her do so. He took a drink of orange juice, and she admonished him to slow down.
“Good. I like kids,” Ethan said.
Cole chuckled. “I like kids, too.” He tweaked the little boy’s nose.
Andi couldn’t look away from him. Cole grinned, dimples flashing, and her face heated. She broke eye contact, cursing herself. Work. Focus on work. “What’s today’s agenda?”
“I’d like to talk to your partner.”
She nodded absently, losing her determination again. Cole’s ease with Ethan had her heart needing a cardiologist. Andi reminded herself that she didn’t like Cole Lucas at all , but it wasn’t working. She was seeing a different side of him. It only resulted in chaos and confusion.
As a matter of fact, nowhere in sight was the pompous ass from the previous days. Could she actually figure him out, perhaps even get to know him? She shook her head. She didn’t want to like him, didn’t need to figure him out and most definitely did not need to get to know him. He wouldn’t be around long enough for it to matter.
It shouldn’t matter, so it didn’t.
“Something wrong?” Cole asked, his voice breaking into her thoughts.
“No…why?” Andi stuttered, her cheeks blazing. There was no way he would miss it.
Cole gave a slight smile that confirmed her suspicion. “You got awfully quiet.”
“Mama, okay?” Ethan asked.
Great. Her three-year-old was much too smart for his own good. He never failed to surprise and impress her with the extent he was able to follow conversations, and of course the ability was at its height when she was embarrassed. “I’m fine,” she told them. Andi forced a smile.
“I know you like to go in early, but I’d like to shower, if it’s all right with you,” Cole said.
“Oh, of course. I’m sorry I didn’t offer. Didn’t mean to be rude,” Andi rushed her words. She was a complete heel.
Cole smiled again, flashing dimples, and Andi’s heart quickened. “No problem.”
“Towels are in the cupboard behind the door in the guest bathroom. I’m sure you know where that is?” Cole nodded. “Then…we can head out whenever you’re ready.”
He put his dish in the sink before disappearing around the corner. Andi gulped, trying to ignore the picture in her head of him naked in her bathroom. She chastised herself and concentrated on what Ethan was trying to ask her.
* * * *
Cole sighed as the hot water ran down his body. It was relief. What the hell was he going to do about Andi? Breakfast had been delicious, and something he hadn’t expected from her. The scrambled eggs and bacon had been the first home-cooked meal he’d had in longer than he could remember. He certainly didn’t deserve it.
He’d settled on the fact that he owed her another apology, even if he didn’t really regret the kiss he’d stolen. Well, not really stolen. She’d kissed him back, after all.
If he didn’t try to smooth things out, work today would be a nightmare. They did have a case to solve. Regardless, Andi wouldn’t make it easy, and that lessened his already weak desire to offer the olive branch in the first place.
He squirted shampoo into his palm then slapped it onto his dark hair, scrubbing vigorously. He suppressed the urge to yawn. No matter how the day went, it would be a long one.
Cole hadn’t fallen asleep until well past midnight. The taste of Andi’s lips had haunted him. The feel of her full breasts flattened
“Kelsey is nine, and Lacey is seven.”
“I want to play with them,” Ethan announced.
Cole laughed out loud. “They live far away, buddy. In Seattle.”
Unfortunately, her son would have no idea where that was.
“Oh,” he said, his tone disappointed. “Maybe someday?”
Cole looked at Andi and she gave a slight shrug.
“Maybe,” Andi agreed quickly, wiping the crumbs from her son’s mouth gently.
Ethan made a face, but let her do so. He took a drink of orange juice, and she admonished him to slow down.
“Good. I like kids,” Ethan said.
Cole chuckled. “I like kids, too.” He tweaked the little boy’s nose.
Andi couldn’t look away from him. Cole grinned, dimples flashing, and her face heated. She broke eye contact, cursing herself. Work. Focus on work. “What’s today’s agenda?”
“I’d like to talk to your partner.”
She nodded absently, losing her determination again. Cole’s ease with Ethan had her heart needing a cardiologist. Andi reminded herself that she didn’t like Cole Lucas at all , but it wasn’t working. She was seeing a different side of him. It only resulted in chaos and confusion.
As a matter of fact, nowhere in sight was the pompous ass from the previous days. Could she actually figure him out, perhaps even get to know him? She shook her head. She didn’t want to like him, didn’t need to figure him out and most definitely did not need to get to know him. He wouldn’t be around long enough for it to matter.
It shouldn’t matter, so it didn’t.
“Something wrong?” Cole asked, his voice breaking into her thoughts.
“No…why?” Andi stuttered, her cheeks blazing. There was no way he would miss it.
Cole gave a slight smile that confirmed her suspicion. “You got awfully quiet.”
“Mama, okay?” Ethan asked.
Great. Her three-year-old was much too smart for his own good. He never failed to surprise and impress her with the extent he was able to follow conversations, and of course the ability was at its height when she was embarrassed. “I’m fine,” she told them. Andi forced a smile.
“I know you like to go in early, but I’d like to shower, if it’s all right with you,” Cole said.
“Oh, of course. I’m sorry I didn’t offer. Didn’t mean to be rude,” Andi rushed her words. She was a complete heel.
Cole smiled again, flashing dimples, and Andi’s heart quickened. “No problem.”
“Towels are in the cupboard behind the door in the guest bathroom. I’m sure you know where that is?” Cole nodded. “Then…we can head out whenever you’re ready.”
He put his dish in the sink before disappearing around the corner. Andi gulped, trying to ignore the picture in her head of him naked in her bathroom. She chastised herself and concentrated on what Ethan was trying to ask her.
* * * *
Cole sighed as the hot water ran down his body. It was relief. What the hell was he going to do about Andi? Breakfast had been delicious, and something he hadn’t expected from her. The scrambled eggs and bacon had been the first home-cooked meal he’d had in longer than he could remember. He certainly didn’t deserve it.
He’d settled on the fact that he owed her another apology, even if he didn’t really regret the kiss he’d stolen. Well, not really stolen. She’d kissed him back, after all.
If he didn’t try to smooth things out, work today would be a nightmare. They did have a case to solve. Regardless, Andi wouldn’t make it easy, and that lessened his already weak desire to offer the olive branch in the first place.
He squirted shampoo into his palm then slapped it onto his dark hair, scrubbing vigorously. He suppressed the urge to yawn. No matter how the day went, it would be a long one.
Cole hadn’t fallen asleep until well past midnight. The taste of Andi’s lips had haunted him. The feel of her full breasts flattened
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