The Baller's Baby by Cristina Grenier Page B

what I can see on your faces.” Eunice patted Stacey's arm and moved ahead to drag her husband away from Cole.
    “Hey gorgeous,” Cole said, hanging back until Stacey caught up to him.
    “Stop it.”
    “What?” Cole asked, irritated at Stacey's frustrated tone. “A guy's not allowed to compliment the woman in his life all of a sudden?”
    Stacey looked up at him, anger and a good bit of fear burning in those molten eyes. Cole stared deep into them until he saw the raw hurt underneath her attitude. “Sorry, I just-”
    “Stacey,” Cole cut, stopping her from going further by gently tugging her hands. “I know what it's like to feel as if everything you knew is spinning out of control. I know what it's like to be so deeply hurt by someone that your heart beats a little off rhythm, to wonder if it'll ever be right again.” Cole paused when he saw tears fall onto Stacey's beautiful face. “I can't promise not to disappoint you or hurt you. I wish I could, but the truth is, I'm just as human as every other person on this planet. I will screw shit up, I'll forget something that was important to you and have to beg you to let me make it up somehow. I'll drive you crazy and irritate you and probably piss you off a lot. All I'm asking is for the chance to do things right. I've been through a lot of feelings for quite a few women, none of which come close to what I feel for you.”
    “How can you say that?” Stacey stammered, her frustration only growing. “We barely know each other. You hit me in the nose with a basketball, seduced me, came here and now you think we belong together?” When she turned to walk away, Cole reached out, snagging her arm and practically dragging her back to him.
    “Look, I don't know where all this shit is coming from, but you're either going to tell me or we might as well call this quits now. I care for you, but you're going to be honest with both of us, or there's no point in all of this.”
    Steely anger fired from her eyes when she looked up at him. Cole didn't believe for a minute, though, that she'd end it. He could practically feel the heat, the sexual tension vibrating between them. “Fine. I'll see that you have a ride back to town. I'll terminate your contract at my expense and we can both move on.”
    Cole just stood there for a second, shock sucking the air from his lungs. When it rushed back in with his next breath, anger wasn't the only emotion coursing through him. He had a good mind to tan Stacey's ass for being a petulant child. “Stacey Patterson, get your ass back here.”
    “Go away, Cole.” Easily catching her, he didn't think before he simply picked her up by the waist. Turning to the left, he saw a solid wall that would serve his needs. Pressing her against it, Cole pinned Stacey there, all the while smirking at the anger written all over her face. “Put me down, you idiot.”
    “You can call me names all day long, darling, but there's one thing you forgot to be extremely sure of.”
    “What's that?” Stacey asked, her smart ass remark only fueling Cole's motives.
    “You forgot to be doubly sure that I don't still affect you on every level,” Cole grinned, his dimples flashing with the split of his lips. “You see, when someone breaks things off, it's usually because, at least on the fundamental ways, they've moved on. You haven't and I can prove it, right now.”
    Before Stacey could get a word in edge wise, Cole took her mouth in the hot, angry kiss that would teach her to be sure of what came out of her lovely lips. The heat plunged them down into fiery lust before shooting them high into tenderness. Cole absorbed all the frustration she poured into the kiss and gave her only understanding in return. Furious, she opened to him, nipping his bottom lip for the trouble, before she gave up the fight and clung to him. Cole was aware that people noticed them. Their murmurs were loud enough that neither of them could mistake them for anything but approval or