s." Cole instantly regretted his earlier a.s.sessment, glad not to have spoken it out loud.

"You're Cole Kincaid-ooh, I've heard so much about you," she cooed, mak ing a huge show of what Laurie and she had obviously talked about before hand.

Cole glanced at Laurie. She held her gaze downward as her cheeks flamed red , visible even in the low lighting. Oddly pleased that Laurie and this tiny woman had talked about him, he chuckled. "All good, I hope."

"You don't know the half of it," Cindy offered as she earned a scathing gla re from Laurie. Cindy giggled, then turned her attention to Damien. "Aren't you going to introduce me to the band?"

"Sure," Damien agreed, though none too enthusiastically. His gaze focused o n Laurie. He sneered, one side of his lip curling up as his gaze turned to C ole. "I'll see you around."

Damien placed one large hand on Cindy's nape and led her away from the ta ble.

"They make a cute couple," Laurie said, her tone ringing false. Her eyes narr owed on the backs of the retreating pair.

"Maybe," Cole agreed. He looked at Laurie. d.a.m.n, but she was stunning. H e shifted in his chair as he glanced to Damien and Cindy, now standing wi th other members of the band. "But from what I've seen in the past, I thi nk Damien prefers women with dark hair." He turned to Laurie as a shiver shook her shoulders. Though she appeared t o hide her nervousness, running her hands up and down her arms, Cole had d etected it. He had been a police officer too long not to notice when someo ne wasn't comfortable. Something bothered her.

"I don't bite," Cole said, grinning. He wanted nothing more than to pull her within his arms and soothe all her apprehensions. h.e.l.l, he wanted to soothe himself.

Laurie glanced at Cole, drawing her brows together. "I never thought you di d."

"Then what's bothering you?"

"Something about that man unnerves me," she paused, her eyes focusing briefl y on the object of their conversation. "He's evil in its purity."

"Damien?" Cole laughed. Damien was harmless. "You can't be serious. Dam ien Vincent is all show."

Her large brown eyes looked at Cole in concern as though he was the one who needed to see the depravity of his roommate. "How long have you know n him?"

"Two years."

"Did you know him before he moved in with you?"

"Well, not before...no." Cole shrugged and looked at his roommate. Damien tickled and teased the blonde beneath his arm as Cindy giggled, snugglin g up to him, leaving no room between them. "A friend introduced us and Da mien needed a place to stay. The arrangement works-we share the bills. Wh at brings you here?"

"Cindy." Laurie tugged at the hem of her skirt. "We ran into Damien earlier today while we were having lunch. Cindy insisted on seeing him. I saw that his band was playing here again tonight. The rest is history."

"d.a.m.n, and here I thought maybe you came here hoping you'd run into me."

Laurie startled. Cole had read her mind so thoroughly, she swore he might b e privy to her every thought. G.o.d help her if he could read her mind at the moment, for surely he would not think well of her.

A waitress stopped at the table, setting a Jack Daniels in front of Cole. He w inked, set a few bills down, and told her to keep the change. She trotted off giggling from the attention.

Cole picked up his gla.s.s and took it to his mouth. Laurie's gaze stopped on h is full lips, even well after he set the gla.s.s back on the table, his mouth s till damp from the amber-colored liquid.

Her eyes locked with his. He had obviously detected her blatant interest tha t set her stomach flipping like a ba.s.s out of water. Never in her life had s he wanted another man so much. Even Jeff, her ex-fiance, was barely a fleeting thought compared to the magnitude of what she felt now.

Numbness spread through the juncture of her thighs, sending a dull ache ab out her body and limbs. She could not have moved had she wanted to when hi s hand reached out to the back of her neck and drew her close.

His eyes searched hers, as though looking, waiting for her to deny him. But she did not. If anything, she silently begged him to kiss her as he had week s before.

He complied.

His lips settled on hers as though they were born to caress her, touching her briefly, ephemerally. Then all too abruptly, he pulled back. His eyes probed hers for answers, receiving no rejections. As quickly as it ended, he brough t his lips back.

Laurie placed a hand on his neck, anchoring him, holding him fast, returning hi s kiss. His tongue darted out, testing the line of her lips that parted all too easily.

He swept the inside of her mouth with his tongue, then teased hers until she responded in kind. All thoughts of her surroundings fled. One of his hands sl id up her thigh while the other continued to cradle the base of her head.

A hunger burgeoned inside.

Laurie slid her hands down to his chest, remembering well what it had looke d like without a shirt. She wanted more.

Desire shot through her like a Teflon-coated bullet through Kevlar. She co uld no longer deny what she wanted or think about what tomorrow might brin g. All her thoughts focused on the now.

"Isn't he great?" Cindy's voice sifted through her conscience as Cole pulle d away. Laurie stared up at the giggly blonde who claimed to be her best fr iend. At the moment, she would be tempted to a.s.sess the matter. Cindy had a flair for extremely poor timing, and today had been no exception.

Guitar riffs filled the large room as the band returned from their break. L aurie glanced to the stage. Damien's eyes deep and fathomless, stared at he r, holding her mesmerized. Had she not known better, she would swear the an ger he now showed centered on her as they continued to stare at one another . His black gaze caused a shiver to slither down her spine. The danger he e xuded seemed to hold her powerless-immobile.

What was hot moments ago, turned ice cold. Gooseflesh returned to her ski n anew. Truly shaken, Laurie broke Damien's frosty glare and looked to Co le. His eyes narrowed as he glanced from Damien to her, clearly mistaking what had transpired.

"Is that what you want?" Cole yelled in her ear to be heard above the music blaring through the room.

"Damien?"

"Yeah," Cole laughed. "Damien. What the h.e.l.l is it between the two of you, anyway? Just moments ago I would have sworn...never mind," he spat. "Wha t the h.e.l.l does it matter?"

Laurie glanced at the stage. Damien's eyes were closed as he began singing the words of a new song. Her heart pounded in her ears; her breathing lab ored. A cool breeze sent shivers down her spine and the hairs on her nape stood on end. She looked at Cole, whose gaze held fast. Surely, he had fel t the same icy breeze, though he seemed unaffected by it. His eyes were gl acial as he turned away. Laurie couldn't bear the indifference he now show ed her. She would not allow Damien Vincent to come between them or destroy what might lie ahead.

She reached out, touching the small whiskered growth of his cheek, laying h er palm against it. Cole turned back to her. Not only did she see animosity within the depths of his deep-set eyes, but anguish. Charley Nash slammed into her thoughts like a lead bullet as it spatted against a brick wall. Co le would not think of her as he thought of his deceased wife. But then agai n, why would he not? He knew very little about her-could not possibly know she would never do anything to hurt him.

Laurie suddenly wanted to take him away, comfort him, show him how she tru ly felt. She might not love Cole Kincaid, but she could not deny how she f elt at this moment.

Cole grasped her wrist and pulled her hand free of his face, once more turnin g his gaze to the stage. Her heart squeezed like a tightly clasped fist, not alleviating. Tears filled her eyes, though she refused to allow them to fall.

She would not let Cole see how easily he controlled her emotions. One moment desire filled her, the next devastation.

Cindy's face beamed as she turned to Laurie, unaware of the animosity risin g between Cole and her. "Isn't he great?" she yelled.

"Wonderful," Laurie said sarcastically, barely loud enough to be heard.

Cole shifted in his seat, bringing his thigh into contact with Laurie's. His h eat traveled up her leg, reminding her of the ache holding her heart hostage.

"Do you think you might get a ride?" Cindy asked suddenly, catching Laurie off guard as she sipped from her gin and tonic.

Laurie nearly spit the alcohol across the table. Composing herself, she gras ped Cindy by the arm and hauled her close enough to yell in her ear. "I thou ght we discussed this. I'm taking your car home."

"You looked like you were getting along well enough-"

" Looked like, Cindy! For crying out loud, don't read any more into it." La urie was desperate. She could not have Cole Kincaid driving her home-seeing where she lived.

Now would not be the best time to tell him she had inherited ten million dol lars from her grandfather. She had been the only grandchild and since her mo ther and father were well enough on their own, her grandfather saw to it that the biggest bright spot in his life had been well cared for.

Something told her Cole would not handle her wealth very amicably.

"I can't have Damien driving me home come morning," Cindy said in her mos t annoying voice. It reminded Laurie of fingernails dragged across the bl ackboard, grating on her nerves. "Come on, Laurie. I'm sure Cole will see you get home."

Laurie glanced at Cole who appeared unaffected by their conversation, payi ng them no mind, as he watched the band on stage. Even though they shouted over the music, more than likely, Cole had not heard the discussion.

Exasperated and ready to beg, Laurie turned back and yelled just as the mus ic died, noting the end of the song, "You can't leave me without a ride." H er voice rang out loud and clear in the now quiet room.

Laurie looked in Cole's direction, who appeared to be weighing his options o f giving her that ride. Disgusted, Laurie grabbed her purse, stood, and head ed for the door.

d.a.m.ned if she would beg, she would call a cab first. Another song began in the background as she reached the door and yanked it open with all her migh t. But before she could leave, Cole gripped her upper arm and followed her through the exit.

Outside, the night had cooled slightly, though the air remained sticky. Cole shoved her against the cool stonewall of the building, his eyes pinning her t o the surface as effectively as his hold on her arms.

"You're a d.a.m.n infuriating woman," he paused. "Why do I bother?"

Without another word, his mouth slanted over hers, stilling any objections s he might have. As though her body had a will of its own, no matter what her mind might think to the contrary, she responded back. Laurie slipped her fin gers between their bodies as he leaned forward, immobilizing her hands. His tongue a.s.saulted the soft flesh of her mouth, his teeth grating against hers .

Undaunted by his hostility, she responded in kind.

His hand moved to the back of her thigh, finding the bare spot just above he r stocking. Bolts of lightning shot through her, his touch leaving her gaspi ng. Slowly, his hand inched upward, slipping beneath her silk panty to cup h er cheek.

"Oh, G.o.d," she mumbled, but his kiss swallowed the plea. Her hands made tigh t fists in his shirt.

She knew the wrongness of their actions. They were in public, for heaven's s ake. But the kiss did not end, leaving her pleading, begging for more. Lauri e arched into him, feeling his erection pressing intimately against her abdo men.

She had gone far beyond pathetic; she wanted Cole Kincaid, without a care i f the world watched.

Cole broke the kiss, then pushed away from her and the wall. Why he had all owed his emotions to rule his head, he would never know. He had not meant t o kiss her again. But kiss her he did. He allowed things to escalate out of his control, nearly taking years of pent-up pa.s.sion here on the sidewalk.

He paced the cement walkway. Laurie looked at him like a frightened cub, as though he might pounce on her at any given moment. He liked to instill fea r in people, but not her, not Laurie. He did not want her afraid of him. He ll, he wanted her beneath him at this very moment. His pa.s.sion bordered on this side of violence. Never had he wanted a woman so badly, and it sacred the h.e.l.l out of him.

He could have taken her, here-against the wall, and not thought twice about it. But knowing what she would have thought of him....

"Get in the truck," he growled, like a beast caught in a snare. He turned hi s back on her, not wanting her to see the turmoil raging inside him. He want ed to believe she was different-not like Jeanne. But it was hard, d.a.m.n hard when he caught her looking so often at Damien.

"I'll do no such thing," Laurie said as she cleared her throat and tried to comp ose herself. "I'll call a cab."

Cole whirled around, not wanting to hear another word. Steeling his jaw, he glared at her. "Get in the truck, Michaels," he bit out between clenched tee th.

Laurie returned his stare, crossing her arms beneath her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Cole's gaze hardened like a lion deprived of a meal when it fell upon the soft flesh spi lling above her sweater's neckline.

Releasing a humph, obviously disgusted by his actions, Laurie stuck her chin in the air and headed for the black Ranger, not waiting to see if he follow ed.

Cole reached the truck behind her, unlocked the door and opened it, then wen t around to the driver's side. Getting in, he stuck the key in the ignition and heard the quiet roar as the engine came to life. He flipped on the air-c onditioning and turned down the radio as Guns 'n Roses "Sweet Child of Mine, " filtered through the airwaves.

"Sweet nothing," Cole grumbled as he pushed in the clutch and shifted the t ruck into gear, pulling out of the crowded parking lot and heading toward F airview Park. "You do live in Fairview?"

"Yes," she snapped as she looked out the pa.s.senger window. Thick tension ne arly consumed the air of the truck. h.e.l.l, Cole thought, he could have slice d it with a knife had she been any more angry with him.

"I don't want to do this," Cole said, his tone soft and defeated. He wanted her all right, but not her animosity.

Laurie turned to look at him. Tears shimmered in her eyes. d.a.m.n, had he caused that? His heart felt like a two-ton brick. He really was a s.h.i.t.

"What?" she asked.

"I don't want to fight with you." He looked at the road as his fingers curled around the steering wheel, whitening his knuckles. "It's been a h.e.l.l of a long day and I doubt they'll get any shorter in the near future. Right now-I just want to forget."

"Would you like to come in for a gla.s.s of wine when we get to my house?"

Stunned by the invitation, Cole glanced at Laurie. Moments ago, she had b een mad enough to tear out his heart. Where had her invitation come from?

This woman would never fail to surprise him. "It's eleven-thirty. Are yo u sure you want company on a work night? Tomorrow morning will come brigh t and early."

Laurie held him captive with her soft brown eyes as they pulled up to a red l ight. "I'll worry about the morning when it gets here."

Spotting an orange Convenient Food Mart sign when the light changed, he pul led into the parking lot and stopped the truck.

"I'll be right back," he said as he jumped from the cab.

Cole quickly found an inexpensive bottle of red wine and headed for the co unter. After all, what convenience store carried good wine? A small shelf of prophylactics caught his attention, making him take pause. He had not n eeded them; he hadn't thought about them before this moment. Having no ide a as to what the night might bring, Cole did not want to get caught withou t protection. He grabbed a small box of condoms and headed for the front o f the building.

Moments later, under her direction, they headed up Bunker Hill Drive. Cole was in awe. These houses cost more than he could afford on his salary in a lifetime. He had an idea Laurie Michaels came from a wealthy family. After all, who else buys a hundred-dollar pen, but this...was like nothing he wou ld have ever dreamed of.

Cole glanced at the cheap wine lying on the seat between them and suddenly wished he had had the insight to stop somewhere else and buy a more expensi ve bottle. But this late at night, what did one expect?

Feeling the corners of the small box resting in his front pocket against his thigh, Cole evaluated his decision to buy them as well. "You didn't tell me y ou lived with your parents."

"I don't," she said as she directed him to the lemon-colored house at the en d of the circle, one of the largest on the street. His eyes widened. How wou ld he ever compare to this opulence? He'd never fit into her world.

"This is my home."

Chapter 13.

Cole stood in the marble foyer, motionless, as Laurie, with the bottle of wi ne, walked through the house turning on lights as she went. A Miniature Pins cher jumped up at his feet, begging for attention.