Page 17 of Gentle Persuasion

Lee grinned again. “Well, she’s got her work cut out for her. You’re still full of thorns, buddy. In fact, you’re prickly as hell.”

Cole tried to maintain his disparaging attitude, but it was no use. Lee Whaley was too good a friend, and too close to the mark to deny.

“Say,” Lee said. “Why don’t you two guys come on over later. We’re having a clam bake in the backyard. Remember where we live? Just past the beach, first house on your left. It’ll be the one with all the boys lined up at my fence, gawking.”

Cole laughed.

Whaley took a lot of teasing about his residence. The ribbing ranged from accusations that he took kickbacks to suggestions he was stealing drug money. But it was all in good fun and Whaley knew it. He’d just had the good fortune to marry his high school sweetheart. She’d had the good fortune to be the only child of a wealthy, retired movie mogul. Ten years ago, her parents had died and left her everything, including a very ostentatious beachfront home. Whaley had taken it in his stride. He was a cop. Just because his wife had money didn’t mean he was going to give up his own pension. He had too much pride in himself and his work to do that.

And then Debbie’s voice startled them both as she crawled to her knees and entwined herself against Cole’s back.

“We’d love to, wouldn’t we?” she asked, and slid her elbows on either side of Cole’s face, resting them on his shoulders.

The feel of those lush breasts pushing against his spine gave him an instant ache he couldn’t afford, especially not in front of Whaley. The little devil. He hadn’t even known she was awake. He grabbed her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

Lee smiled, watching them fencing with bodies and words. He vaguely remembered what it was like to be so desperately in love and not be able to do anything about it. Thank goodness he had Charlotte. She’d put up with nearly twenty years of him and police work, plus the fact that he’d refused to give it up. She deserved a medal. But she’d settled for him.

Cole was afraid to let go of Debbie’s arms. He never knew what she was going to do, and he didn’t want any more surprises in front of Lee. “Are you going to have a crowd?”

Lee nodded. “You know how these things get. Just bring yourselves. We’ll eat around sunset.”

“We’ll be there,” Cole said.

Lee nodded his approval, then looked up and saw that his daughters were swiftly disappearing down the beach with several young men in tow.

“Oh hell,” he muttered. “I’ve got to go. I promised Charlotte that I’d sort through the uninvited guests this time. Last time, the girls brought home someone who couldn’t speak English, but kept flashing a wad of dough that would choke a horse. Those kind make me nervous. Know what I mean?”

Cole grinned and waved goodbye as Lee made his way down the beach, following in his daughters’ wake.

“He’s nice,” Debbie said.

“So are you,” Cole answered as he pulled her around and into his lap.

The look he gave her was one that she’d save forever in her memory.

“Thank you very much, Cole.”

Her voice was soft and gentle. He ached to taste the words on her lips.

“You’re very welcome,” he said, and settled for less.

Chapter 4

“Are you cold?”

Cole’s voice wrapped around Debbie’s senses, making the breath she’d been taking harder to swallow. She scooted closer to the bonfire and turned her back to the flames, giving equal time to her shivering body.

“Just a little. I think it’s the breeze coming off the ocean.”

“Hold up your arms,” Cole asked.

“Are you going to rob me?” she teased as she threaded her arms through the sleeves of the sweatshirt he was pulling over her head.

“I haven’t quite decided what to do with you, girl.”

His voice was low and steady, nothing like his heart. It rocked against his chest like a boat in a storm.

She smiled and rubbed her hands against the welcome warmth covering her arms.

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