Page 50 of Master Cole

Alicia’s eyes widened. “What?”

“I’ve been thinking about this. I have a feeling it goes back to our fathers.”

“What do you mean?”

Janie glanced over her shoulder once again. “You know our fathers were best friends. Well, I think my dad making Cole’s dad promise to watch after me is part of the problem.”

“But it was his dad, not him.”

“Or was it?” Janie let out a sigh. “I think maybe Cole’s dad asked him to watch out for me, too. He’s always been a little protective, but since I’ve come back home it’s a million times worse.” She picked up the tube of sunscreen and began putting some on. “Do you know he already had a new vehicle picked out for me after the storm? Correction, ordered.”

“Seriously?”

Janie nodded. “This big four-wheel drive of an SUV. I put my foot down and told him no. And there is the other thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Remember, he doesn’t know where I’m working.”

Alicia frowned. “Janie, that isn’t something you should keep from him. I thought you would have told him by now.”

“I can’t. He’ll really go off the rails if he realizes I’m working at a clinic that helps battered women. Cole was at my graduation when I got my degree in communication, not the one in sexual health and biology.”

“Keeping this secret isn’t a good idea.”

“I had planned on telling him, but ... ” She let her voice trail off as the patio door opened.

Cole strode out, looking so very delicious in his black swim trunks. He smiled at them before he took his seat on the lounger next to Janie.

“No need to stop talking because I’m here,” he said.

Janie glanced at Alicia, who started laughing and said, “Are you sure about that?”

“It’s fine. I’m going to lie here and soak up some sun.”

“Okay.” Alicia winked at Janie. “So, Janie, tell me about Whips?”

Janie choked on her drink, and Cole shot straight up from his lounging position. “Damn, Alicia,” Janie said, grabbing a napkin and blotting up her spilt drink. “Give a girl some warning.”

“Sorry, but I want to know about it.”

“This isn’t a topic you need to discuss, Alicia,” Cole said.

“Oh, please.” Alicia waved her hand in the air.

Janie fought against laughing. Cole was about to find out why Alicia was so good at getting to the bottom of other people’s problems.

“I’m curious. Tell me, Janie.”

“Well, I wasn’t there long, as someone carried me out of there, but it was interesting.”

Cole let out a snort, and Janie ignored him. “As BDSM clubs go, it was a surprise. Clean, not dark or dank like I thought. The people were nice. And the equipment was well taken care of.”

“And it’s no place for you two ladies,” Cole interjected.

“I don’t know about that,” Alicia said. “I’d really like to go see for myself. Janie, do you think we can go, maybe tonight?”

Janie gaped at her friend. Talk about poking an already angry bear. Out of the corner of her eyes she watched Cole rise from his seat. “Not gonna happen.”

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