Page 23 of Riding the High

Ginger nods, thinking. “I just hope one day you find both, Cole. Someone you can be with who fits into your life. Yourreallife.”

I shrug. “Who has time for a love story? I spend my days battling my ex and her dick of a boyfriend that I’m pretty sure is hot to take my job the second he can.”

Ginger readies to get off as the elevator dings. I motion for her to go first and begin to follow.

“This isn’t your floor,” she says.

“No, but you aren’t walking to your room alone.”

“I’ll be fine, Cole. It’s right there.” She points to the end of the hall. “You’re giving me tenth grade flashbacks,” she adds, and I instantly know what she means. “CeCe and I weren’t even allowed to walk into the mall without you following us to make sure we were safe.”

“Then you’ll know there’s no point in arguing. You’re like a people magnet. Horny drunk men specifically. Not a chance I’m leaving you alone.”

“Suit yourself,” she muses as we walk. It only takes a minute to get to her door.

She turns and looks up at me one last time and I’m thankful that soon she’ll be out of my view. How the fuck does someone drink and dance all night andstilllook like this? All I can think about is getting away from her so my hard-on that’s been makingan appearance every time she touches me for the last two hours will go away.

Ginger turns and places her hand on my forearm. Her skin is warm and soft as fuck. The smell of her overwhelms me—that sweet coconut and the sun. All I want to do right now is bring her to my mouth and—

“Don’t worry about Brent. You’ve got this sheriff thing, Cole. You know that right? Fuck the town. We’re lucky to have you.”

Her pink tongue darts out as she smiles up at me and wets her juicy bottom lip. She’s so fucking close, looking up at me, and she’s always on my side. Maybe for just one night, away from reality, I could afford to see if she tastes as good as she smells—

“I thought I heard voices! God, I didn’t expect you to stay out so late. You haven’t answered my texts,” Olivia says as she opens the door to their room. Ginger drops her hand from my arm and backs up.

“My phone died.”

I look at Olivia, who has her arms crossed over her chest. Ginger reaches up to give me a hug. Her perky tits press into my chest, and I angle myself so she doesn’t feel … anything she shouldn’t.

“Nighty night, Law Daddy.” She winks happily, her voice like pure smoke as she turns and heads into her room.

My eyes drift to her hips before she disappears behind the door. Olivia clears her throat and my eyes snap up to meet hers.Busted. She gives me the two-finger point from her eyes to mine.

“I’m watching you, Ashby,” she says, and before I can answer, she’s closed the door.

CHAPTER NINE

Ginger

“You two are playing with fire. And if I’m being honest, I don’t like keeping this little friendship a dirty secret,” Liv says from behind me the next morning.

“It’s not a dirty secret,” I say as I spread lip gloss on my bottom lip with my ring finger. “It just doesn’t come up in conversation and CeCe overanalyzes everything. She would never stop asking questions. Questions I don’t have answers to.”

“Can you blame her? It’s her brother and, as much as you joke around with her about wanting him, I don’t think she actually believes you do.” Liv stares at me with a mom face.

“Idon’t, I didn’t … I mean … shit.”

“Please, on some level you always have, but after the ‘dreaded kiss’ you can’t admit it to yourself.” She grins.

“Because it was the most embarrassing moment of my life! Herejectedme. Pushed me away mid-kiss. Told me it wasn’t a good idea, remember? It sent the message loud and clear. Cole Ashby doesn’t think of me that way. It took me over a month and a boyfriend in tow before I could even show my face at the ranch after that.” I put my head in my hands with the humiliating memory.

Liv snickers and fiddles with the bow of her paper bag shorts. “That was a long time ago. Hell, you were barely legal when you kissed him. Do you not understand the way he looks at you now? Or how he does anything he can to get under your skin? Do you think he does that because he isn’t attracted to you?”

I shrug and toss my lip gloss in my clutch. “I never thought of it. It’sCole. He looks at me half the time like I annoy the shit out of him and the other half like I’m a loose cannon.”

“Maybe so, but there’s a part you’re forgetting. The part that never takes his eyes off you. Especially when you aren’t looking.”

“That’s a bit dramatic.” I look up at her and blow out a raspberry. But Olivia’s not entirely wrong. Cole looked at me like that last night, and just the thought of his eyes on me sends heat through my core.

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