Page 28 of Riding the High

Fuck it.I accept the thought the moment it enters my head. One more night of Cole before I give up on him cold turkey.

“What?” he asks eyeing me suspiciously,

“I didn’t say anything.”

He points a finger at me, then turns his hat backward, leaning back on his stool. “You got that ‘vixen’ look on your face.” He air-quotes. “Like you’re going to ask me to do something I’ll regret.”

I stick my tongue out.

“Favor,” I say, propping my elbow up on the bar and resting my chin on it.

“Knew it.” Cole chuckles. The bartender approaches and Cole’s eyes flit to him. “Water please.”

“Nope,” I say. “Two chocolate martinis.”

The bartender looks between us, unsure of who to listen to.

“Favor.” I reiterate firmly, keeping my gaze on Cole. He sighs.

“Two chocolate martinis,” Cole confirms without taking his eyes off mine.

“Your favor is that I drink a godawful chocolate martini with you? Pfft. Pretty dull, but okay.”

“Nope,” I say, suddenly feeling like precisely what my misery needs is some company. “You, Cole Ashby, are going to get roaring drunk with me and we’re going to dance the entire night away at every bar on the strip. A farewell to my youth before I make it my mission to go home and find myself someone that looks at me the way Jake looks at Amy.”

“BringingBrooklyn 99into this? Really?”

I nod.

“Look, it’s been a long time since I got ‘roaring drunk,’” Cole says “Since before Mabes, at least.”

“Get your ass upstairs right now then, change into something that showcases those hard-earned muscles, and I’ll order us an extra.”

“Fuck’s sake, Ginger. This seems like nothing good can come from it.” Cole takes his hat off and rubs his forehead.

“I think that’s precisely why we should do it.” I look up into his eyes, sobering up for a second. “I need this, Cole. For one night. Let’s just … have fun. Plus, you can’t say no. A favor is a favor and we’re PICs.”

Cole looks at me, then to the bar, then back to me.

“Fine,” he says.

‘Fine?” I reply. “That’s it? God you’re easy.”

He leans in closer, spreading his hands on his thick thighs. Fingers wide.

“When was the last time I said no to you, Ginger?”

“I—” My mouth falls open slightly.

The reality that I can’t remember a single time hits me square in the chest. Going against my pact with myself, I launch myself into his hard, warm body and sling my arms around his neck. I breathe him in and grip him tight in appreciation and whisper, “Thank you, Cole,”

What I’m not expecting is his response. Cole circles his strong arms around my waist and pulls me closer, between his legs. Every crevice of my body melts with his. I sigh and breathe in the spicy clean scent of his chest. If I didn’t know any better, I’d almost think he needed that hug too.

Before he releases me, he leans into my ear and whispers in a low, deep voice, “I’ll always give you a hug, but don’t let me lose control tonight, Ginger. Promise me.”

A shiver runs down my spine, and I lean back to look up into his amber eyes. “I promise. It’s us, Cole, what could go wrong?”

CHAPTER TWELVE

---