Page 13 of To Have and To Hold

“Yes, and she has a single, just-as-beautiful friend named Jackie. And on cue here she is.” Colin pulled Coco to the side, making room for Jackie and before she knew it, she was being led further and further away from Keith. If she wasn’t so annoyed, she would have laughed.

And since then, he’d not left her side, She heard him make displeased rumbles in his chest. But she didn’t care; he was taking his role as fiancé too seriously. Persistently at her side with his hand on her. His possessive touch was driving her nuts, and so were the feelings it was stirring inside of her, aches she didn’t want to feel and thought were long gone.

She was still attracted to the man, damn it. Colin in casual wear, joggers, and t-shirt was a sight to behold, but him in a tux was sin walking. And his cologne, she wanted to bath herself in it. His cologne reminded her of the axe-me commercial—she was sure she caught a couple of women and men sniffing him throughout the night. Even her own mother had taken a long breath when they’d shown up together at the hotel for a drink with her parents before getting into the hired car Colin reserved for them. And she could have laughed at her father’s expression and the hard slap to Colin’s shoulder every time he introduced him as her boyfriend to friends and colleagues at the event. Her dad, even though he smiled, his eyes were still angry and held no warmth for Colin.

That is why she was still surprised now and when her parents had both came back into the boardroom, her father face drawn in tight and anger in his eyes and her mother hugging her, holding her in her arms as she regarded Colin, her look accessing. But both agreed to give her their support in getting married and getting her shares back in the company.

“A glass of red or white wine?” A server interrupted her thoughts. She nodded and took a glass of white.

“Thank you.”

“Sir?” He raised the tray to Colin.

“No, thank you.”

The server turned and addressed a couple standing next to them.

“Not a wine drinker?” she questioned as she savoured the fruity flavour of the sweet wine.

“No, not normally. I like the hard stuff when I am out socializing.” He lowered his head to hers to be heard over the crowd. The richness of his voice in her ear caused her heart to flutter and she took a breath, needing space but not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was affecting her with his nearness.

“Remember that time that I let you try one of my brother’s girlfriend’s fruity coolers in the fridge. It hit you so hard and fast after just a few sips. You were giggling and talking a mile a minute. You looked so adorable trying out your first drink.”

He leaned closer, his lips grazing the upper shell of her ear. “Then you wanted to slow dance as you never had done that either and I got to hold you close, moving your body against mine. Hearin—”

“Yes, and I puked all over you not long after.” She grinned gleefully, remembering the look of shock and horror on his face. She’d pulled back, suddenly not being able to keep her balance and began feeling sick from him swaying her from side to side. Colin pulled her back into his embrace to steady her, and she’d looked up at him, her mouth parting and he’d taken it as a sign she wanted to be kissed by him, just as his head lowered, her stomach emptied. She’d never seen his eyes open so wide, andthen he jumped away, making a gagging motion, turning away from her as he took in deep breaths.

Colin gave her one of those ha-ha looks that said she was not amusing. “Yes and took care of you afterwards.” He reminded her.

She thought he would have been angry, but he picked her up and took her to his bathroom, where she let out more of her stomach contents, waiting patiently and holding her hair, making soothing noises and kissing the top of her forehead, until she was done. He stepped out to let her take a shower and washed her shirt and jeans, bringing her some of his clothes to wear, then called for his driver to take her home. Holding her in his arms until she’d left.

She’d been so embarrassed when she got home and climbed into bed before her parents returned from an evening event they’d been attending; she pretended to be fast asleep when her mother came to check on her. She woke up off and on when he would send her message, checking in on her and making her feel cared for and she thought, now feeling bitter, loved.

“Why don’t you go to the bar and get yourself a drink?” She suggested, changing the subject to get away from the sweet memory of them together that he’d brought up.

He eyed her, gloating. “Why, is my presence affecting you?” But then his look turned serious as if searching for something.

“No, but this taking hold of me, staking your claim, is getting to be a little too much. I think everyone now knows we are an item.” She said sarcastically.

“That is the whole point, Coco. Remember our deal, this is what a couple in love looks like, always touching, kissing, andwanting to be together. Just be glad I am not staking my claim here in public by kissing you senseless.”

She bared her teeth at him in a semblance of a smile. “Senseless, in your dreams. Try it and your lip will come out bloody and swollen from my teeth.”

He chuckled. “So, bloodthirsty now. Shall we put that to the test.” His gaze dropped to her lips and back to her eyes, letting her know he was relishing the challenge.

“More wine, ma’am.” Another waiter appeared at her side. Coco smiled, glad for the interruption and avoiding a scene that was about to erupt.

“Saved for now, but don’t test me, Coco.” He warned.

She glared and turned to hand the waiter her empty wine glass before taking another.

“Sir, wine?”

“No, thank you.” Colin declined again.

“Would you like something from the bar?” The waiter hovered.

She groaned, internally calculating that he would eventually have to leave her side to go and get himself a drink and she would get to escape for a bit.

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