The Winston Brothers - Tangled Sheets Part 6

"About ten minutes now. Usually Cole serves her right off, so I didn't know..."

His words dwindled off as Cole climbed over the bar instead of going around it, sending several customers jumping out of his way, awkwardly s.n.a.t.c.hing up their drinks so they wouldn't get spilled. Cole's stride was long and forceful, his gaze focused on his approach to Sophie's table. With each step he took, his pulse pounded in his ears until he almostcouldn't hear. When he reached her, she looked up and he saw her eyes were puffy. G.o.d, had she been crying? He searched her face; words, explanations, all jumbled in his mind so that hecouldn't get a single coherent thought out.Finally he just leaned down and kissed her.Hard.Possessively. He kept one hand on the table in front of her, one on the back of her seat, caging her in, keeping her from pulling away.

Butshe didn't try to pull away. Her small hands came up and grabbed his s.h.i.+rt, tugging him closer still.

He heard a roaring in his ears and realized it came from the bar. Lifting his mouth from Sophie's, he looked around and saw a majority of male faces laughing and cheering-led by his d.a.m.n, disreputable brothers, of course.

He grinned,then faced Sophie again. She started to speak, but he covered her mouth with a finger. "I love you, Sophie."

Her eyes widened.

He leaned closer still, speaking in a rough whisper. "I've waited seven months to spend the night with you, and it was worth it.But I'll be d.a.m.ned if I'll wait anymore.I love you ,I want you . Now and forever, regardless of what name you go by, or how you dress.You're mine now. Get used to it."

He waited, but her big smoky eyes never wavered from his. Shewas completely still except for the pulse racing in her throat. Cautiously, he lifted his finger. "Well?"

She swallowed audibly."All right."

By small degrees, his frown lifted and his mouth quirked.She'd said yes. "You want me, too?"

"I've wanted you since the very first time I saw you."

He kissed her again,then asked, "Why the h.e.l.l did you run from me today? Christ, I almost went nuts when I woke up and you were gone."

"I'm sorry. I felt stupid-"

"d.a.m.n it, Sophie-"

It was her turn to shush him, and she used her entire hand. Their audience chuckled. No one could hear whatwas being said , but Sophie's actions were plain enough. Cole grinned behind her palm.

"I felt stupid for pretending to be someone else instead of just being brave enough to tell you how I feel. So I decided to stop being a coward. Aunt Maude always told me adults should own up to what they do, to be responsible for their actions and accept the results. She also told me I should never be afraid to go after what I want."

Through her m.u.f.fling fingers, he asked, "You want me?"

Shenodded, tears once again in her eyes. "I love you."

His long fingers circled her wrist and he pulled her hand down. "I wish I could have met Aunt Maude. I have a feelingwe'd have been good friends. Will you tell me all about her?"

She nodded,then forged onward. "I realized you must care about me, too, because you kept hinting about wanting a relations.h.i.+p. Atfirst I thought you wanted Sh.e.l.ly. I was jealous."

His look was affectionate, full of love."Goose."

"But then I finally remembered that you knew Sh.e.l.ly and I were the same."

"Not at first, and it almost made me demented. I wanted Sh.e.l.ly because she looked like you, made me feel like you do. I couldn't understand it because you're the only woman who makes me insane with l.u.s.t and sick with tenderness." Then he growled, "Not to mention what you do to a mug of hot chocolate." He pulled her from her chair and swung her in a wide circle to the sounds of raucous cheers. "Will you marry me, Sophie?"

Very primly, she replied, "I was hoping you'd ask." At that moment, Chase set two hot chocolates on the table. He winked at his brother. "Hey, might as well go for broke."

* * * The Valentine contest went off without a hitch. Sophie was chosen unanimously by Cole's three desperate brothers, who wanted nothing to do with an arranged date for themselves.The local newspaper explained it away by saying Sophie and Cole had fallen in love during the contest, which put the perfect slant on the whole Valentine ambiance and gained them an enormous amount of publicity, some of it even covered by a local news station. Sophie, as the lucky winner, got incredible publicity for her boutique as well. Allison had her hands full fending off reporters who blocked the growing influx of new customers. She complained heartily, but Cole figured she was well up to the task.

Cole announced to the reporters that since he was soon to be a married man, next year one of his brothers would serve as escort for the winner. That brought about some bawdy comments from the women customers and some hearty groans from his brothers, who pretended to be terrified by the prospect but who nonetheless preened under the weight of feminine attention.

Sophie stood by Cole's side,elegant and serene and beautiful. He felt like the luckiest man alive. The contest really had been the perfect idea for both of them, even ifthey'd each indulged in ulterior motives.

He glanced up and saw the contest photo on the wall. As per the contest stipulations, Sophie had posed with all the Winston men. Their much bigger bodies crowded around hers, dwarfing her pet.i.te frame. She was laughing, and all the men looked smug.

In his nightstand drawer at home was a different photo, the onehe'd taken of Sophie while her hair was still tousled and her cheeks flushed from his loving.But that one was private, for his eyes only.Forever.

Next year, he thought, grinning as he watched his brothers give one interview after another, the contest might work out as the perfect idea for another Winston man. He wondered which of them would be the lucky one. Then Sophie nudged his side and he forgot about everything but her. He led her to his office where solitude awaited-along with a carafe of hot chocolate and a can of whipped cream.

end.