“Mmm-hmm,” Angie agreed, faking the confidence she wished she had. She leaned back comfortably in her chair. “And if he plays his cards right, he can have me.”
“Seriously, Angie—” Brittany took a sip of champagne and gestured to the empty glass “—how did you catch him?”
Angie looked at Brittany and then at Robin. They didn’t know anything about Cole. He said little and tried not to show what he was thinking, but the man felt things deeply. Intensely. He tried to keep it in because he felt vulnerable. Unworthy. Cole had been devoted to her but broke up with her because he didn’t think he was good enough. What had he said? He was afraid she would have seen his unlovable side.
She knew that feeling. All this time she thought she wasn’t good enough for him. That he would eventually dump her for someone glamorous and beautiful. Yet every time he had looked at her, she had felt sexy and brazen. She had seen the desire and adoration in his eyes. She’d seen how his features tightened with lust when she made the first move. She had felt his wonder and awe when they lay exhausted after making love.
But once he was gone, she had questioned everything—the smoldering looks, the secret touches and the anticipation that throbbed between them. They faded from her mind to the point where she thought she’d imagined it all. She’d allowed other people to question and revise what she had shared with Cole. They couldn’t understand why he was attracted to her.
“Are you freakishly flexible or something?” Robin asked.
“He’s attracted to me because I’m strong, beautiful and smoking hot.” At least, that was how he felt when they were dating. She didn’t really know if what he felt now was pretend or not.
The women exchanged looks. “Is that what he told you?” Brittany asked with apparent disbelief.
“Yes.” Angie smiled and closed her eyes. “Every time he’s with me.” And during the weekend, she would make sure he found her irresistible.
11
ANGIE TRIPPED WHEN she reached the front door of Foster Investigations. She slapped her hand on the door frame and fought for her balance. Damn shoes. She checked and was grateful no one was around to see how clumsy she was.
How do women walk in these things? She looked down and glared at the black platform heels. Whoever designed them was just evil. Angie stood straight and paused until she stopped wobbling. She smoothed the black bandage dress down her hips and then flipped her long hair over her shoulders.
She was ready. This time she was going to be dressed like the other women at the strip club. Instead of boyish and out-of-place, she would look fun and flirty. Sexy.
She reached for the door and then dropped her hand. What was she trying to do? When Cole saw her, he was going to see this dress as a suggestion. An invitation. Would he see her choice of outfit as the first move?
Angie bit down on her lip and looked back in the direction of the parking lot. It wasn’t too late to go home and change. She could always cancel. But deep down, she didn’t want to. She wore this dress with Cole in mind. She wanted him to see her as a woman. A sensual and confident woman who didn’t let a breakup sideline her.
Angie opened the door and stepped inside the office. “Okay, Cole,” she called out from the waiting room. “Let’s get this over with.”
Cole stepped out of his office. He was rolling down his sleeves and stopped abruptly when he caught a glimpse of her. His eyes widened. “Angie?” he said hoarsely.
She saw the lust in his face. He wasn’t even trying to hide it as his gaze traveled leisurely from her eyes to her heels. Her skin tingled with awareness. She felt powerful and exposed at the same time. She wanted to please Cole but she felt like this dress was making a promise she couldn’t meet.
Angie suddenly longed for the comfort of her jeans and T-shirts. She wanted to cross her arms and hide the thrust of her breasts. Instead she kept her hands at her sides. “Are you ready?”
Cole slowly walked toward her. His jaw was clenched as his skin flushed. “I don’t remember that dress.”
“My mom bought it for me last Christmas.” It was tradition for her mother to buy a dress and a makeup kit every year. Angie considered it a waste and always felt guilty for not using the gifts but her mother wouldn’t let her return them. “I may have to take a picture but I’m worried it would encourage her.”
His gaze snagged hers. Her breath caught as she stared into his dark, glittering blue eyes. “You look...wow.”