“I’m outside the bridal room. We’re still getting Brittany ready for the ceremony. It’s not going well. The woman is on the verge of a breakdown.”
Cole frowned as the phone connection crackled. “We?”
“Robin is here. The hospital released her late last night.” He heard the relief in Angie’s voice. “She doesn’t have a lot of energy and she looks really pale, but she’s determined to see this through.”
“That’s great,” Cole said. “I’m glad she’s okay.”
“She must really want to be in this wedding,” Angie said. “I think they want me here as backup if Robin can’t perform her maid-of-honor duties.”
“Where is Cheryl?” he asked as he went down a hallway, hoping it was in the direction of the bridal room.
“Handling some detail with the minister. You don’t have to worry about me. She’s too busy to plot my demise.”
“I will always worry about you.”
“That’s sweet,” she declared in a soft voice. “I want you to know I wasn’t ignoring you. I’m not sure why I didn’t get your messages. The connection here must be weak.”
“I’ve been looking for you everywhere. And—” He turned the corner and spotted her alone, leaning against the wall. Cole stopped as his heart gave a violent lurch. “Holy...”
Angie wore the most provocative dress. It faithfully followed every line and curve of her body. It was designed to gain a man’s attention.
“Cole.” Her expression brightened when she saw him and turned off her phone.
He strode toward her and gathered her close. It felt good to have her in his arms.“You are in so much trouble.”
“For what?” she asked as she held on to him. “For not answering my phone?”
For the phone. For not listening to him. And definitely for the dress. He took a step back and stared at her. The dress was shiny and a strange shade of green, but it fit her perfectly. The low-cut dress hugged her pert breasts and thrust them out like an offering. The skirt clung to her hips and was perilously short. It would ride up her legs and would draw every male’s attention to her bottom when she walked.
“That dress,” he said slowly.
She pulled away and crossed her arms. “Trashy, isn’t it.”
“No.” He grabbed her wrists and held her arms out as he took a longer look. The dress emphasized her breasts and hips. “You look...wow.”
“Stop teasing me.” She tried to escape his hold but he wouldn’t let her.
“I’m serious. Wear this dress for me some time,” he asked as his gaze lingered on her long, bare legs. He saw the delicate high heels and changed his mind. “Forget that. Just wear the shoes and nothing else.”
He saw a naughty gleam in her eyes before she dipped her head. “No way.”
“Why not?” Cole asked as he held her hands above her head. Her breasts threatened to spill out of her dress and she tilted her hips as he leaned into her. She was soft and yielding as her body cradled his. Desire for her pulsed right through him and he grew hard as stone.
“This is not me,” she insisted.
“Yes, it is.” He glanced around the hallway, wondering where he could whisk her away.
“No, it’s not,” she said in a biting tone. “I can’t pull this look off. Do you know me at all?”
“I know every side and every facet of you,” he said as he lowered his arms and caressed her cheek. “This is you. It was you last night.”
“I would never choose this dress. It’s too revealing. Too sexy. It promises something I can’t deliver.”
“You are sexy.” His voice was rough and low as he brushed his knuckles down her throat. “It’s driving me wild.”
She gave him a skeptical look. “I thought I was sexy in sweatpants and an oversize T-shirt.”
“You are. Because that’s when you feel confident and comfortable. Because you can hide in those clothes.” He cupped her breast and shuddered as the lust whipped through him. “You can’t hide in this.”
“Don’t tell me that,” she said, smiling and thrust her breast into his hand. “That’s the last thing I need to hear before I walk down the aisle.”
He let go of her and gave the dress another look. “How do you get out of this?” he asked as he licked his lips with anticipation.
Angie flattened her hands against his chest. “Don’t even try.”