Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

COLE

The next day passes in a blur and I’m scrambling to get to the council meeting after work. That’s gotta be a first. But last night’s dance events have left me wanting more from Ainsley than I first realized. My little crush has quickly bloomed into a full throttle head on collision. One I didn’t plan for.

I texted her today to see if she was okay and to see if she’d be at the meeting. And we exchanged a few messages back and forth;

Me:

Hey Ains, hope you’re having a good day the tight frown and pursed lips give it away.

“Ah, fantastic.” My smile is probably annoying her even more as I rub my hands together. “I came up with a bit of a plan over the weekend. And I’m sure we can put this plan to action swiftly.” I catch Ainsley in my peripheral; she has a little chuckle behind her hand. She’s looking cute and I think she may be wearing a skirt, and dare I say it… a tight fitting bodysuit?

Her blazer is draped over her seat, and I can’t help but smile at the pumpkin-shaped pen resting on top of her ear, disappearing into her high ponytail. One I wouldn’t mind wrapping arou nd my fist and….

“Let’s hope you two can come up with something viable we can work with in the next two days,” Margaret says, looking from me to Ainsley as I pull out the chair opposite my girl and plonk down. “Silver Pines is counting on you.”

“Look, I’m happy for Ains to take charge with this,” I immediately jump in. “I’ve no problem working under her with our collaboration. We all know she has one of the best minds and organization skills this side of Wyoming.” I flatten out my palms to the committee and give Ainsley a Boy Scout smile, barely disguising my grin. Pun intended all the way through my speel. “I’m compliant and ready to work.”

Her cheeks flush a light crimson, and her eyes are a little wide. I love shocking her, and clearly my working under her comment hit home.

I probably shouldn’t be saying shit like that in front of Pastor Rick, who’s made an appearance tonight, but what the heck. I’m sure no one caught my innuendo but her.

“Are you happy with that arrangement, Ainsley?” Keith asks. “Cole makes quite a few good points there we can all agree on. You’re more than capable of doing the job. Presley left the management in your hands this year, after all.”

She clears her throat after a moment, which makes me smirk. “Thank you,” she says. “That sounds good. I’m sure we can both get on top of things fairly quickly. And having Cole working under me means that we can get more work done in less time. He’s very capable as well.”

I try not to burst out with laughter. Well, fuck me sideways. Way to go, Baby Girl. I didn’t know she had it in her, but I’m pleased to see she does and she’s having a jibe back at me in front of everyone. She’s so fucking perfect.

Oh, I’m happy to work in, under and al l over her. I’m a willing participant on all accounts.

“Sounds like a plan.” I clap my hands together and everyone looks at me.

Pastor Rick definitely has his brow furrowed. I guess he wasn’t born yesterday. I meet Ainsley’s eyes across the table and I see the intensity burning there, though I think she’s trying to distract herself by reaching for her pen and scribbling down some notes. I wonder what she’s writing. “We should catch up, Ains, for a coffee and a chat to go over our ideas. I think getting to the bottom of the rules early is going to be key to prepare for the holidays.” Oh, for fuck’s sake. I didn’t even plan that one.

Her eyes twinkle and the crimson on her cheeks grows a little deeper.

Shit. I don’t need a boner in front of everyone else at the committee table because that would be weird. But I can’t stop thinking about what it would be like to crawl across that table and pull her up onto it so she’s straddling my lap. Her in that sexy tight bodysuit is making me want to drop to my knees. And I would, just to get a taste of her.

I cough into my palm and shift in my seat. Like that’ll help.

“Well, I need you both on top of things and a plan of attack by close of business Wednesday,” Jessica chimes in. “You’ve already gotten an extension because I can appreciate you’re both busy. The more time the good people of Silver Pines have to get used to this year’s proceedings and changes, the better. Christmas is just around the corner.”

I tilt my head towards Ains. “You good with that, neighbor?”

Her lips part and my eyes flick down to her mouth. I stop myself from going further, even though I’ve already seen the faint outline of her nipples in that purple bodysuit. Is she turned on by me? It’s definitely not cold in here.

“I’m good,” she pipes up. “Happy to work hard on this one.”

I save from laughing by leaning over and grabbing a glass from the center of the table. I pour myself some water from the pitcher before I fucking choke on her sexy words.

“Good. Be sure to fill Cole in on what we discussed.” Margaret nods to Ainsley. “She has the minutes all written down.”

Of course she does. My good little girl.

As everyone gets up to leave, I gulp the rest of my water and sidle up beside Ainsley as she scoops up her papers and grabs her jacket off the back of the chair.

We head toward the door together. “You got all that, Shorty ?”

“I’m pretty sure I’m fully versed on what to get under and on top of,” she giggles when we’re out of earshot.

“You’re welcome. Those stuffy old timers need to loosen up a little.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I hope they didn’t put you to sleep before I got here.”

“Almost.”

We walk to our vehicles and once we get there, I lean on the edge of her car with my arms folded across my chest. I know I texted her after the dance, but I wanted to hear it from her mouth.“How are you feeling after the other night?”

She laughs softly in the moonlight and I’ve never seen a woman look so sweetly pretty. “Do you mean before or after you punched my ex’s lights out?”

I chuckle and press my lips firmly closed for a moment while my mind flicks back to Drake’s shocked face. It’s too b ad for him he insulted Ainsley. He has no class. “The guy’s a dick, as we know. So I’d say after; that’s when you kissed me.”

She looks up at me from under her glasses. “I’m pretty sure you kissed me back.”

“Guilty as charged.”

She laughs under her breath and glances to her feet. I find myself tilting her chin back up with my finger so she has to look at me.

“Why do you laugh like that and get all shy when I give you a compliment?”

“I didn’t realize I did.”

I pop a shoulder. “It’s just sometimes you seem surprised or uncomfortable with it.”

“I like it.” It’s almost a whisper. It’s a part of her that — I’m slowly learning — is her vulnerability. I like it when she doesn’t look away. I also dig the fact she only comes up to my chest and I tower over her.

“Yeah?”

“Yes. Without sounding like a Mary Jane; it’s just not a usual thing for me, that’s all.”

“Your stupid ass ex didn’t tell you how gorgeous you are all the time?”

She swallows and breaks our connection by fumbling around in her purse for her keys.

“Ains?”

She halts the key hunt and looks up to meet my gaze. “No, Cole, he didn’t. Guys aren’t like you. Well, not the ones I’ve known. It probably won’t surprise you to hear that Drake spent more time looking at himself in the mirror than looking at me. I don’t get compliments that often…”

I scrunch my brow as I scrutinize her fa ce. “Are you for real?”

“I’m a librarian, after all. Guys think that’s boring, especially when you’re more on the conservative side and on the committee for the town Christmas decorating committee. I guess being sexy hasn’t really been at the forefront of my mind, or my motive to finding a man who doesn’t cheat.”

I feel disgusted that any man could do that, especially to her. “I’m sorry he did that. He’s a jerk. He’s just sorry he got caught. And sorry to burst your bubble, Shorty , I’m on the committee too. Does that make me boring?”

She punches me playfully on the arm. “I didn’t mean that.”

“Well, I don’t think you’re boring at all. And yes, I kissed you back. In fact, that’s all I’ve been thinking about.” A quiet little sigh leaves her gorgeous lips as I slide my hand to her hip and tug her gently forward. “May I?” I reach for her glasses and she nods. I push them up onto the top of her head and waste no time in bending down to brush my lips against hers.

Her warmth pulls me into an intoxicating rumble of our lips touching; it’s slow, sweet, passionate… I’m a second away from brushing my tongue past hers while wanting to reach to those pebbled nipples and give them a tug, even though I know I can’t, when we hear voices behind us. The rest of the committee members exit the building and we quickly pull apart.

“Shit,” she giggles, as she looks from Jessica Lockwood walking to her car across the lot, then back to me.

“Wanna grab some dinner so we can pour over our findings for the snowball fight and iron out the creases of this faking dating thing?” I murmur. Yeah, my voice is hoarse just from one kiss in the parking lot and seeing the outline of h er sweet little peaks tonight.

“I’d love to,” she murmurs back.

I chuckle and run a hand through my hair. “Sounds like a date.”