“Uh…I’m going to go upstairs and take a shower,” he said, his change of topic so abrupt it startled even him.
“Oh.” Jamie blinked. “Okay. I should probably do that too. I fell asleep before I could wash all the dirt off me.”
Their chairs scraped against the floor as they each got to their feet. For one crazy moment Cole was going to suggest they shower together, but he bit his lip hard to keep the suggestion at bay. No. He couldn’t sleep with her, damn it. He was in no shape for a relationship, and as he and Jamie walked upstairs in silence and headed for their respective bedrooms, Cole forced himself to remember that.
When Jamie stepped out of the shower a half an hour later and walked into the guest room, she heard the sounds of Cole moving around in the bedroom next door.
Maybe I want to be a family man.
As his words floated into her head, she sat on the edge of the bed, her towel riding up her thighs. A tiny burst of guilt filled her body. She knew she’d hurt him when she’d so carelessly assumed that their goals weren’t aligned, but had she really been wrong to make the assumption? Men like Cole didn’t settle down. They ran multimillion-dollar empires and worried about making money, not babies.
But, she did have to admit, Cole didn’t seem at all concerned with money. And she couldn’t believe he was actually considering selling his company. He wasn’t at all what she’d thought he would be. He was definitely a shrewd businessman, judging by his success, and he emanated a deep sense of power, a self-assuredness that kind of turned her on. But he was more than that. Quiet in an intense sort of way, intelligent, funny when he let down his guard. And he could cook better than the chef at her favorite restaurant in Charlotte.
Why would a woman ever throw away a man like that?
Teresa had done it, and now Jamie was doing the same thing, fighting her growing feelings for the man because…because of what, really?
Murder investigation.
A sigh flew out of her mouth. It always came back to this damn case. But why should it? She’d been with the Bureau for ten years, and not once had she gotten involved with someone connected to a case. Or someone who wasn’t connected. Truth was, she’d only had one serious relationship, if you could count six months as serious.
Why couldn’t she put aside her professional obligations just this once, and be with Cole? It didn’t even have to lead to a relationship. She liked him, he turned her on and she truly believed he wasn’t a criminal. Would it be so wrong, having a brief, albeit passionate, fling with the man?
Quit overanalyzing everything to death and go next door already.
A hysterical laugh tickled her throat. Yep, story of her life, wasn’t it? Overanalyzing. She did it every day at the office, and the annoying trait that worked wonders when it came to picking apart a crime was most certainly a hindrance to her personal life.
Tired of acting like a Negative Nancy, Jamie lifted her chin in resolve and strode out of the room. She experienced a pang of apprehension as she stood outside Cole’s door, but she shoved away the doubt and gave a soft knock.
He opened the door bare-chested, momentarily turning her brain into a pile of mush. She stared at the sculpted muscles of his chest, the defined pecs and washboard stomach, then shook herself back to reality and met his dark eyes. “Can I come in?”
His heated gaze took in the white terry cloth wrapped around her body. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said in a raspy voice.
“Maybe not, but I’d still like to come in.”
After a moment of discernible hesitation, Cole moved aside so she could enter, but she noticed he kept several feet of distance between them. “What’s going on?” he asked.
Her hand toyed with the top of her towel, where she’d tucked it so it would stay up. Cole’s eyes instantly began to smolder as he followed the movements of her hand.
“I know we shouldn’t do this,” she murmured. “I don’t have sex with men I’ve only known for a few days. Actually, I hardly ever have sex.” Her cheeks scorched. “I can’t even remember the last time I did.”
“Jamie—”
“No, let me finish.” She swallowed to bring moisture to her arid mouth. “I don’t have time for relationships. I spent my entire life working my ass off so I could get out of that trailer park and make something of myself. And now here I am, about to throw it all away because you’re so darn attractive.”
His lips twitched in amusement.
“It’s not funny,” she said with a sigh. “I know this is a bad idea, Cole.”
It was hard to breathe with the waves of awareness bouncing between them, hard to move with her legs wobbling like JELL-O, but she managed to bridge the distance between them. Inhaling deeply, she placed her hand on his bare chest. Her pulse took off when she felt the wild hammering of his heartbeat beneath her palm.