Chapter 2
Nina
I kept a look out on the dance floor for him as I sang the second set of songs, expecting him to ask one of the many attractive girls at the party for a dance. But he was conspicuous by his absence, and when I got off the stage again, I saw him in a corner, leaning in towards a girl, whispering something in her ear.
My jaw clenched instinctively. I should have known he was a player. I tried not to look as I weaved my way through the crowd towards the bar again, but I had noticed the flushed look on the girl’s face. She was enjoying the attention.
Just as I ordered my second gin and tonic, he caught my eye. I saw the hand he placed on the girl’s waist, he mouthed a quick apology to her and then took his leave. I felt my back stiffen, and my neck start to burn up because I could sense that he was walking towards me.
I didn’t turn to look at him, not even when he leaned over the counter and spoke to the barman directly.
“Forget the gin. Champagne for the lady,” he said and then slowly turned to me, thrusting a hand into the pocket of his tailored pants. I arched an eyebrow and looked at him, keeping my lips firmly pressed together.
“I don’t drink champagne,” I said, as his gaze dropped to my breasts momentarily again. He was the kind of man who didn’t apologize for admiring a woman’s body. He was confident in his own good looks and charm. He knew the intense physical reaction that women had towards him, and I was determined to prove him wrong.
“That’s a lie,” he said, just as my glass of champagne was served to me. It came in a fancy crystal flute and I cradled it gingerly in my hands, afraid of breaking it.
“I’m sure you have better things to do than forcing champagne on the band,” I said and he raised an eyebrow.
“No, in fact, I have nothing better to do,” he said and took a large sip of his own champagne.
“You don’t seem to be enjoying it,” I said and took a small sip myself. He gulped the drink and threw me a half smile.
“I usually drink whiskey,” he replied and I noticed the way he edged closer to me with every word he spoke. My body tensed up from our proximity.
“Then neither of us should be drinking this champagne right now,” I said and he laughed. A small hearty laugh that made his shoulders shake. Then he nodded his head slowly and took another large gulp.
“Your name is Nina Philips,” he told me rather than asked, and I glared at him.
“Yes,” I replied, not sure whether I should have asked him how he knew that. Although, it wouldn’t have been hard for him to find out, if he was friends with the bride and groom.
“I’m Cole, Cole Emery,” he said and stuck his hand out to me. Even his name sounded like it was made of platinum and money. A good solid name, I could totally picture him in a gold bath tub, eating caviar out of a silver plate.
I hesitated, before I finally shook his hand and noted the way his gray eyes narrowed when our hands touched. My fingers seemed thin and wiry, my palm too small, as he grasped me with his own large hands. I felt a pang in the pit of my stomach, and couldn’t stop the instinctive fantasy that arose in my head. I was imagining him without his shirt on, picturing a solid chiseled torso.
“Friend of the groom’s?” I asked and Cole smirked, then shook his head.
“I used to date the bride,” he replied and my brows rose in surprise.
“And she invited you to the wedding?” I asked and another small laugh escaped Cole’s lips. He was standing dangerously close to me now and I felt goosebumps erupt on my arms.
“She’s still bitter, thinks that her wedding would affect me, maybe make me change my mind. We only dated for a few weeks,” he said and I got a whiff of his heady masculine cologne that made me slightly unsteady on my feet.
“She got married to teach you a lesson?” I asked, my mouth hanging open now and Cole shrugged his shoulders.
“I hope not, for her sake,” he replied and I stared at him, our gazes locked.
“Why did you come?” I asked in a softer voice. Even though he didn’t care who could hear our conversation, I got a feeling that this was a sensitive topic that shouldn’t be discussed publicly.
“The groom is my cousin,” he said matter-of-factly and my mouth dropped open again.
“She married your cousin to teach you a lesson?” I’d forgotten about the drink in my hand now. This conversation was way more interesting. Cole shrugged his shoulders again, then threw back his head and finished the rest of the champagne in his glass.
“C’mon, let’s go find whiskey somewhere,” he said and before I could reply, he had caught me by my wrist and was leading me away. I bit down on my lip as I allowed him to tug me in the direction that he wanted to go. I was done with the singing, so I had no other commitments, but even then I felt a dangerous tingling at the tips of my fingers. Like a premonition that I should have stayed away from Cole Emery.
It was too late now though, he had already led me away from the wedding party and into the hotel lobby. And come to think of it, I could do with some whiskey myself. Weddings always left me feeling depressed and alone, at least this time I would have some company.