Read Online Anything but Love by Celya Bowers - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Celya Bowers
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inferno.
“Hey, you better slow down. That’s some strong stuff.”
Kendall took another long drink. “I hate to tell you this, but I’m capable of making my own drinking decisions.” She downed the remainder of the liquor in one swallow to prove her point.
Which was not the smartest thing she could have done. The burning liquid left a trail of fire from her throat to her stomach. She closed her eyes against the pain.
“I bet you’re regretting that little cowboy-at-the-bar moment,” he drawled. He shook his glass, making his ice clink like a bell. “Scotch is like kissing you. It should be done slowly, so one can savor the flavor.”
Kendall’s eyes popped open and she looked at Cole. “What did you say?”
“I was asking you about your hospital.”
He was lying, she knew it, but decided against calling him on it. “What about my hospital?”
He set his glass on the table and faced her with a smile so mischievous that he reminded her of one of her nephews when they were naughty. This was not going to go well.
“I would like to make a donation to the hospital, and there’s only one condition.”
Kendall needed another drink. Anytime anyone wanted to do something for her or to her, there were always conditions. “What is it? You want your name on the hospital?”
“No, I’m not that vain. I was thinking I could present the check to the hospital next month at the Arlington Annual Charity Gala and you can be my date.”
“I can be your what?”
“You heard me.”
“You can just make a donation anonymously,” Kendall countered. She had no intention of going to the city’s one charity event with this man. It would look too much like a date.
“I want to present the hospital with a check. I know you are close to going into the red, and I do believe in your cause.” He signaled the waiter. “I don’t think even you would refuse a large donation.”
“How large?”
He smiled a smile so masculine that it could only mean more trouble. “Magnum.”
She had a feeling he wasn’t just talking about his charitable donation. “Dollar amount?”
The waiter interrupted their conversation. Cole ordered another round of drinks. “You want another Scotch? Or have you had enough of the rugged manly drink?”
“Another scotch.”
The waiter nodded and left the table. Kendall watched as the members of the table headed to the dance floor. The band had picked up the tempo of the music and had started playing old school music.
Cole cleared his throat. “Would you like to dance?”
Kendall shook her head. If she danced with him, he’d probably try to kiss her again, and she didn’t have her wits back yet. “No, thank you.” She coughed. “You were saying something about donating to the hospital?”
He winked at her. “Yes. I will donate one million dollars on the condition that you attend the charity gala with me as my date.”
“Why do I have to go as your date?” Kendall picked up her glass, then put it back down when she realized it was empty.
“Maybe I enjoy your company.”
The waiter returned with their drinks and placed them on the table. After the young man was gone, Kendall took a quick sip of courage, then asked, “Why?”
Cole took a long drink of his Scotch and set the glass on the table. He picked up Kendall’s hand. “Whether you believe me or not, I think you’re a very attractive woman. I would love to be in your company. Kendall, I don’t know why you hate me so.”
“I don’t hate you.”
“You don’t like me,” Cole pointed out.
If he only knew the truth. “I like you fine,” Kendall said quietly.
“Oh, yeah, I can tell you really mean that. Your ex really did a number on you, didn’t he?”
“What are you talking about?”
Cole took another sip. “It’s clear that you see me as the enemy, but you treat Max like a dear friend. You treat him differently. But me, I can feel the tension between us.”
She felt it too. It was tension, but not the
“Hey, you better slow down. That’s some strong stuff.”
Kendall took another long drink. “I hate to tell you this, but I’m capable of making my own drinking decisions.” She downed the remainder of the liquor in one swallow to prove her point.
Which was not the smartest thing she could have done. The burning liquid left a trail of fire from her throat to her stomach. She closed her eyes against the pain.
“I bet you’re regretting that little cowboy-at-the-bar moment,” he drawled. He shook his glass, making his ice clink like a bell. “Scotch is like kissing you. It should be done slowly, so one can savor the flavor.”
Kendall’s eyes popped open and she looked at Cole. “What did you say?”
“I was asking you about your hospital.”
He was lying, she knew it, but decided against calling him on it. “What about my hospital?”
He set his glass on the table and faced her with a smile so mischievous that he reminded her of one of her nephews when they were naughty. This was not going to go well.
“I would like to make a donation to the hospital, and there’s only one condition.”
Kendall needed another drink. Anytime anyone wanted to do something for her or to her, there were always conditions. “What is it? You want your name on the hospital?”
“No, I’m not that vain. I was thinking I could present the check to the hospital next month at the Arlington Annual Charity Gala and you can be my date.”
“I can be your what?”
“You heard me.”
“You can just make a donation anonymously,” Kendall countered. She had no intention of going to the city’s one charity event with this man. It would look too much like a date.
“I want to present the hospital with a check. I know you are close to going into the red, and I do believe in your cause.” He signaled the waiter. “I don’t think even you would refuse a large donation.”
“How large?”
He smiled a smile so masculine that it could only mean more trouble. “Magnum.”
She had a feeling he wasn’t just talking about his charitable donation. “Dollar amount?”
The waiter interrupted their conversation. Cole ordered another round of drinks. “You want another Scotch? Or have you had enough of the rugged manly drink?”
“Another scotch.”
The waiter nodded and left the table. Kendall watched as the members of the table headed to the dance floor. The band had picked up the tempo of the music and had started playing old school music.
Cole cleared his throat. “Would you like to dance?”
Kendall shook her head. If she danced with him, he’d probably try to kiss her again, and she didn’t have her wits back yet. “No, thank you.” She coughed. “You were saying something about donating to the hospital?”
He winked at her. “Yes. I will donate one million dollars on the condition that you attend the charity gala with me as my date.”
“Why do I have to go as your date?” Kendall picked up her glass, then put it back down when she realized it was empty.
“Maybe I enjoy your company.”
The waiter returned with their drinks and placed them on the table. After the young man was gone, Kendall took a quick sip of courage, then asked, “Why?”
Cole took a long drink of his Scotch and set the glass on the table. He picked up Kendall’s hand. “Whether you believe me or not, I think you’re a very attractive woman. I would love to be in your company. Kendall, I don’t know why you hate me so.”
“I don’t hate you.”
“You don’t like me,” Cole pointed out.
If he only knew the truth. “I like you fine,” Kendall said quietly.
“Oh, yeah, I can tell you really mean that. Your ex really did a number on you, didn’t he?”
“What are you talking about?”
Cole took another sip. “It’s clear that you see me as the enemy, but you treat Max like a dear friend. You treat him differently. But me, I can feel the tension between us.”
She felt it too. It was tension, but not the
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