Winning Mr. Charming by Heatherly Bell

Author:Heatherly Bell [Bell, Heatherly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-03-05T19:42:06+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Cole reached for his keys and opened the door, tugging her inside. “Get in here.”

“My car won’t start.” She wiped her dripping hair and handed him the umbrella pieces. “So much for riding with the angels.”

“Guess you’ll be staying with a SEAL instead. We’re no angels but we can still cover you.”

“I can’t stay. Can you drive me home? It’s not that far.”

Cole looked out the window and shook his head. While he had taken plenty of risks in his life, he never took stupid ones.

“You’ll have to stay here tonight. It’s too dangerous to drive right now.”

“Too dangerous? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“We’re near a huge body of water, in case you hadn’t noticed. We’re not in any real danger, but I don’t know about this roof. And the weather advisory just ordered residents to stay off the roads other than emergencies.”

“But Gram... I don’t want to leave her alone all night. I can’t believe this. It’s just rain, for God’s sake. Why does everyone...” Her eyes widened and she startled. “Oh my gosh, what’s that sound?”

“It’s the rain, kicking up. Sounds like bricks, doesn’t it?”

She covered her ears. “Oh, Lord.”

“Call your grandmother and see if anyone that’s closer can stay with her tonight. If you want, I can call someone.”

While Valerie got on the phone, he went to the office and found some towels. Sub followed him out, and seeing Valerie, almost lost his shit. His tail wagged, his tongue lolled out, and he licked her hand, then shamelessly rolled over on his back.

“You stud,” Cole said.

Valerie smiled and bent to pet Sub while she spoke on the phone. “Don’t worry. I won’t drive in this rain. Well, I don’t think you should be grateful the car wouldn’t start. I could be home by now. No, it’s not a sign. It means the car’s battery died, that’s all. Gram, please be careful, and I’ll see you in the morning.”

Cole handed her a towel. “You can’t be comfortable in those clothes.”

She attempted to dry herself off, wiping her face first. Then her cheeks. That amazing wild hair that seemed to be expanding like the universe.

“Newsflash. I’m not. But what can I do?”

He grinned.

“I’m not getting naked, Cole.”

“I couldn’t possibly be that lucky.” He walked toward the office. “I have a change of clothes in here.”

“Your clothes?” She followed him into the office. “What are we talking? Board shorts?”

“Exactly.” He pulled out a desk drawer and came out with an old pair of board shorts and a worn dark blue tee that read: Navy.

She studied them. “I guess I can’t be picky at this point.”

“Not if you want to be dry.”

“I wish you had a fireplace.”

He cocked his head. “Would you install a fireplace in any establishment on the Gulf Coast? The sun is our fireplace.”

“Guess not, but it would have been romantic.” She shrugged. “Cozy.”

“Sorry to disappoint.”

My kingdom for a fireplace!

She gave him a smirk and gestured him outside the office. He moved in that direction, slowly, hoping a change of heart would be forthcoming, but wound up having the door shut in his face.

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