Free For Love of Charley by Katherine Allred

has happened in the past where you and
I are concerned. I’ve tried, I really have, but it just isn’t working. There’s
too much stress. I know you can’t leave, so from now on, you can handle
anything concerning the new restaurant. The office will be yours during the
day. I’ll only be here at night. I think it’s fair that I continue to manage
the Red Dog.”
    Suddenly, inspiration hit Cole. He leaned
back in the chair and linked his hands behind his head, studying her. “Fine.”
    Charley spun to stare at him, her eyes
wide. “You don’t mind?”
    He shrugged slightly. “Why should I? I must
say, I’m a little disappointed in you, Charley. I really thought you were more
of a businesswoman. But I do understand. You simply can’t keep your emotions
under control. I suppose it’s a woman thing,” he mused. His gaze came back to
hers. “I just overestimated you.” Cole stood.
    “Why, you…you…” she sputtered. Charley
swallowed her words, and forced herself into an icy calm. Slowly, she stalked
forward to face him. “I was so right about you,” she gritted. “Not only are you
a pig, you’re a male chauvinist pig. You want to know why you don’t have a
problem keeping your emotions under control? Because you don’t have any!” The
last words were screamed right in his face.
    Before she could draw another breath, she
was wrapped in Cole’s arms, his mouth covering hers, moist and firm and hot.
Oh, God. So hot. Her fist balled in his shirt to push him away, fight him.
Instead, she pulled him closer, her lips parting involuntarily. He took
advantage of the opening, deepening the kiss, his tongue meeting hers. Charley
went weak all over at the touch, and a moan whispered deep in her throat. He
captured it, held it, and gave it back to her, doubled. For an eternity, he
tortured her, slanting his head to reach her better. His hands slid down her back
and cupped her bottom, pulling her tightly against his hips, against the
arousal that pressed into her stomach, heavy and hard. Only then did his mouth
relinquish possession of hers.
    “Does that feel to you like I don’t have
any emotions, Charley?” His voice was a husky whisper. “I’ve never stopped
wanting you, and seeing you again has only made it worse. I’ve fought it every
day, and I’ll keep on fighting it. It’s a battle I don’t intend to lose.” He
released her abruptly and walked out of the office, leaving Charley stunned
into silence.
    As soon as the door swung shut her legs
began to shake. Steadying herself with one hand on the edge of the desk, she
sank weakly into the chair he had vacated. He wanted her. Oh, God, he really
wanted her. A hot shiver ran down her back. Slowly, the corners of her mouth
curved up in a smile. He wanted her as badly as she did him. All that cool
indifference had been nothing but an act.
    A heady mixture of joy and elation surged
through her and burst from her throat. “Yee-haw!” The shout echoed off the
office walls, and Charley clapped her hands over her mouth. In a fit of
giggles, she slid limply out of the chair and landed with a thump on her
behind. He wasn’t planning on losing the battle, huh? Well, maybe she’d just
have something to say about that. For the first time since she’d seen Cole
sitting in the bar last Wednesday night, Charley felt completely in control.
    In the hall outside her office, Cole threw
his head back in silent laughter as the sound of her yell died away, his whole
body shaking with mirth. He highly suspected that the gauntlet he had flung
down in her office had been picked up with a vengeance. And God, he felt good.
Stifling his urge to whistle, he slipped into his office, closing the door
gently after him.
    * * * * *
    Two hours later Charley was still having
trouble sitting in place. Bubbles of laughter kept sneaking up on her when she
least expected them. Even the computer couldn’t bother her. She stared
blissfully at the error message on her screen, wondering what,