Free Momentary Lapse by Toni J. Strawn Page B

this. He ignored her stiffening response as he touched her shoulder. It felt good to lay his hand on her. To reassure himself she wasn’t hurt. She was okay. More than okay. Cole shifted his gaze from the temptation of her lips to her softening eyes.
    â€œI do have a meeting. But I wanted to see you before I left,” he conceded.
    The elevator opened at Madison’s back, but she made no move to get in.
    â€œWhy?”
    Cole took a quick look around, then tugged her along the corridor to the alcove they’d kissed in last night. He caged her in, bracing his arm against the wall behind her, hating the fact she instinctively flinched away when he went to smooth back a strand of her hair.
    â€œI don’t like how we left this morning,” he murmured.
    Madison stared back at him. “Me either.” She gave in with a sigh.
    Silence stretched as she continued to watch him warily. Being this close to her played havoc with Cole’s senses. He cleared his throat, trying to find the words to explain why he’d put off the biggest project of his career. For her.
    â€œLast night was…something,” he admitted.
    The stain on her cheeks deepened. “It was just one night,” she said woodenly.
    Cole gritted his teeth, not happy with how the conversation was going. Whatever happened over lunch had clearly shaken her. Maybe it would be best to let her leave.
    Not an option. He knew before the thought formed that he couldn’t let her go. Something was going on. And seeing Madison now had reaffirmed every good reason why Cole should see her again.
    He leaned in and the warmth of her sparked against his skin. “Does it have to be just one night?” he growled softly.
    â€œYes.” The line of her throat convulsed up and down. She didn’t sound sure.
    Cole’s heart thudded harder. “Why?”
    He trailed his fingers along the length of her jaw, knowing his touch moved her as much as her closeness did him. Her small sigh told him that. Her blood racing through her veins. It wasn’t enough for Cole. He hungered for the heat of last night. For Madison to remember it as he did. Scorching. Passionate. Unfettered.
    â€œThe woman who brought me to my knees…she’s still here. Wanting me.”
    â€œShe doesn’t exist.” Madison shifted, subtly raising her chin until she met his stare. Defiant. “I’m not who you think I am.”
    And just like that, the Madison Cole remembered returned. Despite her trying hard to hide it.
    â€œBullshit.”
    He nudged her deeper into the corner, his thumb rubbing circles into her shoulder. He enjoyed the sharp thrill of victory when she didn’t move away. His groin tightened as her sweet, cinnamon scent drifted across his senses and he wanted nothing more than to bury her mouth under his. Heat raced in a heartbeat, arcing through his veins as she leaned in, her hand fluttering to lay flat against his chest. Cole didn’t know whether she meant to push him away or pull him closer. Either way, he couldn’t let her go.
    Until he saw the ring.
    Air slammed from his lungs. He stumbled back, a sick feeling growing in his gut. No mistaking that monstrosity for anything other than it was.
    â€œYou’re engaged?” Cole barely had breath to force the words out. How the fuck had he missed that ?
    Then he remembered.
    â€œI’m not who you think I am.”
    That was what she’d just said. Only Cole had never believed it could mean this.
    Still, she didn’t stop the act. Cole watched with shocked detachment as Madison glanced down at the ring, as if suddenly realizing it sat on her finger.
    â€œNo!” Her wide-eyed horror was pure award-winning Oscar.
    She crossed her arms as if hiding the ring would make Cole forget the evidence sitting half an inch high on her finger. His lip curled. He shook his head, cold anger already icing over his heart, his mind…his libido.
    â€œSorry