Free Alexis (The Love Family Series Book 6) by Kate Allenton

him.”
    The talking stopped, and they all turned toward her.
    “Of course we do,” Declan announced, before taking another bite of his pizza.
    “Crompton wants one thing and one thing only. He wants revenge against Cole, and he’ll use me to get it, so we give him what he wants….me.”
    Cole’s arms tightened around her waist. “No. That’s not happening.”
    She glanced up at him. “Yes.”
    “It’s a tactically offensive move. It could work.” Landon glanced at Avery. “And between all of us, we can set the trap and wait for him to enter.”
    “You’re talking about my sister here,” Jackson interjected. “She is not bait.”
    “Make him think he’s got the upper hand.” Avery grinned and nodded.
    “You sure you guys are related?” Tourist asked. “You’re willing to sacrifice her to get Crompton?”
    “No,” Cole said in a deep, commanding voice.
    Arguments erupted around them. Cole left her side to argue with Avery and Landon, the only two in the room who thought her idea would work.
    The decibels in the room went up, and they each got louder, stating the pros and cons of her plan. A plan they obviously thought she didn’t have a say in. 
    Alexis put her fingers between her lips and whistled, getting everyone’s attention. When they all turned to her, she clasped her hands in front of her. “Okay, so here’s the deal.” She held up her hand to stop anyone from interrupting her. “Two days. Stone Face, Smiley, and Tourist have two days to see if they can locate Crompton. Reed, you’ll use your facial thingy. Declan, you’ll check the streets, and you’ll all work together and exchange information. If, in that time…” Cole opened his mouth, and she snapped her fingers, stopping him. “If, in that time, we can’t find him, I’ll make myself an easy target, and we’ll see if he takes the bait. We’ll flush him out of the woodwork, and you guys can do your thing and take him out, take him down…whatever. Something that doesn’t include me sinking this island and drowning his sorry ass.”
    “You cannot think that I’d be okay with this harebrained plan.” Cole growled and took her elbow. “Excuse us.”

 
     
    Chapter 11
     
     
    Cole led her up the stairs into his room and shut the door. She reached for him and pressed her lips hard against his. She melded against his body, calming him and catching him off guard.
    He gripped her hips, tight and sure, and kissed her back.
    She broke the kiss and stared into his darkened eyes.
    “You did that on purpose.” His voice came out gravelly and full of lust.
    “Why do you think I gave them two days?” She smiled, and her eyes softened.
    His brows dipped, clearly still not happy, even with the promise of sex.
    “You aren’t doing this,” he countered. “This is between Crompton and me.”
    “Until I let you touch me at the hot springs. That changed things. We both know it.”
    “Alexis, baby.” His gaze softened. “Please, don’t do this.”
    “Kiss me.”
    He searched her eyes and shook his head. “No.”
    “Touch me.”
    He released his hold on her. “No. I’m not going to drop my guard, no matter how much I want to spank your ass for suggesting you’d put yourself in harm’s way.”
    “One week,” she countered. “I’ll give them a full week of searching.”
    Every nerve in her body told her this conversation they were having was a defining moment in their relationship. This would either make or break any chance they had. He had to show her compromise, or none of this would work. If he still refused, she’d be left to deal with everything by herself. Alone, she could take this asshole. His refusal to see it, or believe in her, could shatter things before they started. It was better to find out now. She liked Cole, and investing her heart in him would be easy, too easy.
    “You’re being unreasonable.”
    Not the words she’d hoped to hear, and his response answered any lingering questions she held, and