Free Anything but Love by Celya Bowers

kind Cole thought. It was the kind Kendall couldn’t ignore much longer. “Cole, it’s not what you think.” It was a billion times worse.
    “Why don’t you tell me?”
    Kendall shook her head. “You just had your tongue down my throat. Now you want me to tell you all my secrets.”
    Cole studied her for a short moment. “Actually, I want to kiss you again and again. Until you can’t breathe or think. But for now I will settle for a date to the charity dinner.”
    Kendall pondered her situation. That donation which she knew was nothing for Cole would go a long way toward setting the hospital up for at least the next year. Maybe she could open the cancer wing sooner than she anticipated. She had only one answer. “Looks like you just bought yourself a date for one million dollars.”

CHAPTER 6
    Exactly four weeks later, Kendall stood in front of her floor-length antique brass mirror laughing uncontrollably. It was almost as if she were sixteen again and her prom wish had come true: Coltrane Highpoint was her date for the evening.
    Okay, back to reality. Cole was escorting her to the charity gala for one reason, and one reason only: It was part of the deal he’d struck with her nearly a month before. So technically it wasn’t even a date.
    But tell that to her teenaged heart.
    Kendall took one last look at her attire and nodded approvingly. The pink bias-cut sequined gown accented her curves, and the v-neck hinted at her full cleavage. However, she wasn’t particularly fond of the front slit that ran from mid-thigh. It exposed the length of her legs each time she took a step. Tonight she’d find out exactly what kind of man Cole was. Most men’s eyes automatically focused on her breasts, then slowly they made eye contact; others stared at her legs. Was Cole a breast or a thigh man?
    She glanced back at Jordan as he lay on her king-sized bed, watching her. “What do you think?”
    Jordan barked once.
    Kendall looked in the mirror and finger-combed her shoulder-length hair. “I take it you’re still mad at me for not taking you out tonight?”
    Jordan barked twice.
    Kendall nodded. “You think I’m going to way too much trouble for Cole, don’t you?” She exhaled. “So do I. But my mother, sister-in-law, and best friend will not let me do otherwise.”
    Jordan raised his head and his little ears perked up. He cocked his head to one side, telling her he didn’t believe one word of her previous statement. He was right, because Kendall didn’t believe it herself.
    “Okay, you got me,” she confessed. “I bought this very expensive dress to knock Cole’s socks off. That will show him.” Was that her sounding like a bitter woman? “Let it go, Kendall. That was almost twenty-five years ago. This is a new day,” she told herself. “You’re just gonna blow his pea brain, accept that check, and not let him put those sweet-tasting lips anywhere near yours.”
    She slipped on her pink stilettos and sat on the bed next to Jordan. As usual when something bothered her, she talked it out with Jordan. He was an excellent listener. Like now, when Jordan was listening to her insane ramblings about the one man she was genuinely attracted to.
    “Okay, even I don’t believe that. To be honest, Jordan, I could really go for one of Cole’s sweet kisses right now.”
    * * *
    Cole wasn’t sure what he was expecting when he rang Kendall’s doorbell. But once the door opened and he took one look at her, he knew that definitely wasn’t it. He was expecting the uptight doctor to be dressed in some traditional black tasteful gown for the evening. Never in his wildest and most lustful fantasies would he have imagined this form-fitting pink number.
    Instantly remembering Max’s warning, Cole averted his gaze from her breasts. It wasn’t easy, especially since he was a breast man, but he did it. He maintained eye contact and hoped and prayed the lower part of his body didn’t get a mind of its own.
    “Are you just