The Missing Heir(112)

                Cole took a swig of the champagne, wishing it was something                     stronger and less sweet. “That’s a complicated decision.”

                And it wasn’t a decision he was in a position to make. He’d                     have to be willing to stay at Coast Eagle for weeks, maybe months before he                     could figure out the quagmire of the company’s inner workings. Not that he held                     out hope for Roth, but a knee-jerk reaction wasn’t in the best interest of the                     company.

                “You’ll have to hire a president. Max is anxious to get back to                     the legal department.”

                Cole finished the glass and set it aside, fighting an urge to                     grab Zachary and drag Amber with them to the Alaskan border. Nobody else                     mattered.

                “Can we talk shop tomorrow instead?” he asked, easing over                     beside her. “You look beautiful in the firelight.”

                Her blue eyes softened. “You think?”

                “I know.” He touched his finger to the bottom of her chin,                     lifting it ever so slightly to give her a kiss.

                The champagne tasted a lot better on her than it had in the                     glass.

                “Thank you, Cole,” she whispered against his lips.

                He scooted closer still and framed her face with his hands.                     “I’d do anything for you.”

                Her smile was beautiful. She was beautiful. She was smart and                     strong and capable. And she was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on.

                He kissed her.

                Then he kissed her deeper, longing radiating through him,                     pushing everything out of his mind, everything but Amber and how much he needed                     her.

                When he came up for air, he reached for her glass, setting it                     aside. Then he lay back, easing her on top of him, loving the press of her soft                     body against his. He ran his hands along her back, down to her thighs,                     remembering the exquisiteness of her form.

                He slipped his hand beneath her shirt, touching the hot, supple                     skin of her back, stroking his palms upward.

                “You’re distracting me,” she told him.