Counting On Cole (Wilde Ways #8) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,40
dark red. A red to match her dress. “The kind of man who wants more than the lukewarm fun that Evie Lake will give him.”
His jaw hardened. You did not just talk about Evie that way.
She pushed her lips out into what she probably thought was a sexy pout. “You don’t have to wait. I’m right here. How about you and I slip away? I promise, I may be many things, but I’m definitely not lukewarm.”
“Neither is Evie.”
Some of the sensual confidence faded from her expression.
“I’d describe her as freaking red-hot, an inferno that burns me alive. Or maybe I’d say she’s the best fuck I’ve ever had.” He shrugged. “But I’m sure you get the idea. Oh, yes, she’s a dancer, too, but I’m figuring you’re aware of that.” He whistled. “Woman is flexible as all hell. The things she can do with her body…damn.”
Gia eyes turned to slits.
“Sorry about your boredom, ah, Gia, I think it was? Hope you find a cure for that shit soon.”
“Your loss.” She spun on her heel and stormed away.
“You know the comm link is still on, right?” James asked in his ear.
Cole tossed a quick glance across the ballroom. Saw James standing against the far wall, with a champagne flute near his mouth. Cole gave a slight nod.
“I mean, glad you’re happy with your girlfriend and all, but seriously, man, TMI.”
“She’s not my girlfriend,” he growled. It was just a cover, though he wanted so fucking much more.
He wanted her.
Cole glanced down at his watch. How long was she going to be in there?
“Do not think of going into that bathroom after her. Seriously, we need to have a talk about the concept of space.”
But Cole was thinking about going into that bathroom. He turned away so no one in the crowd would see him talking. “Pull up her GPS. I want to make sure she’s still inside.” Sure, he could be worrying for nothing but…
This is Evie.
James wasn’t the only one on the comm link. Chase was tied in, too, and so was a Wilde tech agent who was working remotely. The tech agent should be able to tell him—
“Evie’s device shows that she is two floors down,” the female tech agent told him, her voice strained with worry.
What the fuck?
He lunged for the bathroom door. Tried to shove it open. But the door was locked or jammed or—
He kicked it in. Wood splintered. “Evie!” Cole roared her name. The lights were off in the bathroom. He hit the switch, but they didn’t turn back on.
“She’s moving. Two floors door, heading toward the parking garage.”
He whirled and rushed back to the ballroom. From the corner of his eye, he saw Chase bounding forward, too.
“What’s happening?” Harrison stepped into Cole’s path. Slowing me down. “Why are you rushing away? Where is Evie?”
Cole shoved him out of the way. He and Chase hit the stairwell at the same time. He flew down those stairs, jumping over several steps. The tech’s voice was in his ear, telling him status updates and all he could think was—
They’re taking her to the parking garage. They’re trying to put her in a vehicle. Trying to take her away.
He shoved open the door to the parking garage. “Evie!” Cole bellowed her name.
He didn’t see her, but…were those her shoes? Her heels, just dropped on the pavement?
A sedan rushed toward him, the bright lights blinding him. He could smell burning rubber and could hear the screech of the tires as that vehicle hurtled right at him.
“Get out of the way, Cole!” Chase yelled.
Cole dove to the side with Chase just as the sedan shot past them.
“She’s moving fast,” the tech operator said in his ear. “On the road, going down to turn left—”
“She’s in the fucking car!” Cole snarled. She’d been taken—taken on his watch. Fear poured through every cell in his body as he leapt back to his feet.
I’m going to get her back.
Chapter Eight
I will never let her out of my sight again. I’m going to chain her to my side.
It was happening again. Evie cracked open her eyes but saw only darkness around her. It had been dark in the ladies’ room. The lights had gone off, and she’d stumbled and she’d slammed into—
Someone. Someone else had been in the bathroom with her. Someone had shoved a smelly cloth over her mouth, and she’d felt dizzy and sluggish and the next thing she knew—
I’m here. Only she wasn’t sure where here was, exactly.