Read Operation Date Escape for Free Online Page A

looked to her questioningly. “Rollerblading?
    She turned to the man beside her. “ Cole’s a fire fighter with the Worthington Fire Department. He knows how dangerous in-line skating can be.”
    She was right. He’d seen firsthand the injuries caused by in-line skating accidents.
    “I stopped rollerblading when Cole and I were dating,” she continued with a glance in his direction.
    He looked down at her, his brows drawing together in confusion. “What?”
    She pushed out of the wheelchair and rose up, balancing on one foot as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
    He glanced past the woman who had besieged his thoughts all day to the man who had accompanied her there. “Did she hit her head when she fell?”
    “No. Most of the falls she took were on her a- . Uh, I mean her backside.”
    “Play along,” she whispered in his ear, the feel of which wreaked havoc on Cole’s senses. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said much louder, following that up with a sniffle.
    He was a trained professional. He’d be willing to bet money there wasn’t a damn thing wrong with her ankle. Not after he’d seen the way she’d shot up out of the wheelchair to greet him.
    “I’ve missed you, too,” he replied with a grin, wrapping his arms possessively about her tiny waist. He had no idea what was going on there, but he wasn’t going to refuse the chance to hold her after fantasizing about it all night long.
    “Cole Maxwell,” he said, letting one hand leave Kelsie long enough to reach down and shake the other man’s hand.
    “Cornelius Benson.”
    “What are you doing here?” she asked as she clung to him.
    “I suffered some smoke inhalation during a run today and had to be checked out.”
    “ Are you alright?” she asked, her expression one of genuine concern.
    “ I’ll live.” He ran a splayed hand up and down her back and smiled. “And holding you in my arms makes me feel a whole lot better.”
    “Don’t get too comfortable,” she whispered, her lips brushing his ear. Then she raised her voice again with dramatic flair. “It feels so good to be in them again. Better than I remember. I know what I said before about the two of us, but I was wrong.”
    “You were?” He had no idea what kind of game she was playing, but he was off-duty now. Might as well play along and see what the little spitfire was up to.
    She loosened her hold on him and leaned back, looking up at him with those beautiful green eyes. “Yes. Seeing you again made me realize how much I need to be with you, to share your life, to have your children.”
    Have his children?
    He fought the urge to grin. This woman was either certifiably nuts or on a mission.
    “Aren’t you going to say anything?” She fluttered her cinnamon lashes, a hint of mischief twinkling in those green orbs. “Oh, never mind. There’s no need for words.” She kissed him instead.
    The unexpected kiss had Cole rocking back on his heels. Damn.
    “Uh, Kelsie...” her spectacled companion muttered, clearing his throat.
    She ended the kiss and turned to him with a gasp. “Oh, Cornelius. I’m so sorry. I...that is, we...”
    “It’s all right ,” the other man said with a sigh. “I understand.”
    “When I agreed to go out with you, I thought I was over Cole. But now, after seeing him again, I know I’m not. Please tell me you understand.”
    Her date shrugged with a forced smile. “Hey, you can’t win ‘em all.”
    Cole watched the scene with interest. She was good. He’d give her that. But women like her were dangerous to a man’s heart. The kind he was determined to steer clear of.
    “I appreciate your bringing me here,” she said with a warm smile. “But there’s no need for you to wait around. Cole can take me home.”
    He could?
    He wondered if the ‘home’ she was referring to was her place or his, because after the kiss she’d just laid on him he was thinking she’d look pretty damn good draped across