My Sweetest Sasha: Cole's Story (Meadows Shore Book 2) Read Online Free

indulging in the fantasy.
    Neither of them spoke while she covered herself with the drab, shapeless jacket. Too late. He’d already been treated to what lay underneath, and he was having a hell of a time cramming the image into a to-be-enjoyed-later mental file.
    Alexa buttoned the jacket and sat behind her desk, regaining some measure of composure. “Do we have an appointment?”
    He leaned toward her and stuck out his hand. “Cole Harrington.”
    She grasped the large hand firmly and looked him straight in the eye without flinching, even while his eyes bored into hers, determined to discover the character of the woman chosen to torment him.
    “Alexa Petersen,” she said, her voice now more controlled. “Our meeting was at eight.”
    He took a seat without being invited. “Sorry. I needed to think the situation through, decide if I was going to meet with you.”
    “They would’ve summarily dismissed you if you hadn’t shown up today.”
    “Maybe. Maybe not.”
     
    * * *
     
    Hmmm, the height of arrogance. Maybe Chet was right about him.
    Cole Harrington had an air about him, a self-confidence that flowed like water from an open spigot. He was the kind of man who walked in and commanded the room. The kind who didn’t bother taking prisoners, and it was unnerving to be with him in such a tight space.
    He sat there, cool as a cucumber, expecting she’d meet with him on his terms. Didn’t matter that he was four hours late, as though his time was more valuable than hers.
    Coaching him wouldn’t be easy. No, there was nothing easy about this man. Not the brown wavy hair tickling the back of his neck, framing an almost perfect sun-kissed face. It was the color of the chestnuts her family roasted in the big fireplace on Christmas night.
    Certainly his body wasn’t easy. His broad shoulders made him seem rugged and powerful. And when he lowered himself into the chair, the outline of a large thigh muscle strained against the thin cotton fabric of his scrubs. He leaned back, making himself comfortable, crossing his arms across a massive chest, leaving an exposed forearm within her reach. She knew if she lifted her hand to touch, it would be hard—rock hard. She’d bet her last dollar on it.
    But it was the smoldering blue eyes that were the least easy thing about him. They latched onto hers, luring her with their warmth, all the while threatening to devour her. He radiated energy so intense it challenged her sensible nature, rocking her world. She’d never encountered anyone with this kind of presence, and her heart thumped wildly in response.
     
    * * *
     
    Cole could see he intimidated her, and he’d barely said a word. For all her fancy degrees, she was an amateur. That’s why she’d been selected for the job. They needed a puppet, someone who’d let them pull the strings while they remained in the background, invisible, huddled in the darkness.
    “So Alex, tell me what this is about.”
    “Alexa,” she corrected softly, but firmly.
    “Alexa,” he repeated, holding her gaze until she looked away.
    He lifted his eyebrows when she didn’t respond to his initial question. “Why am I here?”
    “I’m your coach. I’ve been instructed to shadow you and remediate any undesirable behavior as necessary.”
    “Undesirable behavior? You mean, like, if I don’t wash my hands after using the bathroom?”
    “I won’t be following you into the men’s room. I’ll leave the matters of hygiene to you and your conscience.” She swallowed hard, and brushed the hair out of her eyes and behind her ear with a quick sweep of her hand.
    “Who instructed you to harass me?”
    She refused to take the bait. “Chet Toomey’s my supervisor.”
    “How long is this little charade going to last?”
    “Forty-five days. It’s not a game, Dr. Harrington.”
    “Cole.” He stared intently, causing her to squirm. “What exactly does it involve?”
    “I’m required to be at your side from the moment you walk into the