The Rules In Paradise (Playing By The Rules) Read Online Free Page B

pumping faster. I turned toward the bar and nearly choked on my drink.
                  "He's coming." Was all I could get out before he reached us.
                  "Whiskey please Eric. Ladies, it is a true pleasure to see you again. I'm sorry we didn't get to meet last night, I'm Cole Cooper, and you are Charlotte. Olivia spoke so much about you." His smile was stunning and Charlotte looked moderately flushed as he shook her hand. I was thankful that someone else had that reaction to him.
                  "Olivia it is so good to see you again. I saw Jason downstairs and he said you had come with his date for the evening."
                  I stood there stunned. He had brought so much energy with him. Not excited, happy-go-lucky Adrian energy, but controlled energy. Like he was completely in charge of every inch of the space in which he occupied. And the space he occupied seemed to be triple the space anybody else occupied. It felt like a weight settled where he was. Not necessarily a bad weight, but definitely strong.
                  "Did you have a nice day today?" Cole asked, his tone innocent enough.
                  "We did, we sat by the pool and had dinner before we got here."
                  He was leaned casually back against the bar, his small glass of ice and whiskey in his hand. He had on a pair of black shorts and a gray, fitted T-shirt. Even in something so casual he owned his look.
                  "So Cole, Olivia didn't mention it. What is it that you do for a living?" Charlotte had turned into mother hen.
                  "Jason is my business partner in the hospitality business. I'm out here doing some research for him, as well some pleasure mixed in with some friends who came down with me."
                  "So you know Jason well then? Do you live in California as well?" Charlotte had a mission, and clearly it was to find it everything possible about Cole. Either she really wanted to know about him or she wanted to see if I was keeping anything from her.
                  "Yes, I do. We've been friends for a very long time." He sipped his drink and set the empty glass on the bar. He nodded toward the bartender for another.
                  Charlotte sipped her drink as he studied him. She must have made a decision as she placed her glass on the bar and excused herself to go check on Adrian. We stood in awkward silence for a few moments.
                  "I'm glad you made it. I feared I would have to spend the evening having boring small talk with random drunk vacationers. I had a good time last night. I hated to leave so quickly, but I did have to get back to my room and take care of a few things. Like I said, you were wrong as well. You are a good dancer." He spoke quickly and sipped at his drink. I continued to just stare at him.
    "Um, I had anticipated hearing you had a great time as well, or you're glad you came, or you're happy to see me. Unless that is untrue then perhaps I should go?" He was watching me anxiously, I knew he was trying to gauge my expression.
                  "Who the hell are you?" The question escaped my mouth before I could stop it, or before I could make it slightly less intrusive.
                  "I'm sorry? Did we not go over this last evening?" His expression read as slightly annoyed.
                  "What I mean is, who are you? You're here for business with your friends? You pop up out of nowhere followed by your friend asking my friend out where you just happen to be."
                  "Olivia, nobody put a gun to your head to board the boat. It was of your own free will. I have my suspicions that it was your hope, as much as mine that we would run into each other here. This is not some weird cult. This is my friend's boat. We have traveled together and I am simply enjoying one of