“Never done one.”

“What?”

She looked to see if he was serious, and it appeared he was. Cole was usually serious, and he never mentioned any kind of social life, though surely he had one. She figured he just wasn’t the type to share personal details.

“Novice,” he confirmed. “Sure you don’t want me to just take your picture?”

“Nice try again.” She opened the camera app and turned it to selfie mode, then handed it to him. “It’s easier to use the side button.”

Cole took the phone from her and started to hold it out directly in front of them.

“Wait,” Sierra said. “Angle from above, and see if you can get a little of the background in too.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She nudged him lightly with her elbow. He held the phone up higher, and as they looked at the perspective on the screen, they moved closer together to fit in the shot. Then she felt Cole’s hand at her side, grasping her at the empire waist of her dress, just under her breasts, and his touch… Once again, it did something to her, heated her blood, jolted her heart into high speed, made her lady organs deep inside contract.

Trying to blow her reaction off, she angled her head toward his, and he leaned into her as well, until the sides of their heads touched. Though he’d obviously shaved, when his cheek brushed against her temple, she could feel its rough texture, and the intimacy of that momentarily stole her breath.

“Hold on,” she said. “Selfie basics. You have to smile.”

Cole laughed quietly and eked out a grin, and then he clicked it several times. A group of people had just entered, so he was still pressed to her side in the crush as he handed her phone back.

“Thank you,” she breathed out near his ear, hoping he couldn’t detect the effect he was having on her fickle body. “I need a drink.”

As they headed toward the bar in the far corner with the shorter line, she thought to herself she would need more than a drink. Maybe six drinks and a cold shower and willpower of steel to blow off the way her body had reacted when Cole pulled her close.

Chapter Five

Cole would be lying if he said the evening sucked.

Meeting dozens of Sierra’s relatives and family friends wasn’t his favorite thing, but he could stand at her side, offer a firm handshake, and say nice to meet you till he was blue in the face. Faking smiles was a tougher task, but he found he didn’t have to fake it much when Sierra sidled up so close he could feel the heat of her body along the side of his.