Page 24

I leaned against the counter, catching my breath, my legs barely able to hold me up. My body was buzzing, every inch alive and humming from Colt’s touch.

He hadn’t let go of me yet. With one strong arm wrapped around my waist, his forehead rested against mine like he wasn’t quite ready to step away.

Neither was I.

I closed my eyes and let the moment settle between us.

If I could bottle up the way Colt made me feel and keep it forever, I would.

Home. He made me feel like I was home.

Eventually, he pulled back just enough to kiss the tip of my nose before tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

He grinned—that devastating cowboy smile that could probably bring a woman to her knees if he wasn’t careful—reaching down to hand me my shirt that he’d thrown across the room in our frenzy of lust.

“This yours, ma’am? ”

“Why yes, it is. How kind of you to give it back,” I joked.

“Now for the thing that tastes almost as good as you—this pie,” Colt said, turning towards the counter by the oven where the pecan pie was cooling on a wire rack, his grin never leaving his face.

He looked back over his shoulder at me, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he pulled a fork out of the drawer.

“Sex and pie. What a combo,” I said.

“I’d argue it’s one of the best in the world,” Colt said as he scooped a big bite from the center of the pie into his mouth, smiling.

I rolled my eyes, unable to hide the grin creeping across my face. “You really know how to sweet-talk a woman, don’t you?” I teased, leaning against the counter, my hands still shaking slightly from everything that had just happened.

Colt took another bite of the pie, his eyes never leaving mine. “Why talk when I can just show you?” He winked, clearly enjoying the playful banter. “So, how was work today?” he asked, his voice low and casual.

I hesitated, the familiar knot in my stomach tightening. The memory of my conversation with Cassie replayed in my mind, tugging me in two directions.

The angel on one shoulder urged me to be honest with Colt, to tell him about the mysterious caller at the coffee shop today.

The devil on the other whispered in my ear, telling me it was probably nothing. That it wasn’t serious enough to drag Colt into .

I opened my mouth, but the words felt stuck. I wanted to tell him everything, to let him in, but the thought of making him worry about something I wasn’t even sure of myself seemed unfair.

“It was fine. Same old, same old.”

Looks like the devil wins this time.

“Well, I went down to the co-op today to grab more feed for the chickens, and I noticed a sign for the county fair this weekend. I was thinking, if you don’t have any plans, we could go together?” Colt said, looking at me expectantly.

“Won’t people get suspicious if they see us there together?” I asked.

“Probably,” he admitted, shrugging. “But I don’t care, Ellie. And you shouldn’t either. Who you date and how soon after you have a break-up is nobody’s business. Besides, the only person who knows about Jason is me.”

“And Cassie.” I caught myself before I said too much. I couldn’t explain how she knew. Only that she did.

“How’d she find out?”

“Girls’ night. Too many drinks, that’s all,” I said, brushing it off, hoping he wouldn’t press further, and my not-so-great poker face wouldn’t give me away.

“So, a night at the fair, just the two of us. What do you think?”

I studied Colt’s face, reflecting on his words.

He was right. Who I dated was nobody’s business. But as I thought about it more, I realized what was truly bothering me.

Going all in with Colt would put him in the crossfire if Jason really was trying to find me. And I didn’t want to put Colt in danger, even if it meant facing my problems alone.

Colt eyed me, waiting on my answer. Those soft blue eyes got me every time. I couldn’t resist.

“I’ll only go if I’m promised one funnel cake and a front-row seat to watch you win me the biggest stuffed animal they have,” I said with a grin, raising an eyebrow. “You up for that, cowboy?”

“Every time.”

The moment was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door.

We jumped, both suddenly remembering we were half-clothed.

Colt moved towards the door, already pulling on his jeans and slipping his T-shirt over his head as he made his way across the living room. It gave me a moment to admire the muscles rippling across his back—peaks on peaks, like a beautiful mountain range.

He peered through the peephole.

“It’s Jace,” he whispered, shooting me a look.

“What’s he doing here?” I hissed.

Colt shrugged. By the time he opened the door, we were both fully dressed.

“I heard a rumor there’s homemade pecan pie somewhere around here,” Jace said, strolling in like he owned the place.

“The rumors are true,” I said, laughing. “Help yourself.”

Colt stepped between him and the pie on the counter.

“She made it for me and only me,” he said, voice flat enough that I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. Was I really about to watch two McKinley brothers fight over pie?

Cassie would be furious if they did and she missed it.

“Now, now,” I said, grabbing a plate and cutting a slice from the side where Colt hadn’t stuck his fork in. “There’s plenty to go around.”

Jace took it eagerly, sticking his tongue out at Colt like a five-year-old who’d just won the last turn on the merry-go-round.

Jace – 1.

Colt – 0.

“So, what are you two even doing over here?” Jace asked, glancing around. “Far as I can tell, there’s not shit to do in this old house.”

“We’ve just been talking,” I said, barely suppressing a grin, knowing full well that talking hadn’t exactly been our top priority.

Colt shot me a look, smirking.

Jace wandered into the living room, giving us a moment alone. Colt moved in close, leaning down to whisper in my ear.

“You and I both know we were doing a whole lot more than just talking, you little liar.”

He grabbed my waist, tugging me flush against him. Hard and ready, he pressed against my backside, the heat sparking between us.

Then, just as quickly as he grabbed me, he let go and stepped back, making his way to Jace who was now on the back porch, leaving me wanting and alone.

After taking a few seconds to collect myself, I joined the boys outside. Each of them sitting in a matching rocking chair. I leaned against the wooden railing, facing them.

“So, Ellie, what’s it like working for Cassie. She seems like a real ballbuster,” Jace said, taking another bite of his pie.

“She’s wonderful actually. We talk all day. It makes the time go by fast. Who knew you could get along so well with your boss?”

“Not me,” Jace said, his gaze turning to Colt.

“I’m not your boss,” Colt said, laughing.

“You sure like to act like it,” he teased.

“If anyone’s a ballbuster, it’s you to Cassie,” I said, eyeing Jace. “Talk about not being able to take no for an answer.”

“It’s the red hair,” he said longingly, like he’d thought about it every day since he met her.

“She seems like she’d rather die than depend on a man,” I said.

“I just need her to give me one chance,” Jace said.

He looked like he genuinely meant it.

“I’ll keep putting in a good word for you,” I joked, trying to keep his spirts up about the whole situation.

He got up from his chair, winked at me, then turned his attention back to Colt.

“Y’all seem like a bundle of fun tonight, truly, but I have to head home. I’ll take one more piece of pie for the road, though.”

Colt narrowed his eyes at him, as if to say hell no .

Jace knew what he was doing. He loved getting under Colt’s skin, and he did it effortlessly.

“Before you protest, I’m willing to trade. One piece of pie to go and I won’t tell everyone why I suspect your shirt’s on inside out,” Jace deadpanned.

Shit.

Jace – 2

Colt – 0