Page 12 of Fixing to be Mine (Valentine Texas #5)

CHAPTER NINE

SUNNY

T he knock hasn’t finished echoing before something shifts in Colt’s posture. He’s not tense, just overly aware, like he recognizes the cadence of whoever it is.

“That your secret girlfriend?” I offer.

“Darlin’, you’re the only woman in my life right now,” he says, and I swear his drawl thickens.

I swallow hard, my eyes trailing over his muscles. He looks good—barefoot, messy hair, coffee in hand, smirking at me like I’m the best damn thing ever to enter his kitchen. Maybe I am. I find that hard to believe though.

“Might be one of my brothers or sisters stoppin’ by on the way to town. Happens regularly,” he tells me, breaking me out of my daze.

Another knock follows, but this time it’s louder and more impatient. Whoever it is, they’re impatient as fuck.

“Well, shit. Guess I’d better go get that,” he mutters, setting his mug on the counter. “I’ll be right back.”

He heads for the front door, and my body feels like it’s on fire. I suck in a deep breath, glancing at the journal he gave me. It’s such a sweet thing to do, and it shows that he has emotional intelligence—something my ex certainly lacked.

A moment later, the door creaks open, and the sound pulls me from my thoughts.

“Colty,” a high-pitched voice says. It’s syrupy sweet and Southern, and I wonder if it’s one of his sisters. “Heard you were livin’ out here in this big, haunted house. I never understood your obsession with it.”

“What’re ya doin’ here?” Colt’s voice drops, and I hear the edge in his tone. Because of that, I know it’s not family.

The silence drags on, and I imagine him staring at her, waiting.

“Are ya gonna invite me in? Give me the grand tour before you fix it up?” she purrs.

I roll my eyes, and jealousy washes over me. Who the hell shows up unannounced and nearly demands a red carpet?

“No, I’m not,” he says flatly. There’s no hesitation, and he leaves no room for misinterpretation.

Whoever it is, they aren’t welcome here.

Curiosity drags me down the hallway toward him, and I catch a sliver of her through the cracked-open door. She’s beautiful, tall, tan, and perfectly highlighted. If I had to guess, it’s one of his exes.

I don’t hesitate as I wrap my arms around Colt’s waist from behind, like I’ve done it a hundred times, like this moment belongs to us.

He doesn’t flinch when I touch him. Instead, he turns his body and curls his hand around my hip, pulling me closer to him, like it’s second nature.

I’d be lying if I said being in his arms didn’t feel as good as him holding me as I fell asleep.

Colt’s shirt hangs loose on my frame, and it feels like armor disguised as cotton. She looks at me like his name is written in cursive across my skin. It’s enough to make her tense, but it doesn’t bother me. Thanks to my background, I’m not intimidated by anyone, man or woman.

“Oh, hi,” I say, sweet as sin, turning back to Colt. “Had I known we were having company this morning, I’d have put on some pants.”

Her eyes drop to my bare, tanned legs, linger on the shirt, then flick back to Colt. He holds me tighter, his strong hand and fingertips pressing into me. I imagine them roaming my body and force myself to pay attention. He’s too damn distracting without even trying.

“Please excuse my manners. I’m Sunny, Colt’s girlfriend . And you are?”

I see her heartrate increase, and her lip quivers. She doesn’t like me being here.

“Tessa,” she says, and I hold out my hand to shake hers. She glances down at it, then back at me. “I’m the love of Colt’s life.”

My smile doesn’t budge. “Really? You said Teresa?”

“ Tessa ,” she spits out.

I tilt my head curiously. “That’s so strange. He’s never once mentioned you, Tessa .”

I know it stings, but she needs a reality check.

“How long has it been since you two broke up? Recently?”

Exes aren’t a conversation we’ve had, and it’s not one I want to discuss.

“Nearly three years,” Colt answers.

Her brows pull tight, and her perfect lips move into a straight line. Colt’s arm settles more comfortably around me, and I think he enjoys watching her squirm.

“I’d like to speak to Colt in private.” Her voice is clipped, but too demanding for my liking.

“Don’t think so,” he says. “If you’ve got something to say, you can say it in front of my girlfriend.”

Girlfriend. The word lingers, and I like how he said it, like it was true without a doubt.

His smirk follows, and for a moment, it’s just the two of us with our eyes locked and hearts beating steadily.

She clears her throat. “You didn’t tell me you were seeing someone.”

“He doesn’t owe you that,” I say gently, tone soft but firm. “Colt has moved on. It’s been three years. You should as well.”

Her eyes move back to me, and if looks could kill, I’d be dead. “How long have you known each other?” she questions.

“Long enough to know this feels right,” I say lightly, resting my head against Colt’s shoulder.

Colt lets out a low laugh, shaking his head like I’m trouble.

She scoffs. “You’re really something, aren’t ya?”

I glance up at Colt, giving him a wink. “That’s what he keeps telling me.”

He coughs—a laugh this time—and his fingers skim the edge of my shoulder, a soft, lingering touch.

Goose bumps trail over my arms, and I like the way he makes me feel.

I shouldn’t though. He’s too young. I’ve got too much baggage.

He lives in Texas. I live in New York. I don’t believe in love, and I know he does.

We’re on opposite sides of the coin, and that’s what scares me the most.

“He used to worship me too … a lot.”

“That’s enough,” Colt says. “What do you want?”

“Well,” she says, still looking at me like I’m a little green man from outer space, “thought I’d stop by and say hello. I wanted to catch up for a minute and invite you to join me at the rodeo this weekend.”

I don’t know this woman, but something about her sets a version of me loose that I haven’t seen since I left the city. The bold, confident part of me that doesn’t apologize for knowing her worth.

“You’ve said hello, and I’m not available. Not anymore,” he tells her, staying planted in the doorway like a human blockade. One arm is still wrapped around me, and the other is resting casually on the frame like he has no intention of moving.

“You should still join me. As friends.” Tessa shifts her weight onto one heel, her glossy pink lips curving like this is a misunderstanding she’s about to correct.

“The answer is no.” Colt’s voice stays calm, but there’s no warmth in it.

Her smile is pulled too tight, too controlled, but I know she disapproves of his answer. “Right. Of course.”

She straightens, smoothing her hand over her already-perfect golden hair. Her brown eyes fall back on me with more edge this time, like she’s trying to pick me apart, one messy strand of hair at a time.

“We don’t really like out-of-towners round here,” she says to me, and it comes out like a warning.

“You’re not gonna threaten her. It’s time for you to go,” he says, still polite, but now there’s no mistaking the annoyance beneath the manners.

The air ripples around us, and it’s clear he’s done with her and this conversation.

She doesn’t respond right away. She drags her gaze over him like she’s memorizing something she used to own.

“I really thought a woman staying here was a stupid rumor,” she says.

Ahh, there it is. She didn’t come here to reconnect. She wanted confirmation.

“I hope you got the answers you were looking for. It was nice meeting you, Tessa,” I say, smiling politely, holding Colt a little tighter, like I can protect him from her. There’s no bite in my tone, but there’s enough sugar to make her teeth ache.

Colt gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze. It’s enough to say he’s got this and that I don’t need to finish anything.

Tessa forces a smile. “Lookin’ real good, Colty. Call me if things don’t work out with your tourist.”

And like that, Colt steps back and slams the door shut. He gives her no apology or hesitation, just the clean, satisfying sound of a boundary being locked into place. The second it’s closed, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.

His hand still rests on my waist. “I’m real fuckin’ sorry about that.”

“Don’t apologize for her rudeness. It’s not your fault,” I say, my body reeling from his electric touch. I might burn alive.

We’re so damn close as I gaze up at him. Tall, broad shoulders, perfect face. This man could model blue jeans for a living if he wanted.

His eyes are warm and locked on me in a soft way that I don’t quite know how to handle.

“You have no idea what you’ve done,” he says, amused.

I arch a brow. “Should I be worried?”

“Depends.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, laughing under his breath. “By sunset, the whole town’s gonna think I’m in a serious relationship with an out-of-towner. Can you handle that?”

I have the urge to kiss him, to see if I experience the same sparks as I do with his hand gripped around my waist. I swallow hard, my breath growing ragged. “You don’t know what I can handle.”

“I have an idea.” He lifts my chin with his other hand, and we’re locked in a moment of time together. “Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be dealing with a girlfriend rumor this week.”

“I’m sorry about that,” I whisper.

“Don’t be. Just get ready to play the part.”

I blink out of my haze. “Excuse me?”

“You started it, and now the games have begun.”

“No, no, no. I was trying to piss her off. Make her realize what she’d lost. I didn’t volunteer myself to be your fake girlfriend,” I say as he guides me toward the kitchen.

“Sorry. That’s not how things work around here,” he says. “You confirmed a rumor. It’s an avalanche now.”

He makes me want things I haven’t wanted in a long time, things I didn’t know could exist.

I return to my seat at the table in the kitchen. Colt pours us fresh cups of coffee as I stare out the bay window. In the back pasture, I see a large yellow barn and two horses grazing.

“Do you ride?”