Page 9 of One Little Kiss

“In your text, you said you didn’t need a room anymore. I just assumed he worked for a hotel.”

A Cheshire-like smile slides across perfectly straight, white teeth. “Something like that.”

“Is it not a nice hotel?”

Colton leans back in his seat, giving the impression he has all the time in the world. “They’re some of the nicest hotels in the world, actually.”

I feel my brows furrow in confusion. “Did you get a better offer?”

“That has yet to be decided.” His seductive tone could charm a nun out of her panties.

I cross my legs uncomfortably.

Gah, the grin on this man could do serious damage to someone’s ovaries. Someone else’s. Not mine. “O-kay then. I’m, ah, I’m going to get back to studying.”

I glance away quickly. Colton has me unnerved, and I don’t get unnerved. Especially not by a man. I have a pretty good intuition for people, so I don’t think Colton’s dangerous, but I know better than anyone what misplaced trust can do.

With that thought, I’m suddenly scanning our surroundings for security, just in case.

“Hey,” Colton says carefully. “What just happened? You look as though you’re planning an escape.”

“A girl can never be too careful,” I hedge.

Sensing my unease, he angles his body to give me some space, which I appreciate, but it does nothing to calm the frenetic energy that seems to be super charged between us.

“I agree.”

He agrees? With what?

“Are you planning to stay here all night?”

Yes. Yes, I am.

“Ah, that’s the plan.”

“Great. I’m Colton. I’m one of five boys, plus four more quasi-adopted ones. My family’s made up of blood brothers and brothers by choice. Most of them are married now, with kids, which makes family gatherings completely insane and exactly how my parents always wanted it. My dad passed away when I was a teenager. As I mentioned, every single person in my family has a problem with communication. I’ve made it my goal not to follow suit. My family has a lot of really fucking amazing qualities, but none of them can talk through issues to save their damn life. They refer to me as Peter Pan because I’m not ready to settle down. That doesn’t mean I never want to. I do. Someday. I’ll be a kick ass dad someday, just like my father was. But I feel like I’m too selfish to achieve that level of greatness yet. I date. A lot, but I never lead anyone on. I’m a loyal friend, brother, uncle, and son. And, for reasons I can’t explain, I would rather sit here all night getting to know you, Winnie, than spend the evening alone in a five-star hotel.”

He places his clasped hands in his lap, his sparkling eyes never leaving mine, and he smiles. Open. Honest. Devastatingly handsome.

“That’s … wow. That’s a lot of information.” I feel jittery, and my gaze jumps anywhere but his face. My phone buzzes in my lap, and I nearly leap out of my skin. Glancing down, I see it’s my mom. Hoping she made it back to Vermont after dropping me off at Logan International in Boston, I turn to Colton. “I have to take this.”

He smiles and makes a go-ahead motion with his hands. Guess he isn’t taking the hint. Turning away from him, I accept the call, and my mom’s beautiful face fills the screen.

“Winnie.” She smiles, and I can feel Colton’s grin at my back.Winnie. “How are you, baby girl? I got a notification that your flight’s delayed.”

“Yeah, the storm really picked up, but I’m on the first flight out in the morning. I’m okay. I have so much studying to do.”

“Win. You’re going on vacation, even if it’s a working one. Try to relax. Have some fun. Meet a boy.” A shit-eating grin comes over her face, and I feel Colton’s presence before I see his face on the phone screen.

Whipping my head over my shoulder, I hiss, “What are you doing?”

“Win? Who is that handsome boy?”

Good lord. I square my shoulders, knowing I’m not getting out of this one. If there’s one thing my mother has a weakness for, it’s handsome men. “His name is Colton, Mother. He’s a stranger. A stranger who likes to talk. A lot. That’s all.” I peek over my shoulder to find him grinning wildly. Stupid, handsome boy. Stupid, handsome boy that has my tummy doing somersaults.Gah!

“Hello, Mrs. Winnie?” Colton calls over my shoulder, and I plant my free palm to my forehead.

Knowing my mother, she’s reading way too much into this. Until recently, it’s always been just the two of us. She’s done the best she could as a single mom, and she always provided for me, but we couldn’t be more different. She’s the first to seek the fun in life, where I’m more cautious. I like things thought out. Planned. In some ways, I’ve always been the responsible one. I’ll never be carefree like her. She says I’m an old soul, but she’s a free spirit. The fun one. I’m the daughter she’ll never understand but loves me endlessly, anyway.