Page 14 of Overtime

“Well, that’s good. Since we are trying to help them and her museum.”

“Fuck that Drew guy though.”

“Yeah, he’s an ass. Hopefully, we’ll be rid of him soon. I never did like him much, but Xander and Harper were always fond of him, so I didn’t want to piss anyone off.”

“Makes sense.”

“Circling back to you and Colton though…” She looks over at me and smiles when I roll my eyes. “Did you ask him to do the photos for you?”

“I did. When we went out to get the kayaks and stuff ready outside.”

“And?”

“And then we were almost killed by the spider army your husband has been allowing to muster in your shed.”

“Ha. I’ll talk to him about it. What did Colt say?”

“He said no, but then he said he wants me to go first.”

“Go first?” Violet’s brow furrows as she tries to make sense of it.

“He wants me to pose nude. If I do it, he’ll do it. He thinks I won’t.”

“Whoa. Wait, for what?”

“Excellent question.”

“I mean, is he getting the photos?”

“I made a flippant remark, and he said he’d quote ‘buy them’. Whatever that means.”

“Uh, pretty sure that means that Colt still has a thing for you.”

“A thing for looking at me naked. Not necessarily a thing forme. He might just want to mount trophies on the wall or something.”

“That doesn’t sound like Colt.” Violet frowns. “I know you have your own opinions of him, and I know you hurt each other. I hate that. But he’s a good guy, Joss. Like he and Ben might be in competition for the Boy Scout award.”

“I know. You’re right. I just don’t know what he’s up to and it makes me nervous.”

“A guy who makes you nervous? Someone mark the day on the calendar.” Violet grins at me until I raise my eyebrow and then she has the decency to tone it down. “Fine. What do you want him to be up to?” she asks pointedly.

I slide her a sideways glance and she smirks.

“That’s what I thought.” She takes a sip of her drink.

“I can’t help it. I shouldn’t. I know I need to stay away but whenever I’m around him…”

“Uh-huh.” She grins wider.

“Stop that.”

“What?” She feigns innocence.

“You know what. I’m not you, Violet. The prince isn’t secretly in love with me. We don’t magically end up together and live happily ever after in our gorgeous castle on the water.”

“You never know. I’m rooting for it.”

“You remember you were rooting for it last time too? I’ve told you… Falling in love isn’t a thing that happens to me. Falling in lust, sure. And if anyone’s capable of causing that it’s the second coming of James Dean. But love? Nope.”