Colton

by Melissa Belle

  “He’s referring to my older brother.” Dylan’s tone is light, but I can hear the pain laced through his words. “Colton’s being kind, really.”

  “Dylan makes up for his father and brother,” Colton says proudly. “He’s the best, and not just on the football field.” Dylan turns red and tries to laugh off the compliment, just as Colton points to his phone. “It’s buzzing, man.”

  Dylan glances at the screen. “Shit. My agent just set up an interview for me this afternoon.” He stands up, grabbing his sandwich and water. “I’ve got to run.”

  He and Colton say their good-byes, and Dylan turns to me. “I’m pretty sure I’ll see you again, Skylar. Because you’ll be seeing Colton again. And I can promise you I would never say this if I didn’t mean it—I think that’s definitely a good thing.”

  I open my mouth to protest that I don’t know how soon I’ll be seeing anyone again, but Dylan just chuckles and waves.

  Once Colton and I are alone, an awkward silence hits the table. Colton’s eyes stay trained on mine, but he doesn’t speak.

  I gesture to my lemonade. “You remembered this is my favorite drink.”

  “Of course. I also remembered that you prefer pink lemonade. Unfortunately, they don’t offer that here.”

  I swallow. The attraction between us is so intense, I have to bite my lip to keep from leaning over and kissing him.

  “Thanks for your text this morning,” I say softly, feeling almost shy. “That was sweet.”

  “You did a great job with the interview.” His blue eyes light up with enthusiasm, and I know he means every word.

  I nod my thanks. “It went well. My boss was happy, too. Part two’s sometime next month, and a portion of it’s going to be by one of his murals, and another part will be on the beach. You know, so Maxwell can show off his surfing skills.”

  Colton narrows his eyes. “Showing off doesn’t seem to be too much of a chore for that guy.”

  “No. Not so much.” I pick up the glass of lemonade and take a sip. “Perfect.”

  “Is it too sweet?” His full lips part, and I have to sit on my hands to stop from tracing them with my finger.

  “N-no.” I clear my throat and try again. “No. It’s the perfect mix of tart and sweet.”

  Colton reaches over and tucks an errant lock of my hair behind my ear. “I need to see you again, Sky.” He pauses for just a moment, and his next word comes out choppy and laced with lust. “Badly.”

  The air catches in my throat. Being with him in person, I can no longer deny my own feelings. “I want to see you, too,” I say so quietly he has to lean forward to hear me. “Badly as well.”

  The blue of his eyes darkens, and he leans so close to me I can smell his woodsy aftershave. “I’ve enjoyed our texting. And our nightly phone calls,” he says.

  “Me too.” I don’t want to continue my train of thought out loud, but it’s like my mouth has a mind of her own. “My body’s enjoyed them also.”

  Colton cocks an eyebrow. “During our phone calls?”

  “After,” I clarify. Then I start giggling like an idiot. “Oh, God. I wish I hadn’t told you that.”

  “And yet I’m incredibly glad that you did.” He shifts in his seat. “Although I’m going to have a hard time walking out of here. Emphasis on the word ‘hard.’”

  I remember how hard he was last month when I asked him not to stop. “Colton…” I clench my teeth and stop talking. I’m so turned on I want to climb him right here in public. My hand, without any warning from my brain, moves to his lap. Keeping my eyes locked on his, I run my hand over his jeans slowly, making my way up his thigh. My fingers stop just short of touching his fly, just short of feeling the part of him I’m both desperate and terrified to finally have inside of me.

  Like he can read my thoughts, Colton sucks in his breath. He gently removes my hand from his lap, but keeps our fingers laced together. “I don’t want to pressure you, Sky. But meeting accidentally every four weeks isn’t really working for me,” he says.

  Before I can answer him, his phone rings. He glances down at it. “Crap. Now my agent’s calling. I’ll be right back, okay? Don’t move.”

  He puts his phone to his ear and stands up. I miss the feeling of his hand tangled with mine, I miss his body heat next to me as I watch him walk away and toward the back hallway for privacy.

  But my brain’s having a hard time differentiating between lust and panic. And so, when Colton doesn’t return for over five minutes, I stand up.

  Slowly and with my head held high, I walk through the sandwich shop and out the front door. I don’t scurry out the back like I’m running away, hoping Colton won’t notice me. Part of me wants him to see me and call me back to him. But the scared-shitless side of me? That’s the part of Skylar Rosewood that gets her out the door, across the street, and into her office building without looking back once.

  Chapter Five

  Colton

  “Yep. Great. Okay.” I try to quicken the call with my agent by one-word answering him, but he doesn’t take the hint.

  By the time we finally hang up, I’ve wandered all the way to the emergency exit door past the restrooms. I turn around and return to the main room of the restaurant, only to find that my lunch companion has fled the premises.

  “Christ.” I rub my hand down my face in frustration. “Skylar, you are driving me damn near mad, sweetheart.”

  I sit down and finish my sandwich in two minutes.

  And then I head for my car. I’ve got a certain white pants suit that’s been dying to be returned to her sexy owner. And I happen to be right by her place of employment.

  * * *

  Skylar

  I’m back at my desk, still trying to catch my breath after my near-jog back to work, when my phone pings.

  I think I’m getting the hang of your MO.

  I stare down at my phone, trying to decipher Colton’s message. I can’t tell if he’s pissed off, or just trying to humor me.

  Before I can come up with a response that makes me look like less of a jerk, my phone rings.

  “Jackass” flashes on the screen. I take a deep fortifying breath, and then I force myself to answer.

  “Hey,” I say. “I’m so sorry for leaving like that…again.”

  A low chuckle greets me on the other end of the line. “Sparky, I swear to God, you’ve given new meaning to the word ‘run.’ Do you always take off without thinking first?”

  Relief washes over me at his understanding. “At first, yes. And then I pretty much hit the panic button and it’s full steam ahead.”

  “How’s your panic now?” His tone gentles. “Are you up for a visitor?”

  I automatically glance toward my partially-open door. “Are you in the building?”

  “Just outside. I won’t come in if you don’t want me to. I actually wanted to return your clothes to you. They were in my car.”

  “Oh.” Of course he doesn’t want to actually see where I work or anything. Why would he, after the way I just treated him? “Right. Of course you can come inside. I’ll just meet you in the lobby and bring you up.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” He clicks off.

  As I stand up from my desk, I slam my knee into the corner of a half-open drawer.

  “Ouch!” I hobble around my desk and to the doorway, where I proceed to bang my head into the wall on my way out.

  “Crap!” I stumble down the hall and toward the elevator bank.

  “What’s wrong?” Ted and Angie are passing me, and both give me a quizzical look.

  I wave them off. “Just ran into my desk. I’m fine. I’ll be right back.”

  The elevator doors open and I dive inside, pressing the lobby button.

  Colton’s standing outside the revolving glass doors. He’s got a garment bag over one arm, and he looks as hot as he did fifteen minutes ago. I wave him inside.

  His eyes assess me as he steps into my building. “You all right?” he asks me.

  “
I’m fine. I might have had a small run-in with my desk. And then I met a wall on the way down here.” I greet the security guard and ask him for a guest pass for Colton.

  While we’re waiting, I gesture to the garment bag in Colton’s arm. “Thanks so much for bringing that by,” I say.

  “No trouble. I’ll carry it up to your office for you.”

  After the guard hands Colton his pass, we ride the elevator up to the ARTWAVE floor.

  My nerves are jittery as I walk with Colton to my office, and show him inside.

  “It’s tiny,” I say quickly as he looks around. “But I love having the privacy to shut my door.”

  “You’ve got a nice big window, too,” he says, glancing out at the neighboring buildings.

  “The window is great,” I agree, awkwardly tapping my foot against the desk leg.

  He shoves his hands in his jeans pockets and faces me straight on. “You should be damn proud of yourself, Skylar,” he says, his expression serious. “I’m happy you’re letting me see inside your world for a minute.”

  “I’m happy you’re here,” I whisper, and the air around us thickens like it always seems to when Colton and I share space.

  Colton takes a step closer to me, his cheeks flushing. I can’t break the eye contact, and I shift toward him.

  A horn sounds outside, tempering the sexual tension threatening to take over the room. I hurriedly take the garment bag from him and hang it on the back of my door. Before I can decide if I should invite him on a tour of the department, Ted strolls by the open doorway.

  His eyes bug out when he spots Colton standing in the middle of my office. I can’t blame him, really. With his football body and striking blond hair, Colton stands out anywhere, but he truly looks too big for this small space—his biceps alone take over the room.

  “Hello, Mr. Wild.” With no invitation from me, Ted strides into my office with a huge smile on his face. “So nice to see you again. Keeping dry this time, I hope?”

  I glare at him, but he only has eyes for Colton.

  Colton’s lip twitches. “I try, but Skylar’s good at getting me wet.”

  Oh, my God.

  I swat at him with my hand. “No dirty talk! We’re in my place of employment.”

  Colton winks. “What was dirty about that?”

  Forgetting we have an audience, I grab a fistful of his sweatshirt and pull him closer to me. “You know what I mean.”

  He inclines his head so we’re nearly at eye level. “No, I’m not sure. Tell me what you mean.”

  I’m so close to him now I can smell his aftershave. That was a mistake.

  I jump backward, only to land on Ted’s foot, because Ted has moved closer to the action, so he can get a good view.

  I step away from both of them, but Ted’s mouth has curved into a stunned “o” as he gasps.

  “You”—he points at Colton—“and you”—another point at me—“are you two—”

  “No!” I say immediately, as Colton breaks into a laugh. “We aren’t.”

  Ted tilts his head and stares at both of us. “You guys make one hot couple,” he finally says. “I don’t know if you’re just fucking, or actually dating, but…”

  “Ted.” I nod at the door. “Go.”

  “Sure thing.” He extends his hand to Colton, who shakes it. “Did Sky invite you to our annual FUN party tonight?”

  “No,” I say immediately. “I didn’t. That’s for station employees only.”

  “Not true,” Ted says. “At our last staff meeting, Glenn said the more the merrier. Remember? He said to bring significant others, kids, friends.” He scans Colton’s body. “Lovers, too, of course.”

  I cross my arms over my chest. “Colton’s busy tonight.”

  Colton glances from me to Ted. “I appreciate the invitation,” he says. “If my evening frees up, I’ll be sure to drop by.”

  “Cool,” Ted says. “We’re hanging at the Santa Monica pier; come and act like a kid again with us. Ride the Ferris wheel, eat crap food, if you’re allowed during the off-season, and engage in general debauchery.” He salutes Colton, sticks his tongue out at me, and departs.

  I close my office door, leaning my back against it wearily. “Sorry about that. Ted’s amazing out in the field, but when he’s inside these walls, his professionalism goes right out the window.” I bite my thumbnail as I look at Colton. “So you’re busy tonight?”

  Colton doesn’t take his eyes off me. “Sounded like you wanted me to be busy.”

  My attention drifts to his mouth—to those full lips that manage to be both soft and masculine at the same time. I return my gaze to his eyes. “I—are you saying you’re free?”

  His dimple makes an appearance. “I might be.”

  “Oh, really?” I don’t miss the way my voice rises flirtatiously. “Well, maybe I’d like to see you.”

  “At your work party?” His eyes scan my face. “Are you sure?”

  “Did you tell Ted you were busy because you thought that’s what I wanted?”

  He reaches out and tugs at a strand of my hair. “Yes,” he says simply.

  My chest clenches. “Thank you, Colt. That was really sweet of you. When Ted invited you, at first I didn’t think I wanted to spend time together in front of my work colleagues.”

  “I understand.”

  “But then…”

  His blue eyes get bluer. “Then…”

  “I changed my mind.”

  He licks his lips.

  God, that’s distracting.

  “So you want me to go with you tonight?”

  I kick at the desk leg and avert my gaze. “Yes. If you’d like to.”

  Before I realize what’s happening, he’s crowded into my space and has lifted my chin with his thumb and forefinger. “I want to be anywhere you are, Sky.”

  My skin ghosts with goose bumps.

  “What time should I pick you up?” Colton’s mouth gets closer to mine.

  “Um…” Now I’m forgetting how to talk. Or even what his question was.

  His mouth lands on mine.

  And nothing exists but him. I fist his sweatshirt and let out a moan as I tug him closer to me. He pulls my body flush up against his, his hand going to the curve of my ass. He tastes like mint, and his tongue is gentle but insistent. And I’m all in. I part my lips, taking as much as I give.

  I needed a reason to get close to Colton again physically. After four weeks apart, I had built up my walls. But the way he always puts me first breaks me down in all the best ways. Rather than using Ted’s invitation to his advantage, Colton let me choose what I wanted, giving me hope that not all men are manipulative assholes.

  He exhales heavily as he pulls away. “I honestly didn’t mean to show up here and make out with you in your office. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”

  I smooth my shirt. “You didn’t. But you’re right. I should probably get back to work.”

  I tell him I’ll text him later about what time tonight.

  He gives me one last quick peck, opens the door, and he’s gone.

  My hands are shaking as I return to my desk and sink into the chair. A second chance with Colton Wild? I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I really hope I don’t screw it up. Because I’m not ready like he is. I know myself too well. I need to make sure I continue to keep things slow-paced enough that I don’t run again. Keeping things slow and steady with Colton Wild almost feels like it goes against the laws of the universe. Getting together in a group setting tonight feels like the perfect start.

  But I’m going to stay in the friends zone with Colton tonight. No kissing. No writhing against him. No rated R touching. Just friends.

  Chapter Six

  At eight o’clock sharp, I’m waiting outside on my stoop when Colton pulls up in a sports car, top down.

  “You can’t be serious.” I stare at the car as Colton steps out and walks around to give me a kiss on the cheek.

  He’s wearing black jeans and a bl
ue flannel shirt that matches his eyes. His blond hair is damp, like he just showered, and his mouth is turned up in amusement.

  “Of course I’m serious. We’re going to go to this party in style. It’s supposed to be a FUN party, right? That starts with your ride, babe.”

  I laugh and climb into the car. Colton shuts the door behind me, and then heads for the driver’s side.

  He slides into the seat and looks over at me. “You’re beautiful.”

  I glance down at my blue mini-skirt and casual cream button-down top. My sandals are white with crisscross straps and a short heel. My hair falls in soft waves around my shoulders, and I’m wearing minimal makeup. I wanted to feel relaxed, and I tried to match that desire with casual clothes.

  “Not just your outfit.” Colton touches my cheek. “All of you, Sky. You’re beautiful.”

  I flush so hot I’m sure I must look like a tomato. “You have an odd fetish for red hair, I guess,” I say. “My hair’s never been that popular with men.”

  “Obviously, those men were stupid.” Colton starts up the car. “And I’m the lucky one sitting here with you.”

  * * *

  The station rented out the entire Santa Monica Pier for our event, which should make it feel less crowded. But the company is large, and with so many family and friends showing up, we’re quite a group.

  It’s a beautiful summer evening in southern California. The view from the pier makes me feel like I should pinch myself. The mountains behind the sea are one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. The light breeze from the ocean caresses my bare arms, and the sun hangs over the horizon, still not ready to drop.

  Colton takes my hand in his as we wander down the pier. “Here we are, two northern kids, living in the city of perpetual sun.”

  I smile. “I know. Honestly, sometimes it still feels like a dream.”

  “For me, too.”

  “Did you eat, Colt?”

  He squeezes my hand. “Thanks for asking. I had a snack.”

  “You must be starving.”