“Counting you? Two,” Jade conceded. “But that means I’m batting five hundred.”
“A baseball reference.” Garrett groaned. “God, that is hot! Let’s dance so I can hold you in my arms.”
“Since when do you need an excuse?”
“Public place, sweetheart.”
Garrett swung Jade in a circle and onto the dance floor.
“You look gorgeous.”
Sable’s breath caught in her throat. Colt. She turned, her eyes going straight to his.
“So do you.”
Actually, gorgeous didn’t begin to describe how good he looked. In a room filled with handsome men, a good portion of whom were directly related to Colt, he stood out. She would accept that she was biased, but in Sable’s opinion, it wasn’t a close race. The blazing blue eyes. The dark wavy hair. The tall, leanly muscled frame. And she knew every inch of it—intimately. She would be a fool to willingly walk away from that.
“I’m not a fool.”
“No. That is the last thing you are.”
Oh, and she couldn’t forget that killer smile. It made her stomach do a back flip—every time.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t at the loft when you got there.”
“Paige explained.”
“How was your trip?”
“Good.” Small talk? Really? “Uneventful.”
“Did your client hit on you?”
Sable could tell that Colt meant it as a joke. And that he expected her to laugh it off accordingly. When she hesitated, his eyes narrowed. Light blue to dark in only a few seconds.
“Well, fuck me,” he growled under his breath. “Did you rip his balls off? Please tell me you left him singing soprano.”
“He was very sweet.”
Colt rolled his eyes. “Unbelievable. We see a woman and boom. Our brains go into neutral and our dicks take over. We can’t help rooting around like a pig searching for truffles.”
“He asked, Colt. That’s all. We touched exactly twice. Shaking hands when I arrived and when I left. Wait.” Sable’s eyes sharpened. “Did you just call me a truffle?”
“And men pigs. Besides, truffles are rare and sell for a lot of money. Scratch that last part.”
“It’s hard to un-hear something, fella.” But Sable knew what he meant so she decided to give him a pass.
“What’s his name?”
“Why?” Sable sighed when Colt pulled out his phone. “Are you planning on calling him?”
“No. I want to look him up.”
“He’s a sweet, shy, science nerd.”
“Not so shy if he bucked up the courage to hit on you.”
“Colt.” Gently, but with intent, Sable took his phone. “I wasn’t interested.”
“Jealousy.” Colt frowned. “It’s been riding on my back since you left.”
“I ran.”
That got her his full attention. The frown was replaced by a look of surprise. Colt took her hand. He began purposefully weaving through the crowd, not giving anyone time to waylay them.
“Come with me.”
“Where?”
Colt didn’t answer and she didn’t argue. She let him lead her out of the ballroom and to a bank of elevators.
“You have rented a room?”
“I always do. You never know when you’ll want to get away for some peace and quiet.”
“Or sneak off with a sexy partygoer.”
Colt turned his head, his eyes filled with mischief. “In my misspent youth. These days I’m more likely to take a nap. Alone.”
“Interesting.”
“Hmm?” Colt waited until the car emptied before pulling her in.
“Elevators. We’ve spent a lot of time in them.”
“One of my best memories happened behind one.”
“Mine too.”
“Stand over here.” Colt left her against one wall. He walked to the other. “I’ve missed you.”
“You have a funny way of showing it.” Sable took a step his way but stopped when Colt held up a hand. “What?” she asked, batting her eyes as though butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
“You know what,” he told her. “Look at that smile. I haven’t touched you in four days. I’m not getting arrested for public indecency because you enticed me into having elevator sex.”
“Could I?” Sable’s smile widened. She ran a finger along the neckline of her dress, drawing his attention to the creamy expanse of bare skin.
Colt swallowed. “What?”
“Entice you?” She paused at her breast, lightly caressing the slope. “Could I entice you?”
“In a heartbeat.” The elevator dinged and Colt sighed with relief. “Thank God. That had to be the longest ride in history.”
“Thirty seconds. Forty-five max.”
“It felt like an eternity.” Pulling her into the hallway, Colt checked right, then left. Seemingly satisfied, he put an arm around her waist. “I think we can risk a kiss.”
Sable rubbed her cheek against his palm. She loved when he cupped her face, smoothing the skin with his thumb. It felt wonderfully intimate. His eyes only a few inches from hers. She felt as though they were the only two people in the world.
“One kiss?”
“To start.”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth, willing it to touch hers. Had it only been four days? It felt longer.
“The hell with this.”
“Wait,” Sable protested when Colt pulled away. “Nobody likes a tease, Colton.”
“You’ll get your kiss.” He pulled a keycard from the inside pocket of his jacket. “And more. But not out here. I want you away from prying eyes. And cameras.”
Following closely behind, Sable felt a wave of embarrassment. Security was her business. More than anyone, she should be aware of the eye in the sky. There were few places you could go anymore where you weren’t watched.
For Colt, it was even worse. He had fans and paparazzi dogging his heels at every turn. She knew that. And yet she, the so-called expert, forgot the second he tempted her with a kiss.
“I didn’t think about the cameras. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. I’ve dealt with this my entire life. And remember. Tonight you’re a guest.”
Colt opened the hotel room door, standing aside for her to enter.
Sable’s first instinct was to insist he go first. With a clear head, her bodyguard training kicked in. But Colt shook his head.
“You’re off the clock.” He gently pushed her over the threshold. “It’s you and me. A man and a woman. Not a man and his bodyguard.”
“I’ll always carry a gun.”
Colt glanced at her purse, then at her. “I can live with that. But forgive me if I balk at you for always taking the lead.”
“No more checking the area before I let you leave your trailer?” She set her purse on the bureau.
“I hated that.” Keeping his eyes on hers, he unbuttoned his jacket and began to pace. “No more sitting in the car while you rush around to open my door.”
“Sounds fair.”
“No more…” he tossed up his hands, “any of it.”
Colt seemed agitated. At the rate he was going, he would wear a hole in the carpet. He put his hands behind his back. Then ran one through his hair. This was the first time Sable had seen him like this. Unsure of his next words.
It had a calming effect on Sable. They were in the same boat. She liked thinking of it that way. The same boat meant, no matter what the problem was, they would figure it out—together.
“Stop.” Sable laid a hand on Colt’s arm. “Take a deep breath. We’re getting ahead of ourselves.”
“Right.”
Colt breathed in—held it—then slowly let out the air. He tilted his head, looking directly into her eyes and smiled.
“Hello,” she whispered. The moment felt too important. Almost reverential.
“Hi.” Colt brushed his lips over hers. Once. Twice. He pulled back a bit. “Did I tell you tha
t I missed you?”
“You did.”
Sable sighed when he deepened the kiss.
“Did I tell you that I haven’t been able to sleep without you next to me? That I would lie awake, certain you were never coming back.”
“I didn’t sleep very well, either.” She rubbed her cheek against his. “And I always planned on coming back.”
“To me? Or to say goodbye?”
This time when she sighed it was deeper—heartfelt.
“I had no idea.” Colt stiffened. Sable wound her arms around him, rubbing his back—soothing. “I missed you. I wanted to be with you. But I didn’t know if our lives fit. If I wanted them to. Or if you did.”
“Sable—”
“You have a pretty sweet setup, Colt. You’re young and rich. Saying the world is your oyster is putting it mildly. Why settle for one woman when you can have a different one every day of the year? Every hour of every day, if you were so inclined.” Sable’s words were serious, but she couldn’t help teasing, “And had the stamina.”
“No one has ever questioned my stamina.”
“Certainly not me.”
“I love you, Sable.”
“I love you, too.” Funny. The words weren’t so hard to say—not to the right man.
“Our lives will fit if we want them to. I do.”
“So do I. But—”
Colt put a finger to her lips. “Give and take.” When she kissed the finger, his blue eyes sparkled. “Nothing is perfect. God,” he shuddered. “Who would want it to be? Isn’t it the little imperfections that make life interesting?”
“I have plenty of those.”
“Me too. You’ve seen them.”
She had. But at that moment, she couldn’t think of a single one.
“My mind’s a blank.”
“Give it time,” he grinned. “They’ll come rushing back. As for other women? I played that game when I was younger. And enjoyed every minute.”
Sable gave him a look that told him she didn’t doubt it for a second.
“I. Love. You.” He punctuated each word with a kiss. “We Landis men don’t take those words lightly. You don’t say them unless you mean them. And once you say them, you’re all in.”
“All in?”
“For life.”
“That’s a long time.”
“I certainly hope so.” Colt took her hand. Slowly, with great deliberation, he went down on one knee. “I want forever, Sable. Will you marry me?”
Sable never jumped. She thought things through. Weighed her options. Researched the pros and cons. She didn’t believe in making hasty decisions—especially when it involved the rest of her life. She listened to her head, not her heart. However, now and then, when everything aligned just right, her head and her heart were in complete agreement.
“I love you. Now. Tomorrow. Forever.”
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes, Colton. I will marry you.”
“One of us should cry.” Colt lifted her, swinging her in a circle. “Isn’t that the normal reaction?”
“I don’t feel like crying.” She was too happy. All she could do was grin. A big goofy grin, if the one on Colt’s mouth was at all like hers.
“I could.” He set her on her feet. “I am an actor after all.”
“Fake tears don’t count.”
“Agreed. Sex.” If possible, Colt’s face lit up even more. “Let’s celebrate the old-fashioned way.”
“Of course. There’s nothing as traditional as pre-marital sex.”
“We’ll make our own traditions.”
Shaking her head, Sable slowly backed away. She recognized that glint in Colt’s eyes. If she didn’t move fast, her beautiful dress would be in a heap on the floor.
“There’s a party going on, Colton.”
“Ten minutes. No one will miss us.”
“Add on the time we’ve already been gone? Nope. You’ll have to wait.” Sable laughed at his look of disappointment. He wasn’t alone. She wanted him just as much. “Anticipation. And,” she added, “We will be able to take our time.”
“There is that.” With a resigned sigh, Colt took her hand in his and headed for the door. “Besides, the whole family is waiting to find out if you said yes.”
“Now he’s in a hurry.” Sable tugged, but Colt had her hand and wasn’t letting go. “I need to use the bathroom, Speedy. And I want to check my makeup. You—” Her eyes widened. “What did you say?”
“A lot.” Colt batted his baby blues. “But I imagine you mean my comment about my family?”
“They knew you were going to propose?”
Sable felt her cheeks heat. She didn’t know why, but it was embarrassing to think that everyone had been in on the secret. God, what if she had said no? She liked the Landis family. Considered them friends. How would she have faced them after turning down Colt’s marriage proposal?
“It’s a good thing I said yes. Callie never would have forgiven me for breaking her baby’s heart.”
“Sure, she would have.” Colt paused to think about it. “In thirty or forty years.”
“Give me a second.” Sable grabbed her purse. “Then let’s go. I want to stay on Callie’s good side. Besides, I’m suddenly in the party mood.”
She unzipped the bag. Sable sighed. The big disadvantage of having to carry your gun this way was that it was always on top of something. Usually, the one thing she needed right away. Setting the gun on the bureau, she looked again. There it was. Her tube of lipstick.
“Why don’t you leave that here?” Colt said when she started to put the gun back.
“In the room? I know I’m no longer your bodyguard, but if my gun isn’t locked up, it’s with me. I want to have fun. I won’t if it’s unsecured.”
“I meant, don’t take it into the bathroom.” Colt pried the purse from Sable’s fingers. “I have something to tell you and I’d rather you weren’t armed.”
“I would never shoot you,” Sable assured him, leaving the bathroom door open. “Or hit you.”
“What about my balls?”
Sable paused, the lipstick halfway to her mouth. “Did you sleep with someone else?”
“No,” Colt said emphatically. “You don’t have to worry. I will not cheat. Never.”
“Then your balls are safe. Come on. Spit it out. What could be that bad?”
“Your father is here.”
Sable waited for her hand to start shaking. In anticipation, she kept the lipstick far away from her face. Moonlight Blush was her favorite shade. On her mouth—not her chin.
But as the seconds passed, her hand remained steady as a rock. Not even a tremor.
“Sable? Did you hear what I said?”
“I assume you mean he’s downstairs in the ballroom. Not here with us.”
“Yes. Damn it, say something.”
“Why?”
Colt looked up from where he sat on the bed. She knew what he saw. A woman with perfect lipstick and freshly fluffed hair. On the surface, she looked calm, cool, and collected. Inside, she didn’t know how she managed to place one foot in front of the other.
“I asked him.”
“Again. Why?”
“Sit down and let me explain.”
Sable sat. Hands neatly folded in her lap. Her eyes were trained on Colt as she waited.
“I didn’t want to have one more meaningless party. I wanted it to do some good. Mom helped me organize a gala to benefit returning soldiers. All of the proceeds will go to help the men and women of our armed services integrate into their regular lives. If someone is struggling—physically, psychologically, financially—they can get help.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I think it’s wonderful. I would have helped—any way I could.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“You succeeded.” Sable closed her eyes for a moment. “That explains why my father agreed to be here. He works hard on the behalf of veterans. He wouldn’t turn down the invita
tion. Not for this.”
“But he did.”
“What?” Sable’s eyes whipped open. “I don’t understand.”
Colt sat next to her. “Mom called him personally. He said he wished he could attend, but his schedule was full. He couldn’t make it on such short notice.”
“He’s here.” Sable was confused. “What made him change his mind?”
“She told him you would be here.”
“Me?”
“You.” When she began to shake, Colt took her in his arms. “He wants to see his little girl. His words, not mine.”
He held her while she cried. Two and a half years of pent up hurt, anger, and frustration poured out. Because, for the first time, she had someone she trusted enough to let down her guard.
“I was afraid you would be angry,” he said several minutes later, when she was able to pull away.
“No.” Gratefully, Sable took a tissue from the box Colt held out. “I was stunned. Now,” she gave a watery laugh, “I’m a mess.”
“Your eyes are a little red. I’ll get you a cold washcloth.
“There’s my Boy Scout.”
“Lie back.”
Sable sighed when he placed the cool cloth across her eyes.
“That feels good.”
“We’ll give it five minutes and you’ll be as good as new.”
“Thank you.” She smiled when she felt the bed sag and Colt curl up next to her. “For the cloth. For my father.”
“I love you.”
“And most of all, for that.”
“It works both ways. Next time I feel like crying my eyes out, you can hold me.”
Sable reached for his hand, knowing without a doubt that it would be there. Smiling, she rested her head on Colt’s shoulder.
“It’s a deal.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
COLT WAS RIGHT. Five minutes and Sable’s eyes were ready to face the world. Her makeup and his suit jacket were another matter.
“That’s what you get for letting weepy women cling to you.”
“And like any good Boy Scout, I’m always prepared.” Colt opened the closet. “Black or white?”
Incredulous, Sable set down her mascara and looked around the bathroom door. “You brought not one, but two spare jackets?”
Dreaming Of Your Love (Hollywood Legends #3) Page 27