Flakes (Licking Thicket 0.50)

I looked around at Ruby’s mountain love shack that was not exactly in the mountains but at least close enough to several pine trees to at least fake it. The woman would never venture further than this from Nashville anyway, so it really didn’t matter.

“I think you should take the Greensong job and go out on your own. Use the pharmacy as the foundation of a new portfolio. It’ll keep you local, near your grandparents, and you can use it to find new clients. It’ll pay your bills long enough for you to find another project, then another and another.”

He held up his hand. “Now it’s your turn to ‘whoa,’” he teased. “I can’t afford to go out on my own.”

I met his eyes. “I can.”

His nostrils flared. “No.”

I grabbed his hand. “Wait. Wait. Just hear me out.” When he tried to speak, I shut him up with a kiss. “We can bid on the Greensong job together, designer and contractor in the same pitch. If we get it, which we will, I’ll front the costs until we get paid so you don’t have to have the capital. I have the money, Colin. It’ll be an investment, and obviously I know the Bells are good for it. They’re my family. It would give you at least six months to get your ducks in a row to drum up more work. And if you can’t, I’ll help you find something else. I have a ton of contacts in the business. And so do you, actually.”

I could see the gears in his mind turning.

“But…”

I squeezed his hand. “Baby, please. You know me. You know I take my job and my work very seriously. Don’t you?”

Colin nodded, almost reluctantly. “You’re always on time and usually under budget. I’ve never heard a legitimate complaint from any of your clients.”

“So, you could say, I wouldn’t make a stupid business decision, right?” I teased.

He sighed and looked at me through his lashes. “Ryder…”

“Say yes. Please. And if you have to come live with me in my cabin to save on expenses, well then…” I gave a big, melodramatic huff. “I guess that’s a cross I’m willing to bear. Did I mention there’s only one bed? Because we’d have to share…”

Colin couldn’t hold back a laugh. “I sleep with you one time, and now you’re asking me to move in together?”

I stopped joking. “If I told you I wasn’t joking, would you believe me?”

He studied me again, but this time the soft curve of his mouth told me exactly how he felt long before he finally spoke. “Yes. I’d believe you.”

“Does that mean you’ll think about it?”

There was that curve again. I wanted to lick it.

He snuggled against me with a sigh that sounded deep-down happy. Contented. Settled. And for the first time in years, it made me feel all those things too. “You know, my Granny Joyce is going to call in a couple hours to wish me a Happy New Year.”

“Uh… okay. And you want me to talk to her? Sort of…” I swallowed. “Get her blessing before you agree?” I could do that. God, for him—for us—I couldn’t think of anything I wouldn’t do.

He laughed lightly, and his hand coasted up my side in a proprietary move that made my dick perk up again, despite the two phenomenal orgasms, because I wanted so badly to be his.

“No, Ryder. At least, not tonight. I was just thinking that every year she tells me, ‘This is gonna be your year, Colin.’ And every year I pretend to agree, just ’cause she’s so sweet about it. But this year…” He looked up at me, his brown eyes liquid gold in the reflected light of the fire. “This year I won’t be pretending.”

I pulled him against my side to snuggle him against my chest. “Does that mean yes?” I demanded, because I needed to hear the words, to know for sure.

Colin pushed himself up, snagged my hands in both of his, and held me down on the rug. His smile shone down on me, brighter than the sun, and yeah, no, my dick was definitely fucking perky, impossible as it seemed.

“Let me understand this.” Colin tilted his head to one side. “You’re telling me you’re in love with me, right?”

I threaded my fingers with his. “Didn’t we just discuss this?”

“Maybe. But my motto is ‘Trust but verify.’”

“Oh, is it now?”

“Mmmhmm. Some guy once told me that.” He shrugged nonchalantly.

I grinned up at him, the fizz of excitement and possibility in my blood headier than any champagne being poured anywhere on the planet this evening. “That guy sounds like a really intelligent person.”

“That remains to be seen.” Colin pursed his lips. “Since that guy hasn’t answered my question.”

I snorted. “Yes.” I leaned up just far enough to press a kiss to his lips. “I am crazy in love with you, Colin Kearns.”