Falling Fast

“I’d say he likes you,” Colton observes, and I grin up at him.

“I didn’t know you had a dog,” I say to his back as he heads inside, so I follow him with Loki still pressing his face into my stomach to get some more attention.

“I might give him somewhere to rest his head, feed, and water him, but Loki’s his own dog. He does his own thing most to the time,” he tells me as I shut the door and take in the space.

I was right; it’s not huge, but it’s nice. The walls are all golden wood with a wooden staircase going up to the second floor that looks like a loft type area, a fireplace in the corner of the room with a TV above it, and stone going all the way up to the roof of the vaulted ceiling with lots of windows. The living room is open with a leather couch and a long island, also wooden, where two barstools sit side-by-side, separating the space from the kitchen. The kitchen isn’t big, but it’s big enough that two people could cook and not step all over each other’s toes. It’s nice, cozy even, and I can tell it’s a man’s place, since the décor is rustic and sparse with no photographs except for one of a hunting dog and a gun.

“This is beautiful,” I tell Colton, turning around to face him once I’ve taken it all in.

“I like it. It was actually my grandparents’ place. They left it to me and my brothers when they passed, and since neither of my brothers wanted it, I was able to buy it from them,” he says, coming around the island of the kitchen. “My room’s up in the loft, but there’s a bedroom down here.” He motions for me to follow him, so I do, walking around the side of the stairs, through a door, and into a small room with a window over the wooden twin bed that’s pushed up against the wall. There’s one side table and a dresser, with another door open where I can see a small bathroom including a pedestal sink, toilet, and standing shower. “It’s not much.”

“It’s perfect.” And it is perfect, especially since my other option is sleeping in my car. “Thank you for this.”

“It’s not a big deal.” He runs his hand through his hair then looks down at me. “Do you want me to get you something that you can change into after you shower?”

“Are you trying to tell me nicely that I look like crap and stink?” I smile, but he doesn’t return it. His eyes get soft and his finger comes up to graze my cheek.

“You don’t look like crap, Gia. I don’t think you could ever look like crap,” he tells me, holding my gaze, and my stomach drops in a good way.

“If you have something, that would be good,” I say, needing him to stop looking at me like that.

Clearing his throat, he looks away, running his hand through his hair again. “I’ll be back.”

“Okay,” I respond, watching him turn to leave.

Looking down at Loki, I rub the top of his head then jump when Colton pops out of nowhere carrying a stack of clothes, which he hands to me, saying, “Go on and shower. Cade’s wife, Janet, left some stuff in there the last time she was here, so feel free to use it. We can pick you up anything else you need tomorrow after you see your grandma.”

“Thanks again.” I hold up the clothes that even inches from my nose smell like him.

His eyes scan my face, and they do it for a long time before he turns and leaves, muttering, “I’ll be back. Shower and eat, Gia.”

Bossy.

“See you later,” I say to his back, and he turns to look at me over his shoulder before he lifts his chin and disappears.

Figuring I should shower first, I head for the bathroom but pause to look down at my shadow. “Sorry, boy, you can’t come with me,” I tell Loki, who lets out a huff before dropping to his belly on the floor. Closing the door behind me, I get undressed and turn on the shower. As I look into the mirror, I see I was right. I’m a mess. My long, dark hair is a matted rat’s nest, and my green eyes look tired, the bags under them making them look worse.

Letting out a defeated sigh, I get into the shower and let the hot water wash away the stench of smoke still clinging to me, then grab the shampoo. I use it twice then do the same with conditioner before using the body wash to scrub myself from head to toe. By the time I’m done, I barely have energy to get dressed, but I still do, and even though I don’t really feel like eating, I know I should, so I head for the kitchen with Loki right behind me.