The words just don’t come, so I nod in agreement.
Colton flashes me a warm smile. “Great. Just knock on the door when you’re ready,” he says, taking the flyers and moving toward the hallway. “Oh, Hollis?” I glance over my shoulder to where he stands. “Can’t wait.”
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. My brain officially stops working, just like it did in high school when the star basketball player stopped by my locker after school to chat. I turned into a stumbling, bumbling idiot then too, barely able to form sentences.
Cooper Miller didn’t have anything on the man standing behind me right now.
“Bye,” I mutter, throwing him a wave and practically hightailing it for the front door.
My heart hammers in my chest, and my palms are a little sweaty as I reach my car and lock myself inside. “Holy shit,” I whisper as I turn on the ignition and crank up the heat.
That man is doing a number on me. I can’t seem to think straight, let alone speak. All I can think about are his shoulders and his chest and his stubbly jaw. Not to mention those lips that are full and perfect for kissing.
No, Hollis. You will not think about kissing him!
Oh, but I do. I think about the lingering graze of his lips to mine and the caress of his hands on my neck. I picture the burn of that stubble and the taste of his tongue. I envision the way he deepens the kiss, taking me on a ride I’ll never forget, all-dominating and consuming.
My body hums. A warm tingle of anticipation spreads through my veins. I can’t even close my eyes without suddenly picturing his large body hovering over mine, those lips so close to mine. I can practically taste his skin.
But it’s just a daydream, Hollis. A fantasy. It’s not real.
Tell that to my soaked panties.Chapter 7ColtonI got home a little after five. Since I’m going back to the gym tonight, I left early to spend a little time with my son before returning to All Fit. I’m excited about tonight’s class for a multitude of reasons. The first being I feel as though I’m actually bringing something to the table for All Fit. I’m not just Chase’s older brother, who didn’t know what to do with his life after the Army. Even though that’s true.
When I found out about Milo, I knew reenlisting wasn’t an option and that my savings would hold us over for a while, but I needed to find a way to support myself and my son. To give him what he needs. When Chase suggested All Fit, I first thought of it as a handout. One I was willing to take in order to get out of the newlyweds’ hair and into my own place. However, with each passing day, it feels more like home. I know that going to a nine-to-five job, dressing up every day is not my thing. Not when I spent my days in Army greens in the desert. No, I need a job that allows me to blend in as I try to find my footing back on American soil.
Teaching self-defense classes is perfect. I get to use the training from the Army to help others protect themselves if the need ever arises. I served my country in the Army, and these classes, they give me the ability to serve my community as well. Not to mention, I’m getting paid to do it. I couldn’t imagine a better outcome.
And then there’s Hollis. My running into her today and inviting her to class was impulsive and out of my lane as far as being her landlord goes. However, as a man, a man who’s extremely attracted to her, it’s perfect. So much so I can’t stop thinking about her. If I’ve looked at the clock once, I’ve looked at it a thousand times. Milo has had his dinner and his bath, and now we’re playing. Well, he’s playing. He’s lying on the floor under the activity mat that my parents bought him. He loves this thing. It has a lot of toys that hang down and a little mirror so he can see himself. He’ll lie under it for hours, his little arms and legs just swinging away.
A knock on the door tells me it’s almost time. That has to be my parents here to watch Milo. “Come on, buddy. That’s Grandma.” I climb to my feet and lift him into my arms before going to answer the door. Sure enough, it’s my parents. “Hey, come on in.”
“Colt, this place looks great. It’s really coming along,” Mom says, examining the house while Dad takes Milo from my arms.
“Thanks. I think so too,” I admit.
“We were thinking the roads are supposed to get bad with this snow rolling in. How about we keep this little guy at our place for the night?” Dad offers.