Can't Fight It (Fair Lakes 3)

Me:That’s it exactly.Truth be told, I miss the hell out of my best friend. I’ve always been more of a loner, working from home, and enjoying my quiet time. When I met Tina, she barreled into my life at a coffee shop, insulted the book I was reading and hasn’t left my side since. She’s the most loyal, trustworthy person I’ve known. Well, until Colton. That’s why it pains me that she doesn’t know everything. That I’m holding out one big piece of my life from her.

Colton too.Tina:Anyway, I gotta jet. I’ll text you tomorrow.Me:Sounds good.Tina: Make sure you suit up before you go to the races, Hollis. *insert devil emoji* *insert eggplant emoji*Me:You’re horrible.Tina:Don’t think I didn’t notice how you didn’t deny it. Hooker.Me:*insert shocked face emoji*Tina:Hey, don’t feel bad. It takes a hooker to know a hooker. Tootles! *insert heart emoji*Me:*insert kissy face emoji*Just as I set my phone on the chair, a knock sounds at the door separating my place and his. After breakfast, we both got ready for the day, and since the gym is closed because of the weather, he left to go get Milo. He invited me to come with, but I used the work excuse to stay behind. I really do have to work on the gym’s new site, but I also received two more inquiries via my own website. I wanted to pull as much information on their businesses as I could before offering them my package details.

One time, when I first went out on my own, I received an inquiry and sent them all my information. I found out after I started digging that the company didn’t exist. The email address was a dummy account, and my correspondences went unanswered. The next week, Arrow Media, my biggest rival in the web design business, went viral with their brand-new packages and rates. Turns out, they were the exact services I offer, just a few dollars cheaper. To a small business, a few dollars adds up, and while I saw a steady increase in inquiries, I saw a decline in the ones who actually purchased a package.

The result was a complete overhaul of my services and the costs associated with them, as well as a better system for dealing with customer inquiries.

“Hey,” I reply as I open the door, a smile instantly spreading across my face.

“Hello. So, after Milo’s nap, he reminded me he hasn’t played in the snow, and well, he’s ready to go make baby snow angels. He also told me he’d rather you go out with us, since you’re much prettier to look at than I am.”

I smirk back at the sexy man who’s wearing winter weather gear and holding a baby in a snowsuit. “He said all that, huh?”

“Word for word,” he confirms. “My dad bought him a baby sled with a little seat, and I’m thinking since the sun’s out and it’s about thirty degrees warmer than it was yesterday, today would be a great day to go for a ride on the sled. You in?”

The rest of my work is completely forgotten after that invitation. I reach forward and tap Milo’s little nose. “I wish I could, but I don’t have any snow boots yet.”

“I have some extra ones. They’ll be big, but if you double up on socks, I’m sure it’ll work.”

I squint my eyes and glance down at his feet. He’s wearing camo snow boots and thick, insulated overalls. “Umm, Colton, I don’t know if that’ll work. What size of shoe do you wear?”

“Eleven.”

A bubble of laughter spills from my lips, which makes Milo smile and start to kick. “Eleven? Colton, I wear a seven. There’s no way your shoes will fit me. I’ll probably walk right out of them.”

“No way are you getting out of this, Holls. Milo would be very disappointed if you weren’t to come outside with us.”

Rolling my eyes, I smile in defeat. “Fine, I’ll wear your too-big boots. For Milo.”

“Did you hear that, buddy? Hollis is gonna come outside and play with us.” He bounces his son in his arms as if to cheer. “I’m going to head outside now, so we don’t get too hot in all these layers. My extra boots are by the back door, and there’s a few extra pairs of insulated gloves on the washing machine. Grab whatever you need,” he says before leaning in and kissing my cheek.

I feel a blush tinge my skin where his lips grazed and have to fight from breaking out into a full-fledge crazy grin. You know, the kind that makes people look at you like you’re utterly batshit nutty? The kind that actually hurts your cheeks from smiling so hard.

“See you in a few minutes,” he says, before turning and heading out the back door.

Exhaling, I glance at the gloves he left on the washer, which is right next to a hoodie sweatshirt with Army printed in green and another pair of Carhartt overalls. I grab the warm clothes he left and slip back into my apartment. I throw on a pair of looser jeans over leggings and then slide my legs into the overalls. They’re way too big, but they’re definitely warm, so I don’t complain. Next, I throw on the hoodie over my long-sleeved T-shirt, which is really big, yet comfy, and smells just like Colton. I add a second pair of socks and stuff my feet into the too-big boots. It’s actually a bit hard to walk in them, but it’ll work until I get my own boots. I finish off my outfit with gloves, hat, scarf, and coat, and turn to take in my appearance in the mirror.