Grace chuckled. “Why? Because a hot girl is attracted to him? Poor Colt can’t help it if he is a mini version of his daddy, Lauren. Girls are going to flock.”
Rolling my eyes, I looked away. “He sure looks like he is interested in her.”
Grace sucked in a deep breath and let it out. “You know what I see, Lauren?”
Turning to look at Grace, I asked, “What?”
Not taking her eyes from Colt, Grace smiled. “I see a guy who is being polite and talking to one of his friend’s cousins. I see that every time she takes a step closer to him, he takes a step away from her. His smile isn’t touching his eyes, and he looks bored out of his fucking mind. I think you need to go save him from what clearly is a conversation he doesn’t want to be in.”
My head jerked as I looked to Colt. It was then, for the first time, I noticed he was wearing a fake smile. When she threw her head back and laughed, she took a step closer and Colt turned his body away from her and took a small step away. Lifting his Coke bottle to his lips, his eyes caught mine. I couldn’t help but smile. I wasn’t smiling because he looked at me. I was smiling because I saw how miserable he was. He didn’t want to be talking to the blonde and in that moment of realization I was ecstatic.
“See what I mean?” Grace said as she nudged me with her shoulder.
Colt smiled back, and this time his smile did reach his eyes. They lit up for the first time in weeks and I loved that it was because of me smiling at him. Ever since he moved into the house we were all sharing, all we did was argue about the stupidest things or avoid each other all together. I knew my frustration toward Colt was from him turning me down the night I asked him to make love to me. Then of course there was the fact that my father seemed to think I couldn’t take over the family business without Colt’s help. Part of me knew I was being unfair to Colt. His love and knowledge of horses would be an asset to our breeding business and my father could see that. And Colt explained his reasons for not making love to me that night, yet it still didn’t lessen the blow when he turned me down. The embarrassment from that night still clung to my heart and was the main reason I avoided Colt. Well, that and the fact that anytime I was near him I wanted to jump his bones.
But tonight I’m not going to avoid Colt. Tonight I would be a good friend and save him from the blonde who clearly wanted more than just a causal conversation.
“Excuse me, Grace. I can’t pass up this moment. I’ll be able to rub it in Colt’s face later how I rescued him from this situation.”
Grace laughed as I began walking toward Colt. His grin turned to a full-blown smile, as his eyes never left mine. Seeing the blonde out of the corner of my eye, I glanced to her. She was staring at me with daggers as I made my way over to them. Her eyes moved up and down my body. I knew I looked good. The chiffon, platinum colored bridesmaid dress that Libby had picked out for us to wear fit me like a glove. Even Meg said my breasts looked killer in the dress. Colt hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off of me when I walked down the aisle.
Walking up to Colt and the blonde, I smiled bigger. “Hey, Colt.”
“Hey, Lauren.”
Turning, I smiled at the bitch. I mean, the blonde. “Hi. I’m Lauren. You are?”
Flashing me a fake smile she said, “Tina.”
I nodded my head. “Nice to meet you, Tina.” Tilting my head slightly, I looked back at Colt. “You promised we would dance.”
Colt’s mouth dropped open. He, of course, hadn’t promised this. He hadn’t even talked to me since last night when we got into another argument over something stupid. I didn’t even remember what the fight was about to be honest.
Coming to his senses quickly, Colt placed his hand on my arm. I prayed like hell he hadn’t felt my whole body shudder under his touch. “Right. I wouldn’t want to go back on a promise.”
We started to walk off when the blonde reached for Colt’s arm. “Wait! Is Lauren your girlfriend, or are you … free later?” Moving her eyes up and down his body while biting her lower lip, Tina gave Colt a naughty as hell smile.
What. A. Bitch.
Colt pulled is head back and gave her a shocked look. Good. I’m glad to see he was as shocked by her advancement as I was. “Yes. Yes she is, Tina. See you around.”
Colt’s hand slid down my arm as he took my hand in his. My heart jumped and my stomach felt like I had just gone through about ten loops on a roller coaster. Leading me out to the dance floor, I turned and gave Tina a dirty look. “Oh my God! How rude. I mean … holy sheets! She practically asked you to screw her later. In front of me!”
Colt’s laugh was a low rumble as he spun me around and pulled me into his arms. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Tina as we danced.
“Thank you.”
Looking into his eyes, my breathing increased. It was then I realized where I was. In Colt’s arms. Up against his body. Really, really up against his body. How many times had I dreamed of Colt holding me in his arms again?
Too many times. Asshole. Ugh. I hate that he makes my body feel like this.
“Thank you for what?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“Saving me from what was probably the worse conversation of my life.”
Stifling my giggle, I couldn’t help but glance to Colt’s lips. He noticed because the bastard licked them.