Finding Home
I hear Mr. Weston’s car drive off and I know that I only have a few minutes before Colt comes to get me. Gambit is sitting on the edge of the bed watching my every move. I cross the room to get the carry-on bag that I brought with me. I go over to the closet, dumping all of my belongings out onto the floor. It’s nice and empty now. I dig through the pile, finding something to wear before I pull my hair up and get ready to go fight for what I want. I’m not running. I know Colt. He’d only track me down and bring me back. As much as I love that I know he’d do that, it is a waste of time.
As I walk back to the bed, I see that Gambit has taken up residence in my bag. “I’m not going anywhere.” I pet his little head and he hops out of the bag so I can pick it up. I head for the kitchen with my bag in hand and Gambit trailing behind me.
Colt turns from the stove, his eyes going from me to the suitcase I’m holding. His whole body goes stiff.
“Put it down.” He doesn’t have to say what it is. I know he’s talking about my bag.
“I heard—”
He moves fast, cutting off my words. The bag slips from my hand, hitting the ground as my ass meets the countertop. He steps between my legs.
“Don’t care what you heard. You’re not going anywhere.” His big hands go to my waist, keeping me in place. I’m trying to be irritated with him but my body isn’t getting the memo. Heat warms me at his possessiveness.
“What if I don’t want to stay here?” I hedge.
“Then you’ll wait for me to pack a bag too,” he throws back easily.
“You’d leave your life to come back to the city with me?” I search his face. I don’t want that. I want a life here, but knowing he’d do that for me erases any doubt I had in my mind about how serious Colt is about us. We may have only known each other a short time but we are both all in.
“If you hadn’t noticed, Charlotte, I’m head over heels in love with you. I’d live anywhere as long as I was with you. I only tricked you into coming here because I thought you might like it here.” He leans in. “You want to leave, you only have to say the word. We’ll be out of here.”
“You love me?”
“Yeah, sugar, I love you. As you can see, there isn’t anything I won’t do for you.”
“I love you, too,” I rush to tell him. I’ve only ever said those words to my mom before. I did love her, but with Colt this is different. For the first time in my life I actually feel safe. Grounded. I don’t have to worry that at any moment everything could change. Colt is solid. He’ll always keep his word.
“We putting the bag away or do Gambit and I need to pack one too?” His eyes flick over to the bag laying on the kitchen floor. It’s open, with Gambit sitting in it.
His eyes come back to mine. “You weren’t leaving.” It’s not a question. My empty bag says it all.
I shake my head no. “Only giving you a taste of your own medicine.”
Colt shakes his head as he smiles. “Life will never be boring with a wife like you.” He kisses me. Deep and hard. I’m pretty sure it is his way of saying we are getting married. I kiss him back just as hard and deep. “I’ll take that as a yes,” he says when our mouths finally part.
“Yeah.” I wiggle closer to him. Wanting more of that kiss. Loving that I’m going to have this man for the rest of my life. I had no idea finding home would come so easily, but with a man like Colt I know he will always make sure I find what I need.
Epilogue
Colton
5 years later
“Does that llama have a pink bow in its hair?” Drake asks from beside me. I let out a long sigh. That at least lets me know part of what the ladies have been up to tonight. It was girls’ night and the two of them were up to no good. I fight a smile ‘cause it is actually kind of funny. I set my coffee down on the counter as the llama gives me the side-eye. The damn thing loves Charlotte. Hell, everyone here does.
I smile to myself, remembering the day that Miss Minnie showed up at my front gate. It was only a few weeks after Charlotte moved in. She called me in a panic, rambling on about a llama that was blocking her path. By the time I got home Charlotte was smitten with Miss Minnie and that’s how this sassy llama came to live with us. It was only nice to me when Charlotte was around.