Chasing Trouble (Chasing Love 1)

It was what Colt had written down on the volunteer form. He had also said he hadn’t given much thought to his stay in Diamond.

Thinking of Colt’s words from earlier, Jenna shook her head. He wasn’t going to stay. Why should he? He didn’t live here. He’d made it clear he didn’t ever want to move back.

She traced her finger over the paper. Colt McCade didn’t belong to anyone, least of all her. But something had come over her. Something like rage. When she saw Yvonne and all her desperation grope Colt, she’d snapped. Gone were the reasons she kept their relationship a secret. For a split second, she hadn’t cared that Yvonne would make her life miserable and paint her as a scarlet-letter whore. If that happened, Jenna could kiss running the after-school program good-bye.

Thank God Colt stepped in when he did.

Breath left her lungs when she realized that maybe Colt had done that on purpose. Maybe he had known Jenna was about to unleash a wicked tongue-lashing—and maybe a few bitch slaps—onto Yvonne, and he had stopped her from shattering her chances at getting the job.

“What a mess,” she mumbled as she packed up her papers. No, not a mess. Messy was exactly what she was staying away from.

Chapter Twelve

Jenna knocked on Lily’s back door.

Alex threw it open in excitement. “Miss Jenna!” His little arms instantly wrapped around her middle and he pulled her into a bite-size bear hug.

“Hi kiddo, how are you doing?”

Alex released her and jumped up and down. “So good! Mama called and said she was working late so Uncle Colt let me have ice cream for dinner!”

“He did, huh?” Somehow Jenna wasn’t surprised.

“Hey now, don’t go saying only half the truth there, partner.” Colt leaned against the far wall on the other side of the kitchen while Alex tugged Jenna through the back door.

“Oh, right! He let me have beef jerky too.”

“Wow, lucky boy.”

Alex spun around and Colt winked. “Go on and play, buddy. I need to talk to Miss Justice.”

“Okay.” Alex was still spinning when he left the kitchen.

Instead of heading for Jenna like she’d hoped, Colt walked around the island and opened a few cupboards. He placed bread, peanut butter, and a banana on the counter and began building a sandwich.

“Ice cream for dinner?”

Colt shrugged, his eyes on the banana he was slicing. “Life’s short, why not eat dessert first once in a while?”

Jenna’s chest tightened. Coming from Colt, it sounded almost morbid. Maybe it was because she had talked to Lily at the beauty parlor and now had more insight about him.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she ran her hands down her skirt. “Well, if Lily is working late then I’ll just call her tomorrow.”

Jenna turned for the door.

“Hold up,” Colt called. “You really came just to see my sister?”

“Yes.” No.

“Uh-huh. So you don’t care to talk about what happened at the market today.”

Jenna shrugged. “Nothing happened.” Because you saved my ass.

Colt smirked. He cut the newly made sandwich in half, then licked the knife. Jenna’s stupid tongue darted out and traced her bottom lip.

“Whatever you say, sugar.”

Damn it! The man was driving her crazy. Every attempt she made at logic for this situation between them, she came up with the same answer. She wanted more, but had no idea how to get it.