“Are you sure?” Colt tried again, his dimple on full display as he flashed his most irresistible grin.
Penny had no doubt it worked on countless women. Countlessotherwomen. “I’m sure.”
“Come on, what are you afraid of?”
“Let’s see. Heights, confined spaces, snakes, the dark…” Holding up her hand, Penny ticked them off one by one. “Oh, and what are those flesh-eating fish called?”
“Piranhas?”
“Yes!” Penny snapped her fingers. “Those, too.”
“What about sharks?” Colt asked, his expression completely deadpan.
“Nope. Sharks don’t bother me in the slightest.”
“I see.” He nodded, maintaining his air of seriousness. “That’s quite the list. But I noticed you left off one very important item.”
“I did?” Penny frowned, certain she’d mentioned everything.
“You didn’t say anything about tall, blond, ridiculously handsome men.”
“Well, I wouldn’t know about that.” Penny smirked. “I haven’t come across any of those.”
Colt clutched his heart, feigning shock. “You cut me to my core.”
“Somehow, I think you’ll survive,” she teased.
Really hamming it up, Colt staggered over to where Jack and Reed stood a few feet away, swaying as if he’d been shot. “Help. I’ve been mortally wounded.”
Penny couldn’t help but laugh at his childish antics.
Jack slung his arm around Colt’s midsection, propping him up. “Why don’t we take another trip around the dessert bar? We’ll make sure your last meal is a good one.”
As Jack dragged him away, Colt waved his arms in sweeping, melodramatic gestures. “‘Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.’”
Penny gaped, sensing her resolve falter. She had to hand it to him for reciting Shakespeare. “Okay, one dance,” she relented, slowly rising to her feet. “But if you step on my toes, the dance is over. And I get to pick the song.”
Colt bowed at the waist, accepting her conditions. “‘If music be the food of love, play on.’”
Penny balked. More Shakespeare? She could have sworn he’d slept through every class in high school except the ones he ditched.
Jack laughed. “Good luck, Romeo.” He slapped Colt on the shoulder before heading to the dessert bar with Reed.
“Shall we?” Grinning, Colt offered her his open palm.
Penny hesitated. This was a bad idea. She couldn’t believe she’d caved because of Shakespeare. Staring at Colt’s outstretched hand, she racked her brain for an excuse.
But as the wistful, dulcet notes of Nat King Cole’s “Smile” swept across the dance floor, Penny found her fingers slipping through Colt’s. She never could resist her favorite song; the hauntingly beautiful melody moved her to tears every time.
Hiding the emotion sprawled across her face, she leaned into Colt, letting his broad chest provide a shield against his inevitable teasing.
But much to her surprise, he seemed to be humming under his breath, so soft she could barely make it out.
“Do you know this song?” Penny pulled back, even more astonished to glimpse a faint flush color his cheeks.
Colt Davis didn’t get embarrassed—by anything.
Her gaze lingered on his strong, freshly shaven jaw line, noticing a slight nick. Instinctively, she almost reached up to touch it, blushing profusely as she realized her near blunder. She quickly looked away as Colt cleared his throat.
