After an hour of looking through the bookshelf in my room after dinner, I finally suggest she head into the living room. “Pick out what we’re watching on Netflix tonight. No chick flicks.” Who am I kidding?
“Okay, one chick flick, but then we watch something with assassins.” I shrug when I don’t hear a smart-ass remark come back. When I walk out of the kitchen five minutes later with popcorn and drinks I, once again, don’t see her sitting on the couch.
“Colin, is this where you read at night?” she asks from across the room. She’s standing against the window, looking out. “Look at all the lights. I can even see some Christmas lights from up here. It’s amazing.” Before I can tell my legs no, they’ve brought me right up behind her. I’m standing as close as I can without touching her.
“You can. I haven’t noticed the Christmas lights before.” Reaching around her, I point out some of the buildings. “That’s where I work,” I breathe into her ear. I’m so close I can feel the heat radiating off of her. It would take nothing for me to pin her against this window. Watching the goose bumps rise on her skin, I seriously consider it when I hear her voice issue a warning to my brain.
“Colin, it’s beautiful.” It’s all she has to say to snap me back. Long game, I have to remember I’m playing the fucking long game. If I push her toward sex every time we’re together, she won’t keep letting me in. Taking a deep breath, I step back from her, letting my arms fall to my sides.
“Have you figured out what we’re watching tonight? We should be able to get in at least something before I take you to the hotel.” When she turns around, her face is lit up by the most amazing smile, stealing my breath away.
“I have the perfect movie. I’m sure we’ve both seen it, but it doesn’t matter.” Crossing to the couch she turns on the TV, hunting through the movies.
“Wanted?” I ask when she finds what she’s after.
“It’s perfect. Chick assassin!” I laugh, flopping down on the couch. Maggie makes it exactly halfway through the movie before she falls asleep. She’s curled up under a blanket with her head resting on my thigh. I carefully smooth her hair off of her face as I continue the movie. She moans when I brush it back from her ear. Looking down, I see a serene look on her sleeping face. God, this feels so...right! It’s everything I’ve tried to avoid for a long time. It’s all just too...perfect.
When the movie is over, I can’t bear to wake her to go to the hotel. Picking her up against my chest, I head down the hall. I have a choice to make. What I want to do is lay her in my bed, then wrap myself around her for the night. What I should probably do is set her up in my guest bedroom.
I stand, staring at both doors until she snuggles into my arms. I decide to pick the third option. I lay her in my bed, making sure the covers are tucked around her, before heading into the guest bedroom. At least I’ll sleep knowing she’s safe in my bed.
8
Maggie
Stretching, I slowly open my eyes. This isn’t like any hotel room I remember. It’s definitely not home. I’m in Colin’s bed, my sleepy brain finally registers. I guess I should be concerned about how I wound up here, but since my clothes are still intact, I’m not too worried. Colin might like to crowd me on occasion, but he’s never pushed farther. Not yet anyway, which begs the question, why not?
Rolling out of bed I stand up. Well, my pants are still on so that’s a good sign. I’d be really pissed if I finally had Colin between my thighs but couldn’t remember. I’m pretty sure that would be unforgettable.
I hear vague clinking noises from somewhere down the hall. I round the corner of the kitchen in time to gasp at the sight of Colin leaning over the stove. He has nothing on but a low riding pair of jeans. He must have heard my involuntary gasp, because he suddenly stands up straight, his back muscles rippling with the effort.
When he turns I have to fight a moan this time. He’s all pecs and abs and V-lines and happy trail. His hair is sticking out in several directions with a smile lighting up his face. I have to focus on breathing to prevent myself from hyperventilating.
“Good morning, beautiful. You fell asleep on the couch last night. I didn’t have the heart to wake you. Did you sleep well?” I can’t stop myself from crossing to stand near him. Pretending to look at what he is cooking, I rest my hand on his arm. I haven’t forgotten how it felt to be penned against the wall by so much raw male power. I wasn’t afraid of what he would do to me, it was more what I wanted him to do.
“I did, thank you. What are you cooking? I’m starving.” I can feel the heat radiating off of him when he bends to kiss the top of my head.
“I had everything for omelets. Everything is on the island behind you, just pick out what you want in it. I threw some biscuits in too.” I forgot his mother had the amazing good sense to teach both of her kids how to cook. Turning around, I run my eyes down all of my choices.
“Everything,” I blurt out, turning to him.
“A Dagwood it is then. Do me a favor though?” When I look up at him, he is standing inches from my body. He leans down until his lips almost brush mine. “Go sit on the other side of the island, so I don’t burn our breakfast.” With just the hint of our lips touching he stands back up.
With a sigh, I walk around the island, climbing onto one of the stools. Colin cooks the biggest omelet I’ve ever seen before cutting it in half to slide on two plates. Pulling the biscuits out of the oven he adds one to each of the plates before sliding mine in front of me.
“Aren’t you going to come sit down?”
“I think it’s safer with me over here. Let me grab the butter and jelly.” He slides them to me from the fridge. “So is there anything you want to see in particular, while you’re here? The party isn’t until seven tonight, so we have plenty of time.”
“Why don’t you show me your Kansas City? What do you do when you’re not sneaking up on unsuspecting school teachers on their lunch break?” Colin’s smile spreads across his face. When he looks up at me from his breakfast, his blue eyes are dancing. You would think he would be tired of my smart mouth by now. I can’t help it, he just seems to bring it out of me.
“You know, if you had told me a year ago I would be sitting in Colin Rhett’s kitchen eating breakfast, I would have called you crazy.”
His grin broadens. “Probably, but I’m glad you found your way here anyway.” He rinses my empty plate in the sink before sliding it into the dishwasher. “I brought your suitcase up,” he says, pointing to the front door.
“You’re welcome to my shower, it’s got jets down the walls. There are fresh towels in the cabinet. Just make yourself at home. When we’re dressed, I’ll show you my city.” I waste no time grabbing my suitcase and heading down the hall.
Colin’s bathroom smells like him. I take my time in the shower, smelling his soap before moving to his shampoo. With the towel wrapped around my hair, I give into the urge to find his aftershave.
