Delaney and Paige's voices have been mocking me all morning, swirling inside my head.She's got a daughter who comes first, second, and third. So if you want her to trust you, you're going to have to earn it.
And earn it I am.
Ortrying toat least.
"I figured I could hang out with Morgan until you're done. If that's okay with you." I watch her carefully, gauging her reaction. I've got a back up plan if she says no, but I want to wait. "I mean, I know she's your kid, and I'm not trying to overstep, but she mentioned wanting to show me some card game she learned, and I thought maybe—"
"You arranged all of this." Zoey's voice is strange. "Forme."
I shrug, trying to play it cool. "You needed a break. You've got me as your helper for two weeks, Zo. Why not make the most of it?"
Inside, Debbie waves through the window, her bright pink nails acting like neon lights.
"Well?" I say.
Zoey's gaze darts from me to the salon window, then back to the list in my hand. She sighs, and then… she steps forward and wraps her arms around my waist.
"Thank you, Colt. This is—" She shakes her head on my chest, breathing heavy in my arms. "…Thank you."
Sheholds on, and I freeze for half a second, my arms coming around her. When she finally pulls back, her face is inches from mine and I damn near faint seeing her up this close.
Time stands still. I can see the gold flecks in her brown eyes. The parting of her lips. The way her breath catches when my gaze drops to her mouth.
"I should…" She breathes, eyes now dipping to my lips. "…go in."
Do it. Kiss her! Kiss her you fool!
I lean in—
"ZOEY, HONEY! YOUR CHAIR'S READY!"
Debbie's voice shatters the moment like a baseball through a goddamn window. Zoey jerks back, cheeks flushed and eyes wide.
"Right. Debbie." She laughs nervously and takes a stumbling step toward the salon door. eyes still locked on mine. "I should…"
"Yeah." I clear my throat and look up to the sky. "Go. Enjoy yourself."
She pauses at the door, one hand on the handle, and looks back at me over her shoulder.
"And Colt? Thank you again. This is really… thoughtful."
I wink and wave her in. She's swallowed by the hot pink and leopard print paradise of Shear Trouble, and it's all I can do to stand on the sidewalk with my hands in my pockets, staring at the closed door.
I stand there for another minute, the cold biting at my cheeks, watching the glow of Shear Trouble's lights through the frosted window.
Fuck.
I should have kissed her.
Next time.
There's going to be a next time.
And when it comes, I'm not letting anything get in the way of showing Zoey Morrison just what she does to me.
Chapter 6
Zoey
