?Chapter Twelve
?Colby
With River Thurston, it’s starting to feel like I’m playing a losing hand.
She’s been shutting me out ever since Christian’s little encore performance, and she’s retreated into that tough-as-nails shell of hers. But I’ve got news for her: I’m not going anywhere. If I’ve gotta fight tooth and nail to prove I’m not like every other man who’s let her down, then so be it. The question is, what’s it gonna take to convince her to let me in?
I know what she’s afraid of, and it’s not me. She’s scared of getting hurt. Scared of falling in love, and I can’t blame her. She’s been through the wringer.
Her ex-boyfriend, Christian, is a grade-A asshole. But I’m not him. And I’m going to make her see that.
When she comes out into the living room wearing a tight black tank top and those jeans that hug her curves, I nearly swallow my tongue. Goddamn, she’s hot. Her hair is down, falling over her shoulders, and her makeup is done. She doesn’t usually wear much, but tonight, her eyes are smokey, and her lips are painted a bright red.
“Hey, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you ready to go?”
“Almost. I just have to grab my bag. I’ll be right back.”
While she’s in the other room, I take a few deep breaths and try to calm the fuck down. It’s just a night out. It’s not a date. Not really. And even if it was, it shouldn’t matter.
I’ve dated plenty of women over the years. But I’ve never felt this way. And it’s scaring the shit out of me.
“All right, ready.”
“Great.”
She smiles at me, but it’s not real. There’s something about it. It’s fake. Forced.
“So, where are we going?”
“Well, I figured we could go to the rodeo, grab some dinner. Sound good?”
“Yeah, sounds great.”
I lead her out the front door and lock it behind us. Once we’re both in the truck, I turn the key and the engine roars to life.
“Buckle up.”
She laughs, and the sound fills my chest. “You’re not my dad, Colby. I don’t need you telling me to buckle up.”
“Maybe not. But you can’t blame a guy for looking out for his best girl, can you?”
