Page 41 of Colton’s Mate

Colt shook his head. “That’s crap. We’re alike. We’re exactly alike.”

“Except for your tiny dick.”

“Come on. I’m serious.”

“Well, seriously then, maybe we’re not so alike after all.”

Another silence. Then Colt said, “Fuck that.”

They stared at each other for a moment. It had always been like looking in a mirror. Now they were suddenly faced with the possibility that one of them might have a true mate.

And the other one might not.

“It was just one night,” Colt said softly. “It might not mean anything.”

“Don’t you think you better find out? Because if she is your mate—and you’re hers—then you have a responsibility. You can’t just leave her hanging. She’d never find anyone else.”

Colt leaned against the other side of the vanity. “Damn,” he said. “What do I do? I’m not ready to have a mate. I suck at adulting. My animals are all over the place. And you—”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“I always worry about you. You’re a hot mess.”

Remy gave a little snort of laughter, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

The room went silent, except for the drip-drip of the shower. Steam drifted through the air and clouded the mirror.

Remy drew a heart on the mirror, and then a lightning bolt zigzagging into it. “You should help her rebuild her bar.”

“What?” Colt said. “No. She specifically doesn’t want me to do that. She’s afraid I’ll take over.”

“Then tell her you’ll work for her. She can be the boss.” He shifted his weight to face Colt. “Look, I saw those contractor bids of hers you brought home. They’re all too high. And they’ll try to rip her off even more. You don’t need the money, which means you can do it for cost.” He paused. “And I’ll help. That’ll keep the labor expenses down even more.”

Colt bit his lips. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried, but the back of his eyes stung when Remy made that offer. He knew what it would cost his twin to watch Colt potentially fall in love, while he was left out.

Colt wasn’t sure he could have done it.

“You really think I should?”

“It would be a way to spend time with her, and also prove to her you’re a team player. Not a fucking crow dictator.”

“What if she won’t hire me?”

“By the time I’m done helping you put your bid proposal together, she will.”

Chapter 17

It was the third morning after the fight at the Silver Armadillo Road House, and Callie was eating breakfast in the sun on the front steps of her house.

Colt hadn’t called.

She knew that’s how they’d said it would be. One night. No strings.

She just hadn’t expected it to be so… amazing and mind-blowing and intense and perfect. Better than she could have imagined.

It felt like she had touched that honest place inside him, that place that cared about people and about being a good man. And he’d touched something in her. She’d never felt so… seen. Cared for. Cherished.

She’d forgotten that was how he looked at every woman he was with—like she was the only one in the world who mattered. She should have realized he probably made love the same exact way. He probably made it that good for everyone.