Page 26 of Cruel Steps

Pushing open the main doors, I stumbled to an abrupt stop at the sight of Colter leaning against the concrete column, looking more gorgeous than should be allowed. His dark blond hair was windswept, and he had a little color to his cheeks. His hands were in his pocket, and he had one leg bent at the knee, looking like my own personal Jake Ryan.

Colter grinned when he spotted me, his eyes lighting up, and a hundred butterflies fluttered to life, making my stomach flip. Geez, his smile made me more excited than dancing all afternoon had.

For the first time in my life, dance had been torture. The other girls auditioning had shunned me, whispering to themselves and making me feel like an outsider. I’d gained satisfaction from seeing their faces after I danced, but it was nowhere as good as this.

Finding him waiting for me lit me on fire, and jump-started my feet. I stumbled forward, a magnet pulling me straight to him.

“Fancy meeting you here,” he teased, his eyes scanning over me.

“Yeah, imagine that. I’m at the same place you left me hours ago,” I sassed, my grin refusing to stay hidden.

Colter smiled bigger and took the mascot bag from my hands, shifting it over his shoulder before grabbing my hand. “This okay?” he asked, looking down at our entwined fingers.

“Uh huh.” I nodded, my face flushing. Colter was so unexpected. He fulfilled something I’d convinced myself I didn’t want.

After all the cruel stunts Hope pulled in high school with guys, I’d stuck to quick flings between the sheets. Mostly because it was all guys wanted, but I hadn’t worked out if it was also what I believed I deserved. Some things were better left hidden. So, somewhere along the way, it was all I expected from guys.

Until Holden.

He’d been the one exception. I’d hoped for more, but it had burned away the next day when he revealed who he was related to—the spawn of Satan.

So, having a gorgeous and sweet guy like Colter want to hold my hand in public and not press me to jump into bed felt monumental… like maybe I could have more. And after an afternoon of feeling on the outside, it felt nice to be wanted. Really nice.

“I have a confession,” he said after we’d taken a few steps.

“You’re secretly in a boy band?”

“No—”

“You hate puppies?”

“Definitely not?—”

“You’re married?”

“What?” he sputtered.

I shrugged, laughing. “Imagination got away from me.”

“I’ll say.” He chuckled, light dancing in his eyes. “Do I really look like I could be in a boy band? Wait, don’t answer that.”

I hit the unlock button on my key fob and my car beeped a few feet in front of us.

“What were you going to say?” I asked, stopping by my door.

Colter’s eyes took in my car, and he swallowed, showing the first signs of nervousness. Setting my bag down, he leaned against the hood and spread his legs. His hand reached out for mine, and I took it. Colter pulled me between his legs, making us almost the same height at this angle. His hands ran over my hips, sending shivers through me. Sucking in a breath, I stared into his eyes and forgot what we’d been talking about. The gray was more pronounced in his hazel eyes this late in the day, and I wondered if it changed based on the weather or what he wore.

I hoped I’d get to peer into them long enough to find out.

“I snuck into the gym and watched the end of the tryout.”

“Oh.” Pink spread over my cheeks at his confession. It was one thing to live through the humiliation and a whole other to have someone witness it. Also explained why he hadn’t asked.

“You were amazing, Mer. I’d never seen someone dance like that before. It makes me wonder how you’re so clumsy when it’s obvious you were made to dance.” His voice was light, slightly teasy, but I couldn’t miss the adoration he held, and I gobbled it up like a fiend.

“I’m not clumsy,” I pouted, too shy to acknowledge the rest. My hands traced over his shirt, my eyes focused on the middle of his chest.

“Could’ve fooled me, cuddly koala.” He lifted my chin with his knuckle, bringing my eyes to his. “You beat out both of those girls, Mer.”

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