Page 30 of Eight Steps to Alpha

Chapter 10

Colton Prescott lookedlike he’d stepped right out of a cigarette commercial. His hair was windblown sexy, his large arms and shoulders covered with a black leather that appeared molded there though years of sweat and tears. He was the epitome of bad boy, and Fe wouldn’t have been surprised if the cops were right on his tail feathers.

He walked toward her, eyeing her up and down through his thick, smoldering lashes. “I’m afraid my bother has lost his manners, darlin’.” He held out his hand “I’m Colton. Colton Prescott.”

She shook his hand, sure her cheeks were redder than ketchup. “Fe Porto,” she said, watching as he gracefully lifted her arm and kissed the backs of her fingers.

His lips felt like soft pillows, but his eyes were dark, big and brown, and assessing her every movement. Her stomach knotted, and she raked over her lips with her teeth. She was sure he was looking for something, but whatever it was, she wasn’t prepared to give him. Not now, and possibly not ever.

“What are you doing here, Colton,” Elliot asked breaking the spell he’d put her under.

Colton grinned, not missing the fact, then let go of her fingers, allowing her arm to lower to her side.

“Well it’s good to see you, too, baby brother.” He drawled out, turning again to Elliot. “What has it been? Three years? Maybe four.”

“Four.” Elliot responded.

“Oh that’s right. At grandad’s funeral, how could I forget?” He set his helmet on the coffee table, then walked over to the TV and picked up a picture frame. It was of her and Elliot, when they went bungee jumping along the coast.

Elliot adjusted his stance, eyeing the photo. “Make yourself comfortable,” he drawled.

Colton grinned, and set down the frame. “Well thank you, brother. Don’t mind if I do.”

He plopped down on the sofa, unzipped his jacket, then glanced around the apartment. Fe could tell Elliot was uncomfortable, but for some reason, that only peaked her interest. Clad in nothing but distressed leather and denim sat the key to Elliot’s past. His brother, who had to know more about him than anyone. Fe would have had to be comatose not to be a little curious.

Fe glanced between the two men, noting the similarities, but also the differences. “Can I get you something to drink, Colton?” she asked, walking toward the kitchen. “Water, tea?”

He dipped his head in her direction and smiled politely. “Now that’s some hospitality, right there.” He set his boots back on the floor and sat taller. “I’ll take anything you got, darlin’, as long as it comes in a cool glass.”

Fe nodded her head, ignoring Elliot’s bulging eyes on as she passed him.

Colton followed her.

“Are you hungry?” She cleared her throat. “Elliot made fried chick—”

But before she could finish the sentence, Elliot raced in front of her, ripped something off the fridge, and shoved it in his pocket. It all happened so fast, she didn’t have time to react, but Colton didn’t miss a beat. He stopped so fast, spun around, as though he’d seen a snake.

His eyes narrowed, and an easy grin turned the corner of his mouth. “Well well well,” he drawled out. “Looks like my lil’ ol’ brother has a something to hide. What you got there, Elliot?”

Elliot glanced at Fe, then proceed to walk back to the livening room. “Nothin—”

But before he could get past the dining room table, Colton pounced on his back, grabbed his hips, and they both went tumbled to the floor. One brother was on top of the other, then the other way around, and soon enough, Colton had the paper out of Elliot’s pocket and was crawling toward the hall.

BOOM! Elliot tackled Colton to the floor once more. Causing a scream to escape Fe’s lips, and for a re-run of the tumbling to commence once again. Growing up with brothers, Fe had seen her share of wrestling matches. But given the fact Colton had been there no more than five minutes left her in complete and utter shock. Yes, she’d seen many brotherly brawls, but non-quite like this one. Both men were tall and lean, bigger than their small apartment could handle, knocking into walls, into the dining room table, then rolled in the other direction looking like two gigantic squirrels fighting over a nut.

But it wasn’t a nut. It was a list. The list. The eight steps to alpha list. Her stomach knotted like a rope, and she twisted her hands together feeling helpless. Was Elliot that embarrassed about the plan? So much so that he was rolling around on the floor looking like an idiot?

Out of nowhere, Elliot took the advantage and slammed Colton down to the ground. He took the list out of his brother’s hand, rolled to the side, then pushed himself from the floor. Immediately, his legs were pulled out from under him, and he was on the floor again. “Ooohff!”

“Guys! That’s enough! Stop it!” Fe yelled. “Stop it!”

It must have gotten Colton’s attention, because he looked up, likely to make sure she was ok, which gave Elliot just the advantage he heeded. Rolling Colton to his back, he drove one knee into his stomach, yanked the list out of his hand, and rose to his feet.

Fe stared at them both speechless, because never in her whole life had she seen Elliot behave this way. He was normally so calm. So level headed. So…

He came toward her then, sweat glistening on his brow before he wiped it off with his forearm.

She stared into his eyes, looking for any sign of the Elliot she knew, because she’d be lying if she said this side of him didn’t scare her a little bit.

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