Page 74 of Colton's Last Resort

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” she began.

“Jesus, Laura.” He pressed his fingers into his eyes before remembering himself. He glanced around and lowered his voice. “Are you buying into your own cover story? Is this all some fantasy you had to indulge?”

“No,” she said, offended. “Of course not.”

“He’s not a rock star,” he told her. “He’s a cop.”

“I know that!”

“And he’s not actually in love with you!”

Ouch, she thought. Shaking off the strange pulse of hurt, she straightened her posture. “I know.”

“Every bit of this with him is pretend,” he went on, undeterred. “And you’re setting yourself up to get hurt all over again.”

“Stop it, Adam.”

“I’m not going to let you get hurt again!”

“Please,” she begged, eyes brimming with a sudden wave of hot tears. “I said stop.”

He saw the tears and his expression darkened. “I’m not a violent man, Laura. You know this. But if he’s making you do this, I swear—”

“It was me,” she said. “I was the one who told him to stay. He didn’t make me do anything. I wanted him.”

His jaw loosened.

She shook her head. “Don’t act so shocked. I’m a grown woman. I choose who I go to bed with, just like Josh. I’m responsible for my own actions, just like you. If I get hurt, then that’s my problem. Not yours.”

“I have to watch,” he said from the pit of his stomach. “I have to watch you pick up the pieces and move on. And it guts me every time.”

She touched his arm. “It’s going to be okay. I...I know what I’m doing.”

“Are you sure about that?” he asked.

She wasn’t, but she nodded. “I do.”

He shook his head in disagreement. “You’re always so careful. You’re not considering the consequences from every angle.”

“Maybe not.” She could grant him that. “But ask me if I have any regrets.”

“I think it’s a little early for that,” he considered.

“Do not talk to Noah about this,” she said, knowing him. “I don’t need you chasing him off like a coyote before—”

“Before what?” he challenged. “Before he shows you what kind of man he really is?”

“Don’t pretend to know who he really is,” she advised.

“Fine,” he returned. “Then you shouldn’t either.” He turned and left her with the shrimp.

She looked around the tables, making sure no one had caught wind of the argument. She caught Alexis’s sympathetic gaze from across the room and tried to erect a reassuring smile.

It slipped as she glanced toward the exit and saw Noah standing just outside the doors of the restaurant.

Chapter 14

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