Page 83 of Colton's Last Resort

She only stared.

He groaned at her reticence. “If you don’t want it, I can take it back. I’ve got the receipt right here—”

“Shut up,” she said without heat. “Just...shut up and put it on me.”

She straightened, her shoulders rising above the water. Lifting her hair, she turned.

He took the necklace out of the box, unclasped it and lowered it over her head. Securing it at the base of her neck, he eased back as she turned to him again. The pearl rested just above her sternum in the dip between her breasts. She touched it. “How does it look?” she asked.

He shook his head. “It looks like I brought feldspar to an empress.”

She leaned over the tub wall, meeting his mouth with her own, silencing him and his doubts.

He brought his hand up to her face.Easy, he told himself, feeling the quaking in his bones again. Not fury this time. The fear was there and the need, too. Always.

She pulled away. Her eyes flashed blue. “Stay with me?”

It was impossible to argue. “That’s a hard yes.”

Her smile was a tender curve meant for him alone as she reclined again against the tub wall and gripped his fingers on the ledge.

He watched over her until the water cooled. Then he helped her dry and dress for bed.

Back in her sheets, he held her until he felt her soften into repose. It took a long time to follow, but when he did, he had his nose buried in her hair and his arm tight around her middle, unwilling to let her go in the silent, anonymous hours between night and day.

Chapter 16

Noah was relieved when Laura took Tuesday off after waking with a fierce headache. It took everything he had not to stay and take care of her. He made her coffee and breakfast and fed Sebastian again. As he ate over her sink so he wouldn’t get crumbs on her spotless countertops, the cat bumped his cheek against Noah’s ankle, then, purring, started weaving figure eights around his boots.

Noah watched, puzzled. When his plate was clean, he scooped the feline up in one hand. “It’s your turn to watch her,” he informed him as he carried the tabby back to the bedroom where Laura dozed. “Don’t screw it up.”

His phone rang. Sebastian twisted, unhappy as Noah juggled him to dig the device out of his pocket. Setting Sebastian down, he swiped at the long strands of cat hair clinging to the front of his shirt before answering.

“Steele,” Adam greeted him.

“Colton,” Noah replied just as flatly.

“I have a proposition.”

Noah braced himself. “I’m listening.”

“I don’t expect Laura to come to work today.”

“Damn right,” Noah said.

“I’ll be stepping in for her,” Adam told him, “to help with the investigation.”

“Thanks,” Noah mused, “but I’m good.”

“Meet me near the paddock in an hour,” Adam said, ignoring Noah’s refusal. “Dress for a riding excursion.”

The line clicked. Noah looked at his phone and saw that Adam had ended the call. “Sure, cupcake,” he muttered, sliding the phone back into his pocket.

An hour later, Noah said, “You know, I don’t think me and you kissing is going to have the same effect on people as Laura and I do.”

“Just once,” Adam said mildly, “I’d like to see you go an entire day without vexing me.”

“Not likely,” Noah responded. He adjusted the Stetson he wore low over his brow as they walked to the paddock together. “You’re sure Knight signed on for this thing today?”

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