Page 17 of Don't Look Back

“Horror movie?” He grins.

“Only if you’re ok with me hiding my face in your chest.” I chuckle.

I loved horror movies when I was younger, but after living through my own horror story, I have no interest in watching it.

“How about an action movie?”

“Oh, what a surprise! The cop likes action movies!” I grin at him.

“Jeez, you’re getting sassy.” He chuckles. “I think I like this side of you.” He scoots a little closer and boops me on the nose. “Just don’t turn into Skylar.”

“Why?”

“Because I have no interest in dating someone like her.” He shakes his head.

“So? Why would it matter if I'm like Skylar? You’re not…” The words die on my lips and my eyes widen. “Colt?”

“I'm not asking you out. Not yet. But one day I will. I want you to relax around me before I push for more.” The truth and vulnerability in his voice makes my attention lock on him. Nervousness floods my system as I stare at him.

“And you think I'm going to be relaxed now that I know you want to date me?” My voice comes out as a squeak and I mentally facepalm myself. Why do I have to act like this in front of him?

“No, but it’s adorable to watch you freak out.” He leans in even closer. His warm breath fans across my neck, making me shiver. He’s affecting me too much. “Are you cold, Leslie?”

Every time he says my name, I want to scream. I want to tell him to stop calling me that and to call me Zoey.

“A little.” The words are barely out of my mouth and he’s standing to his full height.

“Does the fireplace work?” He’s already crouching down in front of it.

“Yeah, but I used the last of the wood this week. I didn’t get more and I'm not going out to get some now.” There’s no way I'm going outside when it’s dark. Darkness hides the danger lurking in plain sight. I'm not taking any chances.

“I can get some. Do you have wood stacked somewhere?” He stands up and runs his fingers through his messy hair.

“It’s on the right side of the house. You really don’t need to get it though. I can just use a blanket. You’re going to freeze going out there right now.”

Colton closes the distance between us. He leans down and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Before I can protest more, he’s out the door, letting the screen door slam shut behind him. I instantly begin to worry about him.

What if Jimmy found me?

What if he’s waiting outside of the house, looking for an opportunity to make his move?

If he sees Colt shirtless, he’s going to jump to conclusions he has no reason to make. He’ll get even more angry and he’ll take it out on me. But I have no doubt he’ll go after Colt too.

I’m positive Colt can handle his own when he sees a fight coming, but what if he’s blindsided? I'm sure he’s evenly matched with Jimmy, he might even have a few more pounds of muscle, but if Jimmy has a gun, muscle isn't going to help Colt.

“How freaking long does it take him to get wood?” I mutter under my breath.

I'm about to get up to go look for him when the screen door flies open and I let out another shriek. My wide eyes lock on a confused Colton and I squeeze them shut. I need to chill out. There’s no way I’ll be able to keep my past a secret if I can't handle Colt leaving the house to get wood for the fireplace.

“Are you ok?” His brows are drawn together forming a deep crease as he stares at me.

“Fine.” I wave him off. “Sorry, I didn’t expect you to be back in so quickly.”

He walks across the living room and my attention is drawn to his muscles straining under the weight of the wood. He was able to carry triple what I can normally do.

He squats down and quickly fills up the rack. It only takes him another few minutes to get the fire lit, then he’s brushing his hands off on his jeans.

---