Page 38 of Don't Look Back

“Well, you’re no fun at all. How will Sophia be able to tell if I'm hot if I'm not allowed to take this off.” Colt pouts.

“You’re hot, babe. Does it really matter if Sophia knows that?” I take a step towards him and wrap my arms around his waist, leaning my head on his chest.

“No, I guess it doesn’t. I have you and that’s all that matters.” Colt kisses the top of my head, then buries his nose in the crook of my neck. “I’m just glad you think I'm hot,” he whispers in my ear.

“So… am I allowed to take off my shirt or not?” Pecker mumbles behind us, making me laugh.

Chapter 21

Colton

Settling into my chair at the table, I let out a long sigh. I don’t want to leave Leslie and Sophia home alone today. I know they’ll be fine, but I want them with me until I know where Jimmy is. How did things become so complicated so quickly?

“Morning,” Sophia mumbles as she stumbles into the kitchen.

She bumps into the counter and almost falls three times before I jump out of my chair and lead her over to the table. As soon as she’s sitting, I slide my untouched mug of coffee in front of her and chuckle when she breathes it in like coffee is her lifeline.

“I take it back. You’re the hottest guy I’ve ever met.”

“I’m fairly certain you’d tell any man with coffee that.” I smirk.

“And you wouldn’t be wrong,” she mutters as she lifts the mug to her lips. “Dang, you get bonus hotness points. This is really good.”

“It’s the hazelnut creamer. Makes all the difference in the world.”

“Well, I might marry a man who makes hazelnut creamer.”

As soon as the words are out of her mouth, her eyes widen to a comical level and her gaze snaps to mine. I burst out laughing and shake my head. This right here is the Sophia Robinson I expected to meet, not the boy crazy one.

“Oh my gosh. That didn’t sound the way I meant for it to. That’s so gross.”

“It’s ok, little one. We can blame it on your lack of caffeine and lack of a filter.” I pat her on the shoulder as I head back over to the coffee maker to pour another mug for myself.

“Thank you for taking care of her,” she says softly.

“Who?”

“Zoey. It killed me to see her barely living because of Jimmy. I always hated him and thought she could do better. I didn’t understand why she stayed with him for so long, but now I do. She hadno choice.”

“I'm just glad your family and Mason stepped in to help.”

“They’re pretty amazing like that. You’ll never find a more caring family than the residents of Mulberry Lane and their extended families.”

“Mulberry Lane sounds like it belongs in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere.” I frown at her. I know she’s from right outside of Philadelphia.

“You mean like Maple Springs?” She smirks, amusement lighting up her eyes.

“Well, at least we have hot guys here.”

“That’s yet to be determined. No one has taken off their shirt yet for me to confirm that.”

I reach for the hem of my shirt, more than happy to confirm Sophia’s suspicions, when a hand reaches around and holds the fabric in place.

“If you keep trying to strip in front of my cousin, you’re going to give me a complex. You’re only supposed to strip around me, got it?” Leslie slips in front of me and stares up at me with those big honey-colored eyes.

“Can I strip right now? We can hurry to our room.” I wiggle my eyebrows.

“I'm pretty sure you need to get to work, Sheriff.” She places her hand on my chest and stands on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss to my lips.

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