Page 115 of Right Number, Wrong Man
A blush suffuses my cheeks. “Thank you,” I whisper.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to Colt complimenting me, but I don’t want to, either. I love how giddy it makes me.
His gaze drops to my feet, going wide. “You’re wearing the boots I gave you!”
A pang of adrenaline flares through me. Fuck, the boots! I never expected him to turn up tonight and see me in them. How do I explain this without sounding like an obsessed nutcase?
“T-they fit the party theme!” I bring out, twisting a heel into the carpet. “It’s boho and country chic.”
“Oh…” He nods slowly. “Makes sense.”
Awkward silencestretches between us.
“How did you know where the party is?” I ask, suddenly reminded that I never invited him.
“I heard you talking on the phone with Andrea at work. Probably shouldn’t’ve listened in, but you were so excited it was impossible not to. You were shoutin’ through the lobby.”
I shrug. “Ha, sounds like me.”
“And I just thought you could use a friend to dance with tonight,” he adds.
My heart pinches. Ugh. The wordfriend feels like a bullet to the chest. And worse, after the shooting lesson,Iwas the one who suggested it to define our new relationship.
I wish I could travel back in time and smack past Hailey. What a dumb bitch!
Colt sucks on his teeth, rubbing a hand along his jaw. “But if you don’t want me here, I’ll skedaddle.”
“No!” I say too loudly and too quickly. Startled, I clear my throat, lowering my voice to a normal volume. “I mean, you’re already here… Unless youwantto go? Is it alright to close theRetro Reelon a Saturday?”
I cringe. Why am I making excuses for him to go when I want the exact opposite?
“I hung up a notice at the front door.Family emergency. True enough.” He winks.
I bite back a triumphant whoop.
Fuck yeah, he’s staying!
Colt holds out his arm, a grin spreading across his face. “Then I’m your date for tonight, ma’am.”
I smile nervously. “You are.”
I check my hair and makeup in the bathroom mirror before grabbing my clutch and stepping out of the room. My pulse goes crazy as I hook my hand around the bend of Colt’s elbow.
With him by my side, my other worries melt away and Jax’s threats seem meaningless now. For tonight, Colt will keep me safe. I won’t need the revolver, but I didn’t have an opportunity to take it out of my purse.
“You and Andrea have been friends a long time, right?” he asks, trying to make conversation.
“For over a decade. While I got my certifications to become a legal secretary, I worked part time at a café. Andrea was a co-worker. One day, she showed up with a Hey Kitty lanyard on her keyring and when I asked her about it, we realized we’re both collectors.”
I speak calmly, but I feel like I’m walking on fluffy pink clouds. Electricity prickles through my nerves and my fingers buzz as I hold on to Colt’s arm.
He’s always warm, but tonight he’s a human torch. Or am I running a fever? I press my other hand to my forehead.
His head tilts toward me. “Are you feeling alright?”
I drop my hand. “Yes! Of course! I’m great! Amazing! Perfect! Never better!”God Hailey, stop being weird.“It’s just hot tonight and I had a few drinks at dinner earlier,” I add.
What a big fat lie! I’m sober as hell.
