Page 120 of Brim Over Boot
My own throat feels tight as I swallow, the curve of Colton’s neck a perfect fit against my palm. “We start over.”
His eyes flare wide, alarm there. “What?”
“Shh, little Colt,” I soothe, giving his neck a gentle squeeze before letting my fingers drift away. I hold out my hand. “Hi. I’m Noah King from Wyoming, and I’m a farrier. How about you?”
Colton lets out a wet laugh, his hand clasping mine tight. “Colton Darling,” he says in kind. “Born and raised here in Montana. I’m a farrier, too. Small fucking world, huh?”
“It really is,” I agree, my eyes stinging. “Wanna come inside, Colton Darling? We could talk some. Get to know one another better.”
His blue eyes shut for only a second, shoulders heaving in a sigh before he nods. “Yeah. I’d really like that.”
Our hands stay clasped for a long moment before we finally let go. Colton grabs the shoebox, and I help him gather the fallen clippings.
“So, uh,” I say slowly. “My newspaper ads?”
Colton groans. “Shut it. They were hate mementoes, okay? Doesn’t mean a goddamn thing.”
“Mhm. Which is why you brought them with you as evidence of your infatuation with me.”
Colton’s mouth drops open. “I amnotinfatuated, you dick. If anyone’s obsessed, it’s you. I’ve got yournameon my ass, and it isn’t enough, is it? Pretty sure if I let you, you’d have an honest-to-God bit in my mouth and a bridle wrapped around my neck.”
I still, and Colton looks up slowly, eyes meeting mine.
“No,” he says shortly.
“You sure?”
“Fucking positive. Hard pass.”
I snort, and Colton shakes his head, shoving the lid on top of the shoebox. “We never speak of this again.Ever. It’s bad enough I have to be seen with you. No one needs to fucking know about…this.”
“Sure,” I agree easily.
Colton sighs, looking pained. “Christ. It doesn’t actually bother me being seen with you, okay? Don’t go all puppy eyes on me. It’s just… We’re gonna have to ease my family into it. No one is gonna see this coming.”
“Puppy eyes?” I ask, helping Colton to his feet.
“You know you have pretty eyes. Shut up.”
Colton groans as I laugh.
“Come on, King,” he says, all business as he heads for my front door. “Fill me in on what I missed while I was too busy hating you.”
There’s a smile on my face as I glance up at the sky. The sunset is long gone, the stars having taken their rightful place, front and center. I wonder about the elk in the woods. If he found what he was running toward.
My dad was right about many things. But especially this.
We fight for what’s important in life. Every big moment. Every small.
And love, well. I think that might just be the most important battle worth waging.
Chapter 33
Colton
“Iknewit!”Ashcries, looking around at my assembled family in glee.
My arms fall lax at my sides. “What? No, you didn’t.”
