Page 48 of Brim Over Boot
I sigh, even as a smile quirks my lips. “I’ll think about it. How about that?”
He gives a firm nod, and I head upstairs to my bedroom. My shoulders feel tight as I tug off my shirt, my pants quickly following. I take a moment to stretch my arms up high, my fingertips brushing one of the stationary blades of the ceiling fan. There’s a soft pop in my spine that has me sighing in relief, and I drop my arms.
Hunkering over horse hooves all day doesn’t make for the happiest back.
After shucking off my briefs and wrapping a towel around my waist, I head across the narrow hallway to the bathroom. As the shower heats, I contemplate, once again, my Colton problem.
The man clearly despises me. Always has, and I’m pretty sure he always will. Nothing has changed just because of a single moment of weakness on his part. And my own. I didn’t even expect it to.
Butfuck, seeing that scowl aimed my way earlier had me itching to wipe the look off his face and replace it with the sweet surrender he fought so hard against the other night.Thatlook is one I won’t forget for a long, long time.
Colton Darling, brought to heel. Because of me.
If only I could get him down on his knees, too.
The thought has a shiver coursing through my body, even as I step into the heat of the shower. Considering the probability of Colton begging me to touch him again is damn near nil, I don’t see that scenario playing out apart from within my own ill-advised fantasies. Heck, the man will likely do his best to stay as far away from me as possible. Nothing new there.
But it doesn’t change the fact that something shifted for me the moment I touched Colton Darling. Before then, even. The kiss?
I always assumed I was straight. I had no reason to think otherwise.
Not until him.
I can’t shove that newfound knowledge back down again. Don’t even want to. I won’t ignore that part of myself, even if I’ve yet to understand it.
Well, if my phone call with Colton taught me one thing, it’s that revisiting the subject with him isn’t an option. I’m on my own. And it’s for the best, really.
Because let’s face it.
Fucking around with my bitter enemy would lead to nothing but absolute disaster.
Chapter 15
Colton
MyheartthumpsasI turn off my truck. The club waits up ahead, looking innocuous enough, its façade not giving much away.
It could be any club or bar. Just a normal night out.
But it’s not. The fact that it took nearly an hour to get here is evidence enough. Add onto that what’s waiting inside…
“Ready?” Remi asks, his voice startling me.
“Jesus,” I groan. “I don’t know. How do I know if I’m ready? How do I…flirtwith men, Remi? I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.”
My brother looks more amused than anything. “You flirt with them the same way you’d flirt with women. Don’t try too hard. Just…relax and see what happens.”
“Relax,” I mutter. “Sure. I’m plenty relaxed.”
He snorts. “I’m gonna turn off my CI. Don’t…sign your attempts at flirting, please? I really don’t need to see that.”
Despite my nerves, I stifle a laugh and nod, unsurprised Remi doesn’t want to listen to the blaring music inside the club.
“All right,” I say, shoring myself up as he holds down the on/off button on his processor. With my best smile in place, I move my hands in a decisive,‘Let’s do this.’
There’s no wait at the door. We walk right in, the thump of the music so heavy I can feel it in the soles of my shoes. There’s a bouncer just inside who checks our IDs, and then we’re waved forward. Remi grabs my arm and directs me toward the bar.
I can’t help but let my eyes wander as we move through the crowd. I’m no stranger to seeing men cuddle up close or kiss, and it’s never once bothered me. No more than seeing any two people be all lovey-dovey over one another in public. But I’ve never looked at a man and wondered,Do I want to kiss him?Not before.
