Page 17 of Free to Run
I push the rebuke aside. “Does this mean you will be stateside long enough to come visit?”
“Yeah. Unless someone does something to cause a scandal, we’ve been assigned to assist protective services. The plan is to be around for the next six years.” He pulls back and gives me a huge smile.
My returning one is so large, it must look deranged. “No way. And you haven’t called any of us? Boy, are you going to hear about that.” I feel Colby’s body shake with suppressed laughter against mine.
“Rein it in, Ali. I need to cover the chairman for another hour.” He snags two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter, handing one to me.
“Cheers, my friend.” The clink of our crystal glasses rings out as we each take a sip.
It’s at that moment Jared realizes I’m not next to him, and he saunters up to Colby and me. I introduce them, and after handshakes are exchanged, Colby slips his arm back around my waist as he nods at Jared. “Is this a date where I get to tell all the embarrassing stories I’ve saved up over the years and kept from Phil?”
I roll my eyes at Colby.
Jared says, “There are stories about Ali that Phil doesn’t know? Hmm, this could be valuable information.” Demonstrating his own quick wit, Jared counters with, “Ali, why don’t you just stop breaking hearts all over the place and find a nice man like the major here to settle down with?”
I want to remind Jared it’s because I have no intentions of ever settling down with any man since they could crush me like an ant, like his friend Keene did. Instead, I go with a non-answer. “Hmm, me?”
That sends Colby and Jared into guffaws.
When Colby stops laughing, he says mockingly, “Are you collecting a harem these days, Alison? Making up for lost time since UConn?”
I elbow him. “Jerk. Just for that, let’s see if I invite you out to the farm while you’re stateside.”
His eyes gleam down at me. “You already did. Besides, it was you who enticed me after half a bottle of Jameson that you’d set me up with one of your sisters. Now that I heard Cassidy’s off the market, I’m trying to figure out which sister I want.”
I have nothing to refute. I think Colby would be great for a specific sister, but she’s not ready yet, and neither is he for that matter.
Colby’s arm tightens before he grins down at me. “Let’s see. You’re in a bind with your date already? You’ve been here for”—he checks his watch—“twenty minutes?” Colby leans back, giving me a critical look from head to toe. “Must be the dress.”
Jared’s lips are twitching, his amused smile about to break.
“Might be the date,” I return.
Jared pipes up, “Hey, I take offense to that.”
We laugh again. I so needed this.
The lighthearted banter continues for the next few moments before Jared excuses himself to speak with his partners. Jared drops a kiss on my cheek and tells me to have fun.
Colby and I catch up on what he’s been up to. He’s telling me hysterical stories about guys who I knew when I was in law school. I can’t stop laughing.
Shaking my head, I surmise, “It sounds like some of them never grew out of their frat boy ways, Colby.”
“True words, Ali.” He grins.
A short time later, Colby’s relief signals that he’s off duty. Taking both of our glasses of barely touched champagne and passing them to a harried waiter, his smile turns genuine.
“Let’s eat.” Pure Colby. All Army, but he can bear so much pomp and circumstance.
I toss my hair. “Such a rush, Major. What’s the hurry?” My eyes widen as I hear his stomach rumble. He barks out a laugh. “You’ve convinced me. Let’s find Jared and bail. And not for nothing, I’m not eating nachos in this dress. You’re eating real food.”
“Oh, come on. I have a craving for them,” Colby whines.
“You always have a craving for them after a formal event,” I retort.
“You liked them in school,” he counters.
“I still do when I’m wearing a T-shirt, but the dry cleaning bill for this dress would suck.” I strike a pose to show off the beaded number I’m wearing.
