Page 7 of Better Together

“Thanks. Have a good night.” She shut the door with her foot and headed for the kitchen.

“Come and get it!”

Colt walked in and grabbed two cups from the cabinet. “The usual?”

“Yep.”

They had a routine. He made the drinks, and she plated the pizza. Tonight, she kept her focus on the pizza instead of Colt. If she could last fifty more minutes in his clothes without things getting weird, she’d be home free.

“Remi, I have to ask you something.”

Oh no. Was that hesitation in his voice? “Whatever it is, tread carefully. I’m not in the mood for any jokes about the outfit after the pizza guy gave me the wiggly eyebrows.”

When he didn’t respond, she stopped pulling the pizza slices apart and looked up at him. Colt was grinning from ear to ear.

“What?” she asked, trying not to worry about whatever had him stifling giggles.

He grabbed the two-liter bottle of orange soda with one hand and held it out to her. “Can you open this for me?”

She took one look at the bottle and his arm in the sling and burst into laughter. She took the drink and opened it. “I guess wearing your pants means I have to do your job.”

He poured her Sunkist into a glass with one hand. “This is a one-time thing. I won’t be down and out for long, and I’ll be back to waiting on you hand and foot.”

Remi rolled her eyes. He did treat her like she was incapable of doing anything herself, but truth be told, she liked it a little. Maybe a lot more than she should.

He brought over the glasses and set them on the bar where they always ate. “Your turn. I’m having trouble thinking tonight.”

Remi bowed her head and prayed, “Lord, thank You for the food, and thanks for letting Colt hit his shoulder and not his head tonight. Amen.”

Colt reached for the first slice of pizza and folded it at the crust. “So, how’s Hadley doing?”

Remi had been in charge of the kids' activities at the ranch on her own for years, and as much as she loved it, Hadley’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It was hard to admit, but Remi was getting tired.

“She’s great.”

Colt stared at her as he chewed.

“What?”

“That’s it? She’s great?”

Remi shrugged. “Yeah. That’s the gist of it.”

Colt shook his head. “Okay.”

Remi gasped. “Do you like her?”

“What?” Colt mumbled around a huge bite of pizza. “I don’t like her. I mean, I like her, but not like that.”

“She’s really pretty.”

“Yeah,” Colt agreed.

Drat.

“And nice,” Remi added.

“Yeah.”

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