Page 47 of Thoroughly Innocent Intent

“I smile.” I say defensively.

“I’m referring to a genuine smile, not the polite one you like to convince yourself is real.” She holds my gaze, daring me to contradict her.

“I’ve seen that one.” Colt barks out a laugh. “She wore it the first time she met me.”

“Because you were overly flirtatious at abusinessmeeting,” I scold him while justifying my actions to Delaney.

“If you hadn’t been workin’ so hard to ignore my flirting I wouldn’t have had to flirt so much. I did what I had to, to get a real smile.” He picks my hand off the table and brushes his lips over my knuckles. “Worth it.”

“Save it for later.” Delaney rolls her eyes, though I can tell by the slight curl in her lips that her worries about Colt have been erased. I knew if she had the opportunity to get to know him she’d realize there’s a genuinely good guy under his playful shell.

I don’t need Delaney’s approval to continue seeing Colt, although having it makes me breathe easier. She’s still my closest friend, and I’d hate for anything to put distance between us. When we part a few minutes later, the hug she gives me says what words can’t, that she’s never been happier for me.

“Remember I knew her first and you have to share,” Delaney warns Colt as the valet pulls up her car.

“I’ll remember.” Colt pulls her in for a hug, “As long as you help me force her to go to a game with you. My treat.”

“Does this treat include seats in a suite where we get to wine and dine while we watch you kick ass on the field?” She pretends to weigh the offer.

“What kind of a man do you take me for?” Colt puts his hand over his chest as if he’s been wounded.

“I suppose I can honor that request.” The spark in her eyes betrays her coy tone. “Send me the details,” she calls as she settles into her car and pulls away.

“She’s a character. I like her.” Colt wraps his arm around my shoulders and tugs me to his side while we wait for the valet to bring his car.

“She is. I’m glad you like her. I thought she’d be your type.”

“My type?” His brows knit together as he looks down at me. “Why does it sound like you’re trying to set me up with your friend?”

“I’m not.” I feel myself turning pink as I rush to explain. “I just mean her personality seems more in line with what you described as your usual type.”

Colt seems to mull this over before answering. “I guess that was true in the past, but for the life of me I can’t remember why that ever appealed to me.”

“How could it not appeal to you. Women like Delaney are energetic, entertaining. Even I find that appealing.” It makes me slightly uncomfortable pointing out my best friend’s attributes to my boyfriend, but I’m not blind. Men react to outgoing women much differently than they react to me. It’s just a fact.

“It doesn’t appeal to me because it’s not you.” Colt tips my chin up, so I’m forced to look in his eyes. “I’ve been around a lot of big, loud personalities in my life. Hell, I probably am one. I’ve recently discovered that the quiet, deep thinkers are so much more fascinating.” He kisses me softly, sending me into a dreamy haze, which I’m abruptly snapped out of when someone bumps into Colt from behind.

“Sorry, man, didn’t see you…oh…hey!” a man exclaims, mumbling a rushed ‘call you back’ before slipping his phone in his pocket and coming to a stop next to Colt. “Great season you’re having.”

“Thank you,” Colt replies, his tone civil instead of the typically friendly one I’ve grown used to. I don’t think he appreciated being run into by someone so distracted with his phone.

“Big game coming up this weekend, you guys ready?” he asks.

“Sure are.” Colt smiles politely.

Leaning around Colt he peeks at me, and elbows him not so subtly in the arm. “Nice.” He nods his head.

“Excuse me?” Colt’s voice deepens a notch. I hear the warning tone. Our nosy friend doesn’t.

“Not your usual type, but still nice.”

I feel Colt tense beside me. He worries about how his celebrity will impact me, and since this is the first time we’ve been in public together without trying to hide his identity, it’s important to show him I can handle it. With more bravado than I feel, I peer around Colt to look at the man. “And you are?”

“Pardon?” He feigns ignorance.

“I haven’t met you before, are you a friend of Colt’s?” I rest my hand against Colt’s stomach, hoping the gesture calms us both. He’s still stiff, but his focus is on me now just as I intended.

“Uh no.”

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