I tug the clip out, thankful for the way my hair falls to block my tear-filled eyes. My saliva is thick and difficult to swallow, and I know uttering a single word of what I’m feeling inside will end in a torrent of tears.
Blair just keeps talking. As if she can read my mind, she works through the unspoken fear on my behalf. “Sure,he could not want them now but change his mind one day. Then again, maybe he doesn’t or maybeyoudo. What if he ends up being dead set on not having babies, andyoudecide you want to adopt or find a surrogate? Seems silly to deny yourself happiness now because one day you might not be happy anymore.”
Something choked, caught between a laugh and a small sob, comes from my mouth.
“I’ve been so afraid to wish for someone like him, but Colt walked into our lives like he knew he belonged here. Despite my best efforts, I think he was right.”
He became so entrenched in this family that his absencefeels like a fraction of my soul is living somewhere outside my body. And I know Jonas feels it, too.
“Is it crazy of me to want him back?” I ask my quietest question out loud.
I do want him back. But it’s no longer my choice to make.
“It’s crazier not to.”
Colt
Holy shit.
Never mind a wedding dress; I want to marry Whit in this stunning forest-green dress that sweeps across the grass and skims over her delicious curves. The neckline leaves just enough to the imagination to be classy; thankfully I have a damn good imagination. It doesn’t take much to picture slipping my hand beneath the fabric and feeling her nipple harden against my palm while I kiss her.
I spent the entire ceremony in agony over only being able to see a small fraction of her, thanks to her dad blocking my view. I telepathically told him to scooch back, but either my messages didn’t go through, or they pissed him off, because the guy didn’t give me a single inch. Regardless, I didn’t need confirmation to know she’s the most gorgeous person here. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, period.
And I probably shouldn’t say that, considering we’re at a wedding, and all eyes should be on Blair. But I’m confident Denny would rather me eyeball his wife’s sister over his wife.
It was worth only having a partial view, because now I get my first real look at her with the sun filtering through autumn leaves and a slight breeze catching her hair…which I’m only now realizing has pink tips.
Her eyes bounce around like she’s searching for something, and when they land on me, she bites her bottom lip.With a quick course correction, she’s heading straight forme.
“Hey, Mama,” I call out, earning the smile I’ve been impatiently waiting all day for.
“Wow, wearing a buttoned shirt for the second time in less than two weeks,” she teases, strolling across the gravel to where I’m leaning against the front porch steps of the big house. “Let me guess—underneath the fancy exterior is a little bit of hootin’ and hollerin’?”
“Somebody has to be ready to get the party started at a moment’s notice.”
“Oh, thank God. Something about the tequila shots they handed everybody when we got here screamed ‘dull wedding reception.’ I had to drink two of them, because somehow my mom got her hands on one.”
“In that case, it might be time for some hootin’ and hollerin’ sooner than I thought.” I start unbuttoning my shirt, and she places her slender, soft fingers on my hand to stop me.
“Save it for later. You look really handsome right now.”
In that case, I’ll stay buttoned-up and dapper as fuck all night long.
“Damn it, you always beat me to the compliments.” I groan. “God, you look…I would give anything to be your date tonight, because you’re the most gorgeous woman here and somehow that’s still the least interesting thing about you.”
A blush that matches her hair blooms across her cheeks, and she hugs her arms around herself. “I might beat you to it, but yours are always better.”
Nothing is better than knowing the woman of my dreams notices me. She could compliment my choice in socks (they have kiwis on them and deserve to be noticed) or the fact that I trimmed my mustache today, and I’d be over the fucking moon.Whit calling me handsome?Put that on my tombstone.
“Did you get fired over the pink hair?”
“They don’t know. I’ve been hiding it in meetings.” Sheholds a handful in front of her, fanning out the pink ends to make a paintbrush. “Do you like it?”
“I love it.”And you.“It suits you.”
The rosiness in her cheeks descends to her neck and chest. And right when she opens her mouth to reply, Cassidy calls her name from the front door of the house.
“Sorry, wedding responsibilities are calling.” Taking one step, Whit smiles at me. “Thank you for all the compliments.”
