She opened the locked gate, and I went through to the same meeting room as usual. A guard stood watch outside the door. A camera sat in the left-hand corner, lurking over our conversation. My stomach danced with the lightness of butterflies as I entered the room. Colt’s eyes held a strong element of hot, provoking intensity as I strolled in.
“Hi, Amber.” He almost breathed my name. Hot damn.
“Hi, Colt. You’re looking well.” A blatant, ballsy lie. He was looking more than good. His steamy blue eyes had me hooked, along with his rippling forearms that I wanted around me. Faded tattoos peeked out the sleeves of his tawny-colored prison uniform, making him the ultimate bad boy.
“Thanks. I look as well as a prisoner can look. Granted, I won’t be one for long. You look really nice. I like your lipstick.” A wide, flirty grin followed the statement. So he did notice. It was worth the effort. I wanted him to look at me. I wanted him to notice.
“Thanks, Colt. It’s a new color that I’m trying out.”
He grabbed the water jug and poured me a glass of water, handing it to me. “With or without makeup, you look beautiful. I hope you don’t mind me saying.” His hooded eyes scanned me with appreciation.
“No. I don’t. I can take a compliment,” I answered flirtatiously.
“Good.” He sank a little lower in his seat as I pulled out his documents. “I have some news for you. It’s about Hector. I’m going to need your help, though. If he doesn’t get this sorted out now, he’s in trouble. I have three months to go. Otherwise, my hands are tied. If I can’t get out, I won’t be able to set up this prison debt overhaul. You scratch my back, and I scratch yours.” Colt’s creamy voice let me know he was a good negotiator. My tongue was dry, so I took a sip of water. I felt like I was between a rock and a hard place. I loved my brother more than anything.
“Colt. I personally don’t see why that can’t happen. The crime you committed was, you know, not one of a killer. It’s not like you’re a threat to society. You’re not a drug runner, either.” I put on my thinking cap. “I think we can win an appeal of your parole denial due to overcrowding because you have the extenuating circumstance of threats to your safety. This combined with the fact you’re not a threat to society and with the pettiness of the crime we have to have a good shot.”
The sexual chemistry between us caused my voice to break into a croak. Colt wouldn’t stop looking at me. A painful silence made the room’s tiny noises seem loud.
“Are we going to address this?” He flicked his finger back and forth like a needle, indicating us.
“I mean, it’s not a good situation. It doesn’t look good.” I slid a piece of my hair between my fingers, casting my eyes down. As I looked up, the intensity that Colt displayed was unmatched and being channeled toward me.
“I could care less what looks good, Amber. We look good. I want to get to know you better. I don’t think I’m alone in this. Am I?”
Colts biceps flexed as he slid back up in his chair. My body was radiating heat from top to toe.
“No. You’re not alone in it, but it’s a delicate situation and one to be handled carefully. I don’t want to lose my job,” I declared.
Colt’s handsome smile with those deep dimples made me smile. “It’s okay. That’s all I need to know for now. We can get back to the formalities if you need to.”
I paused for a minute and took a sip of water. I needed it. “Bella is doing great. She wanted me to give you this.” I slid over a picture of her patting Moonlight’s head.
The last time I saw Bella, she gave it to me. She’d asked, “Can you please give this to Daddy, Amber? I know he will be worried about Moonlight. I want him to know his big girl is taking care of her. She’s in good hands.”
Colt lingered over the picture for a long time. I watched as the tears welled up in his eyes. In a very masculine way, he wiped them away as soon as they came.
“My sweet girl. Tell her to hold on. I’m going to be out of here. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, of course I can. And you will be. I know the judge on your case. I’m going to make a call to him as soon as I leave.”
Colt’s face was stoic. “I know not to get my hopes up with these overcrowding parole board appeals, but thank you. If you can get me the fuck out of this piece of shit, I will be eternally grateful. Plus, I know I can help Hector. I know some people that owe me, and they will cover that debt. It’s a done deal.”
“Colt, are you sure? I don’t want you taking money out of your pocket.”
“No, it’s not like that. It won’t be coming out of my pocket. I have some associates. Probably the fewer questions you ask about that, the better.”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Okay. I guess that’s what I have for you today. We are making progress. Let me work on the parole board member and see if we can get a hearing date, at least.”
“You really are an angel sent to me.”
I knew I was blushing because I could feel it. “Thank you, Colt.”
“If we didn’t have that prison guard standing right there. I would kiss you.”
Nine
Colt
