“Arguing with your stubborn ass is a waste of time.” Wally laid the dowel aside. He lifted his hands, palms parallel and mimed a forward-moving tunnel. “You get locked into this perspective and there’s no shaking you, no matter how damaging to yourself that perspective is.”
“Thank you for letting it go, then.”
“I think you like it.” Wally folded his arms over his chest. “Being limited by your own guilt. Gives you a nice, safe little rut to exist in.”
Fury left an acrid smell in his nose. “I exist just fine.”
“You know Holly Callahan isn’t going to put up with your bullshit long term.” Wally made a noise in his throat. “Maybe she’ll be able to shift you, since Andy and I haven’t been able to in damn near a decade.”
His breath grew short in his suddenly tight chest. He wasn’t stupid, and Wally was right – Holly wouldn’t be satisfied with his rut for very long, which meant she wouldn’t be satisfied with him very long.
Nothing new there.
A cloying nausea pushed into his throat. Shit, he was stupid . . . he hadn’t thought any of this out. She’d stepped into his arms that first night, kissed him, and all he’d seen was what he wanted, how he might finally have . . .
Damnit.
That was his problem, he never thought ahead. He just did stuff and picked up the pieces afterward. And he’d not thought ahead, considered that if he let her in, she’d end up picking up pieces, too. The idea of that, of hurting her, made him sick.
Maybe he needed to offer her an out now, before it was too late.
Chapter Twelve
Shoulders aching from her camera strap and lugging equipment bags, Holly made the turn onto her street. Her stomach had a funny little knot in it, the same one that had wedged itself there when she’d caught her breath after her first session and checked her phone to find texts from her mama, Barb, Lorraine and even Tick — but radio silence from Colt. Somehow, even after waking in his arms, kissing him goodbye over vague plans to work dinner out later, the lack of communication made her nervous.
“Stop worrying so much, Holly Noelle.” She flicked her bangs away from her eyes. The day had been long, she was hungry, and being tired made her irrational.
She’d stop at Grace’s, go home and love on Polo, clean up and call him. They’d figure out dinner and—
Why was his truck at Andy and Grace’s?
“Okay, now you’re being ridiculous,” she scolded herself, slowing to turn into the drive behind Grace’s Tahoe. “The man has friends. He needs to get out, too.”
He could have texted herHey, hanging out at Andy’s, but they could hash that out another time. She hadn’t texted him either as she’d dashed from Radium Springs to the Riverquarium to make her second appointment.
Slipping from behind the wheel, she grabbed Grace’s clothing purchases from the backseat and walked to the side door under the carport. A light breeze, holding a hint of the cold front coming through, played with her bangs, flipping them across her brow. Male voices and childish shouts carried over the white privacy fence. A familiar deep laugh made her smile. She loved that sound, and oh, he didn’t laugh enough.
The door with its tall window swung open as she reached the single step, and Grace greeted her with a wide smile, brown hair loose around her shoulders, hazel eyes warm with welcome. “Hey! I thought that was you pulling up. Come on in.”
“Brought your stuff.” Holly shook the hangers so the plastic garment bag rattled.
Grace’s already bright smile hit megawatt level. “I am so excited. Grab a cup and pour yourself some tea or Coke while I put these in the bedroom.”
Red Solo cups waited on the counter with a couple of two-liter sodas, sharing space with bags of chips and buns, yellow plastic dollar-store bags discarded on the counter. Holly grabbed a cup and filled it with ice and water, her gaze drawn to the big fenced backyard. A massive bag of charcoal slumped next to Andy’s grill, and a serious game of basketball was underway on the concrete pad next to his metal shed, Andy and Colt playing with Raley, DJ and Blake.
Making a show of guarding DJ, Colt brushed his ruffled hair off his forehead and threw his arms up, grinning as DJ made a basket worthy of David back when they’d all been kids. He laughed and fist bumped DJ, taking the ball out to the grass sideline. Sheer joy lit his entire face, transforming him. Her heart clenched.
Sheknewhim, but when was the last time she’d seen that man? Maybe never, because the last time she’d seen that look on his face, he’d still been a boy, on the cusp of manhood. They’d all been at the lake, wakeboarding with Mr. D’s boat. He’d had the redhead from ABAC with him, and he’d smiled at her like that, dropped an arm about her shoulders and tucked her into him for a kiss on the dock. A tinge of sunburn atop his tan, he’d laughed with Tick over falling and getting water up his nose.
Lord, that had been so long ago, an eternity without joy. The idea broke her heart.
Warm hands landed on her shoulders, squeezing. “That is one of my favorite things, them playing like that.”
Holly turned her head, the serious set of Grace’s eyes telling her she meant Andy and Colt, not the boys. She shifted her gaze back to the yard, his joy an irresistible draw. “He’s relaxed. Happy.”
“Hmm. It doesn’t happen often.” Grace dropped her hands and took a step back. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Dragging her attention from the athletic ease of his long body and that gorgeous grin, she slanted a quizzical look at Grace.
