“Holly.” He stopped short, his stance stiffening, and her heart dropped, that knot growing to a solid lump in her belly. He was surprised to see her, but he wasn’t happy to see her. Lord, that hurt.
Dredging up a smile, she brushed her bangs to the side. “Hey.”
“Miss Holly!” DJ threw his arms about her waist, followed by Blake from the other side. She hugged both boys in, smiling at Raley, who leaned into his mother’s waist and graced her with his shy grin, so much like Andy.
While she greeted the boys, listening to them wax poetic about their basketball skills, Colt exchanged a look with Andy, an almost panicked set to his features. “Come on and I’ll help you . . .”
“Load that stuff,” Andy supplied. A hand at Colt’s shoulder, he steered him toward the door. “Hey, Holly. Be right back, hon, and we’ll get the grill going.”
Shoving Colt ahead of him, Andy dropped a kiss on Grace’s cheek and ruffled Raley’s hair on his way out. Holly blinked at the door as it swung shut behind them. Okay, that reaction really pricked her feelings.
Her gaze jerked to Grace, who looked seriously uncomfortable before she shifted to a serene smile encompassing the three boys. “Who’s thirsty?”
A chorus of “Me!” followed the inquiry, and the awkward movement flowed into the busyness of helping the little boys fill cups with ice and water. From the carport, a couple of thuds carried inside, blended with low male voices. Her stomach folded up all over again, for no discernible reason.
Long minutes later, the men returned. The boys had disappeared into the living room to watch a cartoon and sip water, leaving Grace and Holly to talk about less emotive topics, like clothes and Thanksgiving plans. When Colt followed Andy through the door, Holly honed in on his face, trying to gauge his mood and what was going on.
He was unreadable, expression as blank as those fresh sheets of paper Mr. Davis passed out for his awful cold-read timed essays.
Down the hall, small feet pattered on the hardwood before Laura burst into the room, threw herself at Andy, then spotted Colt. “Coco!”
His features relaxing into an affectionate grin, he held out his arms so she could clamber from Andy’s hold to his. “Well, hey, Lala.”
With a delighted sigh, Laura snuggled into his arms, her head on his shoulder, and popped her thumb into her mouth.Jiggling her so she laughed, Colt rubbed her back. He grinned at Andy over her curly head, and Holly melted. Oh, heavens, that was gorgeous. She wanted–
Yes. She wantedthat, Colt relaxed and happy and loving, holding . . .
Oh. A wide smile pulled at her lips, the way he pulled at her heart.
“Are you going to sing to me?” Mumbling around her thumb, Laura patted his shoulder.
Smiling, he hooked his chin atop her head and flexed his arms about her. “I might.”
“The lollipop song?”
He tightened his embrace. “Of course.”
With a giggle, she lifted her head, levering off his chest to meet his eyes. “We’re having hot dogs.”
“I know.” He hefted her on his arm and smirked at Andy. “But not if your daddy doesn’t start that grill.”
“Suppose you want to show me how to do it right,” Andy returned with mild rancor, and Colt swung Laura to her feet. Hands pressed to the top of the counter, her nose barely at the top of the marble, she clamored for “a sip of soda, Mama.”
“That’s your problem, hon, since you started that little habit.” Shaking his head, Andy clapped a hand on Colt’s shoulder and gave him a light shove toward the back door.
Holly watched him go, the way his long limbs moved in that loose, easy stride of his. How could she want to hurry Tick along when he walked like that and want to do something completely different looking at Colt?
“Yep, that is totallystrong feelingsall over your face.” Grace splashed the barest hint of soda in a cup and handed it to Laura. Holly darted a glance at her, cheeks warm, finding Grace’sstance much more relaxed. “Okay, seeing you look at him like that? I feel much better.”
The evening held more of those moments when she caught a glimpse of the almost-carefree boy she’d once known. There’d always been an edge of solemnity to him, but tonight she saw who he could have been without that long-ago night. A visceral desire that had nothing to do with sex tugged at her.
She wanted to help him live that life, to be the reason he relaxed and smiled and forgot to punish himself.
He was distant tonight, though, holding himself apart from her, friendly and polite, but not her Colton. Her stomach knotted all over again, making eating impossible, even with the perfectly grilled burgers and fresh toppings.
He did sing to Laura, with her on his lap, his fingers a light clasp on her wrists so he guided her in clapping along to “Lollipop.” She giggled, burrowing into his chest once he’d finished, and he laughed, patting her head. While they talked, she sat against his chest, playing with his fingers until her eyelids drooped and she drifted off in his easy hold.
With a quiet chuckle, Andy gathered her up and toted her off to bed. With the boys in Raley’s room playing, they sat around, talking about everything and nothing for another hour, until finally she and Colt took their leave, Andy shaking his hand and Gracie hugging both of them before they stepped into the cool night.
