“Because that’syourmoney. Your family money, and the money you earned as a Marine. It’s not mine to use.”
“It will always be yours to use because you’re my wife, and it’s my job to make sure you have what you need.”
“Idohave what I need.”
“You barely have food, heat, or transport! Let me take care of you.”
“Colt. I’m okay.”
He didn’t look like he believed her. Another step forward. “I want to stay here in case my father makes an appearance.”
“No.” She shook her head as if to emphasize just how much of a no it was.
“Why not?”
“Because we’re not ready for that. A couple months ago I was signing our divorce papers.”
“I never wanted that. And neither did you.”
It was true. But no way was she admitting that out loud right now.
When he touched her hip, she pressed a hand to his chest, intending to push him away, but she realized his shirt was soaked. “Hang on, I have some of your old shirts. I’ll grab you one.”
She walked away, speeding out of the kitchen and into her bedroom. In the bottom dresser, she pulled out one of his shirts.
“You kept them in there.”
She jumped. Jesus Christ, he moved quietly. “Yeah. I boxed a lot of stuff and took other things to your mom’s, but I kept this drawer. I’m not sure why.”
Lie. She knew exactly why. Because the thought of removing the last bit of Colt from the home hurt. And she’d already been hurting too much.
When she handed him the shirt, their fingers touched, and a bolt of electricity shot down her arm.
She wasn’t sure what she expected, but the second he tugged off his wet shirt, air stalled in her lungs. Good God. The man was just as sculpted as the last time she’d seen him. Maybe more.
The urge to touch him was so intense that she actually shoved her hands behind her back to stop herself.
When she looked back up at his eyes, it was to see him watching her, desire aimed back at her. A desire that matched her own.
“When you look at me like that, going slow is the last thing on my mind,” he whispered.
Hers too. But slow was smart, wasn’t it? A year ago, she’d been a shell of the person she was today. She had to make sure she was safe in this relationship. That he would choose her over anything else.
She took a quick step back and cleared her throat. “Thank you for saving me today, Colt.”
“I’ll always save you, Cricket. And these conversations…about me staying close and money…aren’t over.” He tugged the shirt over his head. But before leaving, he stepped forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
And she felt that kiss everywhere. In her toes. Her blood. Even her bones.
“Lock up after me.” His warm breath brushed over her skin.
Then he walked out, but she didn’t move for a full minute after he’d left. All she could do was breathe.
CHAPTER 11
The music was loud in CJ’s bar and the crowd thick. Colt didn’t want to be here. Hell, he didn’t want to be anywhere other than with Indie, but she was having a night with Clara, and he said he’d give her the time she needed, so that’s what he had to do.
In the last week, they’d talked every day. It felt good. Right. But it also wasn’t enough. He wanted to hold his wife. Kiss her. Remind her multiple times a day what she meant to him.
