“He’s too . . . ”
“Hot?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It’s true though, admit it.” Kaylin winked. “Colt is a sweetheart. A deadly sweetheart, though, don’t be fooled. You’d be safe. He’d get some experience. Everyone wins.”
“I don’t think I’ll be comfortable with this.”
Kaylin stood, counting bills out of her purse. “Lunch is on me. Welcome back.”
“More like lunch and a bodyguard,” Natalie frowned.
“Is that a yes?”
“Not sure.”
“Just think about it, please? You’ll never know he’s there.”
Natalie crossed her arms, picturing Colt pacing four steps behind her, waiting outside her apartment, watching her through a window. She thought of the way his polo tucked cleanly into his khakis; his abs were probably rippled under that shirt. She’d rather be the one who did the watching. She shook her head; Kaylin was being ridiculous. Natalie would never be able to relax, knowing a man like Colt was following her every move. At least if Gavin was the one doing it, Natalie wouldn’t care what she looked like. Maybe if she gained as much weight as Gavin liked to warn her about, he’d leave her alone. Natalie ate the French fry.
“You don’t have to decide right now, but will you check in with me when you get home tonight? I don’t trust that maniac not to be waiting for you at the end of your shift.”
“He doesn’t know my schedule; I just came off nights.” Natalie glanced at her phone, the number of missed calls and texts piling up. Now she wasn’t sure that was true—Gavin had a way of finding out everything there is to know about her.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re back. Call. Tonight. Promise?”
“Fine. You’re worse than my mom.”
“I love your mom,” Kaylin said as she rushed out of the restaurant.
Natalie ate another fry off of Kaylin’s plate, then threw down a few more dollars for the tip. She thought of Colt’s hands on her foot, the strength he probably had in each finger. She pictured those fingers walking up her leg, her thigh. She shook her head again. She’d be lucky to date anyone decent after all the years she had wasted on Gavin. Natalie grabbed her purse, glancing at her phone. Eight missed calls from Gavin, her skin crawled. Maybe Kaylin’s idea wasn’t so bad? She wiped the grease off her hands and left the restaurant, checking each booth that she passed for her ex, her stomach tight. She shouldn’t be so anxious about seeing him, right?
The bouquet of fresh flowers on the host’s stand at the door assaulted her with the scent of roses and lilies as she passed out the door. Her stomach turned again. Gavin had sent her roses and lilies in Alabama, their scent filling the foyer before her mother packed them in the car to donate to the nursing home across town. Gavin had ruined roses and lilies for her, her favorite flowers.
“That bastard,” she said under her breath. Kaylin might be right. She’d consider accepting her offer.
