“She needs another pet,” Natalie said, jokingly. “Or a houseplant.”
“Hey, not my place to tell her that.” Colt smiled. “I should leave you alone then.”
“Yeah. It’s been a rough day at work; I need some sleep. Plus, Nugget is here to guard me.” She opened the crate and Nugget ran straight for Colt.
“Nug!” Natalie scolded, but Nugget jumped up, planting both paws square on Colt’s chest and started licking his chin.
“Good boy,” Colt said, scratching Nugget’s head and easing him back to the floor. The dog made his way to the door and waited there. “I think he needs to go out.”
“Come on. I’ll walk you out.” Natalie took Nugget’s leash off a coat hook and clipped it onto his collar.
Colt held open the building’s front door for her, and stood beside her as Nugget sniffed out the roots of each tree on the street.
“Seems clear,” Colt said. “I think he’s gone.”
“Are you performing reconnaissance right now?” Natalie smiled. “You’re a real pro, aren’t you.”
Colt shrugged. “Habit.” He looked up between buildings at the sky. “Not many stars up there.”
“I know. And the street lights are a poor substitute. I miss the night sky in Alabama.” Natalie called Nugget back to her. “Well, I think he’s finished here.”
“Alright,” Colt said. He stroked the smooth fur down Nugget’s long back. “Be a good boy, and protect your momma.”
Nugget wagged his tail.
“He likes you,” Natalie said.
“He has good taste.” Colt winked at Natalie, then reached into his pocket. “I’m giving you my card. It has my cell number on it, in case anyone bothers you.”
“Does Rusty charge by the hour? I could tell him I needed you all night.” Natalie pinked as soon as the words were out of her mouth; her joke truthful in a way she hadn’t meant it to sound. She was glad for the dark, hoping Colt wouldn’t see the redness she felt heating her face.
“If you need me all night, you let me know.” Colt pushed the card into her hand and smiled again, his face even more handsome up-close. “Goodnight, Natalie.” He turned and walked to the end of the block, his figure broad and assertive compared to the people he passed as he crossed the street.
Natalie gripped the card, bending it, before realizing she was staring after him, still fixated on the shape of his body in those snug khaki pants. She took Nugget inside, accosted again by the scent of the flowers Gavin had left littered across her apartment. She began gathering them out of their vases and shoving them into a trash bag, cinching it tight to cut off the smell.
Natalie took out her phone and entered Colt’s number into her contacts. “Just in case,”she told herself. She put it on speed dial, then texted Kaylin.You win, she wrote.I’ll take one bodyguard. Temporarily. She hit send, then added:As long as it’s Colt.
You got it, Kaylin wrote back. Thirty seconds later, she texted again:winky face, heart, eggplant emoji.
