That really didn’t make me feel warm and fuzzy, but couldn’the have just called me?If he had my address, then he had my cell.
The smile transformed and his face softened.“Yeah, Icould’ve called you and told you that.”
My chin jerked up as I almost dropped my cup.“Can you readminds?Oh man, I hope not.”
His gaze did that slow slide again.“Now I’m curious to whatI’d discover if I could read your mind.”
I widened my eyes and said nothing because seriously, mymind was one step from face planting in the gutter when he was around.
Reaching over, he tapped his fingers on my arm.“I didn’twant to just call you.”
“Oh,” I repeated.Goodness, I had this conversation thingdown pat.It wasn’t my fault.The tapping of his fingers had sent a fine shiverup my arm.
“And I was in the mood for crepes,” he continued.“And whenyou’re in the mood for crepes, you want to share them with a pretty lady.”
My mouth opened but there were no words.
He chuckled as he rose.“I have to get going.”
“Okay,” I murmured, putting my cup on the table.I stood,following him to the door, and when he stopped suddenly, I nearly bounced offhis back.His playful grin once again made an appearance.“Sorry.”
Colton tilted his head to the side.“I’ll be in touch,Abby.”
As he left and I closed the door behind him, I leanedforward, gently knocking my forehead against it as I tried to stop my waywardthoughts from making a bigger deal out of his visit than I should.
But it was hard.
“Ugh.”I pressed my forehead against the door and groaned.
Colton was an admitted flirt—an outrageous one.That waswhat he had to be doing because there was no way that it could be anythingelse.After all, how could it?Not when he was engaged six months ago, and hehadn’t said who ended the relationship.
Besides, I wasn’t his type.I wasn’t cutting myself short byacknowledging that.Colton was…he was gorgeous.The kind of masculine beautythat could grace the covers of the books I edited, and he was alsosweet—charming, and from what I remembered, intelligent to boot.And me?
I was the kind of woman who got the guy in the books.
But not in real life.
Never in real life.
Chapter 5
“Oh my gosh, that is so scary.”Jillian brushed theheavy fringe of dark brown bangs out of her wide brown eyes.“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”A little concealer had covered the tiny cuts onmy face, and the palms of my hands only stung every so often.“It was scary andso unexpected.”
“Who would expect that?Ugh.”Jillian glanced down at herempty plates.We’d demolished our dinner and then our cheesecakes.“I can’teven imagine.I probably would’ve run screaming and flailing in the otherdirection.”
“That’s pretty much what I did.”I eyed the tiny crumb ofcake on my plate and wondered how gluttonous I’d be if I ate that last piece.
“And that’s probably why you’re alive,” she replied.“Evenmy father would have a hard time justifying a fight strategy rather than aflight one.”
Jillian’s father owned Lima Academy, and the sprawlingbuilding in downtown Philadelphia was more than just a gym.It was one of thepremier mixed martial arts training facilities in the world.Jillian’s father,skilled in his native Brazilian jiu jitsu, could’ve probably used his ninjastealth and taken the guys out with his karate skills.
“Speaking of your father, how is he handling the idea of youleaving in the spring?”I asked, changing the subject.
She cringed as she leaned back against the booth, foldingher arms across her chest.Tension seeped into her pretty features.“He’s stillnot exactly thrilled about it.He doesn’t like the idea of me not being withinhis eyesight.Like something’s going to…” She trailed off, shaking her head.“Anyway, do you still want to go to that signing Tuesday night?”
“Tiffany King’s signing?Hell yeah.”I relaxed when agenuine smile crossed her face.Conversations about her dad were usually a deadend.“She’s going to be signingA Shattered Moment.”
