"When you met Ruby Sue?" she asks, and I can hear the uneasiness in her tone.
I nod.
"Did she do it?"
I shake my head, and I can see Penny visibly relax. "The owner of the shop she works at did." We both sit up, so I can flip my arm over and show her the underside. "I got Connor's name weaved into it here," I say, pointin' to my wrist. Connor's name is in one of the thick, black stripes. Penny stares closely at the tattoo, and I can see the sadness in her eyes when she spots his name.
"Connor was always like the little brother I never had. He was a great kid."
My throat works over a swallow, and it takes me a while before I can say anything. "Yeah, he was."
"I'm sorry, Colt," she whispers. "I know you don't like talking about your past."
I look at her and give her a small smile. "I don't mind right now." And that's the truth. For once in the time since the accident, I'm not gettin' angry from talkin' about the past. Maybe that's a sign of better things to come, because I know I can't keep livin' angry at the world and pushin' everyone close to me away. I wasn't happy before…but I feel happy now.
Her fingers venture over my muscular chest and skim over my hard abs, causin' them to ripple under her touch. "You were never this built when I knew you."
"No?"
"No." She flashes me a grin and says, "Not that I'm complaining." Her smile slowly fades, and I can practically hear the wheels in her head turnin' as she thinks. "A lot has changed over the years, I guess." Her stormy gray eyes blink up to me. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you through it all," she whispers brokenly.
"The what ifs and the past don't matter, Penny. You're here now." I know I'm right on that. We can't change anything that happened before today, but we can make sure our future is great.
Bendin' down, she places a kiss on my chest right over my heart, and it makes me smile. How did I get so damn lucky to have this wonderful girl in my life…twice? I'll be damned if I'm gonna let her go again. I'm gonna hold on so damn tight this time.
I just hope I don't do anything to screw it all up.
CHAPTER 16
PENNY
"KEEP YOUR HANDS to yourself," I whisper, scolding Colton when he grabs my waist from behind. I'm in the middle of cooking an order, and this is the tenth time since I walked through the door that Colton has had his hands on me. "I'm not burning another order of fries."
"Fuck the fries," he says as he whirls me around in his arms. His lips are on mine in seconds, and I can't help but kiss him back. We make out like the world is coming to an end and we need each other to breathe. It's bizarre how our relationship has taken such a sharp turn and gone upside down and in another direction.
The beeper for the fries has been going off, and I can smell the smoke coming from the fryer. But I'm lost in Colton's arms, and time seems to disappear there.
"Oh, for the love of ---. What the hell is that smell?" Buddy yells, running into the room just as the smoke alarm starts beeping.
I break away from Colton and quickly pull up the order of burnt-to-a crisp fries. "Shit," I mutter under my breath.
Colton grabs a dishrag and fans away the smoke as Buddy opens the back door. Most of the smoke travels outside, and the smoke alarm eventually stops beeping.
We turn to Buddy, who does not look like a happy camper. "Colt, do you think you can keep your hands off Penny for five minutes while she makes these orders?"
Colton chuckles, but quickly nods when Buddy flashes him the evil eye.
Buddy shakes his head. "You know, I think I liked it better when y'all hated each other," he says before walking back out to the bar.
We both bust up laughing after he's gone. "You're getting me in trouble," I scold Colt.
He wraps his arms around me again and plants a kiss on my neck. "It's worth it."
"I don't hear food bein' made!" Buddy calls from out front.
Chuckling, Colton kisses me quickly on the lips and then slowly backs away with his hands up defensively. "I'll go sit in my office and let him cool down a bit."
I grin at him. "Don't stay away too long."
