Perhaps not.
A quick glance over either side of his shoulders told him Colette had found the quietest retreat off the ballroom. They were completely alone for now.
“If you think this is creepy, you don’t want to know how much time I’ve spent watching you,” Marshall admitted. “People kept pulling me aside to chat and I could barely focus. I’m starting to think you deliberately picked this dress to distract me.” He fingered the fabric of her gown.
“You had a lot of attention. I kind of assumed you were enjoying it.”
“This is a foreign world to me now. So much posing and showboating. Glamour porn isn’t my thing anymore,” he said with a chuckle. “I much prefer being at the ranch.”
“Yeah, I guess I got used to the quiet in the country, too,” she mused, eyes moving back to watch the cars and people out the window. Feeling indulgent, Marshall wrapped both his hands around her waist and pulled her close.
His chest hollowed out as she leaned back against it.
Holding her felt so damn right.
“We probably need to get back. Unless you’ve had enough?” He watched as she dug her top teeth into her glossy bottom lip. He was tempted to kiss her again, but only if she was open to revealing their relationship to his family.
There was still too much up in the air right now, especially with them living apart. They had been on one date, well, maybe two if he counted the time they spent together after karaoke night at The Dusty Spur. And that wasn’t really a proper date, if he thought about it. Just a hell of a lot of fun.
So there it was, the confusion. If he couldn’t get their relationship straight, how on earth could he expect her to?
“Have you had enough? It seems like so many people in there were excited to see you,” she said. The way her eyes searched his for reassurance broke his heart.
“It’s nice seeing everyone again, but I don’t miss the artifice, the pleasantries, the same boring jokes about golf swings and who everyone wants to hook up with. Some of the guys I hung out with in university are newly divorced and on the prowl.” Marshall shivered.
Colette’s gaze dipped to the side, and something clutched at his heart.
“Tell you what,” he began. “Let’s go in there, sit at the table with the family and you can catch me up on what you’ve found in our files. We’ll enjoy a nice dinner and maybe some dancing.”
Her face brightened at the reminder of their quasi-investigation. She took the arm he offered. Surely no one would read too much into him escorting her to the ballroom like a gentleman. It wasn’t like they could read his thoughts as his eyes devoured the soft shuffle of fabric against her lush curves. Stealing two glasses of champagne, they found their assigned table, where Roger and Simone shared lingering, flirty looks. Marshall rolled his eyes at the display.
“Did Lucinda find you?” Roger asked with a grin. “She was very eager to catch up with you after all this time. Nearly panting with excitement.”
Marshall groaned and gritted his teeth. He remembered Lucinda. She loved to call him Marshy and parade him around like a trophy when they hung out at parties. Her territorial behavior made him uncomfortable, especially when he had never made any promises or commitments. He had dropped her so fast after a few hook-ups. Back then, that was all that he wanted.
“Wasn’t she married?” he asked.
“She was, but now she’s a divorcée looking for her next conquest. Be warned.” His brother’s gaze flicked to Colette.
Marshall shrugged and pulled out her chair.
Her lips pressed together tightly, indicating how much she hated this conversation.
He hated making her feel anything but cared for. Colette might not be confident in his feelings for her, but he was. There was no chance he would spend even a minute entertaining Lucinda when Colette had his focus completely. Bringing his hand to the back of her chair when he sat, he brushed his thumb along the top of her dress. Even if it wasn’t an open declaration, he wanted his intentions to be clear.
There was no other woman who could catch his eye.
He belonged to Colette, body and soul, for as long as she wanted him.
“Even if she finds me, she’s barking up the wrong tree,” Marshall said. The last thing he wanted was Lucinda latching onto him or worse, bothering Colette. The sooner everyone understood where his interest lay, the better.
By the seventh speech, he was whispering into Colette’s ear and tapping his brother on the shoulder. It was time to make an exit. Marshall watched as she left the room first, weaving her way through the tables. He couldn’t keep his eyes off her dress, the way the fabric draped over her body, and the flowers dotted the delicate tulle. His hands itched to peel it off her skin and kiss each and every spot the beautiful blooms touched.
He owed her a waterfall of worshipful caresses, one for each second, they had to spend apart. One for each time he thought of her when he was supposed to be working. One for each time he looked for her around the ranch while going about his day. He was eager to make up for the time they had lost.
Marshall gave Simone and Roger a quick wave, hoping his brother would cover for him and his quick departure. Understanding hung between them. Roger knew he was uncomfortable in these types of situations and understood without words why he preferred to leave without any fanfare.
When he stepped out into the hallway, he spotted Colette standing nervously, one hand gripping her arm and the other casually holding the clutch.
