“What? What else have you done now?”
Colin curled his lips in and smiled. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you, but I might as well tell you now, in case they say something to you.”
“Tell me what?” I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
He smirked. “Yesterday, when you stormed off the field, Lennox asked if he could help with anything. I kinda told your friends I did it on purpose because I like fucking with you.”
“No the fuck you didn’t.”
“Yes the fuck I did. And…” he dragged out, “I mentioned you needed a pint and a good lay.”
I slapped my hand over my face. “Tell me that’s all you said. You didn’t tell them…”
“No! But… I might have said you were high-strung like a ram… that needs his balls removed.”
Groaning, I sighed and shook my head. “I fucking hate you.”
He gave me that smile that never failed to make me hard. “No, ya don’t. Ya really don’t.”
“Keep thinking that,” I said as I shoved him out of the way. “I’ll see you at home.”
“Okay. I’m heading out to some place called the Squid with a couple of the boys.”
I turned and pointed at him. “Behave yourself. We’ll finish this conversation when you get home.”
I headed to the shower, ready to get the fuck out of there, marveling at how I’d let this happen.
When I got back, Allister was curled up on the sofa next to me, while I watched a re-run of a match between England and Wales, when Colin came looking for him.
It had been a couple of hours, and I’d had time to process the day. As much as I hated what he said about Leland, it put a lot of things into perspective for me.
“Did ya steal my cat again, St. James?” he said, walking in the back door.
Running my hand over Allister’s fur, I smiled. “It’s not stealing when he breaks in. Besides, he’s here to see Bella.”
Colin walked over and sat down on the sofa next to me, taking in his cat. I could smell his cologne and the fruity shampoo he used.
“He likes it here.”
I nodded, rubbing the side of his face as he purred. “Seems that way.”
Colin leaned into me and rubbed a hand down Allister’s back. His heat pressed into my shoulder, bringing us as close to one another as we’d been on the field.
I was tired of the game we were playing.
“I’m sorry I lost my shit on you today, but you scare the shit out of me sometimes.”
He shook his head. “No, I pushed you. Don’t know why I find it so entertaining to shove you out of your comfort zone. Don’t know why I do it.”
Turning, I took a long look at him before I spoke.
“It took me a while to figure out why you act the way you do. But it all makes sense now.”
He sat back and leveled me with a serious expression. “What’s that?”
Shifting on the sofa to face him, I met his brown eyes. “It’s your defense mechanism. Before you came here, everyone in your life left you. And the hurt little boy in you thinks it’s something you did or how you act. Because of them, you only allow yourself to get just so close before you retreat to protect yourself.”
Colin swallowed. “Maybe.”
