Colton picked up as many kids as he could, making his muscles practically break through his denim shirt, and threw them all down at once. They laughed so hard they couldn’t breathe.
He glanced up at me, breathing hard, a wide smile on his face. “Sure, Mamma. Follow me, Ally.”
I turned to leave and found Jimmy’s wife, AnnaJane, standing in front of me, holding her hand out. “I’ll take that, girly!” She announced.
She was tall, towering over me, with big black southern hair and rosy cheeks. “Oh, thank you.” I handed her the rag.
As I was walking away, she smacked my butt. I turnedaround in surprise, and she was holding up two thumbs, her smile huge. Though a few weeks ago, I would’ve been appalled, today, I laughed. I couldn’t wait to get to know her more.
Colton was waiting in the hall, carrying my bag and briefcase. “Did I give you enough warning about the madness?”
I glanced back at the living room as we walked. Dennis, who was crawling on all fours, chased the kids around. Jimmy, AnnaJane, Alan, and Erin were sitting back at the table, playing a card game. Jo was talking to Miley, throwing her hands up to animate her story. Dean was doing his dishes. “This isn’t even close to madness,” I said quietly.
Colton stopped in front of a bedroom and shoved the door open. “This was mine and Jimmy’s room.” He said sheepishly, stepping aside to let me in.
It was adorable.
Two twin metal poster beds on either side of the room, each had a vintage rodeo poster hanging above. Colton’s, I assumed, had a cowboy on a bucking horse. Jimmy’shad a cowboy on a bull. The bedspreads, which looked hand-sewn, had little Western pictures scattered around them. A wooden rocking horse sat next to a box of farm toys and stuffed animals.
The only indication that Colton had grown in this room, and that it wasn’t frozen in time, was the hundreds of medals and trophies decorating a wall.
I wandered to the trophy wall. “Humble,” I teased, throwing a smile over my shoulder to let him know I was kidding.
Colton was leaning against the doorframe, refusing to enter the room. He chuckled. “You can thank Mamma for that.”
I picked up the biggest trophy. “Mutton Bustingchampion?”
He held up three fingers. “Three years in a row.”
“Impressive.” I set the trophy back down and sat on the edge of his bed. “Your room is cute. Where are you sleeping?”
He looked as if he wanted to come in and join me, but hesitated. “Dean and I are on the bunk beds, right across the hall if you need anything in the night…” He took a long breath. “So, the bathroom is just right out here. Dean and I will stay out of your way, just remember to lock the door, because he has a horrible habit of barging in without knockin’.”
I nodded and smiled, but inside, I was freaking out. Sharing a bathroom with Colton Nash? It’s very possible that it was more intimate than sharing a bedroom.
Finally, he squeezed his hands a couple of times and crossed the threshold. He sat next to me, pretending to be as cool as a cucumber.
I stared at Jimmy’s bed, doing my best to breathe normally.
“Do you have plans tomorrow?” He asked, pretending not to notice when our pinkies slumped together.
I shook my head. Tomorrow was Thursday. I didn’t have plans until the rodeo that evening, which obviously he would be attending as well. “No plans.”
He nodded, sucking his cheek in and chewing it. “Good, that’s good, because the kids want to go on a horse ride, and I’d love to bring you along.” He turned and looked at me, his full attention onme.
I worked up enough courage to face him, smelling the familiar peppermint gum.
Colton’s bright green eyes were pinned on mine. He swallowed, his mouth slightly open. He was so handsome. “I, um, I want to get to know you, Ally. I want to know you really well.”
I could feel my hand getting sweaty on the bedspread. His pinky twitched on mine. I could feel the heat inmy cheeks. My face was as serious as his as I answered, “I want to know you, too, Colton.”
He had a single curl on his forehead, begging to be touched. I felt it like a magnet, being pulled without any say in the matter. He was getting closer too, the smell of his gum and cologne getting stronger.
I licked my lips.
He took a deep breath.
My eyes darted to his mouth.
