She huffed. “I saw you kiss Colton.”
I swallowed hard and looked back at Billy. “Did you get what you needed?”
“Yup,” she said, not bothering to hide the fact that she was staring at the redhead.
“Great, thanks.” I tucked my hair back behind my ears and decided to play Corporate Allegra. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve properly met.” I stuck my hand out. “I’m Allegra Ford.”
She stared at it. “I don’t care. I just wanted to warn you to stay away from Colton, or any of those Nash boys, for that matter.”
She said “Nash” like it tasted bad on her cherry red lips.
“Oh?” I lowered my hand awkwardly. “Why’s that?”
She didn’t hesitate before jumping into her story. “We dated for a year. A YEAR. He asked me out. Took me horse ridin’ with the kids. He was the first to kiss me. I was practically part of the family. He told me he loved me, all that. Then one day, just drops me. Tells me, ‘I’m sorry, but it’s over.’ Hasn’t spoken a word to me since.”
Asked me out. Horse ridin’ with the kids—the first to kiss me.
I was practically part of the family.
Her words stung. I swallowed hard and crossed my arms over my chest. “There has to be more to the story than that,” I said, mostly to myself.
“Nope.”
I glanced across the arena.
Colton was standing at the NFR booth, shaking hands with a sharply dressed man.
There was no way this genuine man, who had spent the past weeks being nothing but a gentleman, would do something so heartless. I was reeling.
“Girl code, right?” She said, her voice begging to be thanked for her efforts.
“Yeah,” I muttered, still staring at Colton.
“See ya around.”
Colton caught my eye and smiled.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“I was practically part of the family.”
I was shoving clothes in my suitcase as hard and fast as I could, anger flooding my veins.
Sothis is whattheydid? They brought you into their home, fed you a meal, gave you a bed, and offered one of their hot sons to date?
I wasn’t special.
My mind was running irrationally fast.
I had faked a stomachache with Billy and left the arena seconds after talking to Colton’s ex. I grabbed a taxi to the Nash home as fast as I legally could.
Rain poured on the car, making me feel even more anxious.
I knew this would be the only time the house would be empty. I could leave without having to explain myself to anyone.
Once my clothes were shoved away, I made the bed, picked up my suitcase and laptop bag, and slammed the bedroom door behind me.
I was going to find the first stupid hotel in that stupid town. I was going to put up the Do Not Disturb sign and not come out until the rodeo tomorrow. I was going to do my work, keep my head down, and get out of Oklahoma as fast as possible.
