“Fine.” She sighed. “If you were here in Charlotte full-time, then things might be different. But hypotheticals are worthless, because the fact is, you’re not.”
Rather than frown, as she’d expected, something akin to hope shone behind Coulter’s magnetic gaze.
“What if I told you I’m leaving the agency?”
Alex didn’t dare let herself hope. “Colt, don’t?—”
“I’m serious, Alex. Once this thing with Crawford is put to bed, I’m out.”
Her pulse raced, and her heart pounded hard against her ribs. She searched his blue stare, looking for so much as the slightest sign of deception.
“I can’t tell if you’re lying,” she whispered.
And wasn’t that the crux of the problem? Her inability to know for sure whether he was telling her the truth.
“I’m not lying.” He took another step forward. “I put my papers in after L.A.”
“Why after L.A.?”
“Relax.” Colt smirked. “I’ve been tossing around the idea of leaving for about a year.”
“So it has nothing to do with me?”
His spicy male scent consumed her as he stopped well within her personal space. “I didn’t say that,” he rumbled low. “But you’re not the only reason.”
“You’ve been with the CIA for a long time, Colt. Why do you want to leave now?”
“It’s time.” He shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a fun ride. But I’m ready for a change.”
“And you think you’ll find it here?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure. What I do know is I have to at least try.”
“Try what, exactly?”
“Putting down roots. And I’d really like it if I could start with you.”
“You want to put down roots with me?”
“I want to date you,” he amended. “I want us to go to dinner and the movies and do normal couple things.”
“What about work?”
Colt shrugged the concern away. “I’ve already put out a few feelers, and with my background and experience, finding steady employment won’t be an issue. The thing that worries me, theonlything that’s been keepingme up at night, is not knowing what’s going to happen between us.”
Alex stared back at him, unable to find the words to form a proper response. Countless questions and thoughts swirled around in her head as a wave of emotion caused her heart to swell.
“You want to . . . date me?”
“Among other things,” Colt rumbled, his kissable lips rising into a breath-stealing grin.
“What about Garrett?”
“Meh.” He shrugged. “The guy’s cute enough, I suppose. But I have no interest in dating him. Plus, he’s my brother, so that would make things even more awkward than they already?—”
“I’m serious, Colt.” Alex crossed her arms at her chest like before. “Have you even told him you’re CIA?”
“Not yet, but I will.”
