Page 148 of Colt

I look up at him, a happy bubble expanding inside my breastbone. “So you’re not gonna torpedo my ideas the second I start talking?”

His eyes twinkle. Literally twinkle, like he’s just as amused and suddenly aroused as I am. “I make no promises. But your prospects are looking good.”

“Shucks.” I cluck my tongue. “And here I thought I changed your mind about, well, change. And branding. And your very real need for a new website.”

Those eyes move to my mouth. “You are awful convincing.”

“Thanks.” I exhale. “I’m nervous.”

“What? Why? You gotta know everyone in there loves you.” He tilts his head toward the office. “Everyone already gave you their stamp of approval for Double U. You’re gonna kill it, Lainey.”

I feel like I’m going to vomit, but the smile that spreads across my face will not be held back. “I never in a million years thought you’d be the one to give me a pep talk.”

“Honey, around here, things either never change or they change real fast. You’d best get used to it.”

Both our heads swivel when the door opens. Beck emerges, a knowing grin on his face.

“You two.” He motions to us. “Whoever’s about to go down—I mean whatever is about to go down⁠—”

“Not funny,” Colt grunts.

But I laugh, giddy over the fact that my cowboy is apparently so smitten with me that everybody knows about it. My stomach does a funny little flip when I wonder if Colt has talked to Beck about me. Out of all his brothers, Colt seems closest to his second-in-command.

“—can wait until after Lainey’s presentation,” Beck finishes. “Everyone’s champing at the bit to know what our creative genius here has put together for us.”

I roll my eyes, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I’m no genius⁠—”

“But she is creative, and she’s about to be a big fuckin’ deal in these parts.” Colt puts a hand on my nape and squeezes. “Mark my words.”

Beck’s expression softens as he looks at us. “Y’all are actually pretty damn cute together.”

“Don’t act so surprised,” Colt shoots back. “I can be cute upon occasion.”

I grin. “It seems rare⁠—”

“Like an eclipse.” Beck nods.

“The only shady-ass thing I know is looking right at me,” Colt says, laughing at his own joke. “C’mon, that was good.”

Now Beck is rolling his eyes. “Let’s get this done so we can celebrate.”

But now I’m wondering—are Colt and I together, though? Does he consider me his girlfriend? I haven’t wanted to bring it up because I’m enjoying the hell out of whatever it is we actually are. Still, I’d love for him to make it official, even if that’d make a mess of things for both of us.

Judging by the way he keeps his hand on my neck as we step inside, I’d say he wants to make it official too. But he hasn’t said anything—yet—so really, who knows what happens next?

Yet.

That word keeps pinging around my head. I’m always hearing people say that timing is everything. On paper, our timing is pretty damn terrible. He’s a single dad with major baggage who’s just trying to survive. I’m finally ready to start a real career after working my ass off in school for what feels like an eternity.

Those two storylines may intersect, but they don’t mesh. Unless…

Well, unless Colt is ready to exit living in survival mode. And unless I’ve already started a real career without ever giving myself credit for it.

We head for the conference room at the end of a short hallway. I can already hear the Wallace family’s voices raised in raucous conversation.

“Wow, Billie, you really are happier,” Tate says.

“Well, duh,” Billie replies around a mouthful of something. “I’m gearing up for a whole new career. You know, the one where I’m sharing with our community the glories of life lived alongside animals. Just doing good and shit.”