Page 77 of Colt

Colton grabs the instructions from me and unfolds them. “You are scrumptious.”

“I like sandwiches,” I say. “Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite.”

Dean gasps. “Mine too!”

I hold up my hand, and he gives me a high five.

Colton just stares at his son. “That’s hilarious, because this little stinker told me not too long ago that he didn’t like peanut butter and jelly anymore.”

“I changed my mind.” Dean shrugs.

“Sure you did,” Colton mutters, shaking his head. “I’m sure that has nothing to do with the pretty girl here tonight.”

My pulse skips a beat, but Dean replies before I do. “You are real pretty, Miss Lainey. We both think so.”

“Thanks? I think?” I’m blushing.

“You should have my dad make you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” Dean doesn’t look up from the pile of LEGO bricks he pours out of the box onto the table. “He’s really good at it.”

I help Dean start to sort the LEGO bricks. “Your dad is good at lots of things.”

“Like what?” Colton smooths out the instructions with the heel of his gigantic hand. He doesn’t look up either, but I still get the feeling he’s watching me. Keeping track of how I move and what I do. Is it wrong that I’m turned on by the subtle attention?

“Playing around with cowgirls, for starters.” I see Colton’s lips twitch.

He reaches for the LEGO bricks. “Almost as good as Lainey is at playing around with cowboys.”

Dean scrunches his forehead. “I don’t know what y’all are talking about.”

“That’s on purpose.” Colton meets my eyes.

There’s a pinch between my shoulder blades, right behind my heart. Warning.

Ignoring it, I say, “I agree with Dean about starting with the haunted house first. I find it’s best to tackle the hardest thing right off the bat⁠—”

“Because then you don’t end up chucking it across the room when you’re overtired and you’ve had it?” Colton’s gaze flickers with something I’m starting to recognize.

Surprise.

Delight even.

“Yes.” I’m having a hard time keeping my pulse in check. “There’s a method to my madness.”

Dean plucks the black plastic part that I’m assuming forms the haunted house’s foundation from the pile. “You do it the same way we do, Lainey. That’s funny!”

I manage a wobbly smile. “LEGO nerds, unite.”

“Who you callin’ a nerd?” Colton says.

“You,” I reply. “And me. And Mister Brainiac here.” I gently nudge Dean with my elbow.

“Nerds are cool now, Dad.”

Colton smiles warmly at his son. “Only because you’re one. All right, guys, let’s get started on this house.”

Dean sneaks an arm underneath his dad’s to steal the instructions. “Dad, you do the porch. Lainey, you do the walls. I’ll start on the roof.”

I grin, feeling a familiar lightness take root in my chest as I start to sort out the LEGO bricks I need. “On it. You’re a good boss, Dean.”