Page 195 of Colt

Even after everything, the only person I wanted to call was Colt. I’d just gotten the job of my dreams. He’d be so excited, so proud. My chest tightened with anticipation as I pulled out my phone and clicked on his number.

It rang three times before the call clicked in and Colt’s rich, deep voice murmured, “Hey, Princess. I fuckin’ miss you.”

Tears welled in my eyes at the mere sound of his voice.

Being away from him made my soul ache. He was my man, my best friend, the other half of me. He was also a bit of an asshole, but one day, I’d cure him of it. That was if I ever saw him again. At the rate we were going I’d be in my residency by the time he rocked up.

“I’ve got a job, and it’s perfect.” My excitement took over and I began to babble. “I’m based in Virginia in Prince William County. On the way to the interview, I saw an accident. I took a patient in with the EMT and had to do CPR. Bones... the doctor who I was meant to interview with, saw me and hired me on the spot. Can you believe it? I can’t believe it, Colt. Can you believe it?”

He let out a sexy, throaty laugh and my heart clenched. “I knew you could do it.”

All my anger drained away. I didn’t want to argue. I didn’t want to pretend to hate the only man I’d ever loved. He couldn’t help his circumstances. His family needed him and if he was the type of man to not help them, I wouldn’t have adored him so much.

“I miss you so much,” I said, voice husky with emotion. “How’s New York? Is your mom okay? Your sisters? Did you deal with your dad?”

“I’m not in New York,” he rasped. “Mom needed a fresh start so we all moved to a new state.”

My heart did a backflip. “Where?”

He paused briefly before murmuring. “Look to your right, Freya.”

My knees began to shake.

Slowly, I turned right and inhaled sharply at the sight before me.

Colt stood, leaning against a black GMC SUV with his muscular arms folded across his chest.

The sun made his dark blond hair gleam like molten gold. He wore black pants and a tee, under an FBI-issue black bulletproof vest. I couldn’t see his ocean-blues through the dark lenses of the Ray-Bans covering his eyes, but I could tell by his wide grin they’d be sparkling.

“What are you doing here?” I called over.

He shot me the sexy, crooked smirk that made my skin tingle, “I’ve been neglectin’ my girl lately. Thought I’d stop by her place of work and see if she wanted to go for lunch with me?”

I threw my head back and laughed before my eyes locked with his again. “I have it on good authority she’s starving. Your girl’s had a busy morning.”

His arms dropped to his side and he reached out, beckoning me to him with his index finger.

His presence warmed my skin and my stomach turned to mush as I took in the handsomeness that was all Colt. My feet began to carry me toward him, my body drawn by the force of the man who owned me body and soul, and always would.

He held his arms out for me and I walked straight into them, burrowing my face into the little nook just underneath his throat that was solely meant for me. Colt’s face hit my cheek and he inhaled deeply as if he’d been starved of me. The breeze played with my hair, and I shivered slightly, despite the warmth of the day.

My hands slid around his shoulders and I sighed contentedly because I was finally where I was meant to be. People always told me home was where the heart was. Well, my heart was always his. Colt was my home and I never wanted to leave.

“When people talk about falling in love they never mention right person wrong time,” he whispered, his breath warm against my cheek. He pulled back slightly, removed his shades and the depth of emotion in his ocean-blues sent a shiver down my spine. “You meet the girl your soul knows is yours, but she’s too young. You watch her grow and the chemistry grows with her, but it’s impossible to be together.”

He was so close that I could smell the Creed on his skin. The heat of his body radiated into mine and my heart thundered in my chest. He was so beautiful, so compelling, I couldn’t look away.

“You lay in bed, lookin’ at the ceiling, knowin’ you have to trust that the universe has a plan, and one day she’ll be yours.” He pulled back, his hands framing my face and angled it up until our eyes locked. And he smiled. “The wait has paid off.”

My heart skipped a beat.

This was it, after all the years of waiting, we were finally doing this.

Colt reached into his pocket and pulled something out.. “You’re mine and I’m yours. Ain’t gonna ask ‘cause it’d be like askin’ God to give me air to breathe. I can’t live without you, don’t wanna try.”

Something cold slid onto my ring finger, and my world tilted. “Oh my God,” I murmured, eyes widening as I took in the single, solitaire diamond on my finger.

My mind raced, a torrent of thoughts and emotions consuming me. I was so elated that I threw my arms around my man’s neck and let out a loud whoop.

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