Page 32 of Want You Back

“I have ways.” Oops. That sounded a little too flirty, so I backpedaled. “Don’t make me take you to urgent care for X-rays so a doctor can be the one to order you to stay off your feet.”

“It’s just a sprain.” Colt glared at me. Thankfully, though, he listened and got in the truck. He grudgingly gave me his address before the girls and I loaded the horses. I did a quick hand-off to Kat at the ranch and switched to my car. Faith wasn’t back from Denver, so taking care of Colt was a good distraction for Hannah as well. We stopped for a bag of ice on the way to Colt’s place, which, not surprisingly, was on the same street as his mother’s small home.

His house was also on the smaller side, an older one-story ranch with a decent-sized fenced lot, but not the sort of room a horse might need. Enough acreage for a horse or two and a barn was at a premium around here. It said something about county payroll and the price of land when this modest home was all the sheriff could afford. Colt’s truck was parked next to his official county SUV, so I pulled in behind him.

“You came!” Willow rushed out of the house. “Dad’s trying to water the garden.”

“Of course he is.” Sighing heavily, I followed Willow and Hannah to the backyard, where Colt was hobbling around some raised beds with a hose in one hand and a rake for a crutch in the other.

“You need to sit down before you fall down.” I shot him my sternest glare.

“I don’t want our tomato plants to die.”

As sweet as Colt Jennings having pet tomato plants was, I couldn’t help my groan. “I’m more concerned about your foot.”

“How about some ice?” Voice bright, Hannah held up the bag of ice.

“You brought me ice?” Momentarily distracted, Colt allowed Willow and me to guide him into the house, entering his kitchen through the back door.

“I wasn’t sure what your freezer situation was,” I said as the girls rushed off to Willow’s room.

“Abysmal.” Colt collapsed onto a kitchen chair at the small table to the side of the cabinets. A whiteboard containing a lengthy to-do list, including watering the plants, sat in the center of the fridge door. I transferred some ice to a plastic bag and put the rest in the near-barren freezer.

“You can’t ice your foot while sitting.” I glanced at the living area beyond the kitchen and dining area. The living room featured two mismatched loveseats and a big TV. “Hmm. Both of those couches are too small for you to put your foot up. I’ll help you to your room.”

“Maverick…” Colt resisted my efforts to pull him back up to standing.

“I’m not going to jump your bones with the girls here.” I kept my voice to a whisper but added an eye roll. “Let me take care of you.”

“Fine.” Colt hoisted himself up and allowed me to assist him in hobbling down a short hall to the primary bedroom, which was in dire need of one of my makeovers. Gray sheets. Gray-and-white comforter. Beige walls. However, I was more concerned with getting Colt situated with his ankle iced and elevated than with the decor.

“There.” I stepped back from the bed. “You rest.”

“And what are you going to do?” He continued his bid for grumpiest patient ever.

“As much of your to-do list as I can.” I grinned confidently even as he bristled. I ignored his protests in favor of working my way through his list of small chores. Vacuum. Bathroom. Fix a wobbly door. Tighten a leaky faucet. Basic stuff that felt good to knock out for him.

At some point, Colt limped into his attached bathroom and showered before reluctantly resuming his rest on the bed in a pair of athletic shorts and a black sleeveless T-shirt. I’d noticed tattoos playing peekaboo with his T-shirt sleeves before, but this was the first time I could really see the ink. Willow’s name trailed across one bicep, while other tattoos featured more abstract Western motifs. As hot as he looked with ink, the tattoos were another reminder of the life he’d lived in the years we’d been apart. He’d grown up in so many ways.

“Hey, Uncle Maverick!” Hannah appeared right as I finished with the faucet. Willow was close behind. “Willow’s aunt has an above-ground pool. She invited us to come for dinner and a swim. Willow has a suit I can borrow.”

“The pool isn’t terribly deep, and Tiffany keeps a good eye on the kids,” Colt called from the bedroom. “She lives in the old Becker place, on the other side of Mom’s. Girls can walk over.”

“Wow, your family almost has its own block.” I laughed, taking a second to school my expression to not seem too eager to be alone with Colt. “And sure, you can go. I’ll figure out some dinner for Colt.”

“Yay!” The girls rushed off to change into swimsuits and find towels before leaving a short time later.

I took the opportunity to fetch Colt a glass of water and check on him. “So, cranky, any requests for dinner?”

“Not that hungry. The ibuprofen is messing with my stomach.” Colt accepted the water and took a sip before setting it aside. “And I’m bored. Only so much playing on my phone I can do before I lose my mind.”

“I have the answer to that problem.” I grinned widely as I approached the bed. My determination to meet his needs had only grown as the day progressed.

“Oh? Going to let me get up?”

“Nope.” I kicked off my boots. “I’m going to blow your mind. Among other things.”

Chapter20

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