Page 28 of Ricochet

He eased off her hand and rolled his lips together, watching her overreact. But she didn’t care. Sometimes, feeling this full of life was what it was all about.

“You’re hard to look away from when you do that,” he finally said.

Adelia stilled in her chair, though her heartpounded loud enough the beat pulsed in her ears. “Do what?”

“Smile like you give life everything you’ve got.”

Adelia inched back. “What’s that look like?”

Colin tilted his head to the side, and his broad shoulders lifted. “Just you.”

The sparkle and glitter inside settled, and she gripped the connected puzzle, content and maybe even a little pink in the cheeks.

“It looks like beautiful determination.”He scooted his chair closer. “Like energy and destruction, charisma and passion.”

Her eyelashes fluttered. No one had ever spoken to her like that. She hadn’t known those words could be used to describe a person, yet he had her breathless and wanting to cry, desperate to hear more. She’d never felt prouder of herself.

“It’s hard to turn away from you.” Colin licked his full bottom lip. “Whenyou unleash that on the world...” That was it. Had she ever really had a crush? Her senses buzzed with hysteria. The slide of her hair against her neck prickled her skin, and the study of his gaze made her weak in the most delicious, explosive ways.

The wedding reception faded away until she could almost convince her subconscious she was alone with Colin as he bent forward to tell her a secret.The twinkle lights on the walls had a soft focus. His hand covered hers, their heart and key safe in their covered palms, as she eased against his suit jacket.

“I didn’t tell you something earlier.” His masculine scent teased her. She inhaled the clean smell of soap and crisp linens. Colin acted how he smelled: responsible, sharp, accomplished.

The feather-soft touch of his careful fingers skirtedup her wrist, and her eyelashes fluttered. “What?”

“The most attractive thing about you...” The pad of his finger skimmed over goose bumps on her forearm. “It’s not how your dress curves.” He drew an invisible line, carefully curving and circling on her skin. “Or your smile.”

She giggled self-consciously, wanting to swallow away this unfamiliar flirtation. Adelia knew how to banter and bullshit.There were times she felt sexy and beautiful and others when she was confident. But that came from her. Colin invited the intoxicating realization that she was unsure that anyone had treated her with a delicate touch. “Then what?”

His fingers gripped her below the elbow, squeezing gently. “I thought it was the fast-food wisdom.”

Her heart faltered as she remembered why he’d been so sad in thechurch.

“But it’s all that you’ve done.” His palm slid to the top of her hand, and his thumb caressed her knuckles. “I like strong people.”

Apprehension pulled her in unusual ways, and the somersault of wonder that had just made her feel so alive made her question what he’d said. “I’m not sure I understand.” He didn’t like the way she looked? Or he did, but this was a way to explain why a sparkhad never fired between them before? Adelia inched back. “Most people say just say I overcame hurdles.”

Colin scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “Hurdles, huh?”

She wasn’t fond of the term either but wasn’t sure of his reasoning. Was he reacting to her reaction, or did he have opinions on her past?

His jaw firmly set under the cool inspection of his blue gaze. “I’d go with survived.”

“Survivedis about as close to accurate as possible.” She didn’t want to think about what she and Javier went through as children. Half the time, she couldn’t. Her mind had done a blessed job of blocking out bad memories. “I’m confused.”

A boyish grin she hadn’t expected colored his face, and Colin’s eyebrows bobbed. “Oh, yeah?” He angled closer, still smiling. “Tell me why, and I’ll see what I can do.”

Well, hell.She had nothing but her big mouth and a couple glasses of wine to blame for having to answer him.Of course he’d ask!

“What are you confused about, Adelia?”

This was not how things were done or said in Mayhem. “Are you hitting on me?” She crossed her legs, suddenly aware how gangly her bare legs seemed in her skirt and heels. “Are you just one of the best compliment givers I’veever come across?”

“That’s why you’re confused?”

Adelia shrugged. “Don’t judge another’s confusion.”

“Did you get that from a fortune cookie?” He winked.

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