Page 43 of Ricochet

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The sledgehammer in Adelia’s heart didn’t knock her over. She couldn’t believe she’d told Colin about her virginity. Had she ever said that out loud before? Never.

“That’s is going to make interesting breakfast conversation.” Colin reached behind Adelia and opened the door for her then spun her around into the seat. “Buckle in, babe. I have a feeling with you, it’s alwaysa wild ride.”

The door shut. That was it? No comical reactions or immediate, balking disbelief? He tossed his keys in the air and casually sauntered from the car, and she was trapped in a rental with the warm fuzzies and a shy smile that wouldn’t quit. But it needed to! With only a few seconds to gain her composure, Adelia stared at the spinning car rental tag that hung from the rearview mirroras though it might offer words of wisdom for baring her soul and came up empty.

Instead, she watched Colin toss his suit jacket over his shoulder and toy with his keyset.

“What the hell have I gotten myself into?”

His door opened, and Colin slid in. “Where to?”

The automatic answer should have been the Perky Cup, but she wasn’t sure this morning’s appearance with a guest was the most naturalidea. Even though Seven wouldn’t be there, the fact that Adelia brought a Delta man home in the morning after her wedding while she was still in her bridesmaid dress would bring a slew of curiosity. Adelia could hear it now.Holy shit this and holy shit that.

“You are doing an awful lot of thinking to give a simple answer.” Colin chuckled as he turned the car over. “I’m going to start driving,and if you don’t pipe up, the navigation will. And then you’re just leaving it to chance.”

“Leaving what to chance?”

A playful half-grin teased across his lips. “That we end up wherever you don’t want me to go.”

“That wasn’t what I was doing!”

He gave her a sideways glance that screamed bullshit, and he was right, so Adelia kept her protests to a minimum. “There’s a diner where everybodygoes. I don’t care who sees us. Let’s go there. It has the best food and decent coffee.”

“Just decent, huh?”

“Yup.”

He backed out of his spot. “Which means no Perky Cup.”

“Well…” Hell. She’d outed herself. Of course, he knew Seven owned the world’s best coffee shop. “It’s just, I rather not while I’m dressed like this.”

He put his car in park and let his gaze linger before staring aheadand drove ahead to maneuver out of the lot. “I like the dress.”

“You know what I mean.” Though she appreciated his sentiment. It was one thing to have him say that and quite another to go have breakfast when she was clearly wearing last night’s clothing. This wasn’t a college campus where she would blend in.

“Change of plans: we get the food to go and eat in the car,” he volunteered.

Gratitudewarmed her heart. “How about we get food and dine at my awesome, not-expecting-guests apartment.”

He nodded, chuckling. “That would work.”

“Plus,” she added. “I have coffee from the Perky Cup. It should be almost good enough that you may be able to ignore dishes in the sink and any laundry piled on the bathroom floor.”

He reached across to hold her hand. “Am I driving the right direction?”

Ah, so Colin expected her to navigate to her house when her insides were busy turning gooey. Good to know the level of expectations… “Yep.”

“Can we call in an order ahead?”

Adelia squeezed his hand. “You have no idea how you’re testing me.”

His eyebrow raised, but she waved away her mumbles. How could she explain that he made her float with just by holding her hand?

After giving himan idea of what was on the menu, she called an order into the diner and let him know that it would be ready for pickup by the time they drove by. Adelia filled the few minutes with funny Ryder-and-Victoria and Jax-and-Seven stories and listened to Colin’s take on her girlfriends, and she loved learning more about her brother.

“What’s that look for?” He ran a thumb over her knuckles.

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