Page 8 of Devastate Me

“Yes, I unpacked most of my stuff yesterday.”

Eliza leaned forward, smiling deviously. “Okay, let’s get to the good stuff, girls. Ophelia, we know you went over to Colt’s last night. Dish, girl. It’s a part of our Sunday-night ladies’ code.”

“How did you—?”

“I saw you,” Jennifer said. “My kitchen window faces the street.”

Oh boy ...

“It’s not what you think. I ran into Colt at the store, and he helped me after I tripped and fell.”

Eliza nodded. “The tuna incident? Yeah, we heard.”

“You heard?” Ophelia didn’t know whether she should laugh or shake her head.

Jennifer waved a hand. “Small town. Word travels, honey. Continue.”

“Anyway, I was exhausted, and he offered to cook me dinner since he was already grilling.”

“Wait, he offered to cook dinner? Or was he like, ‘I’ll just throw a steak on the grill’?” Miranda asked.

“Definitely the latter.”

Eliza sighed in disappointment. “Shame. I thought for sure we’d found someone he would like.”

“What?” Ophelia prayed to God these women weren’t trying to play matchmaker with Colt ... or her.

“He’s our brooding resident bachelor. It’s fun to see if we can catch his attention with someone,” Jennifer explained. “When he first moved in, I mowed my lawn in my bikini for two months just to see what he would do. I had the best tan that year, but he never gave me the time of day.”

Ophelia was surprised by that. Even entering their forties, both Eliza and Jennifer were gorgeous women in their own right, and they were way more confident about themselves than she was. If Colt hadn’t looked at them twice, she didn’t stand a chance.

Then what about that kiss?

That might have just been a one-time thing. Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was just an opportunity he took but instantly regretted. The thoughts made her heart sink.

“We thought he might be looking for someone, you know, a little younger. Ever since Miranda described you, we’ve all been dying to see what Colt will do.”

As if on cue, Colt’s front door opened and he stepped outside, Noah on his heels, leashed and clearly excited.

“It’s five thirty, girls. Here we go.” Miranda leaned back in her place on the swinging bench and sipped her wine.

“What happens at five thirty?” Ophelia asked in a whisper.

“Colt goes running with his dog. Every night at this time.”

They all turned to watch him head in their direction as he walked down the sidewalk toward the street. He wore basketball shorts and a tank top that showed off his perfectly toned arms. He didn’t even glance their way as he started to jog, his dog keeping pace.

“It’s got to be the military lifestyle. He rarely misses a run.” Miranda kicked her legs against the porch floor to make her bench swing a little.

“So back to this dinner,” Eliza prompted. “What’s his house like inside?”

“Normal?” Ophelia wasn’t sure what these women expected. “A bit masculine, for sure, but it’s cozy and nice. His backyard is lovely. He really has a talent for gardening.”

“No kinky sex dungeon?” Jennifer asked. Eliza smacked her arm.

“What? No. I mean, I don’t know. I only saw the living room, kitchen, and backyard.”

“Ah, thank goodness, that leaves the basement. I was having the best fantasies of him in one of those sex rooms with toys and stuff.Fifty Shadesstyle.”

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