Page 111 of Need You
“I’m checking my contract, but if he wants to get rid of me . . .”
“I’m sorry, Colt. You’re a wonderful chief. The mayor has to know how popular you are. Getting rid of you will turn the whole town against him, and when he’s up for reelection, I’ll personally head up a group to campaign against him.”
He appreciated the sentiment, he really did. “You won’t be here, Delaney.”
She was over her design slump, over Robert, over the moon about her new collection. Her Los Angeles house had sold and soon she’d need a new one. It didn’t take a crack detective to see that her life was falling neatly into place and that there wasn’t much in Glory Junction to hold her. Not even him.
She didn’t contradict him, dashing any far-fetched hope that he was wrong.
“LA is not so far away,” she finally said.
He was getting sick of hearing that. It was 486 miles, to be precise. A whole day by car and a half day by plane if he factored in the drive to the airport, the long security lines, and LA traffic. But more importantly it was a different world—a different galaxy—than the slow pace of Glory Junction. Soon, she’d have no reason to come back, especially when she didn’t even ski.
“Nope,” he said, and shoveled in a forkful of food. “Just a hop, skip, and a jump.”
“What’ll you do if you lose your job?”
“Work for Garner Adventure full time, I suppose. What else do you have in mind for this collection of yours?”
She frowned. “We’re going to talk fashion now?”
Anything was better than talking about him. “I’m interested.”
She gave him a look like she didn’t believe him for a minute but launched into her plans anyway. “The concept is elegant mountain living with a little bit of adventure mixed in. I’m even doing cargo trousers. I wonder where I came up with that idea?” She went on to exuberantly describe the pieces she envisioned.
He had no idea what elegant mountain living looked like or if it was even a thing. But he loved hearing her talk, the way her face filled with animation as she described the fabrics and textures and colors she wanted to use. The way her very essence vibrated with excitement. It was the same way she embraced sex. All in. And, man, did it turn him on.
“Your eyes are glazing over,” she said.
“No, they’re not. I like hearing about what you’re working on. And we forgot to toast.” He raised his glass of wine. “To your new collection.”
She clinked her glass with his. “To your CMA nomination.”
Such as it was, he thought to himself.
“Come here.” He crooked his finger. “Let’s go upstairs.”
