Page 16 of Need You
“Are there a lot of those?”
“There aren’t a lot, but it happens, and when it does I have to get there quickly.”
“We might be able to work something out.” She just didn’t want to argue with him anymore. It was exhausting. But she also didn’t want to commit to giving him the parking space.
“Thank you,” he said halfheartedly, as if he had expected her to completely surrender.
Colt obviously wasn’t used to having to grovel to get what he wanted, so she gave him credit for doing it now. Okay, maybe not groveling, but he was definitely sucking up. Obnoxious, but she was quite enjoying it.
“You planning to live here full time?” he asked.
“For the time being, yes. My husband and I split up. I’m using this time to regroup.” That was an understatement.
“I’m sorry to hear about your breakup.”
“Thank you,” she said. She could tell he meant it, even though he hadn’t known them as a couple, not really. She and Robert had been in and out to oversee the building of their house and, after it was finished, visited occasionally. Colt had waved from his yard or as they passed each other driving, but that was about it.
Eager to change the subject, she noted that he was still in his swimwear. “Were you at the lake earlier?”
“The river. I took a group white-water rafting for Garner Adventure.”
“You work there as well?” She’d known that his three brothers did but figured he was too busy working at the police department.
“When they’re shorthanded I fill in, which seems to be all the time now.”
“You don’t like it?”
“I do.” He grinned. “But I already have a full-time job.”
“I’ve always wanted to go white-water rafting.” It had always looked fun to her and not too scary, nothing like bombing down a mountainside on skies.
“It’s awesome. Garner Adventure offers trips all summer long.”
“Good to know. I’ll have to sign up for one.” She got up to refill his glass.
“Did you design that?” When she looked at him, clueless, he said, “The outfit you’re wearing.”
“Oh.” She glanced down at herself, not remembering what she had on. “Uh, I did. Several years ago.” It was part of her summer 2013 Every Day collection, one of her favorites.
“It’s nice.”
“Thanks.” She’d take “nice.” The fact that he’d noticed at all was somewhat surprising. Colt struck her as one of those alpha guys who only noted what a woman was wearing if it was short, tight, and obscenely low cut. But she supposed she was stereotyping.
“My brother says your clothes are in every department store in America.”
“I don’t know about every store, but we have a lot of retailers. That company now belongs to my ex, though. He got it in the divorce.”
He angled his head to look at her. Really look. “I’m guessing you’re not happy about that.”
“No, I’m not. But there’s not much I can do about it. He also gets to keep the name, Delaney Scott.” She didn’t know why she was telling him this. But he was here and listening and she supposed she needed a shoulder to cry on and he had broad ones capable of absorbing a lot of tears.
“How the hell did that happen? It’s your name. Why doesn’t he use his own?”
“Because my name is an established brand.”
“That you put on the map, right?”
“Well, to be fair, we both put it on the map. My designs, his business acumen.”
