Page 53 of Need You

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“Really?”

“Really.” God, she was pretty. “He’s always had delusions of grandeur.”

“I don’t know, at the rate I’m going ... Not that it wouldn’t be an honor.”

“Good save,” he said. “Seriously, they were a big hit. Even Carrie Jo noticed them.”

She glanced over at his porch. “Were you practicing?”

“Nah, just screwing around. You sure you don’t have time for one glass of wine? A thank-you for the pants.” He told himself that it was only a let’s-get-back-on-even-footing drink.

“I suppose I could have one glass.”

“Come over, we’ll have it on my porch.” He hoped he had two glasses that matched.

“Let me put on a pair of shoes.” She was barefoot, her toenails painted fire-engine red.

Hot as hell. The little dress, too. Casual, but it hugged every one of her curves.

He rushed back to his house to grab the wine out of the fridge and hoped she liked sauvignon blanc. He preferred red but a lot of women he knew drank white. He set everything out on a small table on his porch and pulled two chairs up. His stuff wasn’t that great, weathered and kind of beaten up, but it would have to do.

She came over a few minutes later, carrying a small platter with cheese and crackers. “I had it and figured what the heck.”

“I could grill something if you’re hungry,” he said, and took the platter from her.

“This should be fine, but don’t let me stop you from making something for yourself.”

“I’m good with what you brought.” He poured them each a glass of wine. “How’d your day go?”

She made the so-so gesture with her hand. “I got frustrated with the designing and worked on costumes for the junior theater.”

Somewhere he’d heard that Rita had hit her up. “I wouldn’t put too much work into it.” Even for junior theater it was pretty second rate.

“I went to Reno and scoured some thrift stores and came up with a bunch of stuff I can repurpose.”

“That’s good. Robert didn’t come by to give you more trouble, did he?”

“Nope. I haven’t heard from him since yesterday and assume he went back to LA today, since he actually has a business to run.”

“You’ll have a business to run soon too.” And then she would leave.

“Let’s hope, or I’ll have to resort to making cargo shorts and pants for Garner Adventure.”

“Go ahead and laugh. But I probably don’t have to tell you that athletic wear is big business. The stuff I wear as a guide may not be stylish, but I pay big bucks for functionality. We all do. Not just the cargo pants and shorts. Ski and snowboarding gear and swimwear. Some of the women around here pay as much for their après-ski clothes as they do for their cars.”

“I wasn’t knocking it; it’s just not what I do.”

“I get that. But the shorts and pants you made for me are better than anything on the market. I can say that with confidence and I’m not just blowing smoke.”

She reached over and touched his arm. “Thank you, Colt. You’re good for my confidence.”

He didn’t know if she was good for his. Not after the way she’d pulled back from him last night. They’d been hot and heavy and then boom. But it was better that way, he told himself. Being friends was actually perfect. Because Lord knew he didn’t have enough friends. Only half the town.

“Only being honest,” he said.

“Anything new on the kayak races? Is the mayor still expecting you to represent the police department?”

“Yep. He brought our kayak over today. A piece of crap he probably got at a bargain.”