Page 56 of Need You
Chapter Eleven
It sounded like there was more to the story than Colt was telling her, but Delaney was surprised that he’d confided as much as he had. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to deduce that Colt wasn’t much of a talker. No touchy feely there. She’d say he was even more reticent than most guys.
Lisa Laredo. Wow.
Delaney had seen the singer on television a few times. Gorgeous, and a body that wouldn’t quit, all of it real. Delaney had dressed enough celebrities to know. Colt could say he was over her all he wanted, but Delaney didn’t think so. There was a rawness to his voice when he talked about her, like she’d left a festering wound in his heart. To see that kind of sadness in someone was difficult, but even more so when it was a strapping, stoic, alpha male like Colt. That kind of vulnerability ...
“I should probably go,” she said. “I was hoping to actually design something tonight or at least attempt to.”
She helped gather up the glasses and take them to the kitchen.
“I’ve got it, Delaney. I’ll wash your platter too.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take it home and stick it in the dishwasher.” She took the opportunity to look around. The two times inside, she hadn’t paid much attention to the living area. “This is a cute house, by the way. Though it could use some accessories.” Other than a family picture over the mantel, the walls were bare. “How long have you had it?”
He seemed to be calculating the years in his head. “I got it about a year after I moved back to Glory Junction from the city, maybe five years ago. I added the deck but haven’t had much time to do anything else.”
“I like the old-time trim.” She walked into the living room to examine the crown moldings. With a fresh coat of glossy white paint and maybe the walls in a dove gray, the place would really pop. Everything was a dull off-white. Sort of dingy. “The hardwood floors are nice too.”
“Thanks. The place suits me okay, except for the driveway, which sucks.”
She suspected that it was a reminder that he needed the easement parking pad for his police car. “Perhaps someday we could go in together and have a carport put in, using land from both our yards.”
“I’d be down with that. In the snow, it’s a real hassle getting down that steep grade. But something like what you’re talking about won’t be cheap.”
“I could get a couple of bids,” she said.
“Nah, let me. My family’s got contacts.” Colt chuckled as if he was sharing a joke.
“What’s so funny?” She didn’t get it.
“My dad is the king of wheeling and dealing, always has someone who can undercut the competition. When anyone in our family is looking to contract work, we have a joke: ‘Dad knows a guy.’” When she didn’t respond, he said, “It’s kind of a Garner thing.”
“Your family is a tight-knit clan, isn’t it?”
“Yup. They’re part of the reason I came back to Glory Junction.”
“You never wanted to take a bigger role at Garner Adventure?” She’d always been curious about that. He was the only member of the family who had an outside job.
“I guess Josh and I had a strong urge to serve the public. Being a local cop allows me to do both, though it’s killing my social life. What about your family? You close?”
“I’m an only child,” she said. “But I’m close with my parents, even though they live in Michigan and I live here. They’ve always been supportive of my work, though they don’t understand why anyone would pay so much money for clothes.” Or why she would leave her working-class roots for a life in the fast lane.
He smiled—his teeth so white against his tan skin—and her insides did a little flip-flop. The memory of his kiss, the way his body felt so warm and hard, flashed through her head. The strength of his arms around her, the sensuous pull of his mouth, and the gentleness of his hands had made her feel safe—and incredibly aroused. Then the things Robert had said and wanted had come floating back and she’d frozen.
It was really time to go. She’d stayed longer than she’d planned. Work awaited. She should at least finish theGreasecostumes, which would take the rest of the night. “Oh, and FYI, my shades come on Friday.”
“I appreciate that, Delaney.”
He walked her the short distance home. She went up to her room, changed into yoga pants and a lightweight hoodie, and got to work in her studio, careful to leave the drafting light off. By midnight, she’d finished most of the costumes but her sketch pad was bare.
* * *
The next morning, she heard from her lawyer.
“Do you want to get a restraining order?” Liz asked.
“That seems excessive, not to mention excellent fodder for the gossip sheets.”
