Page 77 of Need You
Chapter Fourteen
On Sunday, Delaney rode over to the Garners’ house with Colt. It was easier than taking two cars, but he’d made it plenty clear that this wasn’t a date.
Their house, a two-story chalet reminiscent of the older style cabins popular in the area before modern mountain architecture had taken over, was larger and homier than she’d expected. Despite the home once housing five men, there were feminine touches everywhere. A cute wooden welcome wreath on the door and vases of fresh-cut flowers. Big, overstuffed, upholstered couches and chairs anchored the spacious great room, which had a spectacular view of the mountains and lake.
Two Labrador retrievers—Lucy and Ricky—slept on dog beds by the hearth of an enormous stone fireplace. Colt crouched down and scratched the labs behind their ears.
There were family pictures everywhere. Photos of all four brothers at various ages, skiing, snowboarding, rafting, rock climbing. Delaney especially liked the portrait of Colt graduating from the police academy with his parents by his side, and a similar photo of Josh as an army ranger. She stopped to admire a wedding picture of Hannah, gorgeous in her white sheath gown.
Mary came out of the kitchen with her apron on. “Everyone should be here soon. Gray just called to let me know that he dropped off his group and is on his way home. Would you like something to drink, Delaney? A glass of wine or a soda?”
“Wine would be great.”
“I’ll get it, Mom. You go finish getting ready.”
“Thanks, Colt.” She kissed him on the top of the head, which she wouldn’t have been able to reach if he wasn’t on the floor playing with the dogs. For the mother of four very tall boys, she couldn’t be more than five-foot-five. And adorable.
“Your parents have a beautiful home,” Delaney told Colt as she followed him into the kitchen.
“Tell my mom. It’s her pride and joy. We were forever tracking through it, building forts under the dining room table, using her best linens—turning the place into a pigsty.”
“It couldn’t have been easy with four boys. She was completely outnumbered.”
“Yep. Dad wasn’t much help either. Before building a workshop, he used to work on his projects in the house. He spent an entire winter crafting a canoe in our living room. That was the year Mom threatened to divorce him.”
Delaney laughed and gazed around the kitchen. A big center island, butcher block countertops, and a potbelly stove. It wasn’t up to date like her kitchen but it oozed warmth and charm and family.
Colt moved in front of her to get a wineglass from one of the upper cabinets. He had on the most recent version of her cargo pants, the ones she’d made using his recommendations. They rode low on his hips and hugged his perfect backside.
“You want red or white?” he asked, and turned around just in time to catch her ogling his ass.
She quickly flicked her glance away. “Whatever everyone else wants.”
“No need to stand on ceremony,” he said, impatient the way men get when women are trying to be polite. “There’s plenty to go around, just pick one.”
“Red then. The pants look good.” Let him think she was admiring her own handiwork.
“TJ’s going to bug you about them. Feel free to tell him to screw off.”
“I’m still thinking about it.” She’d worked on Deb’s pair all day and was pleased with the progress. Instead of baggy and shapeless, like the other pants on the market, hers were form fitting.
“Whatever floats your boat,” he said, and handed her a glass of pinot noir, their hands brushing, sending tiny tremors up Delaney’s arm. “But don’t do something you’re not into.”
“I won’t.”
He looked at her, holding her gaze, like he wanted to kiss her. Then the moment passed and he squeezed by her. “Let’s go in the living room.” They carried in their drinks and sat together on the couch.
Someone came in the front door and Colt got up to see who it was, returning a few seconds later. “My dad. He went upstairs to shower and change. No one told me we were starting later than planned. Sorry.”
“No problem. I’m enjoying myself.” She held up her glass of wine. “What did you do today?”
“Took a group river rafting for Win. He had plans in Tahoe.” Colt never got a day off and it was starting to show. He seemed on edge, not himself.
“How about you?” he asked.
“Not a lot.” She’d spent much of her day trying to figure out how she’d make the deadline for fashion week. By now, she should be planning a runway show.
They sat there quiet for a few minutes until Colt got up and turned on the radio, which reminded her of his upcoming concert.
