Page 79 of Need You
“You’re late,” he said between clenched teeth. Win returned a sheepish expression and went off to talk to Josh.
At dinner, everyone talked at the same time as they passed dishes around the table. Every time TJ started to steer the conversation to his retail idea for the company, Colt and the others changed the subject, good-heartedly chiding him for talking too much shop.
A couple of times, Delaney witnessed Josh and Hannah laugh over something private one of them had whispered into the other’s ear. It was sweet but made Delaney feel a pang of loneliness. Colt must’ve picked up on it because she caught him watching her, his brown eyes a mite too perceptive. Later, he surprised her by squeezing her knee under the table.
After dinner, she, Hannah, Deb, and Foster went out on the deck to watch the sunset over the lake while Mary and some of the Garner men cleaned up in the kitchen. As guests, they’d been forbidden from helping.
Foster eyed Deb’s outfit and smirked. “A little overdressed?”
Deb flipped him the bird and addressed Hannah. “Why do you think Win was so late?”
She shrugged. “Maybe he was leading a tour.”
Delaney decided to keep the knowledge that he’d been in Tahoe to herself. Why upset Deb when Delaney didn’t even know what he’d been doing there?
“Deb, you need to move on,” Foster said.
“I know. Maybe I’ll ask Boden out.”
“I like him,” Delaney added, though she didn’t know much about the bartender other than he was nice looking and always friendly.
Deb nodded halfheartedly.
Foster patted her head. “It wouldn’t kill you to at least give someone else a try. Worst that could happen is you wind up friends, or like my crazy client, divorced three times. She begged me to send the last one a floral arrangement of dead roses, spray painted black.”
Delaney’s eyes rounded. “Did you do it?”
“Hell no. But I told her I’d give her the dead roses so she could do it herself.” Foster peered through the French doors into the great room. “We should go back in. But before we do, spill, Delaney. What’s up with you and Colt? Is this a date?”
She shook her head. “He invited me for Hannah and Josh ... to support them.”
“Right,” Foster said, and rolled his eyes.
Deb slanted her a glance that said,You’re not fooling anyone, honey, and linked her arm through Delaney’s. “Let’s return to your nondate.”
They joined their hosts and listened while Win regaled them with a story about a rock-climbing expedition he and a couple of his buddies had taken last summer. Delaney could see how Deb would be dazzled by him. Win was boyish and charming. Colt sat next to her on the couch, his leg brushing against hers. Her pulse quickened, making her feel as if she were back in high school, sitting next to the class heartthrob.Not a date, she reminded herself.
When Lisa Laredo’s hit, “Crazy about You,” came over the surround sound, everyone suddenly stopped talking. The silence became so uncomfortable that Colt got to his feet and turned off the radio.
Win started to say something and Colt cut him off. “We’re not talking about this.”
TJ began to argue and Gray held up his hands. “It’s your brother’s call.”
Deb had been right the other day. Colt was nowhere near over his last relationship. Delaney felt a prick of envy. What would it be like to own Colt Garner’s heart the way Lisa Laredo did? She’d never know, which was another good reason not to get involved with him.
The party started breaking up around ten and Colt told Delaney he was ready to go. He had work in the morning.
“You okay?” she asked him on the way home. “You seem a little down. I was wondering if you’re nervous about Josh.”
He stared at the road for a while, then said, “Josh is tough. The surgery is nothing compared to what he’s been through. I’m more concerned about Glory Junction PD. Pond paraded a Fremont police captain around the department Friday. I’m pretty sure he’s getting ready to can me.”
“No way. You sure?” Delaney refused to believe it. Not with Colt’s dedication to the job.
“No doubt in my mind. He wants someone who’ll do his bidding, and that ain’t me. I at least have Garner Adventure to fall back on, but I’m worried about Jack and Carrie Jo.”
“Will you be okay working full time for your family’s business?” She got the sense that law enforcement was his calling. Chief Hottie from Hell.
“Playing for a living is not such a bad way to go and it sure the hell beats having Pond for a boss.” But it wasn’t his dream job. She could tell just from the wariness in his voice.
