Page 49 of Hers to Tame
“I already agreed to girls’ night at Lily’s. I refused to go tonight, so they agreed to move it to tomorrow. I’m going to have to work a nap in there somewhere.” He flashes that lazy grin at me when he sits up. “A real nap, not a ‘nap’,” I’m quick to add. He pouts at me until I laugh.
“So what excuse did you use to brush them off tonight? I’ll be too busy riding my boyfriend to attend?” I roll my eyes at him before heading toward the kitchen. He wanders in wearing just a pair of sweats he keeps here. I cleaned out a drawer for him to keep some clothes in. It made more sense than him constantly bringing a bag. He hops up on one of the barstools.
“Why don’t I order pizza. We can watch a movie. I heard there’s a really funny pirate porn we could check out,” he says.
“That just earned youSleepless in Seattle,” I say, digging through the fridge for a snack.
He groans. “Not that. Please pick something where someone gets laid or blows shit up at the very least. Both would be better.” I just shake my head at him. “So, pizza?”
“Sounds good. I want my usual.”
“I don’t understand why anyone would want to eat pineapple on pizza. Don’t you know the only acceptable toppings involve meat?” He picks up his phone, pulling up the app for the place near my house.
“Funny, you seemed to like the effects of the pineapple in the shower when you were growling with your face between my legs.” I give him a wink over my shoulder as I pull out a container of yogurt.
“Miss Emerson,” he says, wagging a finger at me. “That dirty mind is just going to get you sent to bed early.” With a lunge, Colin has me thrown over his shoulder as he hauls me back toward the bedroom.
* * *
By March, we are so used to being together every weekend, we wouldn’t know any other way to spend our days. At spring break, we join Matt and Lily, along with Matt’s brother Daniel and his wife, Jess, in Belize. It was the first time I’ve been out of the country.
It was the most exciting trip I’ve ever been on. I spent my days laying in the sun or roaming the small shops in town. The nights I spent wrapped around Colin until we both fall asleep from exhaustion. I don’t think life could get any better than it did that week.
My students were amazed by how brown I was when I returned. My friends at school keep commenting on how relaxed I have become. Life with Colin has done that to me. As dramatic as the Rhetts are, I hadn’t truly realized how amazing it could be when they turned all of that attention on me. It just seems unfair that we only have the weekends.
The biggest problem with Colin being here every Saturday, is it doesn’t leave much time for him to work on the Habitat houses in Kansas City. He loves the feeling of making someone's life easier by providing them a place to call home. I also know he misses working with his hands, so I decided to do something about it.
I made an appointment with the DA. When I arrive I’m shown into his office almost immediately. After being offered the chair across from DA Winters, I decide not to waste his time by cutting right to the chase.
“I’m here to speak to you about the probation agreement between this office and Colin Rhett.” He raises an eyebrow at me questioningly but I forge on. “There really isn’t quite enough work for him every Saturday at the shelter, so I was wondering if you would consider alternating with Habitat for Humanity. He was working with a chapter in Kansas City before all of this happened.” I sit waiting for him to reply. He looks at me with a smile.
“So you are the infamous Miss Emerson. I have not had the pleasure of meeting you in person. I can see why he was more than ready to spend years in jail for you. It is very nice to finally put a face to your name. Does Mr. Rhett know you are here on his behalf?” I shake my head. “No? Well, I’ll be happy to amend the agreement and send it over. I’ve been very impressed that he has continued to show up without complaint.”
“Colin is very dedicated to philanthropic causes. I can’t imagine him ever shirking his commitment to help those who are underserved in his community. Thank you for meeting with me. I won’t take up any more of your time.” He stands, reaching out to shake my hand.
“It was very nice to meet you, Miss Emerson. I look forward to seeing you again soon.” He shows me out of his office before returning to his desk.
That’s an odd thing to say. I’m not sure why I would see him again soon. I know that Colin has to check in here every Friday before coming to the house, but I’ve never considered coming with him. I shrug, heading to my car. I’ve taken my lunchtime to meet with him and I should just make it back in time for class.
Colin was thrilled with the new development. Saturday mornings we often spend alone at the various charities we volunteer at before meeting back up for lunch. The afternoons we usually spend together before meeting someone for dinner that evening.
Tonight, Lily has decided since Claire’s new boyfriend is in town, it’s time for all of us to get together again. We all agreed to meet at a new blues bar downtown.
“What the heck do I wear to a blues bar?” I ask Colin. I don’t really expect an answer since he could wear a bag and still look like a runway model. Tonight he has on an old, faded pair of jeans and a black T-shirt. It’s taking me a lot of self-control not to rip them back off of him, especially the shirt. It’s not tight, but it forms perfectly to every inch of his muscled torso.
“I don’t know. Something easy to get off later, maybe?” He throws me a wicked grin. I just shake my head, diving back into my closet for another look. “Don’t ask if you don’t want to know,” he calls after me. “If you don’t pick out something pretty soon though, they’re going to think we’re standing them up.”
I’m lucky in that there is a large closet in the main bedroom, which is an oddity for this old of a house. I finally find what I’m after, pulling it on before stepping out of the closet.
“Come see what you think about this,” I shout to him.
“Damn! That’s almost criminal,” Colin says, stalking into the room, making a turn around me. When he comes back in front of me, he blows out a low whistle. On a whim, I bought a short black dress that hits me at mid-thigh.
The neckline plunges lower than I would normally wear, but it makes me feel bold. I do a spin so the skirt twirls out a little from my legs. It’s not fancy, but I thought it would be perfect for a blues bar. Colin pulls me to him, running his hands up the back of my legs until he reaches my butt.
“No, you’re not wearing a thong under this. Go put on something that covers that ass. I don’t need every man there trying to look up your dress half the night. First whisper I hear about someone getting a glimpse of your pussy, I would have to kill him.”
“You're being ridiculous,” I say, rolling my eyes at him. “No one is going to even notice me, much less try to look up my dress.”
