15
The whole way to the restaurant, Holly couldn’t stop smiling, yet afraid to speak. It seemed like every time she talked to Colt the last few weeks it ended badly. He pulled out the chair for her, noticing she hadn’t said a word.
“Something wrong, Holly?” He waived over the server, ordering wine for the both of them.
“No. Just… I don’t want to ruin this. I always end up screwing things up.” She looked away, twitching her nose nervously.
“Relax, sweetheart. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be. Just be yourself.”
Colt reached over, taking her hand, running his thumb over the pulse point of her wrist. His gentle touch sent fireworks through her entire body. Remembering the lust-filled night they had shared was short of how he was making her feel right now.
“That’s just it. Myself is never good enough. That’s why people leave me.”
“The thing is, Holly, I like your spunk. I am not going anywhere. I want to know the girl behind this hard exterior. I honestly don’t think you’re all that you let on, are you?”
“Well… not really. You were right about me, though. I was trying to live up to my brother’s reputation and forgot how to be myself. I am a little like both of them. The person right now; this is me. Not the hardass who fights all the time. I just thought it was the only way I can get any respect from people.” She drank from her wine, trying to hide her growing tension in hopes a little liquid courage would calm her.
“That’s not respect. That’s fear and intimidation. I like this Holly a lot better,” he said as he kissed her hand.
“Colt, is our plan going to get everyone in trouble? I know you all love your job. Even if Davis is a colossal pain in the butt, I don’t think he meant to hurt anyone.”
He threw his head back and laughed once he saw how seriously worried she was. He hadn’t realized until now that Holly was still the new girl. She didn’t understand how IWX worked.
“No. It’s just how it is at IWX. Davis enjoys messing with people. That’s just part of the job. It keeps everyone fired up, but it also makes for good ratings.”
“Seriously? This is the weirdest place I have ever worked. And people say sideshows people are freaks. You all are a bunch of lunatics.” Holly laughed, finally feeling more at ease.
“If that isn’t calling the kettle black. Says the girl who gets horny by pissing people off,” he said teasingly.
“No. I just get turned on by pissing you off. I know secretary it gets you hot too. Our angry sex night was pretty exciting. Want me to slap you again?” she asked with a wink.
“Nope. Next time it’s my turn. Your ass is going to be red with my mark, bad girl. I’ll spank that cute little ass for defying me all this time.” He winked over his glass of wine, taking a slow sip.
“Spanking? Hmm. How can I make you mad later?” She pretended to be thinking.
“Do we need to call Isis and Gage for some pointers?”
Holly bit her lip and shyly looked down at the menu. “I don’t think I’m ready for their level of kink. But you could teach me.” She looked up through her long lashes, smiling sweetly.
“You’re going to be a handful, aren’t you? My bad girl.” He chuckled.
“I can be good too. Very good.” She ran her foot up his leg under the table. “I’m sorry about how I treated you and the guys.”
“I know. I forgive you.”
“The guys don’t. They still think I’m going to do something to them. Everyone thinks I’m a monster and… maybe I am.” Holly’s eyes said it all. She was hurting inside and hated how people thought of her.
“I think Wraith brought you here for a reason. He told Gage and me one day he was worried about you. He was afraid you were going to get in real trouble one day. Wraith wants to see you happy again.”
“I know. He and Cyrus are all I have since I was a kid. They always watched out for Isis and me. Sometimes I feel like I am disappointing them.”
“They’re proud of you and Isis. It’s never too late to make a change if you want it. You are tough. That’s part of why I like you. Crazy thing is, I was never into girls who were so independent. I sort of always went for the pushover. I hate to admit it, but I love the challenge you give me. The anger in you is what worries me. Holly, not everyone is going to hurt you and I think the violence is getting out of hand.”
He wanted to get her to let down her wall. Would it help, was another issue. He hoped the conversion wouldn’t end badly, but it needed saying.
“By everyone, you really mean you. Right?”
“Yes. But I need to be clear too. No more of this attacking me or my friends. I am not saying to not defend yourself when necessary. Just use a little more restraint and compassion.”
“I promise, Colt. I’ll try.” She got up and went to sit in his lap at the other side of the table, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugged him. With a little waver in her voice, she tried to show him she meant it. “I am so sorry. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“I know you will. Tonight’s a good start. Now I can show you who I am too.”
He kissed her cheek and held her tight as she snuggled into his embrace. Colt rested his chin on her shoulder and took a deep breath. He hoped she meant it. He wanted to be close to her but needed to trust her first.
***
After dinner, they made their way back to the hotel. Colt stood, shifting his weight back and forth, not sure what to do. She was trying to hide her nervous tension too.
“I guess this is it. I had a wonderful time tonight.”
“Oh. Me too. Me too.” Colt grabbed his gum and stuck it back in his pocket. “Holly?”
“Yes?”
“Would it be okay if I kissed you?”
“Uh-huh.”
She blushed and leaned in closer to pucker her lips. It was clear she was inexperienced. Colt just smiled at her awkwardness. It was endearing that woman who had such a hard exterior was so innocent behind the fist and fury.
He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer. “Oh. Get over here, bad girl.” He smiled while hovering over her lips.
He hesitated to kiss her, to see her reaction. Slowly Holly peeked out one eye up and him. He was just looking at her, smiling like an idiot. She quickly closed her eyes again.
Colt chuckled. “You’re too cute. You know that?”
“Shut up and kiss me already.”
“And if I don’t, miss bossy?” Colt asked as he ran his lips over her jawline.
Holly opened her eyes and lifted her eyebrow in annoyance. “Are you going to kiss me or not?”
Colt just chuckled in amazement. Messing with her was just as much fun as the thought of kissing her again.
“You can’t help being a little sassy, can you?”
Holly grabbed his face and planted a kiss hard, and Colt just smiled through it. He loved getting her fired up, and this was much more fun than fighting.
She giggled through the kiss, realizing what he had just done to provoke her. “You’re such an ass.”
Colt swatted her on the butt. “And you love it. Now, give me those lips.”
He kissed her again, and someone cleared their throat beside them. They slowly looked over amid the chaste kiss. Cyrus was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest.
Holly backed against the hotel room door. “Oh. Hi Cy. Nice night, huh?”
He looked over at Colt and grumbled. “It’s late. Where have you been?”
“It’s not even nine o’clock you spaz,” Isis said, standing behind Cyrus hiding and snickered.
Holly moved to look past her brother at her cousin. “Benedict Arnold. You’re supposed to be on my side, Isis.”
“It’s funny. Cyrus thinks he’s a papa bear and Colt is getting too close to little bear’s porridge.”
Both girls started laughing, but Cyrus didn’t find it funny at all. No one was good enough for his sister and never would be.
Colt chuckled at how Cyrus was so overprotective of her. He couldn’t picture how it would be when Cyrus had kids. If it were a daughter, the girl would be in a chastity belt and locked away until she was thirty.
“See you tomorrow, Holly.” He kissed her with a quick peck, looking at Cyrus.
Cyrus narrowed his eyebrows and let out a low growl.
For a little extra fun, Colt smacked her on the bottom and squeezed it, taunting her older brother. Holly squealed and smacked his arm playfully, unaware of what he was trying to do.
Colt tried to hold back his smirk as he walked past Cyrus, who he was sure was thinking of one hundred ways to kill him for touching his sister. He secretly wondered if Cyrus was a backwood serial killer. The thought made him shiver as he walked down the hall.
He looked back over his shoulder, saying to himself. “Maybe I need to do a background check to be sure.”
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Author note: I think Colt may be a little scared of Cyrus. What do you think?
NEWS: If you like this story you can own the full book series. Check out my website www.LorettaKendall.com for more details. New stories will be released soon that will not be available on apps. Also check out the spin-off holiday collection, Masters of Love Series starting with Seducing Jack Frost.
