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  Jace dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Spending time with you is always fun. Even if it’s in antique stores.”

  Maddy elbowed him and he laughed. Colt felt a pang of something sharp in his chest. Right in the middle, behind his ribcage. “Smells delicious in here, by the way,” he said. “Thanks again for inviting me.”

  “Thank you. And you are always welcome. You know that.”

  “I do.” And it meant more than she knew. Colt didn’t talk much about his life or where he was really from, but he remembered family dinners around his grand-mére’s table when he was a child. He’d felt such a sense of belonging back then. It’d all changed too soon, but that was life.

  Maddy took a tray of rolls from the oven and began putting them in a basket she’d lined with a colorful cloth. “I think we’re ready, if you want to go to the table. Jace, can you carry the roast over and put it on that trivet? Thank you, honey.”

  The round table with four chairs sat beneath a carefully aged chandelier. Angie looked up at him as they reached the table. This time her gaze didn’t dart away. She seemed… shy?

  He blinked. Was that her problem?

  Before he could ponder it further, she started to tug her chair out. He stepped over and did it for her, pushed it in again when she was seated.

  “Thank you,” she said softly.

  “You’re welcome.”

  It was all he could do not to touch her. Not to skim his fingers down the column of her neck and over her shoulder. He could see more of her cleavage than was safe from this vantage. She was wearing a white silky button-down shirt, and though it was modestly buttoned, standing behind her revealed just enough of the curve of her breasts to make his mouth water.

  Colt moved away and took his seat.

  Jace helped Maddy into her chair, and then the four of them were passing food and eating together like it was something they did every day. Maddy carried the conversation at first, but Angie warmed up after some wine. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkled whenever she turned them on him.

  She was so damned pretty to him, with her gorgeous deep red hair and her pale complexion. Yeah, her skin showed every blush, every emotion. He wondered how lovely she’d be lying beneath him as he slowly thrust into her slick heat, building them both to an explosive orgasm. How many tales would her skin tell him then?

  Colt felt the tightening in his balls and knew he had to leave that line of thought or be stuck at the table for the rest of the evening. Somehow, he managed it. By the time the evening was over, he’d successfully kept all thoughts of a naked Angie at bay.

  When she announced she needed to get home, he planned to wait for her to leave first. Then he’d slide out the door and head back to his rented house that wasn’t too far from Jace and Maddy. He’d only settled in Maryland within the past few months. Before that he’d resided in hotels and the apartment he kept in Paris. Working for Ian Black meant you could live wherever you wanted, so long as you were able to travel at a moment’s notice.

  “I should go as well,” Colt said as Angie said her goodbyes. “I’ll walk you out.”

  Not what he’d intended to do, but it popped out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

  She blinked, then nodded. “Thank you.”

  He helped her into her coat, then put on his own. After kisses and hugs at the door from Maddy, they stepped outside into the cold night air. His breath frosted in front of his face. Angie was quiet as they went over to her car. She touched the handle and it unlocked. Then she turned to him and raised her gaze to his again.

  Those green eyes jolted him. They always jolted him.

  “It was nice seeing you, Colt.”

  “Was it?” He’d meant to say you too but that wasn’t what came out.

  Her lashes dropped, then lifted again. Her gaze stayed with his. “Yes, it was. I know you must think I’m flaky as hell. I’m really not. I’m just… scared.”

  Of all the things she could have said to melt the distance he was trying to maintain. “You don’t have to be scared of me, Angie. I won’t hurt you. I’m not Tom Walls.”

  Her eyes clouded at the mention of the man who’d assaulted her. The man Colt and his buddies had threatened if he ever went near her again.

  “I know you aren’t.”

  “Then why do you always look like you’re ready to bolt the instant I show up?”

  “I’m not scared you’ll hurt me like that. I’m scared I’ll get hurt if I let myself like you too much. And then what? You’re a part of Maddy and Jace’s life, just like I am. I wouldn’t want it to be awkward.”

  Colt snorted. “You mean it’s not awkward now?”

  She blinked. Then she laughed. He didn’t expect that, so it was a surprise. It was also a lovely sound. He could get used to that laugh in his life. “Um, right. It is awkward, isn’t it?”

  “Bingo.” He reached past her and pulled her car door open. “Get home, Angie. Stop worrying about life and just live it, okay? And when I text you tomorrow, answer. Texting never hurt a soul. We can at least be friendly. It’ll be less awkward at times like this.”

  She smiled at him. Her hair smelled like flowers and fresh rain. He wanted to drop his nose into the silky mass and inhale, but he didn’t. “I’ll answer. Promise.”

  She sank into her seat and started the car. He pushed the door closed, then waited for her to back up and onto the road before he went over and got inside his own vehicle.

  Maybe there was hope after all.

  Chapter Two

  Angie was going over the Cardinal Group account when her phone dinged the next afternoon. Martinelli’s figures still didn’t make a whole lot of sense to her and the client hadn’t answered her email yet. She’d finally sent a preliminary list, asking for clarification on some of the transactions. She couldn’t move forward until she got them. She glanced at where the phone lay on her desk. Her heart skipped a beat as fresh heat flooded her.

  “Geez, Ang, it’s just a text,” she muttered.

  Colt: Hey. How are you today?

  How she’d survived sitting next to him at dinner last night when her body was on fire with longing and embarrassment she’d never know. She’d texted Maddy when she got home and told her it was a sneaky trick to pull, inviting her over for dinner but not telling her Colt would be there.

  Maddy had texted back a sorry and a whole bunch of other stuff too. Angie was still thinking about the things Mads had said to her about seizing the day and living life to the max and taking chances, etc. So here was a chance. Pick up the phone and answer Colt. She’d promised she would.

  Answering him didn’t mean they were dating or anything. It was a text, nothing more. It was also a break from the monotony of a spreadsheet that wouldn’t give up its secrets.

  She stared at the phone’s screen. She had to admit she liked him. Thought he was sexy as hell. Wanted to jump his bones and see if he looked as good out of clothes as he did in. She was pretty sure he did.

  But he scared her, not because she thought he was the kind of man who wouldn’t take no for an answer, but because he was the first man she’d felt a hint of interest in since she’d kicked her ex out of her life.

  Maybe it was the fact they were always being thrown together because of their connection to Jace and Maddy, or maybe it was sitting beside him in the hospital when he’d been recovering from a gunshot wound, or the way his gaze smoldered whenever it met hers—but her fascination with him hadn’t abated so much as grown bigger.

  That was worrisome. The next time she fell for a guy, he needed to be a nice, stable guy who was more nerdy than athletic. More dad bod than American Ninja Warrior bod.

  And someone who wasn’t the prettiest person in the room. Those guys got too much attention—whether they wanted it or not.

  She took a deep breath and typed. Hi. I’m fine. Working. How about you?

  Colt: Off right now. Just doing some housework.

  Angie blinked. Housework? Then again, why not? She�
�d just never pictured him pushing a vacuum or cleaning toilets. Can I pay you to clean mine? Haha!

  Not that she had the money to pay anyone to clean for her, but he didn’t know that. Plus it was a joke.

  Colt: Maybe. How much are you offering?

  Angie chuckled. I somehow don’t think you mean that.

  Colt: Oh, I don’t know. If it gets me an invitation to your house, I might just clean it for free.

  Her skin glowed even while she told herself not to fall for the charm. I’m going to have to think seriously about your offer.

  Way to go, flirting with him. Angie rolled her eyes.

  Colt: I cook too, you know.

  Angie: Wow, really? Because I don’t. I can burn water.

  Colt: Invite me over and I’ll cook. I’ll buy all the groceries and everything. You can invite Jace and Maddy too, if it makes you more comfortable.

  Angie nibbled her lip. Oh boy. I’ll think about it. It’s a very tempting offer.

  And it was, because he was gorgeous and it’d been a long time since she’d gone out with anyone. Plus there were all those fireworks that constantly exploded inside her whenever he was around.

  Colt: Let me know what you decide. Okay, gotta get back to work. The oven won’t clean itself.

  Angie: Um, I think they do? Self-cleaning ovens, right? I know I’m not making that up.

  Colt: Yeah, but I’d rather clean it myself. The self-clean feature takes 3 hours and it makes the house hot.

  She was impressed he knew that. She certainly didn’t. Well, have fun.

  Colt: Thanks for answering me today.

  Angie: I promised I would.

  Angie stared at her phone for a few moments, then turned her attention back to Martinelli’s spreadsheet. But she couldn’t stop thinking about Colt, and about how when she wasn’t overthinking it, talking to him made her feel kinda good. Maddy kept telling her she had to get back on the horse sometime.

  Why not now?

  She snatched her phone up. Before she could change her mind, she sent a text: How about dinner in a restaurant to start with?

  “Oh hell, what have you done?” she moaned after she pressed send. No way to call it back now.

  Angie turned her attention back to her work. The longer her text went with no answer, the more disappointed she became. Even when she told herself it was for the best. Clearly, Colt knew it too.

  Five minutes later, her phone pinged with a text.

  Colt: Sorry, just saw this. I was vacuuming. Sounds good. Tonight work for you?

  And there it was, that shot of nerves cascading through her. She had so many reasons not to do this. But she wanted to see him. See if the excitement he roused in her was real or a fluke.

  Angie: Yes.

  They’d agreed to meet at a restaurant in Annapolis that wasn’t on the popular waterfront, but on a quieter side street where the tourists didn’t necessarily flock in huge numbers.

  Colt arrived before Angie. He’d been shocked when she’d texted him back and mentioned dinner. He’d thought he’d pushed a little too far when he’d teased her about cooking at her house. He’d expected her to ghost him the next time he texted, but he’d been in for a shock when he’d switched off the vacuum and had a message from her.

  Not at all what he’d expected.

  That she’d agreed to tonight was even more surprising. But she wasn’t here yet so he didn’t need to get ahead of himself. She could still ghost him. He told himself that if she didn’t show up, he was done trying to win her trust and attention. They’d see each other at Jace and Maddy’s, and she’d have to learn to deal with his presence. End of story.

  But she didn’t ghost him. She walked into the restaurant five minutes past when she’d said she would, and she apologized for being late.

  “A client called as I was parking. I had to take it.”

  “It’s not a problem,” he told her, letting his gaze slide over her for a brief moment before meeting her eyes again. She was dressed in a dark wine-colored wrap dress that showed all her curves, and she wore high-heeled suede boots that disappeared beneath the hemline. Which meant they probably went to her thigh.

  Colt’s mouth watered for a second. Jesus.

  “You thought I wasn’t coming,” she said.

  He gave a brief shake of his head. “Not yet I didn’t. You still had twenty-five minutes before I thought that.”

  “Surprise,” she said with a smile.

  He put his hand against her back and ushered her toward the hostess stand. When he gave his name, the girl took them to the table he’d reserved and handed them menus and a wine list.

  Angie’s color was high, but she studied her menu and pretended all was normal.

  “Do you want wine?” he asked.

  She hesitated before responding. “That would be lovely.”

  “What are you planning to eat?”

  “Um, steak, I think. It’s been a long day and I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

  Colt nodded. “Do you have a wine in mind or do you want me to choose?”

  “Red. I don’t care what. Nothing too expensive though. The nuances would be wasted on me.”

  His eyebrows lifted. “Chérie, you have to care.”

  It was her turn to raise her brows. “That sounded French. Do you speak French?”

  “Mais oui,” he told her.

  It wasn’t a secret that he spoke French at Black Defense International. It wasn’t a secret at all, but he didn’t often tell people outside the company about his language skills. Or that French was his first language, not his second. Hell, he didn’t think anyone but Ian Black knew that detail.

  Ian knew all the details about everyone, whether you told him or not.

  “How didn’t I know that?”

  He shrugged. “It probably never came up before. And you have to care about the wine because the wrong red won’t taste right with your steak.”

  “All right. You pick then. I assume because you care, you do know.”

  “I do.”

  He’d been raised to know and appreciate wine. He’d been tasting it since he was a child, drinking small glasses with dinner when he was old enough. It was a part of life where he came from. Part of his heritage, though he’d never be a part of the family business now.

  The waiter arrived to give them bread and tell them the specials. They already knew what they wanted so he took their order and disappeared. Angie took a slice of bread from the basket and tore off a corner.

  “I haven’t been here in a long time,” she said. “Thank you for suggesting it.”

  “Where do you usually go?”

  “These days I grab something fast on the way home, if I don’t have a microwaved dinner. Sometimes I go down to the waterfront with coworkers, but that hasn’t happened in a while. There’ve been some shake ups at work and people are on edge.”

  “What kind of shake ups?”

  “It’s just been a general change of direction. Management has a new focus, and there were some changes at the top that have been trickling down. Barton, Barnes and Blake used to be a small company, but they’ve grown and opened offices in other cities, so that’s required new ways of looking at things. It’s made it less, I don’t know, homey. We’re still in our original office building, which is a turn of the century brownstone they’ve had for thirty years at least, though I think it was in one of the partner’s family’s before that. I expect we’ll move to a bigger, more modern space one of these days.”

  “Do you ever think of going somewhere else?”

  “Somewhere else as in a new city or a new job?”

  He hated to think of her going to a new city. “Either, I guess.”

  She sighed and ripped off another small piece of bread. “I’m not sure. The salary is good and I have bills to pay, like most people. Mortgage, car, student loans. Plus I help my parents out these days. They’re in Florida, and their retirement doesn’t go as far as they’d like.” She paused as she chewed. �
�I’ve already switched careers once—I’m afraid to keep jumping around, you know? I’m almost thirty. It’s time to be settled and working hard for the future if I ever hope to pay everything off and save for retirement.”

  He frowned. She talked like she planned to be single forever. Not that he was asking her about it.

  “You can change jobs, Angie. Hell, you can change careers again if you want to. There’s no rule that says you have to be settled at any age. Might be more comfortable to have a retirement plan when you’re fifty, but it doesn’t matter how you get there.”

  “I don’t know what I want to do. How’s that for an answer?” She gave a little laugh. “I used to be a math teacher—maybe Maddy told you that—but I didn’t enjoy the headache of teaching. Not the kids. They were great. The focus on test scores, and one learning style for everyone, and all the administrative bull that kept coming down got to me after a while. I didn’t feel like I could make a difference, so I got the accounting degree—more student loans—and went to work as an accountant. I enjoy the numbers. I love spreadsheets and complex calculations. But I hate dealing with some of the clients. I mean some are great, but others…” She shrugged.

  He knew she meant Tom Walls. He hoped she didn’t have more clients like that one. “Do you still handle the Walls account?”

  “No. He asked for a man and got one. I told my boss what happened, and he believed me. They still kept his business. And I don’t mind that really because I’d rather we took his money than let him take it somewhere else. But I’m glad I don’t have to deal with him anymore.”

  Colt was glad too. If he had to confront that asshole again, he might not be so nice a second time.

  Hell, he hadn’t wanted to be nice the first time, but removing appendages was frowned upon by the authorities. And Ian wouldn’t have been too pleased either.

  The waiter returned with the wine then. He removed the cork and gave it to Colt. There was a whiff of mold about it, but Colt let him pour a taste anyway. He swirled and sipped.

  “This wine is corked,” he said.

  The waiter looked surprised. “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll get another bottle.”