Girl Crush(65)

I nodded my agreement.

“I think you captured my heart the first time you asked to drive my car.”

My eyes went wide with excitement, and my mouth opened, but before I could get the question out, he stopped me.

“And the answer is still no.” He winked at me and kept talking. “But I believed you were into chicks. Hell, the first time I saw you was because you showed up at my house to have dinner with my sister. But, Giselle, even in the driveway, when I was a total ass, you still made my heart skip a beat. I’ve fought my feelings for you for months, refused to allow myself to go down that road because it would only end in disaster for me. But every time I turned around, there you were, hanging out, talking, being one of the guys. You infiltrated every aspect of my life without even trying. And I struggled to believe it wasn’t planned—even though it couldn’t have been.”

“Collier, I had no idea you and Beck lived together. I didn’t make dinner plans with her to meet you. I didn’t know you existed. It was all happenstance. But for the first time in my adult life, there was a man who treated me like a friend with zero expectation. I wasn’t willing to risk that by announcing my sexual preference. The only other person I’ve ever felt that comfort with is Ronnie.”

“I realize your intentions were never malicious…I just didn’t see it that morning on your front steps.”

“I’m sorry, Collier. So sorry. I never planned to mislead you. I hope you believe that.”

A snarky expression moved across his face. “So that day at the car show…you were jealous of Roma?”

An exaggerated eye roll caused him to laugh from the belly—a deep, hearty chuckle. “Which one inflates your ego more, converting a lesbian-wannabe or my being jealous of another woman?”

He quirked his mouth to the side and tapped his chin with his finger. “Hmm. I’d say they both give me equal street cred and increase the value of my man card tenfold.”

“At least you’re not full of yourself or anything.”

“What about the skimpy swimsuits?”

“What about them?”

“Were those to attract my attention, or is that your typical pool attire?”

Ugh, he was insufferable. I guess humiliation was my penance for misleading him. “Both.”

“That has to change.”

“What? You don’t like my swimsuits?” They were cute as hell, and I worked hard to look good in them.

“I love them, but so do all my friends. So if I’m not physically with you, I’d prefer you either wear something with more coverage or one of those sheer things girls put on over it.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at him. “You’re kidding, right? Have you seen the way women, even those not interested in men, look at you? And you’re worried about what I wear?”

He smiled and nodded.

“Fine.” It wasn’t a point I cared about arguing. I’d deal with it if the time came, but I hoped I’d just have Collier with me, and then it was a non-issue.

“The nail polish…”

If he had anything negative to say about my love of all things OPI, this might be where I had to walk away. Some women were addicted to shoes, some had an affinity for handbags, and others wanted jewelry. Personally, I had to have every color OPI ever put out. It wasn’t a negotiable point. I took a deep breath and asked, “What about it?” I held it in, hoping this wasn’t the end of Collier.

“Do I have to give it back?”

I blew out the air trapped in my lungs. He got it. Collier got me. “No. Those are for your personal collection. Did you have a favorite?”

I expected him to laugh, and he did smile, but he also held up his right pinky for me to see.

“Just wanted to see what love looked like on me,” he added.

The one nail was painted, fairly well I might add. “GPS I Love You.” He didn’t have to tell me the color, I’d recognize that shade anywhere. A chill ran up arms, and my eyes moved from the polish on his finger to the haunting green eyes that seduced me that day in his driveway. His lids narrowed just slightly, and the corner of his mouth tipped with the hint of a grin.

I didn’t ask why he’d left it painted. I didn’t care. I just loved that he had. I’d wanted to lean over the table and plant a kiss smack dab on his lips, but even I wasn’t that brave. After my epic failure on the dance floor two weeks ago, West would have to be the one to make the first move. I couldn’t risk the rejection for the second time.

We talked through dinner where I picked at the salad I’d ordered, and the easy comfort that had surrounded us in the past engulfed us like a cocoon. My mind raced in anticipation of where life would take us and how quickly we could get there. I didn’t need to rush things with Collier, but we’d wasted so much time that I wanted to make up for it.

“Giselle?” His thick fingers waved in front of my nose, catching my attention. “Where’d you go?”

“Sorry, just daydreaming.” I sounded drunk. Collier might not be in love with me, it might just be heavy like, but I was head over heels. I had it bad.

“Yeah? What about?” He stabbed the last piece of his steak with the fork before popping it into his mouth. Everything about him was masculine…even the way he chewed. I couldn’t stop staring at his jaw muscles—clenching with each bite. Or the way his arms flexed when he moved the silverware. But my favorite was the subtle way his eyes changed colors just slightly when he looked at me and said my name.