Colters' Lady (Colters' Legacy #2)(22)

Then he turned and saw her. Their gazes locked, and her lips parted in surprise—at what, she wasn’t sure. She felt immediately anxious, though she didn’t fear the man. Maybe she should, but Seth was in yelling distance.

The man cocked his head and studied her as intently as she studied him. Then he smiled, and she was mesmerized by the dimples on either side of his mouth. Perfect, straight white teeth gleamed and he winked at her.

“Hello, sweetness,” he said as he walked over to the bar.

Then he caught sight of her sling and a ferocious frown locked into his brow.

“What the hell happened to you? Are you all right?”

She glanced down at her arm, having totally forgotten that it was hurt at all. “I was shot.”

“Get out! Are you serious?”

He plopped onto a stool next to her, his big frame taking up so much more space than she did.

“What are you doing in here, anyway? Is there something I can do for you?”

“Not unless you have some ibuprofen,” she said ruefully as she raised her arm for reference.

He frowned. “I sure as hell do. Let me get you something to take them with. How about some OJ?”

She blinked in confusion. “Do you work here or something?”

“Or something,” he said as he walked around the counter. “Actually I own it. I used to think I ran it until my sister barged in and sort of took over. I’m currently indulging her.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “You must be Dillon,” she blurted.

He stopped in midpour. “Yeah, that’s me. How did you know? Are you a friend of Callie’s?”

“I haven’t met Callie.”

He shoved the glass of orange juice across the counter and then shook several ibuprofens into his palm. “Here, take these so you feel better.”

As she swallowed them down, he leaned forward on the counter until he was awfully close. He stared at her like he could see behind the layers and defensive walls straight to her heart.

She should look away but found herself mesmerized. He was just so darn cute.

“You have me at a disadvantage, sweetness. You know my name but I don’t know yours.”

She swallowed. “Lily.”

“Very pretty,” he murmured. “Now, Lily. Tell me what you’re doing here? A gorgeous woman like you shouldn’t be sitting alone in an empty pub. Someone should be taking care of you and that arm.”

“I came with Seth. He’s talking with Callie. I think.”

Dillon frowned and then straightened, his palms resting flat down on the curve of the countertop. “Seth’s here?”

She nodded.

“Why am I always the last to know these things?” Dillon asked in an exasperated tone. Then he rested his gaze back on her, stroking over her skin like a paintbrush dipped in fire.

“Are you Seth’s? And if so, why the hell isn’t he taking better care of you?”

She blushed to the roots of her hair, but she felt compelled to dispel his belief and also to defend Seth.

“I’m not anyone’s. What an absurd way to put it. Like people are belongings. And Seth has taken very good care of me. I have so much to thank him for.”

A gleam entered Dillon’s eyes. It was carnal and predatory. She sucked in her breath and shifted back on her stool only to unbalance herself.

Dillon’s hand shot out, and he grasped her uninjured arm to steady her. For a moment he held her across the counter, and then he eased away, his gaze never leaving her.

“So you aren’t Seth’s.”

“I didn’t say that either!”

She glared at him, her cheeks warm with exertion. He grinned back at her, melting her exasperation with the warmth in his gaze.

“Come on, Lily, give a guy something to work with here. Are you taken? Otherwise involved? You fascinate me. How did you get yourself shot? And if you aren’t Seth’s, did my brother lose his dick when he got himself shot?”

Her mouth popped open, and then she burst into laughter. She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand and then laughed harder.

“You’re a terrible flirt,” she accused.

But even as she reproached him, the realization that she hadn’t had this much fun in a very long time buzzed through her consciousness. And so did the guilt over the carefree way she’d laughed and enjoyed the small moment.

She looked down and then away, hating the helplessness that held her in its grip. She was tired of feeing like she’d never be happy again. When was enough…enough?

A firm hand gripped her chin and turned. Dillon had moved around the counter and now he stood a mere breath away, his body crowding into her space, filling it with heat.

“What’s wrong?” he asked bluntly. “Are you hurting?”

“Just get Seth for me. I’m ready to leave.”

“I’m not ready for you to go.”

Her gaze swung upward, and she had the insane idea that he wanted to kiss her. Did all the Colter men go around kissing women they barely knew? The real question was why did she let them?

“Lily?”

“Yes?” she asked in a husky voice.

“I want to kiss you. I should warn you I tend to do things I want. I’m spoiled that way. So while I’m telling I want to kiss you, the thing is I’m going to.”