Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders #6)(112)

“Before.”


“See! That’s what I mean. You and Colt had been friends forever, and when his cousin starts paying attention to you, a cousin he’s always had a rivalry with, then Colt becomes interested in you?


Isn’t that just a little…ironic?”


It wasn’t as if India hadn’t thought of that. And discounted it.


She opened her mouth to protest, but Cat wasn’t done.


“Almost as ironic as Carolyn McKay waltzing in here yesterday.”


“She’s a regular customer of Sky Blue.”


“But I’m betting she didn’t come in here to buy lotion. I’m betting she came in here to talk to you. Did she warn you off Colt?”


India looked up. “Why would she do that?”


“Because you’re not the type of woman she wants her darling son dating, are you?”


“My, my Cat, what a tangled web you weave. I’m finding it impossible to follow a single thread.”


Cat gave her a superior sniff. “What do you mean? It’s obvious.”


“Not to me. First you say Colt is going to dump me because he dumps every woman. Then you say his mother is worried we’re going to have a permanent relationship, so she comes to warn me off?”


“Which brings me back to my original point. You being at the McKay family dinner. I think that tipped Mama McKay off Colt’s fling with the local tattooist might go on a little longer and she had to do something to stop it.”


Fling. As if.


“So what did she say to you?”


None of your goddamn business.


“Because you looked upset.”


Maybe it’s because I look like I could use a big bottle of scotch.


“Probably not as upset as you were knowing Colt came into the diner with another woman last night.”


“Who?” Dammit. She shouldn’t have asked. It’d be just like Cat not to tell her. And then for India to find out it’d been Colt’s sister-in-law and to get pissed off for nothing.


“That gorgeous redheaded lawyer who moved to town earlier this year and took over her father’s law office…Ginger Paulson?”


That’d explain Colt’s evasiveness about the woman talking to him at the community center. “Maybe it was business.”


“Oh honey, it sure didn’t look like they were talking business.”


Cat gasped with mock distress. “Oh, India, I’m really sorry I opened my big mouth and told you when you didn’t know.”


No, you aren’t sorry you miserable pot-stirring, gossiping, lazy-assed bitch.


Rather than allow catty Cat the satisfaction of seeing how badly she’d upset her, India shrugged. “I appreciate you telling me.


Like you said. I’m just dating him. No big deal, nothing permanent, we’re having some laughs. It’s not like I’m picking out wedding dresses and invitations.”


Suspicion darkened Cat’s eyes. “Really? You’re sure you’re not upset?”


“Positive,” she lied. “Besides, I am getting what I want from Colt McKay.”


“What’s that?” Cat asked.


India’s lips twisted in a parody of a smile. “Now where would be the fun in telling you, when I want it to be such a big surprise for him?”