Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders #6)(33)

“Why did you?”


“Because people in this town have no f*ckin’ idea how talented you are. It pissed me off.”


A beat passed. “That’s sweet, but since you have so much credit with me, that means I’m going to be pushing for the starburst nipple design.”


He laughed softly.


India wasn’t about to let him off the hook. “As far as Fallon?”


“She was a mistake.”


“Then why’d you ask her out?”


“I don’t know.”


“Come on, Colt, that’s crap. Why’d you ask her to the community center dance where everyone could see you two were on a date?”


“Because she wasn’t like you.”


“Gee. Thanks.”


“You took that the wrong way.”


“How else am I supposed to take it?”


“Listen, I thought if I was with someone who wasn’t like you in any way, I wouldn’t…compare.”


That hurt. She might’ve actually winced. Then she felt him move next to her and his breath fanned her cheek.


“Dammit. I’m doin’ this all wrong. Look at me.”


She turned her head and opened her eyes.


Colt was right there, with his head next to hers on the couch.


“Every single woman comes up short when I compare them to you.


And before you ask, I ain’t talkin’ about you bein’ short in stature.”


“You know me so well.”


“I do. And that’s what this crazy week has proven to me. I don’t want to watch you datin’ other guys. I don’t want you to watch me datin’ other women. I don’t want to have to drag you into a supply closet to kiss you and then apologize for doin’ it.”


“Colt—”


“I don’t want to be just your friend any more, Indy.”


“Why not?”


“Because I think we can be so much more.”


Her heart beat a mile a minute. She took a chance and blurted,


“I want that too.”


“You do?” Colt’s eyes searched her face. “Since when?”


“Since that night I shot you with the nail gun.”


He smiled. “So I guess I can quit bitchin’ about that, huh?”


They stayed like that for a long time, not touching, just looking at each other, and just breathing the same air.


“So what do we do now?” she asked.



“We start dating. Official like.”


“Dating? Like you pick me up at my place, hold the door for me and take me out for dinner?”


“Something like that.” Colt paused. “How long has it been since you dated?”


Would Colt be pleased or pissed if she told him the last relationship she’d been in was purely sexual? When India thought about it…had she ever really just “dated” a man?


No. She’d had sex with plenty of guys, hooked up with more than her fair share, but flowers, dinner, and moonlit walks? Not so much a priority in her younger years when she was drunk or high.


Since she’d cleaned up, fixing herself was more a priority than getting fixed up with some man. And in the three years since she’d starting hanging out with Colt, she’d been content to be with just him. She hadn’t needed or wanted any other man.