Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders #6)(78)

Colt grinned. “Now who’s the sweet talker?”


“Besides, this isn’t a nude. You just happen to be nude as I’m sketching. Now, stop interrupting my artistic flow.”


“Fine.” About thirty seconds later, he said, “Who’s gonna see this picture anyway? Because I don’t want it hanging in your tattoo shop.”


“Don’t worry. I’ll keep it away from the slavering masses of women who trail after you like lovesick puppies.”


“Only woman I want slavering and trailing after me, all lovesick, is you, sugar.”


No response. Scritch scratch. Scritch scratch. Scritch scratch.


“This secretiveness ain’t givin’ me warm fuzzies about what you’re drawin’.”


“I’m not exactly the warm fuzzy type, Colt. Neither are you.”


“I know, which is another reason you need to show me because I wanna make sure you’re not drawin’ devil horns on me. I don’t know why you’re doin’ this.”


She looked at him again, a bit curiously. “I’ll tell you if you promise not to freak out.”


“No dice. I will freak out if the reason is embarrassing or lame.”


“Don’t you trust me?”


He didn’t answer.


India closed her eyes and sagged back into the pillows, clutching the sketchpad to her chest. A minute or so passed.


“Indy?”


“The real reason is…you’re beautiful. Men aren’t supposed to be, but you are.” Her eyes opened and she stared at him with an intensity that fired his blood. “Your face, your body. God. Every single inch of you is…perfection. Sometimes the light hits you just so and it takes my breath away. I can’t believe you’re…”


“What?”


“Here. With me.”


Talk about taking his breath away. Colt rolled to his knees.


“There’s no place I’d rather be.”


“Do you ever wonder…if we’ve wasted time not being together like this, before this?”


“No. We can’t go back. Any time I spent with you, as your friend wasn’t wasted time. Our friendship is what got us to this point. And it’s what’ll get us to the next point.”


“The next point? What’s that?”


Marriage. Babies. Happily ever after. One week into dating and India wasn’t ready to hear that yet, so he kept it light. “Where you show up naked at my house ready to do my bidding.”



“Maybe you’ll rethink that statement when you see what I’ve drawn.” India watched him as he crawled toward her. With each inch he edged closer, she hugged the sketchbook tighter.


“Lemme look at the picture, Picasso.”


“No way.”


“I want to see how you see me.”


“No.”


“Please? With caramel on top?”


She shook her head. “Back off.”


“Huh-uh. Don’t make me tickle you to get what I want.”


“You wouldn’t dare!”


“Don’t dare me. I rock at double-dog and triple-dog dares and don’t get me started on truth or dare. Plus, I know all your ticklish spots. Hand it over.”


“Come and get it, McKay.” She attempted to roll off the bed.