Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas #3)(2)

Lifting his Coke bottle to his lips, his eyes caught mine, and I couldn’t help but smile. I wasn’t smiling because Colt looked at me. I was smiling because I saw how miserable he was. Colt didn’t want to be talking to the blonde and in that moment of realization, I was ecstatic. Okay, so maybe I was also smiling because Colt looked at me.

“See what I mean?” Grace said as she nudged me with her shoulder.

Colt smiled back, and this time it reached his eyes. They lit up for the first time in weeks, and I loved that it was because of me smiling at him. Ever since he moved into the house we were all sharing, all we did was argue about the stupidest things or avoid each other all together. I knew my frustration toward Colt was from him turning me down the night I asked him to make love to me.

Then, of course, there was the fact that my father seemed to think I couldn’t take over the family business without Colt’s help. Part of me knew I was being unfair to him. Colt’s love and knowledge of horses would be an asset to our breeding business and my father could see that. And Colt explained his reasons for not making love to me that night. He said he wanted to make the first time we made love special and the back seat of his truck was not how he was going to do it. Even with that explanation, it still didn’t lessen the blow when he turned me down. The embarrassment from that night still clung to my heart and was the main reason I avoided Colt. That, and the fact that anytime I was near him, I wanted to jump his bones.

Well, I’m not going to avoid Colt anymore. Tonight I would be a good friend and save him from the blonde who clearly wanted more than just a casual conversation.

“Excuse me, Grace. I can’t pass up this moment. I’ll be able to rub it in Colt’s face later how I rescued him from this situation.”

Grace laughed as I walked toward Colt. His grin turned to a full-blown smile as his eyes never left mine. His smile had always been my weakness. My heart raced faster the closer I got to him. Seeing the blonde out of the corner of my eye, I glanced to her. She was staring at me with daggers as I made my way over to them. Frowning, her eyes moved over my body. I knew I looked good. The chiffon, platinum-colored bridesmaid dresses that Libby picked out for us to wear fit me like a glove. Even Meg said my breasts looked killer in the dress. Colt couldn’t keep his eyes off of me when I walked down the aisle.

Walking up to Colt and the blonde, I smiled bigger. “Hey, Colt.”

“Hey, Lauren.”

Turning, I smiled at the bitch. I mean, the blonde. “Hi. I’m Lauren. You are?”

Flashing me a fake smile, she said, “Tina.”

I nodded my head. “Nice to meet you, Tina.” Tilting my head slightly, I looked back at Colt. “You promised we would dance.”

Colt’s mouth fell open as he gave me a dazed look. He, of course, hadn’t promised this. He hadn’t even talked to me since last night when we got into another argument over something stupid. I didn’t even remember what the fight was about, to be honest.

Quickly coming to his senses, Colt placed his hand on my arm. I prayed like hell he hadn’t felt my whole body shudder under his touch. “Right. I wouldn’t want to go back on a promise.”

We started to walk off when the blonde reached for Colt’s arm. “Wait! Is Lauren your girlfriend or are you . . . free later?” Moving her eyes over his body while biting her lower lip, Tina gave Colt a naughty as hell smile.

What. A. Bitch.

Pulling his head back, Colt gave her an incredulous look. Good. I’m glad to see he was as shocked by her advance as I was. “Yes. Yes, she is, Tina. See you around.”

Colt’s hand slid down my arm as he took my hand in his. My heart jumped, and my stomach felt like I had just gone through about ten loops on a roller coaster. Leading me out to the dance floor, I turned and gave Tina a dirty look. “Oh my glitter! How rude. I mean . . . holy sheets! She practically asked you to screw her later. In front of me.”

Colt’s laugh was a low rumble as he spun me around and pulled me into his arms. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Tina as we danced.

Placing his lips to my ear, Colt spoke. “Thank you.”

Looking into Colt’s eyes, my breathing increased. It was then I realized where I was. In Colt’s arms. Up against his body. Really, really up against his body. How many times had I dreamed of Colt holding me in his arms again?

Too many times. Asshole. Ugh. I hate that he makes my body feel like this.

“Thank you for what?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“Saving me from what was probably the worst conversation of my life.”

Stifling my giggle, I couldn’t help but glance at Colt’s lips. He noticed because the bastard licked them.

Oh God. Oh God. Calm yourself, Lauren. Quickly looking away, I tried to focus on something else. Anything else.

“You look beautiful, Lauren.”

Shit. Deep breaths, Lauren. Stay strong.

“Thanks. You look pretty handsome yourself,” I said as I continued to scan the dance floor.

“How would you know? You’ve barely looked my way all morning.”

My head snapped to him. “Are you kidding? I’ve been staring at you for the last . . .”

Shit. Shit. Shit. Way to play it cool, Lauren. Hello, world. The Lauren who throws herself at Colt has finally shown up, and she’s looking to get her heart stomped on again by him.