Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas #3)(23)

If it hadn’t been for Grace, none of this would have happened. Looking into her eyes, I couldn’t help but notice how they looked lost. Empty almost. As if she longed for what I was experiencing right now. I wasn’t sure why Grace never dated anymore. She was beautiful. Her long brown hair fell in waves across her chest as her chocolate-brown eyes gazed into mine. Her body was killer and she had a ton of guys constantly asking her out.

Giving her a warm smile in return, I barely spoke the words. “I’m glad I asked him to dance, too.”

The front door opened and just like that . . . the air in the room became charged. It wasn’t anything new . . . it had been like this for the last three years. Anytime he walked into a room, I felt him before I even saw him. The scent of sweat and Colt swept around me as he walked up to me. Leaning into me without a care in the world, he pressed his lips to mine and kissed me as if he hadn’t seen me in weeks. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

“Good morning,” I softly spoke against his lips. My insides were going nuts as I internally fist pumped myself again for walking up to Colt yesterday and getting him away from that girl.

“You look amazing in my T-shirt.”

Blushing, I placed my hand on my face. “It smells like you and I missed you this morning.”

Colt his eyes were on fire while he searched my face. “Do you have plans for today?”

My heart had never beat so loudly in my chest. Raising his eyebrow as if he could hear it, Colt slowly calmed my beating heart with one smile.

Barely able to speak, I said, “To be with you are the only plans I have.”

Grace made a gagging sound as Colt and I both turned to her. “Yuk. I think I liked it better when y’all were at each other’s throats.”

Giving her a smirk, I turned back to Colt. “What were you thinking?”

Placing a quick kiss on my nose, he said, “It’s a surprise. I’m going to go take a shower and then take you for some lunch. Get dressed and meet me back down here.”

My insides became inflamed when Colt mentioned taking a shower. Would it look obvious if I followed him up to his room? Then into the bathroom, then attacked him in the shower?

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I smiled. Get yourself together, Lauren. Gesh. Within the last twenty-four hours you’ve turned into a horn dog. “Okay, meet you back here in a few.”

Colt dropped his hold on me and headed to the stairs. I missed his touch almost immediately. Flopping against the counter, I let out a long breath.

Waving her hand in front of my face, I looked at Grace. “Holy hell. You have it bad. Really bad.”

Laughing, Will pushed Grace out of the way as he leaned down and kissed my cheek. “You were all he could talk about during our run, Lauren. That boy is head over heels in love with you.”

Wrapping my arms around me, I grinned from ear to ear. “It feels like a dream. Like, something I’ve been wanting for so long but was so afraid to take that step for fear it would slip away again.”

The smell of something sweet caught my attention as I turned to see Alex was making a fruit salad. Her eyes caught mine. “It’s not a dream, sweetie. With the way my brother looks at you I would say he has been wanting this for as long as you.”

Remembering the photo, my stomach dropped like I had just been on a roller coaster.

“I’m headed to the shower,” Will said as he took off and ran upstairs.

Turning to Alex and Grace, I cleared my throat. “I found something in Colt’s drawer when I was looking for a shirt of his.”

Alex glanced up and asked, “What was it?”

The colors of the fruit salad were beautiful. I wasn’t sure why everything seemed different to me today. Smells, sounds, colors. It was as if everything was clearer. “A picture of me from a few years ago. That day we all played football and I scored the touchdown.”

Grace’s head looked up from where she was cutting bananas. “He had a picture of you in his drawer?”

Alex’s shoulders slumped and the goofiest smile spread across her face. “Oh my. How adorable is that? Lauren, he kept a picture of you.” Looking at Grace, Alex smiled bigger. “I have goose bumps!”

Grace chuckled. “I have to admit, that got me right here.” Pointing to her heart, Grace winked at me.

“He’s . . . so romantic. What if I’m not doing something right?”

Alex’s head jerked back. “What do you mean? Lauren, honey, from the look on my brother’s face when he laid eyes on you just now, you are doing everything right.”

Chewing on my bottom lip, I leaned in closer. “Sex wise I mean. I’ve never been with anyone.”

Grace set the knife down and turned her whole body toward me. “Listen to me, Lauren. The fact that you saved yourself means more to Colt than anything. He’s not going to expect you to be an expert.”

Looking away, I wasn’t sure if I should share this or not, but I wanted to talk to someone and who better but two of my best friends. “Um . . . Colt never . . . I mean . . . we were each other’s firsts.”

Looking back at Grace and Alex, I watched as they both melted and let out an “Ohh . . .” as they clutched their chests. “Lauren, how incredibly romantic!” Alex gushed. “Oh my, Daddy taught that boy right.”