Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Colton flipped his challenge coin over his knuckles as he stared at Paisley’s empty desk. He’d spent the weekend trying to be normal, as per her request. For a person not searching for that special someone, having her drop in his lap and then ripped away was a juxtaposition that unsettled him.
Uncertainty flooded every fiber of his being. Even the thought of a casual hookup, his norm when need struck, put a sour taste in his mouth.
Hell, he even missed her damn sticky notes all over the place.
“I’m surprised Paisley isn’t here,” Colton said to Brandi when she passed by. Being all offhand and mellow. “I can go through the rest of the files without her if she’ll be late.”
“Oh, I didn’t tell you. Aunt Eulalee and I found the missing records after you and Paisley went home. She has what she needs, and she’ll finish up the audit remotely.”
Helplessness and despair stabbed his belly, sharp knives of emotion he never thought he’d experience again after his ex served him with divorce papers. “Thanks.”
Brandi raised an eyebrow. “That’s it?” she asked.
He flipped his coin in the air. “What else is there?”
“What else do you want there to be?”
He fumbled the catch, the coin rolling to the floor. An honest, face-to-face conversation. That promised cup of coffee. The chance to show her his love.
He dropped to his knees to retrieve the coin, hiding the heart thumping through his shirt like boots during a march. Love snuck in while he was unprepared and tied him up in one neat Paisley and River knot.
Brandi’s face peeked down at him. “I had plans to meet her for lunch this afternoon, but—” She broke off in a dainty cough. “I don’t feel so good.” Another cough, this one complete with hacking and throat clearing.
He rose from the floor, not expecting this new development.
“Feeling faint.” She raised the back of her hand to her forehead as she made her way across the office. “Can’t possibly drive to Valicente’s and be there in,” she checked her watch, “an hour.”
“You’re a great boss!” he shouted after her as she left the building.
* * *
It took a good half hour to arrive at the swank restaurant. Colton pulled in to a space, scanning the lot for Paisley’s car. When he spotted it, he swallowed his nervous anticipation. It was go time.
He carefully got out of his car and entered Valicente’s. A few people perched on the stools in front of the bar glanced at the door when he walked in, then returned to their drinks. The low hum of conversation surrounded him as he made his way through the cloth-covered tables.
There. She sat with her back to the door, but he’d recognize her silhouette anywhere. He ran his hands down the thighs of his jeans, then navigated past the other diners, expecting the strange stares his outfit garnered.
Paisley turned with a smile at his approach, probably ready to greet Brandi. At the sight of him, she stood up, covering her mouth as she made a sound that came out as a half laugh, half choke.
“Did you use my entire supply?” she asked.
There wasn’t just one or two sticky notes hanging from the hem of his charcoal grey shirt. Oh, no. The little lavender squares covered his chest and the top of his jeans.
Colton gave her a smile, then tore off a note and handed it to her. He’d spent time at the red lights scribbling out what he wanted to say. Hello.
“Hi,” Paisley said. “Where’s Brandi?”
He tore off another note. Brandi couldn’t make it.
“What are you doing here, Colton?” Paisley’s eyes darted to the exit. “Didn’t we agree to keep real life out of our online one?”
She looked ready to flee. Not just him, but their chance of a lifetime. How’s your hand?
“It’s fine.” Paisley held it up, showing off the tiny pinprick at the base of her thumb.
He gently grasped it and pressed a kiss to the bruise on her palm.
A tremor ran through her and she closed her eyes. “Colton, please.”
He let go. At least the physical attraction was still there. Now came the hard part.
I did what you do. Wrote everything down.
Her sparkling smile seemed forced. “I knew you’d eventually come around to my way of thinking.”
It was time. Time to dive in. Bear his soul and hope she didn’t leave it on the table next to the garlic knots and half-drunk glass of water.
I love you.
She stared at the note for an eternity of heartbeats. Maybe she couldn’t read his scrawling print. He opened his mouth to explain when she looked up, her velvet-brown eyes shimmering. “Colton, I—”
He handed her another note before she could finish. Don’t say it back.
She clutched the note to her chest and slid into her seat.
It was easier to keep myself in solitude than to risk heartbreak again.
“Not everyone is like your ex.” Her voice was low and soft.
You made it hard to be alone when I could be with you instead.
A tear slipped down her cheek and she gave it an impatient brush.
He fought the ache to pull her into his arms. She wasn’t there yet. And you did all that without us going on a single date.
She let out a muffled laugh at that one. “Will you please sit? And maybe use words?”
He hadn’t finished, but did what she asked. He took her hand in both of his from across the table. “You changed my world, Paisley. I just didn’t realize it until you weren’t there. And I don’t want to go back to the way it was.”
She swiped at another tear and sorted through the sticky notes in her hand. She stared at the one she choose for a long time.
He opened his mouth to say something when she finally handed it to him.
I love you.
The air around him vibrated with relief. “Paisley.”
She held up a finger. After rustling in her purse, she took out a pen out and scratched on one of the notes, then handed it to him.
say it back.
He jumped from his seat and pulled her from hers, then kissed her, pouring his hope and longing into it.
Her hands gripped his shoulders and he deepened the kiss, adding his desire to the frenzy as he dragged her to him.
“I love you.” His voice came out gruff. It had been a lifetime since he said those words out loud.
She smoothed her hand down his cheek and pressed a kiss to his lips. “This is insane. But I love you, too. And I want to see where this goes.”
“Then that’s what we’re going to do.” He guided her back to her chair, then sat in the other one. He picked up the cloth napkin and snapped it across his lap. “Ready for our first date?”
THE END