19. Colt
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Colt
The barn had been transformed into a makeshift photo studio, complete with hay bales, rustic props, and a camera set up on a tripod.
The guys were mostly in good spirits, considering the ridiculousness of posing for a firefighter fundraiser calendar.
The whole town was counting on us to pull this off, so we were giving it our all… even if that meant enduring Nate’s overly serious directing.
“You’re doing great, Ryan,” he said, not looking up from the camera. “Just try to look less like you want to kill me and more like you’re here to save kittens from trees.”
Ryan tugged at the sleeves of his flannel shirt, his expression dark. “I swear, I’m gonna murder you after this.”
I smirked. “Aw, come on, Grumpy. It’s for a good cause. And let’s be real, you love the attention.”
Ryan shot me a withering glare but didn’t bother denying it. Jaxon, meanwhile, lounged on a hay bale like he was born for this, the corners of his mouth tugging into a cocky grin.
“Relax,” Jaxon said, leaning back and flexing slightly. “It’s called charm. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Charm, my ass,” I muttered, but I couldn’t help laughing. “You’ve been practicing that smirk for years, haven’t you?”
Before Jaxon could retort, the barn door creaked open and in walked Lila, carrying a clipboard and looking entirely too put together for a day surrounded by sweaty firefighters.
Nate waved her over. “Lila, thank God. We need your creative eye. These guys are hopeless without some direction.”
Lila flushed, her eyes darting nervously around the room. “Uh, sure. What exactly do you want me to do?”
“Just keep us on track. Make sure the poses don’t look ridiculous.” Nate grinned. “Also, maybe rein in Colt before he decides to go full cowboy.”
I tipped my imaginary hat in her direction. “Yeehaw.”
Her hazel eyes met mine for a moment, and I swore her cheeks turned pink.
Lila cleared her throat, glancing down at her clipboard like it held the secrets of the universe. “All right, let’s see what we’re working with.”
As she scanned the setup, I couldn’t help but notice how she chewed on her bottom lip when she was focused. It was distracting—so much so that I almost missed Nate’s call.
“Colt! Center stage. Shirt off.”
I froze mid-step. “Excuse me?”
Jaxon let out a low whistle, clearly enjoying himself. “You heard the man.”
Lila’s head snapped up, her eyes wide. “Wait, what?”
“Shirt off, Colt,” Nate repeated, barely hiding his smirk. “We need the rugged look for this one.”
“Well, this just got interesting,” Jaxon quipped, leaning back to watch.
With an exaggerated sigh, I pulled off my flannel, leaving only the white tank underneath. I made a show of flexing my arms, glancing at Lila as I did so.
Her gaze flicked to the clipboard, but not before I caught the way her cheeks deepened to a fiery red.
“You good, Lila?” I teased, my grin widening.
She blinked rapidly, pretending to jot something down. “Yep! All good. Let’s, uh, keep it moving.”
Ryan, ever the observer, chuckled. “Looks like someone’s getting flustered.”
“Shut up, Ryan,” she muttered, but the humor in her voice gave her away.
I stepped into the spotlight, leaning casually against the hay bale. “All right, Lila. Tell me what to do.”
She hesitated, her fingers tightening on the clipboard. “Maybe… um, lean back a little? Less smirk, more… serious hero vibe?”
“Serious hero vibe,” I repeated, mimicking her tone. “Got it.”
I leaned back, exaggerating the pose just enough to make it ridiculous.
“Like this?”
Jaxon snorted. “More like a catalog model for discount farm equipment.”
Lila pressed her lips together, clearly fighting a laugh. “Colt, be serious!”
“All right, all right.” I adjusted my pose, this time locking my gaze on her. “Better?”
Her eyes lingered on me for a moment too long before she coughed and looked away. “Y-yeah. That’s… that’s better.”
The guys burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but join in. Lila buried her face in the clipboard, muttering something about “unprofessionalism” and “never doing this again.”
But for all her flustered reactions, I could see the way her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile.
Maybe this photo shoot wasn’t such a chore after all.
As the photo shoot wrapped up, Nate announced a break, and the guys scattered to grab water or air out the barn’s lingering heat. Lila hurried outside, clearly needing an escape from the chaos… and probably from us.
Especially me.
I didn’t blame her. I’d been pushing my luck, but something about her reactions made it impossible to stop myself.
Dropping my flannel over my shoulder, I followed her outside. The sun was starting to dip, casting a golden glow over the barn and the nearby fields.
Lila stood by the fence, scribbling something on her clipboard, though her grip on the pen looked a little too tight.
“Hey.”
She jumped, spinning around with wide eyes. “Colt! You scared me.”
I held up my hands in mock surrender, grinning. “Didn’t mean to. Just wanted to check on you. You bolted out of there like the barn was on fire.”
She huffed a small laugh, tucking a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear. “Yeah, well… it’s a lot of testosterone in one room. Plus, the posing.”
“Don’t tell me you’re blushing over a few shirtless guys,” I teased, leaning against the fence. “I thought you were tougher than that.”
Her eyes narrowed, but I caught the faintest smile on her lips. “I’m not blushing, and I’m definitely tougher than you .”
“Doubt it.” I smirked, letting the silence stretch between us for a moment before I took a step closer. “You know, I wasn’t just messing with you in there.”
Her brow furrowed, the teasing light in her eyes dimming into confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” I said, my voice softening, “you’re a distraction, Lila. And not just because you keep looking at me like you’re trying not to laugh.”
Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she looked away. “I wasn’t?—”
“You were,” I interrupted gently, stepping closer still. “And I liked it.”
She turned back to me, her hazel eyes full of hesitation. “Colt…”
“Look, I’m not great at this whole ‘subtle’ thing, so I’ll just come out and say it.” I took a deep breath, my usual confidence faltering just a little. “Go out with me. One date. That’s all I’m asking.”
Her jaw dropped, and for a moment, she looked so genuinely shocked that I wondered if I’d miscalculated entirely.
“You’re serious?” she asked.
“Completely.” I grinned. “Unless you’re about to tell me no, in which case I’ll just pretend I was joking and slink away in defeat.”
Her lips parted like she was about to say something, then closed again. She blinked, her face blank.
“Lila?”
Finally, she let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head. “I… I don’t know why I’m saying this, but yes. Okay. A date.”
I straightened, my grin widening. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She bit her lip, her eyes darting nervously back toward the barn. “But only if you promise not to make a big deal about it. Nate will kill us both if he finds out.”
“Deal,” I said without hesitation. “And don’t worry, I’m great at keeping secrets.”
Her skeptical look said otherwise, but the smile tugging at her lips told me I’d won her over.
“All right, then,” I said, stepping back and giving her space. “Saturday night. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Okay,” she replied softly, still looking a little dazed.
I turned to head back toward the barn, but before I got too far, I glanced over my shoulder and gave her a wink. “By the way, you were definitely blushing.”
She groaned, burying her face in her hands as I walked away, my grin stretching wider with every step.
* * *
The rumble of my motorcycle echoed through Medford’s quiet streets as I pulled up outside Lila’s place.
I wasn’t exactly dressed for a cozy restaurant, but I’d never been the kind of guy to follow all the rules.
A leather jacket, dark jeans, and my favorite boots—that was my style.
And Lila? She was the perfect contrast. When she stepped out of her brother’s house, her denim jacket and casual outfit screamed “girl next door,” but the way she carried herself said something else entirely.
Confident. Sharp. Beautiful.
“Nice ride,” she said as I swung my leg off the bike. Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and I knew right then she wasn’t going to be easy to impress.
Good. I liked a challenge.
“You like it?” I asked, running a hand over the handlebars. “Thought I’d mix things up tonight. No boring dinner tables or stuffy small talk. Just us and the open road. What do you say?”
Her brows shot up. “You want me to get on that thing?”
“Scared?” I teased, flashing her a grin.
She crossed her arms, tilting her head in mock defiance. “Not a chance. But if I fall off, I’m suing.”
I laughed, handing her a spare helmet. “Noted. Now, come on. Trust me.”
She hesitated for only a moment before slipping the helmet on and climbing onto the bike behind me. The warmth of her hands as they rested tentatively on my waist sent a spark down my spine.
“Hold on tight,” I said, my voice low as I revved the engine.
The bike roared to life, and we took off, tearing down Medford’s back roads under a blanket of stars. The wind whipped around us, cool and exhilarating, and I felt her grip on me tighten as I leaned into the curves.
We stopped at a clearing just outside of town, where the view of the night sky was unhindered by city lights. I killed the engine, and the sudden silence was almost jarring.
“What’s this?” she asked, slipping off the helmet and shaking out her hair.
I hopped off the bike, pulling a blanket and a bottle of wine from the saddlebag. “Just a little detour.”
Her lips parted in surprise, but then she laughed, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”
“Impossible is the best kind of possible,” I said, spreading out the blanket on the grass. “Now, come on. Let’s enjoy this.”
We sat under the stars, the wine flowing and the conversation even more so. I leaned back, watching her as she talked, her laughter lighting up the night like fireworks.
“So, is this your usual date strategy?” she asked, twirling the wine glass in her hand.
I smirked, leaning closer. “Only for the ones worth impressing.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t look away. “And what makes me worth it?”
“You showed up,” I said simply. “Not many people are brave enough to take a risk on me.”
She gave me a look that was equal parts intrigued and wary. “Risky, huh?”
I leaned even closer, our faces just inches apart. “The best things in life usually are.”
Her breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought she might close the gap between us. But instead, she tilted her head and grinned.
“You’re trouble, Colt.”
I chuckled, leaning back and taking a sip of wine. “You have no idea.”