Chapter 20
It seemed like Colette was fitting right into his friend group. Marshall was delighted.
Just delighted.
“Do it, Colette.” Evan’s mouth curved into a flirty smile. “Sing for me. You have to.”
“Fine. It’s an eighties classic, and it’s gonna blow your mind,” Colette promised, pointing a finger at Evan.
She had slowly sipped a few beers, and Marshall watched her like a hawk.
It took some convincing after Simone did her best version of “Pink Pony Club”, which apparently was not a western song at all, despite the title.
After making her song selection, Colette picked up the mic.
The upbeat melody began, and the crowd began to cheer and clap. She bobbed her head and danced on the stage, wiggling her hips to the beat.
“‘Maneater’… That’s hot.” Evan stared at her on the stage, captivated. “I like her confidence.”
Marshall glared at his friend, who was completely oblivious.
“She loves eighties music, so it’s not a shocker,” Marshall said, nursing his second beer. He would switch to water after, since he was driving everyone back to the ranch.
“Yeah, but like… Do you think she’s sending me a message?” Evan arched his brows slowly as he finally noticed the glower on Marshall’s face. “Dude, what’s wrong with you?”
“I don’t know, man,” he admitted. “I feel like an asshole saying it, but I think I need you to stay away from Colette.” His hand covered his eyes in shame. Tonight was making him confront some hard facts.
Evan’s face split wide into a grin.
“Are you crushing on Colette?” he whispered, placing his hand to cover his mouth as he spoke.
“I’m not a fucking teenager and I don’t have a crush,” Marshall grumbled. “It’s just inappropriate for you to date co-workers.”
Evan’s brow furrowed and a low laugh rumbled in his chest. “Oh, I get it. I’m a full employee now. Even though I technically work on my own family’s ranch. Right.”
“Something like that, yeah.” Marshall shrugged and turned away from Evan, watching Colette on stage.
She looked so fucking cute. Her curls around were a little more defined and clinging to the side of her face because she was sweating.
The way her shirt clung to her body was criminal. He licked his lips as he stared.
“Earth to Marshall,” Evan said, slapping him on the shoulder.
Marshall turned. “I need you to go home with Sally tonight. Make yourself unavailable.”
Evan’s eyes widened at the words and he made a disgusted face.
“But she’s so mean,” Evan said. “She always treats me like I’m stupid.”
“Alright then, just go flirt with someone else,” Marshall told Evan. His eyes tracked Colette as she handed the microphone over to Jerry when her song ended.
Marshall leaned over and whispered in Evan’s ear. “Make it convincing. I’ll owe you one,” he said.
Pursing his lips in consideration, Evan scrubbed a hand over his face.
“Okay, yes. Jessica did give me a look earlier.” Evan searched for his prey in the crowd.
Little did Jessica know, she had become the target of his affections for the night.
Marshall nodded in approval as Evan took his beer, leaving the table as Colette returned.
“Loved that song, Colette,” Evan said, tipping his beer in her direction.
“Are you staying to have a drink with us?” she asked, vulnerability in her eyes. Marshall almost felt guilty at the look of worry etched in her brows.
Almost.
“I’m gonna go say hi to Jessica,” Evan said, eyes darting to Marshall’s. “She’s looking super-hot tonight.”
Colette gave a soft, fake-sounding laugh and pulled her chair out.
“Cool. See you later,” she spoke softly. The way her happiness faded for a moment was barely noticeable, but Marshall caught it.
Simone turned from speaking with Roger, eyes narrow. “What was that all about?”
“Jessica asked about him earlier, and I guess he’s going to chat her up,” Marshall said with a smile and a shake of his head.
“Typical Evan.” He laughed and crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair, cockier than he felt.
His gaze drifted to where Colette was chewing on her plump bottom lip. Maybe he had misjudged the situation.
If Colette was really interested in Evan, his interference would upset her.
He watched as she took a pull of her beer and licked her lips.
“Should we go soon?” Marshall asked everyone at the table.
Smirking, Simone whispered something in Roger’s ear, her hand clearly touching his thigh under the table. Roger nodded, his gaze fixated on Marshall.
“We’re gonna stay here for a bit longer,” Roger said, almost robotically. “Maybe you should take Colette home.”
Simone nuzzled Roger in the neck, and he shivered.
Drinking the last of his beer, Marshall slammed the glass on the table and searched Colette’s eyes for a reaction. She looked down at her half-full pint and nodded slowly.
“Yeah, can you take me home? I think I’ve had enough,” she said, standing and reaching for her coat. She didn’t need to ask him twice. He followed her out of the bar, into the brisk night air.
Walking to his truck, he opened the passenger door and kept a hand on her back without touching it, just to make sure she got into the truck safely.
They drove home silently, a twangy country song on the radio filling the silence.
Colette was right, country music was consistent with its sound and song topics.
“Too bad there’s not an eighties radio station, eh?
” he said in a light tone. Guilt still ate at him for being manipulative and for forcing Evan to pass on her.
She didn’t deserve to be passed on. But Evan wouldn’t be able to treat Colette the way she deserved.
In reality, even if it didn’t sit well with him, he was doing her a favor.
“Yeah, I think there is in the city. I can see how it’s not popular enough here. People just don’t appreciate how good that music is.” She snorted, staring out into the dark fields on the side of the highway.
He parked his truck at the main house. Holding a hand out to Colette to help her down, he thrilled at the warmth of her palm touching his, like it always belonged there.
He probably held her hand for a moment too long, but it was hard to let go.
Tucking his hands in his pockets, he walked beside her in silence to the door of the guest house.
“Thanks for walking me back,” she said, reaching into the house to turn on the lights and finding them in the correct place this time. Somehow, he was disappointed. He liked doing things for her.
They watched each other for a moment. Colette swallowed, her mouth moving as though words were sitting in there and waiting to come out.
“Hey, is Evan always flirty like that?” she asked him, biting her bottom lip. “He’s really nice.”
Marshall rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, he is. He’s a great guy, but you shouldn’t get your hopes up in that direction.”
Her dark brows raised; Colette tilted her head. “What’s going on, Marshall?” she asked, crossing her arms and frowning. “Evan’s a great guy, your best friend. Why would you talk me out of seeing him?”
Marshall tightened his fists at his side, puffs of breath floating into the night.
“You don’t know him like I do,” Marshall explained, his tone brisk. “He’s attracted to a certain type of woman. I think it’s best if you don’t pursue it, you’ll only get hurt.”
She lowered her head and looked away, embarrassed.
He huffed, grateful that it seemed she finally understood.
“I get it,” she said as she turned. “I’m not his type. I’m not like the other gorgeous women he was flirting with when we arrived at the bar. I’m no Jessica.”
Marshall cleared his throat, his eyes flaring. How could he tell her that he had chased Evan away because he didn’t like anyone else having their hands on her? Like a possessive fool, he wanted her all for himself.
He nodded, speechless at the sadness in her eyes.
He did that. He put it there.
“Don’t compare yourself to Jessica. It’s not about you, just put that out of your mind. Evan is just…Evan. He likes to play around.”
She nodded, crossing her arms against the chill of the night. He needed to leave so that she could be warm again. Safe from the cold, and from him.
“Goodnight, Marshall,” she said and shivered. He wished her goodnight and turned on his heel, walking in the direction of the main house. He could feel her gaze sliding up his spine as she watched him leave. Unable to get her hurt expression out of his mind, he stopped.
Eyes looking at the sky for strength, Marshall wished he was a strong man. Colette made his insides crumble like soft vanilla cake.
“Marshall?” her voice called out behind him. She had been watching him walk away.
Now she was going to see him do something really, really stupid.
But he couldn’t help himself where she was concerned. And he didn’t want to anymore.
“Fuck.”