Chapter Thirty-Six
“It’s stunning,” I whispered.
The lake in front of us was breathtaking. The water was as still as glass, the towering trees reflecting on the surface. The horizon melted into the water, making it look endless.
Colton and I had found it tucked just behind the trailers.
We were on the dock, our toes dipping in the warm water, our thighs touching. I couldn’t get closer to him if I tried, and that’s what I wanted.
His declaration of love was still playing in my head, warming me from head to toe. I had never been loved so fully, and it was the best feeling in the whole world.
“Almost as stunnin’ as you,” Colton flirted.
I was resting my head on his shoulder and looked up at him. “Oh?”
“Yes, ma’am. Don’t even get me started on those baby blues of yours,” he practically moaned. “They could make me melt if you let them.”
How was he not snatched up a long time ago?
I batted my eyelashes. “These ol’ things?”
He nodded, putting his hand on my thigh. “You’d better be careful, Ally. I’d do anythin’ you say.”
“Anything?” I challenged.
“Anythin’,” he confirmed.
I tapped my chin as if I were thinking hard. “Okay, take off your shirt and jump in the lake,” I dared.
He looked out at the lake and back at me. “Yes, ma’am.” He stood up suddenly.
I waved my hands. “I was just kidding!”
“Too late!” He announced as he tore his shirt off.
It was hard not to stare at the bruises, they seemed to scream at me; a long cascade of purple and blue splotches on his ribs stretching up to his chest.
But I wasn’t sad to see the abs on his stomach and the muscles bulging out of his arms.
Then, to my surprise, he stripped off his Wranglers and was now only in boxers.
“Colton, I was kidding!” I shouted.
He was already backing down the dock, jumping up and down. He reached the start of the wooden planks, took a breath, and started running.
“Colton, I was kidding!” I yelled one last time.
It was too late.
He was sprinting back towards the lake, not hesitating a second before jumping wildly and landing with a big splash in the water. I raised my hands as buckets of water rained down on me.
By the time he poked his head out of the lake, I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe. “I cannot believe you did that!”
He was treading water right below me, using one hand to push his soaking hair out of his face. “Ah, Ally, you gotta get in here. It feels great.”
I shook my head. “Absolutely not!”
He grabbed the side of the dock to hang onto. “I dare you,” he said in a sing-song voice.
The idea of floating next to him in the water was growing on me, but I shook my head stubbornly, just to see how much he would beg.
He threw a hand up, the other still hanging on the dock.
Gosh, he looked so attractive in the water.
His hair was soaked and slicked back away from his face, so I could admire it in its entirety.
His strong eyebrows made his bright green eyes shine even brighter when they were damp.
His chiseled cheeks, sharp jaw, ugh, all of it was enough to make me want to melt.
“Alright,” Colton said, defeated. “I think I hear the guys back with some food. Will you give me a hand?” He reached his hand higher out of the water.
I folded my arms. “I am not stupid!”
Colton looked a little appalled. “Ally, what are you assumin’?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Fine, fine,” he gave up. He put both hands on the deck to push himself up and immediately winced hard. He released and lowered himself down, clutching his ribs.
I leaned down low, fear flooding my body. “Colton? Are you okay? Do you want-”
His arms wrapped around me. I barely had time to squeal before I splashed into the water. I was only completely submerged for a second or two before he helped me back to the surface and guided me to the dock.
As soon as I was hanging on the dock, I splashed him, laughing. “Jerk,” I teased.
He was treading beside me. “Ally, you fell for the oldest trick in the book,” he groaned. “I thought you were runnin’ your own company!”
I chuckled and splashed him again. “I was worried about you!”
This time, his face fell into a twinge of regret, and he pushed himself closer to me.
Just as he was reaching for me, probably to apologize, I turned and pushed his shoulders below the water. Honestly, he was a million times stronger than me and could’ve resisted my push without even batting an eye, but he was nice enough to let himself get completely submerged.
He popped back up and splashed me this time. “Jerk!” He said in my same tone.
“You fell for the second-oldest trick in the book!” I groaned. “Colton, I thought you were the best bareback rider in the world!”
He scooped me off the dock and brought me farther into the lake, both of our feet keeping us afloat.
It felt like heaven, being weightless under the endless Texas sky in crystal blue water. His body was pressed against mine; we truly couldn’t get any closer if we tried. He spun us around and kissed me tightly.
“I love you, Ally,” he said with perfect ease.
I ran my fingers through his hair, wanting to see more of his face. “I love you.”
With every declaration, I could feel a warmth spreading through my whole body, a peaceful calm that felt so right.
Colton looked past the dock. “Come on, I actually see the guys with the food.”
I looked for myself to make sure he wasn’t teasing me again and followed him back to the dock.
This time, he pushed himself up with ease, not thinking twice before turning around to offer me a hand. I accepted it, and with superhero strength, he lifted me up and completely out of the water.
Okay, that had to hurt his sore body.
“We leave you kids alone for ten minutes, and you manage to fall into the lake. Colton, why would you let that poor girl get so soaked?” Jimmy said in his best Jo impression as they walked toward us.” Get that poor girl a towel now!”
Alan put his hands up over his eyes. “Colton, get your pants on! No one wants to see that!”
I watched Colton throw his pants on and start chasing Alan. Alan took off. With the look in Colton’s eyes, I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to throw him in the lake, too.
“He’s just a bronc rider; you can outrun him!” Dean encouraged Alan. “Oh crap.”
Colton spun on his heel and changed his target. Dean started to run, but it was too late. Colton threw him over his shoulder and sprinted off the dock, back into the water.
Jimmy walked to the edge, beside me, and shook his head with a smile.
Something moved in my peripheral vision. I glanced to my right and saw Alan sneaking up toward Jimmy. He caught my eye and put a finger to his lips. I nodded back enthusiastically, excited to be a part of another inside joke.
Jimmy started to look up, but Alan was already midair. Both of them tumbled off the dock into the water.
Jimmy popped up first, scowling at me. “I thought we were friends, Ally!”
I threw my hands up. “I didn’t have time to warn you!” I lied.
He looked past me and nodded.
Oh crap.
I turned in time to see Colton running toward me. When had he gotten out? I squealed and ducked just as he dove to tackle me. I had gotten down just in time. He soared over my head and back into the water.
Now, I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
Colton popped up while I was still crouching and pulled me in before I could think twice.
He was there right as I broke through the surface, a big grin on his face.
I had smiled more, laughed harder, and been happier in the last few weeks than I had been in a very long time. It was all thanks to Colton, who showed me that love didn’t have to be full of drama, that it could be fun.
Loving him was fun.
If only his career weren’t a life-threatening sport.