Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

T ully

“I’ve had three people ask me about you making them a designer dog ramp. Just today.” Colson stripped his uniform T-shirt off his body and rubbed a hand over his chest, looking around for a clean outfit to wear to dinner tonight. He was referring to the ramp I’d made for Hayes, replacing the makeshift one he’d made out of boring old plywood. That sweet boy deserved a ramp fit for a king and I’d made it for him, sharing it on my social media when I was done painting it. Carl down at the hardware store even ordered in bright gold paint for the trim pieces.

Except right now, I was hot and bothered over my own personal strip show by our town’s hottest firefighter. My legs gave out and I had a seat right there on the love seat in my bra and underwear instead of getting dressed. Colson yanked on his belt, sliding it out of the pant loops with a whipping motion that made my mouth run dry.

“Gabi told Joey, who told me, your social media is going crazy for it. They love the all-woman crew. Joey had a good idea. You need to get a website up and running. Maybe offer some of these items for sale?”

He kept talking, but I wasn’t listening. I’d gone with a group of ladies to see Thunder Down Under in Vegas before one of my crew members got married several years ago, but nothing compared to this firefighting version right here in my mama’s carriage house. Colson was sculpted with hard, bulging muscles, just like those guys had been, but where they were polished to a shine, Colson was downhome good looking. His chest hair wasn’t overabundant, but it wasn’t waxed off either. Scars littered his hands and forearms and don’t get me started on his calluses. Even the few silver strands I’d found at his temples the other night were sexy as hell.

“Take it off, hotshot,” I drawled, spinning my finger high in the air for him to turn around and give me a view of that tight ass of his when the pants came off.

Colson’s head snapped up and the grin he gave me was a blend of surprise and cocky aw-shucks. But the man who’d been all angry looks and grumpy comebacks when I arrived in Blueball had found his playful side again. He wagged an eyebrow and spun seductively slow on his heels, giving me his broad back. His hips swiveled and my gaze dropped to that ass of his. The pants slid down a few inches, revealing black boxer briefs. Another hip swivel and those were dropping too, showing off white skin where the man didn’t get any sun. I hooted and hollered encouragement, and he dropped them to his ankles. But the hip swivels didn’t stop there, and even though I loved every second of it, I couldn’t help the ridiculous giggles that plagued me.

Colson tackled me on the small love seat, his handsome face split in a grin. “What are you laughing at, woman?” He smelled like smoke and sweat and the man I’d fallen in love with decades ago.

I wound my arms around his neck and tugged him onto the love seat, my neck bent at a weird angle. He was far too large to be sprawled on this piece of furniture like this, but we made it work. Hopefully the damn thing wouldn’t break.

“I giggle when I’m happy,” I sighed, a few little bubbles of laughter still coming out.

Colson buried his nose in my neck and began to kiss his way up to my ear, making me shriek. That mustache he was growing again certainly tickled. “We don’t have time for you to be this cute. We’re due at Mom’s in thirty minutes.”

I groaned, but hooked my heels around his hips and pulled him into me. I could feel he wanted me just as badly as I wanted him. “Just a quick one. Please?” He’d been gone for twenty-four hours working and I’d missed him in bed last night.

Colson pulled his head up, looking down at me like he was picturing something inside that brain of his. “Kind of hot thinking about you sitting at family dinner with me leaking out of you.”

My cell phone rang from somewhere in the kitchenette, the ring tone for my agent, but I didn’t give two shits about what that woman might have to say to me after ignoring me for so long. I pouted, lifting my hips to rub against his erection, no longer teasing. Or laughing. I needed him. Now. “Just ignore that. Please, Colson.”

I barely got the words out and he’d reached between us, hooking my underwear to the side and thrusting inside of me. It was hard and desperate and so fucking hot I felt like I might come instantly. Colson grunted, not able to get much leverage on this tiny couch. His thrusts were short and grinding, his pubic bone hitting my clit just the way I needed it. He pulled one cup of my bra down and sucked a nipple into his mouth, biting the tip, which sent me right over the edge. I was still chanting his name and clawing at his back when he came too, all six foot four of him a tight ball of quaking muscle as he collapsed on top of me.

He pulled back far too soon, pulling out of me and grinning at the mess he’d made. Instead of cleaning me up like he’d done in the past, he righted my underwear and surveyed my wrecked body. I’d have to redo my ponytail before we left, at the very least.

“That’s fucking hot, princess.” I rolled my eyes and he stood up. “Get dressed and don’t you dare clean up my mess. I’m going to take a quick shower.”

The whole way over to his mom’s house, he shot glances at me, grinning like he had the world’s biggest secret clutched to his chest. It was adorable. And hot. I kept shifting my thighs, hoping he wouldn’t be too tired to have another go once we got home tonight. I had yet to get him to fuck me in his bed. At first, I thought it was a coincidence. Now I had a feeling it was strategic. I talked it over with Em today at work and she’d offered the perspective that it was probably his way of putting up a boundary to protect himself. I didn’t like hearing that, but I could appreciate what he was trying to do.

Colson put my Range Rover in park just beyond Gigi’s porch steps. He’d insisted on driving, but when I said I wanted to take my fancy ride, he hadn’t had an issue.

“Don’t lie. You like my car.” I smiled smugly, rubbing my hand along the smooth-as-butter deep tan leather.

Colson’s thumb didn’t stop caressing the steering wheel. “I will admit. She has an appeal to her.”

“You’re not threatened by a woman with money?” I said it teasingly, but I honestly wanted to know. I was a different woman now than I’d been before. I had money of my own and I wasn’t sure how Colson felt about it.

“Fuck no,” he said instantly. “I’ll even let you take me to dinner and pay for it. As long as you let me take you home and get you undressed after.”

I barked out a laugh. He’d changed too. Where as past-Colson insisted on being the provider for our family when we were married, present-Colson seemed to have changed his mind on that stuff.

Warrick and Em arrived from the opposite end of the driveway, cutting our conversation short. Considering they lived on the back side of the same property, they’d walked over with Georgia leading the pack. Baby Vivi was tucked away in a carrier strapped to Em’s chest. Georgia ran straight to her uncle Colson and he threw her frighteningly high in the air before catching her and carrying her into the house. I hugged Em and kissed Vivi’s forehead before hugging Warrick.

“Whoa. Are those Saint Laurents?” Warrick gaped at my jeans.

I blushed, feeling a bit ridiculous having my fancy designer jeans pointed out, but I’d been nervous. I wasn’t sure how I’d be received, coming with Colson to his family’s dinner when I hadn’t been family the moment I filed for divorce. I wanted to look my best and my ass looked fabulous in these jeans.

“Are you checking out my wife?” Colson snapped from the doorway, poking his head back out.

“Ex-wife!” Em, Warrick, and I all responded at the same time.

“And yeah, are you checking out another woman, Warrick Wolfe?” Em said, hands going to her hips. She didn’t have her tool belt on right now, but I was scared of her even without ready weapons.

Warrick backed up, hands in the air. “Absolutely not! I would never. But I also recognize designer jeans, unlike some people.” He gave Em a pointed look before turning to me. “I’m wearing Tom Ford tonight.”

Em snorted and rolled her eyes. “Here we go with the fancy jeans again.”

“I’m wearing good ol’ Levi’s.” Colson sided with Em, coming down the steps and putting his hand on her back to guide her into the house. “These Hollywood types don’t know what they’re missing.”

Warrick and I rolled our eyes and followed them inside. Em was hugging Gigi already, telling her all about what Vivi had done earlier. Georgia came in from the back, leading a goose into the house. It honked, making us all jump and then her parents were in gear, hustling the bird out of the house before it made a mess.

“Come here and give me some sugar, honey,” Gigi said, holding her arms out to me. I stepped into them and hugged her right back, letting the warm welcome settle some of my nerves.

“I smell something wonderful,” I murmured, wishing her hug hadn’t started an ache in my chest. This whole thing was supposed to be casual with Colson and yet I’d slid right back into being with him like nineteen years hadn’t come between us. Even our families accepted us being together like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I made my chicken pot pies. I know you always liked those,” Gigi answered, pulling me into the kitchen with her. “I called your mama this morning and ordered some crusts. I just can’t make them flaky like she can.” She handed me two pot holders. “Here. Help me get these to the table.”

She’d made individual pot pies that were piping hot out of the oven. We got them to the table and Gigi made sure Georgia’s was cut open and cooled for her. Warrick said grace and we all tucked in. It didn’t take long for the conversation to go from the farm animals to something a little more delicate.

“So,” Gigi said, wiping her mouth with a napkin before continuing. “What’s going on with you two?” She picked up her fork and waved it between Colson and me.

I swallowed the bite that had gone to chalk in my mouth. “Um…”

Colson didn’t seem as phased by the question. “Mom. We’re just two adults who like spending time together. There’s no label. Or pressure. Got it?” He gave his mother a look that she seemed to steamroll right over.

“I’m not an adult, but I like spending time with Bessie,” Georgia offered, clearly not getting the subtext since she was only six. “But Cleveland can get a little wild. He got Daddy in the ass yesterday.”

Em choked and had to take a sip of water to clear her throat. The rest of us tried not to smile or burst out laughing. Clearly she’d picked up on Warrick’s cursing, which he did frequently around any of the animals.

“That wasn’t very nice of Cleveland,” Gigi intervened when Warrick just shrugged. “But let’s use the word ass only to describe our donkey.”

Georgia frowned. “But he’s Pooky the Beer Donkey. Pooky the Beer Ass doesn’t sound right.”

Colson gave up the fight and burst out laughing. Warrick shot him the middle finger when Georgia wasn’t looking. Gigi hid her grin behind her napkin. Em shushed Georgia and whispered in her ear, probably explaining why she couldn’t use that word.

As for me, I just looked around the table, taking in these people and the love that exuded from all of them. I hadn’t had a dinner this lovely in years. Probably not since I left Blueball. I’d been to many three-Michelin-star restaurants and nothing could top this dinner at Gigi’s.

Colson wiped his mustache with a napkin and reached over, settling his big warm hand high on my thigh. He squeezed, then looked over, shooting me a wink as Gigi and Em were talking at once, trying to redirect Georgia while Warrick talked over them, insisting Cleveland was an asshole and it was okay that Georgia knew it.

Oh no.

I could feel it happening. My ribs felt positively bruised. Like my heart was growing exponentially, like the Grinch’s, far too big to fit in this chest of mine. This wasn’t just a casual hookup, a woman in lust. I couldn’t separate sex from the feelings when my feelings were so entwined with this man and always had been.

I was falling in love with my ex-husband all over again.