Chapter 4

COLTON

I'd never sweated waiting to hear back from a woman as much as I did in the hours it took for Shayla to text me. I prayed she'd found a babysitter and could meet me for a quick meal. I had no doubt that she'd like at least one of the stamps I had made for the shop, but the mixed signals she'd given me this morning had me barking at my crew more than once.

We were working on the summer home of my brother-in-law's best friend and one of the producers for his adventure television show, Globetrekking. Hayden's friend had been easy to deal with, but I just wanted the day over so I could meet up with Shayla. Any slight delay as the day wore on had me falling back into ranger form. And that life was over. Not that it hadn't been exciting at times, I was just ready for the next chapter.

The spring day was unusually hot and by lunch I knew I'd have to find time to make it home for a shower. There was no way I was showing up at the restaurant in cement caked jeans, smelling as if I'd run a half-marathon.

"It's gotta be a woman. He's never like this. Yeah, I don't think he's dated since I started working for him."

It took me a while to catch on that my crew was talking about me. Not until the cement had finally set enough that I could begin laying out the mats. The design the homeowner had chosen would be a head turner once the patio was complete. Taking pride in my work, I ignored the gossiping behind me and pulled the first stamp up. Satisfaction filled me. There was nothing like seeing the near-finished project that I'd designed. I enjoyed the hard work, being outside, knowing that something I created would be around for years to come and enjoyed just as long.

"Looks awesome boss." Sammy, the college kid I took a chance on because I'm a sucker for lost souls, wore a sincere look.

"Alright, you smartasses, line up the rest of the mats. I'm not paying you to critique my mood. And yeah, it's a woman, but that's all you're getting out of me. Now let's get serious and finish the job."

Forty-five minutes later, the patio was fully stamped, and the crew was finishing with the clean-up when my text tone chimed. Crossing my fingers, I walked away toward my truck for some privacy. I didn't want the guys seeing my reaction, good or bad. I know I shouldn't put too much meaning behind Shayla's decision to meet with me after work, but I already felt like I'd wasted enough time since I'd moved back to Pineville.

Today's interaction with her further confirmed what I already felt. And having her in my arms had been the biggest stroke of luck I'd ever had. She. Is. The. One. And I couldn't wait to see her reaction when I told her.

I didn't expect her to feel the same instant knowing. Some people needed a bit of time with someone before they knew if they liked, let alone loved someone. But I still remember the day last year when I first saw her. I'd felt like I'd been struck by lightning and if I didn't talk to her, I'd regret it.

It was at my sister's wedding, and she'd been a beautiful bride, but Shayla was stunning as her maid of honor.

She didn't wear much makeup, didn't need it. Her glowing light bronze skin, curvy hips and expressive eyes caught my attention immediately. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat people and I had a front row to her gentle reassurance as Brenley walked down the aisle, then stood next to Hayden, overcome with emotion as she read her vows.

Unfortunately, her daughter had become ill during the reception, so I never got my chance to approach Shayla. But I never forgot the feelings she set off in me. In fact, they carried me through my decision to retire from the Army and move back to Pineville.

If someone had told me ten, five years ago, hell even the day before I first saw Shayla that I would fall in love with a woman at first sight, then not even speak to her for almost a year, I would have laughed my ass off.

But this morning, with her in my arms, and seeing her reaction to me, I didn't want to wait one more day to let her know my intentions.

I read her text and had to bite my tongue to keep from shouting out in triumph. At dinner, once we finished with the discussion on which design she wanted, the real work would begin: convincing her I wasn't crazy and, two, I wasn't going anywhere.

"These are awesome, Colton. In fact, I'm not sure which one I like better." Shayla beamed at me. I could have died a happy man right then and there. This was going better and quicker than I'd hoped. Now I can focus on her. And me and us getting to know each other beyond business.

"Sleep on it and the first one you think about after you wake up is the one you should go with." I set aside the samples, making sure to brush my fingers against hers. Any excuse to touch her and I was going to take it. Not in a creepy, intrusive way. Just enough to let her know where my interest was. It was on her. Not on the other customers or the servers, or any of the various distractions in the very busy pub.

And Shayla was easy to focus on. Beautiful and funny, but as the minutes ticked by when the business stuff was done, she was doing her best to avoid anything personal. But I persevered.

"So, I bet you're happy to be back and able to spend more time with your family. And now you're like the fun uncle, huh?" Shayla tucked a shiny lock of hair behind her ear. The move drew my gaze to her delicate hands marred by scratches in various states of healing.

I took her hand in mine before she could hide it back in her lap, and rubbed the longest mark. "Hazards of the job?" I asked.

She tried to tug her hand free, however when I gently tugged back, she relaxed and left her hand in mine. I loved the sweet, sexy sounds she probably had no idea she was making as I massaged her tender flesh.

"Yes. I forgot to weak my gloves today." Her breathy answer went straight to my dick and visions of her beneath me, begging me to take her, filled my thoughts. When she licked her lips, I almost lost it. And it was all I could do not to drag her across the table onto my lap.

"Colton, you need to stop looking like you want to gobble me up." Shayla pulled her hand back and scanned the room. "I think I might have given you the wrong impression, but this," she waved a hand between us, "needs to be business focused. Business friendly if you'd like. But I work with your sister." She took a long pause then said, "And this," again with the waving fingers, "isn't going to happen."

Uh, uh. Not letting her use that excuse. The fact that she was close to my sister I saw as a bonus. Probably part of the reason I'd never introduced a woman to my family had more to do with what they would think of the person I wanted in my life versus how serious I actually was about a relationship. And that all changed from the first time I saw Shayla.

Shayla was already beloved by my family, and I couldn't imagine myself without her in my life.

"I can see your viewpoint. However, we're not in high school or in our twenties when neither of us were ready to settle down. But the way I see things, we're mature enough to put our own happiness first. And if that's with your best friend's brother, then all the better, right? I couldn't be happier that the woman I want in my life is already a part of my sister's life. So, win-win. And now we can focus on us and what we want."

Her gorgeous eyes went wide at my comment, and I saw her drawing back, attempting to formulate some type of response that would warn me off. But I wasn't so easily discouraged. When I saw what I wanted, I went after it full force. And I wanted Shayla Morales. I'd prepped myself, listing every obstacle she might think of against us being together. I was ready.

And I also wasn't above using our intense physical connection to my advantage.

"Confident, aren't you?" Her expression was unreadable.

"Well, I've been accused of worse. But yeah. Especially when it comes to how I feel about you. I'm just a guy asking the beautiful woman in front of him to give him, them, a chance." My words might be corny, but my feelings weren't.

Shayla released a groan. But then her face split into a grin, and the pink flush on her face was all the encouragement I needed. "Say no. Tell me you don't feel the same, or never will. But I can't stop thinking about what those soft, full lips will feel like under mine."

Her lips formed into a sweet O, and all amusement vanished. Her gaze locked on my lips, her tongue dipped out with a quick swipe across her top lip, and that was all I needed.

I didn't care how many people saw us, I needed to brand this woman as mine.