20. Leslie

Chapter 20

Leslie

"Would you mind taking Sophia for a walk around Colt's property? I'd like to talk to Colt alone." I motion towards Sophia and Pecker nods his head.

"Of course. I'm sure I can keep her busy for a little bit."

"No kissing her." I point a finger in his face and he rolls his eyes.

"I'm not going to kiss her. We just met and I don't think she's interested in me. Not even a little."

He slips his jacket on and closes the distance between him and Sohpia. He rests a hand on her lower back and leans in to whisper something to her. She nods her head and grabs her own coat before following him out the back door.

I watch them walk through the grass, towards the woods. There's only a little bit of daylight left, but I trust Pecker with Sophia and I know he still has his gun on him. I don't think Jimmy would recognize Sophia anyway .

"What do you want to talk about?" Colt wraps his arms around my waist and holds me tightly against his chest.

"How'd you know I wanted to talk to you?" I peek up at him.

"Well, I have a feeling you're the reason Pecker just asked Sophia to go for a walk. I'm guessing you wanted to talk without an audience." Colt brushes my hair out of my face and tucks a few strands behind my ear. "What's going on in your pretty head, baby?"

"I'm scared."

"I know, but I'm going to protect you. Nothing happens in this town without me knowing about it."

"Except Mr. Ravens' house getting TP-ed, right?"

He lets out a growl of frustration and I snuggle into his embrace as I chuckle. I'm busting his balls, but I know he's right. He's going to do whatever he needs to, to protect us.

Colt and I take a seat on the porch swing he has on the back deck. We swing with his arm around my shoulders and my head on his chest .

Just like at Skylar and Tucker's house, he has a big blanket wrapped around both of us.

"I could get used to this," Colt murmurs against my head as he presses another lingering kiss.

"Me too," I whisper. "What do you think they're talking about?" I nod towards Pecker and Sophia at the back of the property.

They're talking as they both sit on large rocks. They seem like they're lost in their own little world. I wonder what Sophia really thinks of Pecker. I know she's a little boy crazy and is a handful, but deep down she just wants someone to love her.

"Well, Pecker's probably professing his undying love for her and Sophia's trying to figure out if he's man enough for her."

"Oh my gosh! He is not!" I chuckle, snuggling closer to Colt's chest. "I think I like it better when you're shirtless." I slip my hand under the hem of his shirt and glide my fingers across his stomach.

"Me too," he groans. "But then Sophia will hit on me and Pecker will feel threatened. Our lives will be in ruins and our relationship will fall apart."

"Sophia won't hit on you." I roll my eyes.

"Are you saying I'm not cute enough to get her attention?" He quirks a brow in my direction.

"No, but you're too old for her. She doesn't like old guys." I giggle when his eyes widen and his brows shoot up his forehead.

"Excuse me? Did you just say I'm old?"

"To her you are." I laugh even harder. Colt isn't even old. He's twenty-eight, but that's much older to Sophia's twenty years.

He lets out a little huff and frowns into the distance. As soon as Pecker and Sophia step on the deck, he attacks.

"Sophia, am I old?"

"Um…" She glances around, unsure of how to answer. "No? But also, kinda?"

"What does that even mean?" Pecker eyes her with amusement.

"Well, he's not old ," she stresses the word. "Like he couldn't be my dad, but he's too old for me to date, so…"

"But would you date me?" Colt asks a little too eagerly.

"Uhhh… I thought you were dating Leslie." Sophia looks to me with a frown. I shrug my shoulders, enjoying watching this conversation play out.

"I am," Colt groans like this is simple and Sophia should understand. "But if I weren't, would you date me? "

"Are you trying to figure out if I think you're hot?" She tilts her head to the side and examines him like he's a little puppy.

"Yes!"

"Sure. You're hot for being older."

"That doesn't even sound convincing." Colt drapes an arm over his eyes, being as dramatic as possible.

"Wait until you meet Maverick," I mock whisper, making Colt fly forward in his seat so quickly, I almost topple off the swing.

"Are you kidding me right now?"

"I hear a lot of the ladies like Tucker too." Pecker wiggles his brows, helping me tease my boyfriend.

"Yeah, well, both of them are older than me! She'd hate them and tell them they were old!" Colt stands and paces the length of the deck. "What about Pecker?" He motions wildly to the man.

"What about him?" Sophia asks slowly.

"Is he old?"

She lets her gaze trail up and down his body. She takes her time making her decision. I'm not sure if it's to ruffle Colt's feathers even more, or if she's picking her words carefully.

"Pecker isn't old," she says softly.

"So, is he hot?"

"Colton! You can't ask her that! Don't answer him, Sophia." I stand from the swing, taking the blanket with me. The sun faded behind the horizon long ago and I think it's time for us to go inside.

"I'd like it if she answered him." Peck raises his hand slowly.

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?" Sophia watches him carefully. She loves putting people on the spot and making them uncomfortable. I swear she learned it from her brother, Jax. That man loves to make people sweat.

"Uh… because you're pretty?" Pecker fidgets under her gaze and runs a hand through his hair. He looks like he's seconds away from bolting as his cheeks grow more and more red by the second.

"That's very sweet of you to say." Sophia beams up at him. "I think you could potentially be hot."

"Potentially?" He asks with a furrowed brow.

"Well, I'd have to see you without a shirt on. I need to see what kind of abs and pecs you have. And do you have that drool worthy V that disappears into the waistband of your pants?" She fans herself with her hand and nibbles on her bottom lip .

Colt and Pecker reach for the hems of their shirts at the same time. My eyes widen and I'm not sure how this is going to turn out, but it probably won't be good.

"Keep your shirts on! I don't need Uncle Wes calling me and demanding to know why his little girl is hanging out with shirtless men when she's supposed to be with me!" I reach for both of them, trying my hardest to keep their shirts in place.

"Well, you're no fun at all. How will Sophia be able to tell if I'm hot if I'm not allowed to take this off." Colt pouts.

"You're hot, babe. Does it really matter if Sophia knows that?" I take a step towards him and wrap my arms around his waist, leaning my head on his chest.

"No, I guess it doesn't. I have you and that's all that matters." Colt kisses the top of my head, then buries his nose in the crook of my neck. "I'm just glad you think I'm hot," he whispers in my ear.

"So… am I allowed to take off my shirt or not?" Pecker mumbles behind us, making me laugh.