Hummingbird Lake Page 0,68
gathered up the grocery sacks and followed her and the dog inside.
That’s when he noticed the dog’s toenails. “All joking aside, Sage, you painted her toenails?”
“It’s called Paint My Moji-Toes Red.”
“I’m sorry, girl,” he said to the dog.
Sage walked into the kitchen, poured a glass of iced tea, then tossed it back as if it were bourbon. Refilling her glass and one for him, she asked, “What’s for supper?”
“Steak. Baked potatoes. Salad. Since Sarah wasn’t around to bake today, raspberry pinwheels from the Mocha Moose for dessert.”
“I’m going to go take a shower.” She headed for her bedroom, then stopped abruptly. Looking over her shoulder, she announced, “That is not an invitation.”
“I’ll scrub the spuds.”
She stayed in the bathroom a long time. He did the prep work for dinner, then took the ball he’d brought for Snowdrop and let the dog out the back door. They played catch until Sage came outside wearing shorts and a green and gold Colorado University football jersey. Her hair was damp. Her feet were bare.
Colt wanted to cross the lawn and take her in his arms and give her the kiss he’d dreamed about since the day he left. Yet, everything about her, from the way she stood, to the way she moved, to the way she managed to look everywhere else rather than meet his gaze warned him to step carefully. She was fragile. Brittle. On the verge of breaking.
Not because of him, he thought, but because of her sister.
Well, maybe a little bit because of him.
He started with something easy. “Snowdrop has grown.”
“Nic says she’s going to be on the big side for a bichon. Especially a female. I’ve been in the car all day. Would you like to go for a walk?”
“Sounds great.”
She didn’t say anything as she donned her shoes and socks, lifted a dog leash from a hook by the back door, and affixed it to the dog’s collar. The three of them stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine. Colt paused to take a deep breath of mountain air and smiled. He was here in Eternity Springs with Sage. The rightness of his decision settled over him like a song.
They took the path that trailed alongside the lake. He decided to wait for her to start the conversation. If she ever did, that is. She walked with her head down, her manner closed off. Luckily, Colt had the patience to wait.
His patience finally paid off when she asked, “What brings you to town, Rafferty?”
You, he wanted to say, but instincts told him to take it slower. The woman was skittish as could be. “I love this town. I’m happy here. When I went back to work after my trip here in February, I missed it.” Walking beside her, he gave her a sidelong look. “I missed you.”
Was that a hint of a smile on her lips? “You should have let me know you were planning a visit. I might not have been here. I almost stayed in Denver for a few extra days.”
“I didn’t exactly plan a visit.”
“Even with a spur-of-the-moment trip you can spare time for a phone call.”
“I wanted to surprise you. You liked my surprises in the past.”
In a droll tone, she said, “Hey, what girl doesn’t like a new tube of lip balm?”
She let out a long sigh, then said, “Okay, Rafferty, here’s the deal. Under other circumstances I would hold out and teach you a lesson, but frankly, I can use a distraction right now. You assumed a lot by showing up here. I could have had a date tonight.”
He jerked his head around in surprise. “Are you seeing somebody else?”
“I could be. That’s my point. Just because we had a fling a couple months ago doesn’t mean that you can wing back into town and pick up where you left off. You have no hold on me and I have no hold on you.”
“What if I want to change that?”
She took a dozen steps before replying. “Colt, look. I enjoyed the time I spent with you, but that wasn’t real. It was fantasy-land cabin fever, and I’m really not that kind of person. I like being your friend. I enjoy our long-distance communications, but I don’t want to be where you go for vacation sex.”
“Wow, you don’t think very highly of me, do you? You think I came all this way for a booty call?”
“I don’t know why you’ve come here. You haven’t shared that piece of information with the class.”
“I quit