agree to go instead of working all day? That was the only hang-up. But somehow, I managed to convince her to get in the truck and for the entire day, she’s all mine.
I climb in and give her a smile.
“Alright, Boss, you ready for one of the best adventures of your life?” I ask.
She makes a face. “That’s a pretty bold statement for a guy who’s just taking me fishing,” she says. “Are you sure you’re up to the challenge?”
I start the truck and pull onto the road, heading for Knox’s place on the lake. “Baby, I was born for this,” I say.
I reach over and turn up the radio. WKTX Fairhope, and they’re playing one of my favorite country songs. I start singing at the top of my lungs.
Jo laughs and relaxes into the seat. It’s a cloudy day, but her laughter is like the sun coming out from behind the clouds and finally showing its face.
Kissing her last night has lit me up from the inside, and I feel like a brand new person. She’s a challenge in the best way, and I cannot wait to see her relax for a little while. I got my first glimpse of a more relaxed Jo out at Knox’s lake house last weekend, and even more of it last night when she got a little tipsy, but now I’m addicted. I want more.
I want to see her shed whatever fears she’s got strapped to her shoulders. I want to see her truly be herself without always second guessing the consequences of every move.
When we finally pull down the bumpy dirt road toward Knox’s house, she’s singing along to the radio, her feet pulled under her on the bench seat of my truck. She looks happy, and it sends a zing of warmth through my body.
All I care about today is making her smile. As big and as often as possible. If there’s anyone in the world who deserves a break, it’s Jo.
I park behind Knox’s house and we grab the gear from the back and make our way down to the dock. Knox is at the bar and Leigh Anne is hanging out with Jenna for the day, so we have the place all to ourselves.
It takes two trips to get everything settled into the boat, but when I reach for Jo’s hand, she frowns.
“Uh oh, what is that about?” I ask.
She pulls back. “I don’t know. I’m just worried about the inventory,” she says. “Knox hasn’t done it in a long—”
I place a finger over her lips and shake my head.
“No way,” I say. “You are not going to ruin your own day by worrying about what’s going on at the bar. It’s your day off, Jo. Let the bar handle itself for a while.”
“Colton, you don’t understand.”
“Oh, I understand completely,” I say. “But you’re the one who said you knew how to have a good time outside of the bar, am I right?”
She shifts her weight from one foot to the other and nods.
“Then prove it,” I say, smiling. “First rule of the day. No talking or worrying about work.”
“Well, if those are the rules, you better take me home right now,” she says with a nervous laugh. “Besides, without work, I have nothing to talk about.”
“And you don’t see the problem with that?” I ask. “Josephine Warner, I’m going to make it my personal mission to see that you start living a little outside of that bar.”
Her cheeks flush. “I like my life just the way it is.”
I step back onto the dock and pull her into my arms. I allow a lazy smile to play across my lips. “Then darlin’, you have no idea what you’ve been missing.”
As I pull her into the boat with me and we shove off into the deeper part of the lake, I sincerely hope with all my heart that she lets me show her just how fun it can be to change things up every now and then.
Chapter Sixteen
I cannot believe he actually talked me into coming fishing. How exactly did he even do that? One second I was determined not to go, and the next I was in his truck headed for the lake.
I watch him as he steers the boat out into the middle of the lake. The wind whips his dark blond hair back, and there’s a hint of a smile on his face. He’s one of the most comfortable guys I’ve ever known. He’s just easy and