Thunder - Willow Summers Page 0,39

struck up a fast walk, freezing her ass off. Why couldn’t she just shut her mouth? She always did that. She spouted off about some idea or other that went against the grain and shut down the room. Everyone got uncomfortable, thought she was a lunatic, and hoped she would see her way out.

At least she could now realize when the ejector button was lit up. She’d saved Colton from having to awkwardly get her out of his car.

She scrubbed her fingers through her hair. They caught halfway through because of the massive amounts of hairspray. “Dang it,” she said, ripping her hand free. She patted down her hair to smooth it. If Janie was at her apartment, she’d wonder if Madison had gotten into a fight. Close enough.

“Maddie!”

Shivers of delight ran through her body. That voice. The intimacy implied by the nickname.

Despite the chill, she slowed.

Colton half jogged to her, his jacket in hand. He glanced at his watch as he approached before flinging the jacket around her shoulders. “What kind of a gentleman would I be if I didn’t walk you to your door?”

“You don’t have to. You probably want to get back to your life.”

He spread out his hands and gave her a severe look. “Did you seriously think that weak excuse would convince me to abandon you?” He held out a finger, his eyes sparkling. “And don’t say it wouldn’t be abandoning you. You don’t know me well, but you know me better than that.”

She sighed and smiled, happily defeated. “Fine.”

“Don’t make it sound like a death sentence or anything.”

“What time is it?”

He checked his watch again, though he probably remembered from the last time. “Twenty till.”

“Ah ha!” She pointed at him. “You felt guilty for leaving early, didn’t you?”

“You got me. I saw my golden opportunity to escape, but conscience got the better of me.” He draped his jacket onto her shoulders again, sealing her in his warmth and smell.

“I knew it.” She bumped against his shoulder.

His hand drifted out and took hers. They threaded their fingers together.

“This is some change from how we started,” he said, his other hand casually tucked into his pocket.

“It’s probably par for the course, right?” she asked, watching another couple ambling toward them. “You go into the trenches with a colleague, and you come out closer.”

“I’m not usually in the trenches so much as a spectator. Or a puppet, I guess. I’m an employee.”

She glanced at his face, trying to read the origin of that dry, almost dismal tone. “Are you getting tired of this line of work?”

“Would you use this service again?”

She hesitated as they got to her steps.

“Exactly,” he whispered, taking his hand back so he could place it on her back. He probably suspected that if he didn’t brace her, she’d trip and nose-dive to her death. In heels of any size, it was a fair assessment.

“It’s not that I wouldn’t, it’s just that…” She searched for words, because while she’d love to see him again, she didn’t want to have to pay someone to keep company with her. “I don’t need a date to anything. That’s all.”

They got to her small porch at the top of the stairs. She tried the handle and found it locked. Janie was away.

“So…” He stood beside her, both hands in his pockets now, watching her take out her keys to open the door.

She threaded the key in the lock and turned, slipping the deadbolt. The door swung open and suddenly she didn’t know what to say. It would’ve been better if he’d stayed in the car, because now, here, she didn’t want him to go. It felt like a real date, and she knew if he kissed her, she’d wrestle him into her apartment and rip his clothes off.

“Oh, here,” she said softly, her voice subdued. She handed back the jacket. “Thank you. For everything. Really. I wouldn’t have stood a chance without you. And even though it worked out unpleasantly in the end, at least I understand why those memories still hurt so much. Honestly, they probably always will, but I can come to terms with that. It wasn’t just James, it was his horrible minions. I’m completely over him, thankfully. So that piece was a success.”

Her limbs shook from the cold. She wanted to invite him in, but knowing him, he’d feel obligated. She had to remember that he was on customer-service duty right now. He couldn’t exactly say no if she asked him to come inside.