going to be ready for it. Though, there’s also a slight chance that he’s here hoping to screw my brains out.
As mom walks back around to her seat, I can’t help but flip him off and enjoy the way his brow shoots straight up. His eyes darken and just like that, it’s on.
How dare he play the lonely, broken billionaire and come in here and creep his way into my mother’s heart. That’s a twisted little game he’s playing. If he breaks her, there’ll be trouble.
“So, Colton,” Mom says, giving him a warm smile as I reluctantly grab a bowl and dish up a serving of pasta. “Tell me about yourself.”
“There’s honestly not a lot to know,” he says. “Mom and my sisters left when I was sixteen and never looked back so it’s been just me and dad ever since. Well, me, dad, and whatever gold-digger he was sleeping with.”
Mom’s lips pull into a tight, sympathetic line and she reaches across the table to squeeze his hand. “I can’t imagine how confusing and painful that would have been for a young boy. Do you keep in touch with them?”
He shakes his head. “Not really. You saw for yourself just how passionate they can be. Mom had originally taken me with her, but when dad came looking and I went with him, she turned her back on me too. She claims that I’m just like him.”
I shake my head as I walk back to the table with his dinner. “You’re nothing like your father,” I tell him. “It doesn’t take a genius to see that.”
He looks up and meets my eyes as I slide the bowl down on the table in front of him. “Are you sure about that?” he murmurs low. “Because honestly, I don’t know anymore.”
I nod, captivated by his eyes, and unable to look away. “Yeah,” I tell him, reaching out and dropping my hand to the back of his neck, curling my fingers into his dark hair. “You’re nothing like him. He was ruthless and cruel, and yes, often you can be that way too, but under all your layers, you have a heart buried in there and I see so much in it. You’ve protected me from the bullshit, dark world of Bellevue Springs every step of the way despite the way I've constantly pushed you away. You’re a good one, Colton, you just have to believe it.”
Colton’s hand raises to my lower back. “You’re worth protecting, Jade.”
Mom’s throat clears and our eyes go wide before our hands are torn away from each other. “Is there something going on here that I need to be aware of?”
“No,” I rush out as Colton’s eyes fall heavily to his bowl of pasta.
His lips press into a tight line before he looks up at my mother. “This pasta looks great.”
Fuck me. Could we be any more obvious?
Mom’s eyes narrow on Colton before quickly flicking to mine, searching for confirmation, but she doesn’t need it, she can see it clear as day. She just doesn’t know how deep it runs. Hell, I don’t even know how deep it runs.
I hastily scoop a forkful of pasta into my mouth, trying to act busy as mom’s gaze settles back on Colton. She raises her chin, somehow becoming the boss. “Are you in love with my daughter, Colton?”
The pasta practically falls out of my mouth as Colton gapes at my mom. His eyes flick to mine before quickly settling back on Mom with a terror on his face that I didn’t know he was capable of. “I, umm … No. Look, I’m not going to lie to you, Mrs. Munroe. I think your daughter is the most breathtaking thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of coming across. She’s like a fireball, always ready to throw down and stand up for what she thinks is right, but no, I’m not in love with Ocean,” he says before his brows pinch in confusion and he looks at me. “At least … not yet.”
“NOT YET?” I shriek, gaping at him. “What the fuck is that? It’s a simple no. No, you’re not in love with me.”
Colton laughs and for a brief moment I wonder if he said that just to fuck with me, but it becomes pretty damn clear that he simply doesn’t know what the hell he’s feeling, and any chance to mess with me in the process is a bonus.
“Wow,” mom says, with a laugh, looking at me. “How could I have not