"So what'd you get? Sweet Valley High?" Colt's voice came from behind her in line and he grabbed a book out of her hand.

"Haven't read one of those in years," Dana said with a fond smile in remembrance.

Colt flipped through her romance novel. "I don't know how you girls can read this trash."

"It's not trash," she protested and watched his eyes as he actually started reading. Dana felt her cheeks start to heat up, knowing what most romance novels would have inside of them.

His eyes widened and he laughed. "Now, I know why! Geez."

"Give it back," she demanded, trying to take it from him.

"No, no, I want to see how this turns out," he said, pushing her away, and continued to read.

"You can borrow it when I'm done." She grabbed the paperback from him and tucked it protectively under her arm.

"What'd you get?" she asked, eying the books in his hands.

Colt showed her the titles. She rolled her eyes. They were books on architecture.

"Hey, they're educational," he protested.

"So are these," Dana grinned as she walked up to the cashier.

"You can say that again," he called to her.

Dana dawdled putting her change back in her purse as Colt paid for his books. She set her purse on a table, past the checkout center. He looked at her as he approached, not sure what to say.

She pulled her purse strap onto her shoulder."Weird running into you like this."

"It was bound to happen sooner or later. The town's not that big," he replied, tucking his bag under his arm.

"Do you feel weird?" she asked suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

"About us, I mean. It's weird trying to be nice to each other. Normally, we just throw out the insults. It's hard coming up with nice stuff to say."

"It's a bit weird," he answered, shifting on his feet.

"Just a bit?"

"Okay, a lot, but I think we can do it. Don't you?"

"I think so," she answered with a smile.

"See. Already you're smiling at me," he winked.

"So, uh, how was your date?"

Colt frowned."My what?"

"Your date. I'm trying to make conversation here by asking how your so-called 'hot date' went."

"Oh," he said blinking. He wasn't used to having such a conversation with her. "It was fine."

"No details?"

He laughed. "Sorry, I don't kiss and tell."

"Speaking of kissing, why the hell won't you give me a peck on the cheek?" Dana demanded.

Colt only stared at her.

"Well? You throw them out freely to everyone else," she said annoyed, gesturing to where he had been sitting and had kissed the other girl.

"You want me to kiss you?" He asked in shock.

"A friendly peck on the cheek would be nice now and again," She answered. "Like with Summer or Jordan and Julie," she mentioned Jesse's sisters as Colt had always been friendly with his girl cousins.

Dana bristled at the thought of the unknown redhead. "I promise no black eye," she added as he continued to stare at her.

Colt cleared his throat. "I didn't think you'd want me to."

"We're supposed to be friends, right?"

"Right."

"You feel weird about it, huh?"

"Just a tad," he answered honestly. He not only felt weird about it, he feared it. If he kissed her cheek, what would stop him from continuing to kiss her elsewhere?

"Want me to break the ice?"

He smiled softly. "If you're up for it," he answered, trying to read her face.

What was she thinking? Did Dana really want to be his friend? She touched his arm lightly and stood up on her tip toes to kiss him lightly on the cheek. Her lips brushed across prickly stubble as his five o'clock shadow was setting in.

"Not so bad, right?" she asked, stepping back.

He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked down. "Not bad."

"So, where you headed?"

"I was going to Jesse's in a bit. You coming by?"

"No. Not today."

He nodded. "Will see ya later then," he said, starting to walk away.

"Nice to see you, Colt."

"You too, Dana." He turned around as she started walking through the same aisle he chose to walk through.

Colt sidled up closer to her. "By the way, you look good in a suit. All executive looking," he said, lowering his voice.

"By executive, is that a good thing or bad thing?" Dana asked.

"Since I got the promotion, I've been debating over how to dress." She looked down at her conservative suit. She wasn't used to being so dressed up or so covered up for that matter.

"It's, ah, good," Colt replied, looking over the black suit, white shirt buttoned to the collar.

Dana did look really nice. And if he didn't know her, Colt would say she looked classy. But classy wasn't Dana's thing. It rubbed him the wrong way. He hated when people pretended to be something they weren't. He wasn't saying she didn't have class. She did. But she was a down to earth person. Dana didn't care what the world thought of her and he always admired that about her. People cared too much about appearances.

"You hesitated. What is it?" Dana asked, looking down at her outfit again, frowning.

"It's not you, that's all," he said, gesturing at it.

"It's not supposed to be."

"It should be. I mean, your dress at work should be dressy, but you should still have your own style, you know?"

"Like?"

"You want my suggestions?" he asked surprised.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't," she countered.

He sighed. "The hair."

"What's wrong with my hair?" Dana gasped, reaching up to it. She had it pulled up in a French twist.

"I've never seen you wear it up like that."

"I was trying something new."

"Exactly," Colt said, reaching up to her hair and pulling it out of the twist. His fingers ran through her hair, pulling out bobbing pins and combing her hair with his fingers to straighten it across her shoulders.

"What else?" she asked softly as he pulled his hand back.

His hands came to her throat and started slowly unbuttoning the front of her shirt. Dana looked to his eyes, but they were focused on the buttons. Her heart was racing as his hands came closer and closer to the buttons at her breasts. Couldn't he tell the effect he was having on her?

Dana tried to steady her breathing as Colt's hands went lower, so he wouldn't be able to tell that she wouldn't mind him continuing to undress her down to nothing in the middle of the store. Colt opened the last button, just at her cleavage, and he loosened up the shirt collar over her suit jacket.

"That's a bit more like the Dana I know."

She smiled lightly.

Colt kissed her cheek lightly. "Don't ever change yourself, Dana. You're perfect just the way you are," he whispered in her ear.

"Thanks," she said swallowing.

"You're welcome," he said, skimming her cheek lightly with the back of his hand.

"This is... a little weird."

"Sorry," he said, taking a step back. "Too close for comfort?"

"No, it's okay."

He nodded, sticking his hands in his pockets. But his face had gone stony again.

"Colt, really," she said, touching his arm lightly.

He shook his head."I don't know how to act around you now."

"How about being yourself?"

"I was," he told her. "Believe me, I was," he looked into her eyes.

"I know. It was nice. Like the other night," she answered, looking back. She took a step towards him. "Colt..."

"I've got to go, Dana," he said, nodding towards the door.

"You can run, but you can't hide," she grinned as he walked away.