"No, stop!" I squealed, turning my head when Colt's hand came at me with another chip. "I swear I couldn't eat another bite."

Colt shrugged and popped the chip into his own mouth before surveying the table before us. "I ordered too much food," he declared with a grin.

"Thank goodness this stuff tastes great heated up," I sighed, reaching for the extra large pina colada in front of me.

I grinned at Colt as he watched me sipping on the deliciousness otherwise known as my cocktail. "Are you gonna finish that?" he mused, tipping his own cold mug of beer back and emptying the contents.

"Mmm," I mused, licking my lips as I considered it. "I'd hate to waste it. Seeing as I've waited this many years to order an alcoholic beverage here."

Colt laughed and nodded. "That's true. Remember that time I stole a sip of Charlie's Corona when he was in the restroom? I swear I never figured how he knew, but he did."

"I told him," I blurted with guilt. 

Colt's mouth fell open in shock. "You little shit...I can't believe you!" 

I squirmed when Colt's hand slid over my thigh and behind my knee. "No!" I yelped when I felt his fingers digging in. "You know I hate that!"

The smirk on his face showed me he did indeed remember. I glanced around as a few patrons looked our way. We were being silly and childish, but I loved it. Just sitting here in this same booth with Colt had all the old memories flooding back. I loved when my dad brought us here. Colt would sit close to me in the circular booth and tickle me under the table. I never complained because if Colt was tickling me, then he was touching me and I always loved that. 

When I tried to scoot away from him, Colt growled and pulled my legs over his lap with one finger behind my knee and ready to strike. I sighed as he curled his other arm around my shoulder and held me in a way I could have only dreamed about when we were younger. I could feel my cheeks blazing under his intense scrutiny, so I reached for my glass and took another sip.

"Can I have some?" Colt murmured in a low, gravelly voice. His sex voice, I imagined. Shit. Don't think about that. It was hard not to with his arms wrapped around me and his gaze dropping to my mouth. 

I tipped the glass in his direction and held the straw as he slurped some of the foamy white concoction. His eyes never left mine and his smile along with the happy moan he let out, alerted me to the fact that he was enjoying it. "That's good," he sighed. "Normally I hate those frou-frou drinks." He paused and laughed, tipping his head toward the small plastic sword, speared with pineapple chunks and maraschino cherries with the stems. I lifted the garnishment and used my teeth to slide the bottom pineapple piece onto my tongue.

Colt's eyes darkened as I rolled the sweet fruit on my tongue and then bit down on it. "I want that cherry," he mumbled, rubbing his lips together. 

I used my fingers to grip the bright red cherry and held it teasingly above his slightly parted mouth. The look in his eyes, the one that made me feel like I was the next thing he wanted to devour, had caused my thighs to tighten and my cheeks to flush. Colt's mouth closed around the offering in my fingertips, making contact with my skin. I held back a shudder when he took the cherry, stem and all, smiling while he rolled it around on his tongue. 

Absently I popped another piece of pineapple into my mouth, still unable to stop staring at Colt's lips. There was a hum of sexual tension between us with our bodies so close and the knowledge that just the slightest leaning in would have his mouth close enough to taste mine. I was squirming under his intense stare, when I felt his hand lower to my waist and squeeze me, letting me know he felt it too.

"Colt," I panted, unable to take another minute of this tension. A slow smile spread across his face before he opened his mouth and presented the knotted cherry stem on the tip of his tongue. 

I laughed at him and rolled my eyes. "A man of many talents," I replied sarcastically.

Colt pulled the knot from his tongue and dropped it onto his plate. His gaze returned to my mouth as he hummed, "Butterfly, you have no idea."

His teeth rolled over his lower lip as he leaned in close. "Wanna find out what else I can do?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but I was interrupted. "Can I get you two anything else?"

I shifted away from Colt, pulling my legs from his lap, much to his dismay. I glanced around at all the uneaten food and shrugged. "We could probably use some boxes."

"Of course," the young Hispanic waitress nodded and then turned her attention to Colt. Like everyone else in the room, she was obviously drawn to his bright smile, deep dimples and soft curly hair styled haphazardly around his chiseled features. I could even see the way she held her breath when he smiled at her. "Anything else?"

"I guess the check and what about some dessert? To go?" He faced me now and I groaned playfully. "Something for Charlie maybe?" 

"Yeah," I agreed easily. "I bet he'd like that."

"Okay, then we will take an order of sopapillas and an order of fried ice cream...to go, please."

The young girl nodded and scurried off, eager to please Colt, who didn't seem to notice the way he affected people. He gulped down last of his water and packed up the leftover food when she returned with a handful of to-go containers. After settling the bill and leaving a hefty tip, he pulled on my hand and guided me toward the door. I never let go of his hand, not when the waitress fluttered her eyelashes at him or when a couple of waiters nodded and waved to me as we made our way out into the warm night. 

The butterflies fluttered in my stomach when Colt held me tightly and helped me into his truck, not the old one I could barely reach, but the newer one with running boards that sat lower to the ground. He didn't need to lift me by my hips or squeeze my thigh when he rounded the front and slid in beside me. He didn't have to curl his arm around my shoulder and tuck me into his side, but he did. And I loved the feeling that gave me.

Home. Always felt like home...with him.

That high I was riding continued as we stepped into the nursing home to visit my dad. Donna reminded us that we only had a half hour before she would have to kick us out. I eased his door open, armed with the desserts I hoped he'd enjoy.

"Well, hi," dad grinned, snapping off the TV with the remote attached to his bed. "This is a nice surprise." 

I saw the way his gaze dropped to my hand firmly held by Colt. A look passed between them, one I didn't recognize. Was he okay with it or was this still not allowed? Regardless, Colt released my hand as I placed the food on his tray, enjoying dad's happiness for our little surprise. 

"You guys went to El Rodeo?" My father sounded wistful when he spoke, saddened possibly by the idea that we had gone without him.

"Yeah," Colt chimed in. "I thought I'd take Corri out for an alcoholic beverage since she's a big girl now."

Charlie glanced between us and nodded. "Yeah. I guess she is."

I sat on the edge of his bed and took his hand in mine. "How are you feeling, dad?"

"Same as always, sweetheart. Grouchy and in pain, but seeing you makes everything better."

"You should tell your father what you decided to do with the gym," Colt prompted as he settled into the stiff plastic chair next to his bed.

"Did you decide to stay on and run the gym?" Dad asked hopefully. 

I nodded and explained a little bit about my ideas for the expansion. Dad looked nervous, his brow furrowing a bit when I finished. 

"Corri...I just think…"

My chest clenched at the thought that maybe I could somehow let him down. I found myself reaching for Colt's hand, not even realizing how much I yearned for his support. Colt's hand wrapped around mine, causing his warmth to give me strength. 

"She's got some amazing ideas, Charlie."

"I was gonna say...it sounds great. It's what I wanted. For you to make it your own and give you a purpose. I just wish I'd be around to see it to completion."

A lump formed in my throat at the thought of doing something so daring without my father to help me see it through. "I still need to work out the financing, but Colt said it shouldn't be a problem."

"Do what you need to do. I'm with you, even if it's only in spirit."

Dad reached forward and brushed a tear from my cheek. I tried to keep the conversation light when Colt reminded us about the desserts most likely melting in the bag. I sagged against Colt's firm hold when he stepped behind me and gripped my shoulders. I hated seeing how tired my dad looked or the way he winced uncomfortably in his bed.

"Maybe you two should leave the sopapillas with Donna and take the ice cream home for yourselves. I'm a little too tired to enjoy any dessert tonight."

I nodded and leaned in to hug Charlie as Colt packed everything up. Every time I had to leave him, it got harder. I dreaded the day I wouldn't have him here to talk to. I still needed my dad.

"I'll be back tomorrow, Dad. I love you," I murmured into his chest as he wrapped his arms around me.

"I take it you two are getting along?" he asked when I pulled away.

"Of course we are," Colt smirked. "It's just like the old days."

"So you've been fighting?" 

Colt chuckled and reached for my hand. "No. Luckily our little Corri has matured a bit. That's making it a little easier for me to tolerate her."

"Oh wow," I scoffed, throwing a playful elbow into Colt's side. "This one still enjoys teasing me as you can see."

Charlie shifted in his bed, his eyes conveying his exhaustion. "As long you keep my house in one piece, I'm okay. Colt only teases you because he loves to get a reaction out of you."

I nodded, feeling the extra squeeze Colt gave me. A few minutes later, we were on our way down the hall, even before Donna could come back and kick us out.

"Tired?" Colt asked as I leaned against him.

I shuffled into the truck and settled beside him as he started the engine. "I don't know what I am. I just...I guess I don't want to think anymore." 

"About?" Colt prompted before drawing his arm around my waist and easing me closer to him.

"Anything," I sighed, my head falling against his shoulder. "About how sick Charlie is or the gym or the expansion or anything really. I just need to not think for a while. Can you help me with that?"

Colt rolled up to a stop sign and looked down at me. And just like that, the tension returned. The temperature in the cab seemed to skyrocket when he lifted his hand and rubbed his thumb over my lower lip. "I think I can do that. It's one of my many talents." A sexy smirk graced his beautiful face and when he began leaning in, the car behind us blared it's horn.

I giggled at the way Colt held back a frustrated groan. He got us home in record time and I couldn't help but feel anxious about what was to come. "Why don't you go put the ice cream in the freezer? Hopefully it isn't completely liquefied yet."

"And then?"

"And then come upstairs and I can get started on helping you not think, okay?" His voice was low and sexy and I suddenly wondered what that ice cream would taste like if I ate it off his abs.

"You're blushing," Colt observed, dragging his finger across my collarbone with a feather light touch. "It's going all the way down here." When his fingertip brushed the top of my cleavage, I sucked in a sharp breath. "Should I ask what's got you so flustered?"

I shook my head, too humiliated to share my fantasies with him. Maybe someday, but not right now. Not when I could barely focus on anything but his lips just mere inches from mine. We sat there staring for another moment before I crawled out of his truck and hurried into the house. 

I put the ice cream into the freezer and rushed back to my room. I wanted to change clothes, put on something more comfortable, but what to wear was the question. I didn't want to wear lingerie and assume too much. I didn't want to ruin the mood with an oversized tee and sloppy sweats. I rifled through my drawers in search of something cute and sexy without trying too hard.

Bingo. I found a strappy tank top with a lace trim and a pair of matching short shorts. This showed enough skin without looking like I was trying to seduce him. Even if I was. It probably wasn't even necessary to try. Between the flirting and how Colt kept looking at my mouth, I knew where this was going. At least where I hoped it was going.

I changed into my outfit, along with a clean pair of panties and matching bra. I flounced into the bathroom to freshen up a bit, thinking that I should check my face and hair quickly before going up to see Colt. 

As I stood there, fluffing my hair a bit, I thought about how he was leaving it up to me to come to him. I guess it was smart on his part because I had to make the first move. There would hopefully be less of a chance that I would wig out and run away from him. At least that's what I thought he was thinking. 

Somehow I had gone from me determined not to fall for him to me now throwing myself at him in just 24 hours. I couldn't help it though. Thinking about how he held me on the couch last night to the way he supported me during my indecision over the gym expansion to everything else that told me this could happen, I had changed my mind about Colt. I was trusting him not to hurt me. 

Was that a mistake?

The idea of having what I had only dreamed of for the past ten years was very intimidating. I had built up the idea of Colt so much that maybe he couldn't live up to my fantasy. 

Or maybe he could surpass every dream I had ever had about the two of us? I was too embarrassed to think of how many times I'd touched myself and wished it had been his fingers, his tongue, his lips on me. He tied that cherry stem with precision! God. What else could he do with his tongue?

I finally snapped out of my x-rated thoughts, deciding to head upstairs before Colt gave up on me. I paused at the door leading to the garage when I heard voices. Was Colt on the phone? 

"Are you serious? I haven't heard from you in six months and then this? You are unreal."

"Colt, come on. Don't be like that. I told you I had to leave town for a while." That voice...ugh. I hadn't heard it in so long, but I could never forget it.

"Yeah, I thought you meant a weekend! You just dropped off the face of the earth. You even changed your number."

"Please don't be mad, baby. I've just been going through some things…"

"You're always going through something," Colt sighed. "Why can't you just settle down and leave your party lifestyle behind?"

"That's easy for you to say! I've had this responsibility for the last six years. I'm not like you! I can't do anything I want…"

"Okay, okay," Colt sighed and I could hear the frustration in his voice. "This just isn't a good time. Charlie is really sick…"

"Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. Oh my God, Colt. You have obligations. Have you forgotten that?"

"No of course not. I'm always here for you, you know that."

"Good. I'm glad you remember what's important. Family. Your real family."

My head was spinning with things I hadn't thought about for years. I pushed the door open and strode toward the sound of their voices. Colt was standing at the base of the stairs, obviously never having made it upstairs. 

Katrina was standing in front of Colt, leaning into him with her hand cupping his cheek. Memories of him kissing her at my birthday party and how I had found her half naked in his room after prom and what I had seen the night of my graduation were all flooding back.

Katrina's gaze snapped to me, earning me a dirty eye roll. "Oh go figure. The princess has returned to her castle. Yay."

"Katrina…" Colt warned while shooting me a guilty look.

What the fuck? I was completely blindsided by her showing up at my house. "Katrina," I managed to ground out through clenched teeth.

I took a moment to look at her, surprised at how much she had changed in the last six years. Her once beautiful and shiny coal black hair was now shoulder length and had lost its luster. Her skin was no longer smooth and clear as it seemed she had smoked and tanned too much, aging her rapidly. And her clear blue eyes were now dull and sad. Katrina had obviously been through some things.

"So anyway," Katrina sighed dramatically, facing Colt once more. "I just need you for a few days. Probably just until Monday. Is that going to be a problem?"

Colt glanced at me, his expression pained. "No, it's fine. Whatever you need."

"That's good," she purred. "I'm glad you know where your priorities lie, honey."

I noticed the way Colt's jaw clenched tightly, ticking as he looked at her. I shook my head, unable to believe I had trusted him and was putting myself through this again. I spun around to leave when I heard Colt's pained voice call out to me. "Corri, please."

"Just let her go," Katrina groaned. "She's always been so jealous of what we have, baby."

"What we have?" Colt choked out. 

"Mommy?"

I was nearly to the door when I heard a small voice. I turned to find a young boy with straight blonde hair hanging past his ears. His eyes were clear blue as Katrina's had once been. 

"Buddy!" Colt gushed as he knelt down and held his arms open. "Man, I've missed you."

I stood there with my hand pressed to my mouth as the moppet grinned brightly and fell into Colt's arms. "I missed you too, Daddy."

....

A/N: did anyone see this coming???