(A/N: I posted 23 yesterday so make sure you check that out first 😉)

As I strode down the hall to Colt's office, I could hear him talking, most likely on the phone, so I paused outside his door and waited until it was quiet. I knocked once and waited for him to let me in. I found him behind my father's desk with neat stacks of paperwork and notebooks arranged in an orderly fashion. He smiled when I glanced up and he saw me hesitating near the doorway. 

"Come here," he grinned, waving me in his direction and scooting his chair back so I could slide into his lap. "Damn, I missed you," Colt blurted through a groan just seconds before he pressed his lips to mine.

It had been a week since we had taken Kash out for pizza and I knew that Colt had been talking to Katrina about her absence in their son's life. I hadn't pressed him about his decision to move or not, but I knew he'd been in contact with a realtor, so the pressure was on.

"Were you on the phone?" I asked when he pulled back from the kiss.

"Yeah," he sighed, pushing a hand through the curls covering his forehead. "It was Katrina...again. We were right, she does have a boyfriend. They wanna take Kash on a trip this weekend and…."

His voice trailed off and his attention drifted away from my face. "And?"

"I don't know. It makes me nervous. I haven't met this guy and Katrina is being so spacey lately. I'm not sure I trust them to go on this 'family vacation.' I mean what if they decide to go party and just leave him in the hotel alone?"

"Is it that bad?"

"I don't know." His voice was laced with worry. "I offered to keep him with me and let them go alone but she said they're going to this huge water park I know he'd love to go to so I'd hate to keep him from it."

I smoothed my palm up and down his forearm as he held me securely across his lap. I had an idea, a way to settle this, but it came with a steep price...for me.

"Why don't you go with them?"

"It's an overnight trip," Colt responded incredulously. "You want me staying in a hotel with Katrina?"

"Not in the same room," I gasped. "But you could get your own room and be there to make sure Kash was safe. And then you'd be able to spend some time with the new guy and see if you think he's okay."

Colt seemed to consider it while rubbing his hand over the dark stubble on his chin. "You trust me that much?"

I nodded quickly. "I do. Maybe not Katrina so much, but I'll get over it."

"I'd be gone for the whole weekend and I haven't left you alone since…"

His voice trailed off and I knew why. He hadn't left me alone since my father died. "I can be alone for a couple days. I swear I'll be fine."

Colt gathered me closer into his arms and I tucked my face into his neck. I breathed in the smell of skin and the taste of salt when I kissed him there. "It's not a bad idea. I mean, as long as you're sure."

"I am," I insisted, tilting my head back so he could see my face and know I was telling the truth. As much as I hated the thought of Colt leaving for me for a weekend, it seemed like the perfect time to make some tough decisions.

….

The next few days went by quickly and I could tell that Colt was getting excited for the trip. I couldn't help but notice the extra long kiss and hug I got before he left town that Friday morning. He promised he'd be home for dinner on Sunday so all that was left to do was wait and try not to worry about what Katrina was up to. 

On Friday afternoon, I answered the door and found the last person I was expecting. "Beau?" I scowled when the door swung open. 

Beau gave me one of his predatory smirks and then made a point to pull me into a tight hug. "Are you ready to go?"

"Go where?"

"Lunch," he retorted, as if this were something we had discussed. "Didn't Colt tell you I was coming?"

"No. Why would he? He's out of town."

"Precisely why he asked me to take you out for that lunch you promised me. Now get your stuff and come on."

I tried to argue, explain that Beau babysitting me was most definitely not needed, but Beau wouldn't hear it. He waltzed in and grabbed my keys, phone and purse, insisting that what I was wearing would be fine for what he had in mind.

"Salty's?" I asked when we pulled up to the seafood restaurant that was situated overlooking the Columbia River. 

"Yeah," Beau grinned. "Have you ever been here before?"

I shook my head as he reached for my hand and pulled me toward the front door. Sometimes I forgot Beau's family had money. They had lots of it, yet Beau and his father, Bobby had been training at my father's gym for as long as I could remember. They never acted better than anyone even though Beau had attended private school and always had the nicest car in the parking lot. 

"It's kind of expensive," I commented quietly as my eyes scanned the menu.

Beau shrugged. "So? You're not paying. Just let me spoil you."

"Beau…" I warned, wary of that huge grin on his handsome face. "You know we're just friends, right?"

Beau snapped his menu closed and spread his arms out over the top of the booth he sat in. He narrowed his gaze at me for a moment before he spoke. "I'm not dumb, Corri. I know you're butt crazy in love with Anderson. And I know I don't have a shot in hell with you, so that's not what this is about."

"Oh," I replied quietly. "I'm sorry for assuming…"

"I know I come off like some fuckboy, but honestly you're the only girl I get nervous around. And I am not friends with girls," he added, lowering his voice and glancing around shyly as if anyone were listening to us. "But I'm friends with you and you're cool as fuck. So order what you want and let's have a good time."

And I did. After Beau convinced me to try the coconut prawns and that 20 dollars wasn't too much for a burger and fries, I finally relaxed. Beau had always been so easy to talk to, so comfortable to share things with that I found myself explaining to him how much I didn't want Colt to move out.

Beau took a swig of his beer and gave me a cautious look. "Do you really think it would be over between you two if you didn't live under the same roof?"

"No," I sighed. "But I like having him there. I know he doesn't have enough space in the loft apartment so I can't blame him for wanting to leave."

"So do something that would make him want to stay," he suggested flippantly, making it seem like the easiest choice in the world. 

"I do have an idea," I revealed slowly. "But I would need some help to pull it off before Colt got home on Sunday."

"Would it be anything I could help you with?" Beau murmured once the waitress had stepped away with his credit card.

I thought for a moment, wondering if laying this big of a surprise on Colt was wise. I'd be blindsiding him since we hadn't discussed it before. And part of me knew he could have a problem with it, hence my hesitation. But talking with Beau had made me more brave, so with all the strength I could muster, I replied, "Yes. I could use your help with this."

….

By Sunday, I was exhausted. My plan was nearly completed although I had resigned myself to the idea that I would most likely not get done in time. It was nearly dinner time and I was thinking about ordering something when I heard Colt's truck pull into the driveway. 

"Honey...I'm home," he called out as soon as the door opened.

"In here," I called from down the hall and I waited for him to appear.
 
All of a sudden, I was consumed with panic at the thought that maybe Colt would hate what I'd done or told me he was already set to move out. I shook off any lingering doubt before he eased the door to my father's old room and stepped inside. 

His jaw fell slack when he saw the changes. I removed nearly everything that had been in here previously, replacing dad's bed with my own and adding in some new furniture. I had painted the walls a pale gray and purchased a new bedspread with a floral design that went great with the new color on the wall. I had picked out two matching nightstands and two chest of drawers in the same pretty gray. Now I only had one wall left to finish and some new pictures to hang before the room would be complete. 

Colt's jaw hung slack in surprise. "You went through your dad's stuff."

I nodded and glanced around at all the changes. "I gave away some things and stored some of the others that I wanted to keep. But yeah, I finally did it."

Colt had been bugging me for weeks to do it. He knew I was having a hard time letting things go or even thinking about making any changes. I couldn't help it. This had always been my father's room.

"I did it. It was hard, but I managed."

"You did all this alone?" he asked, moving further into the space and closer to me.

"Beau helped me. He was especially helpful moving all the furniture and assembling the new things I bought."

Colt's brow immediately furrowed with an emotion I couldn't pinpoint. It may have been hurt, but that was never my intention. "I told you I'd do this with you," he murmured as he gathered me into his arms. His voice was definitely laced with hurt, I could feel it in the way he held me.

"I'm fine," I insisted as I pulled away and peered up at him. "It was just something I needed to do and honestly it was easier doing it without you worrying over me the whole time."

Colt's expression fell and I hated that what I had done made him feel less than because it simply wasn't true. Yes, I broke down and cried a few times but I could do that with Beau and not worry about how my pain affected him. 

"I saved some of his things for you. Maybe when you're up to it, you could go through them."

Colt nodded and sighed deeply. "I would like that."

I hoped that his disappointment wouldn't put a damper on my other surprise. 

"I have something else I want to show you," I told him, tugging on his hand on our way down the hall.

"Oh let me guess, Beau built you a library with a secret door," Colt teased. 

"Ooh, that's a good idea," I teased right back, immediately regretting it when Colt pressed me against my closed door and attacked my neck with kisses.

"Stop it, Corri. You know I can't stand the thought of you spending all that time alone with him."

I tipped my head back and peered up at Colt. "Seriously? You send him over to kidnap me for a lunch date and then have the nerve to get pissed because I used him for some free manual labor."

"I can build things to, ya know," Colt pouted and I had to stifle a giggle. 

"You are absolutely adorable when you're jealous," I taunted him, tiptoeing my fingers up his chest until I was holding his jaw in my palm. "It was nothing more than a busy DIY weekend with Beau Bailey. And how did Katrina behave?"

"Perfectly," he laughed. "She had to be on her best behavior for the new boyfriend, so she barely paid me any attention."

"Good," I smiled before leaning up to kiss him.

"Now who's jealous?" Colt smirked before dipping his head and kissing me back. 

"Dad?"

Kash's voice rang out as he raced down the hall and nearly plowed us down. I untangled myself from Colt's hold long enough to give the excited boy a huge hug. "I'm so glad you're back."

Kash gave me a half smile and a sad look in his eyes that let me know something was wrong. "What is it?" I asked, glancing between the two of them.

Kash's shoulders fell as he explained. "Dad says we might move. So I just went out to the backyard so I could look at it one last time."

My stomach sank with dread, hoping I hadn't made my decision too late. 

"It's not a done deal, buddy. I was just thinking about it…"

"I have something I want to show you both," I announced, wringing my hands with nervous energy. "So close your eyes, okay?"

Kash's face brightened at the mention of a surprise but Colt looked anxious. "Just do it," I urged when Colt didn't cover his eyes.

Once I was sure that neither of them could see what I was doing, I turned and opened the door to my room. I carefully pulled them both inside and stepped out of their way so I could reveal what I had done.

"You can look now."

I held my breath as I waited for their reactions. Kash's was instantaneous. He blew out a slow "wow" as his eyes scanned the entire room. My old peeling lavender paint had been replaced by a fresh coat of light blue. There was a new twin size bed in place of my queen one and it sat on a new white bed frame. I hung framed photos of race cars all around the room and Beau had hung shelves that I had placed tons of books on. There was a new white desk to do his homework at and a toy box full of cars, trucks, puzzles and anything else I had hoped would interest a six-year-old boy. 

"This…" Kash began with his eyes wide in wonder. "This is for me?"

I knelt down and held Kash by his arms. "If you want it to be. This can be your room when you stay with us. I mean…as long as it's okay with your dad."

It was then that I hazarded a glance in Colt's direction. He was scanning the room as his son had, but his expression was stoic. His jaw was clenched and his brow furrowed as he took it all in. Suddenly I felt I had made a huge mistake.

"Isn't this awesome, Dad?" Kash gasped, rushing off to see what toys were stowed away.

I blinked up at Colt, trying to gauge his mood, but he was still stoic. "Corri and I are going to order some dinner. Why don't you stay here and check everything out?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but Colt was already whisking me toward the kitchen with a stern hand gripping my elbow. As soon as we entered the kitchen, he swung around to face me. "What the fuck did you do?"

My mouth fell open from shock. I knew I was taking a big risk doing something so drastic without asking Colt first, but this? I never expected him to react so strongly. "I'm sorry," I sputtered, searching for the right way to explain myself. 

"Sorry?" he echoed, closing in on me and crowding me against the counter. He caged me in with his big arms bracketing me. "What are you sorry for?"

"I…I don't know," I sputtered nervously. 

He lowered his face to mine and caught my lips with a searing kiss. His hands were all over me, first in my hair and later squeezing my backside and tugging us impossibly close. When he pulled away breathlessly and buried his face in my neck, I heard him mumble, "Thank you, Butterfly. You blew me away."

I wrenched myself out of his grip and tried to make sense of the way he had urgently kissed me. "You're not mad?"

"Mad?" Colt shook his head as he cupped my face in his hands. "Are you kidding? I've never seen my boy so happy. You did that. That was so unbelievably generous of you, baby."

I blinked up at him and then scoffed. "No, Colt. I was being selfish."

"How could that be?"

"I did it for me. Because you said you wanted to move. I couldn't let that happen."

"You hoped that if you gave Kash his own room, I'd keep living here?"

I nodded and he continued. "So when Kash stays here and sleeps in his room, where will I sleep?"

I licked my lips and shrugged. "I was hoping you'd sleep in my bed."

"And when he's not here?"

I nibbled my lower lip and shrugged again. "Still sleep with me?"

A huge grin broke out on Colt's face. It was bright like a sunrise and seemed to touch every inch of his gorgeous face. "Are you asking me to move in here with you, Butterfly?"

"Yes," I replied softly, letting my hands wander up his chest. "Will you move in with me?"

Colt lowered his head until his forehead touched mine. "I should be pissed at you. You have Kash so excited, how could I possibly say no to your offer?"

I flung my arms around his broad shoulders and let out a deep sigh. "I was hoping you'd be so overcome with gratitude that there would be no way you could say no?"

"And what if I told you I want to stay because of something more than gratitude?"

"Like what?" I mused.

Colt let his lips hover over mine before he told me, "I really want to move in so any time I feel like grabbing you up and kissing you breathless, I can do that."

I couldn't hold back the relieved sigh that poured out of my lips when I heard his declaration. I hadn't even decided until just then to ask him to stay with me. But in that moment with him I realized this was what I had been wanting. Colt was mine and Kash was happy. 

What more could I want?

....

How I imagine Kash's new room 💙💙