"Don't be nervous."

I glanced over at my smirking boyfriend, who seemed to read me oh so well. I nodded at him and looked out the window until I felt his fingers on my neck. "Hey," he murmured softly. "I mean it. Today will be perfect."

When I faced him again, he was close enough that I could feel his breath tickling my lips. Before I could open my mouth and argue with him, he was kissing me. We kept it PG since Kash was in the backseat and Colt cut it short when the car behind began honking his horn. He growled playfully and then pulled away from the stoplight. "You look great by the way," he added as his fingers carded through my hair. "New dress?"

I found his gaze slipping down to my bare legs for just a moment. "Yeah. It's new. I wanted to look nice today."

It had been a few months since I had asked Colt to move in with me. Kash had been staying with us pretty consistently and I loved seeing the two of them so happy together. We had some issues with Katrina, obviously, because it's Katrina and somehow me providing Kash with his own bedroom in my house equated me "showing off" instead of being kind to a boy I cared about. That woman, I swear.

She had been seeing Kash less and less as time had gone on. Her and her boyfriend had seemed pretty serious. When they would have their arguments, she would come around and claim to want to see her son, but it was obvious she wanted Colt to make her feel better. Once she realized we were living together and her chances of getting him back were dwindling, she would lash out at me. I could take it. Anything was fine with me as long as Kash was safe. Colt was happier with his boy around and that made me happier. 

It seemed the more Kash stayed with us, the harder it was for him to go back to Katrina and her aunt's small house. He loved our backyard and how Colt was never too tired to play with him. I loved the way the two of them interacted together and seeing Colt in his fatherly role made me love him even more. At this point, our only real issue was the lack of time. He was crazy busy trying to fill my dad's big shoes when it came to training the boxers and I was pushing myself to make this grand reopening the best ever.

Somehow we had avoided the intimate side of our relationship while being pulled in so many directions. And yes, I was probably avoiding it because of so many reasons. But it wasn't like we hadn't kissed and cuddled at night as we shared my bed. I felt as though Colt didn't want to rush me and I knew the desire was there too, but each of us held back a little.

As Colt pulled behind the gym and parked near the rear entrance, Kash unbuckled himself and bolted inside. The gym had become a second home to him and he loved it there. Colt called after him to stay clean in his little suit and tie, but we both knew it was pointless. He was a rough and tumble boy through and through. Hopefully he could stay clean until everyone arrived.

I flipped the visor mirror down and inspected my hair and face until Colt yanked the door open. "No more fussing. You look perfect," he insisted as he tugged on my hand and hauled me up against his body. 

I tipped my head up as he tipped his down. We both sighed as our foreheads pressed together and our noses brushed each other's. "It's finally here," I sighed. "The night we've planned for, for so long."

I could see the tenseness in his shoulders and I worried that maybe he was resenting me being so involved with the gym renovations. Maybe I hadn't given him enough of my time? Maybe he was doubting how serious my commitment to us was? I pushed up on my toes to press a kiss to his frowning mouth. He pulled me tighter against him and then sighed a deep sigh. 

I ran my thumb over the deep crease in his forehead, trying to smooth away his worries. He gave me a half-hearted smile before gripping my hand and walking me around his truck. I noticed how his gaze drifted down the building and lingered on a small window that led to the locker rooms. It only took a moment for me to make the connection. 

"Is that it?" I paused and waited for Colt's  attention to return to me. "Is that the window my dad caught you climbing into the night he brought you home to us."

Colt nodded slowly. "Sometimes I forget that I didn't always live with you guys. It's almost like my life didn't start until I met you."

"Colt…" I began, overcome by so many emotions.

"I just want to be worthy of him, of the life he gave me, and the chance you've given me. I never want to let Charlie down. I never want to disappoint you. I never want my son to feel the sadness I felt growing up. I hate thinking I could lose all of this someday."

I was caught off guard by his brutal honesty. Colt didn't always express himself or be this vulnerable with me. I knew I had to say just the right thing to convince him he was definitely worthy of all he had accomplished so far. 

I faced him now and took that strong jaw of his into my hands. "You listen to me, Colt Anderson. My father loved you so much. You were definitely worthy of being his son, even if you never officially got to hold that title. And your son is the luckiest little boy in the world, because you chose to be his dad when you didn't have to. And I…" I stopped to clear my throat, emotions clogging it as I struggled not to cry. "And I don't know what I did to deserve this second chance with you, but I'm so happy we decided to see where this goes. You are so good to me and Kash and this gym. You're all I ever wished for. And I'm sorry it took us so long to get here."

Colt's expression softened and his mouth fell open from what looked like shock. He surprised me with a deep kiss and his hands holding me tightly to him. "Let's go," he mumbled into my mouth. I laughed as he tugged me into the backdoor and I struggled to keep up.

"What's the hurry? The party doesn't start for an hour."

Colt spun around and pressed me against the cold concrete wall of the hallway and peered down at me with a hardened look in his eyes. At first I worried that I had said or done something wrong. Then I realized that look. It was lust filled and made my whole body flush with need. And suddenly I had a feeling we would be doing more than cuddling tonight. 

"Corri…" I heard a voice call from just outside the hall. "Kash, I thought you said she was out here."

Colt growled when he heard Beau's voice. "We're not done," he added gruffly before giving me a quick kiss and walking me down the hall. "Come find me before the big speech," he instructed as he veered off toward Big Mike.

I glanced at Beau, but my eyes kept drifting to Colt and his impressive backside. I loved seeing him in his charcoal gray dress pants and the way they were sculpted so perfectly around his muscular backside. "Please stop ogling Anderson and listen to me," Beau groaned. 

I let my shoulders slump and finally turned to give him my attention. "Where's the fire? I just got here."

"Yeah and so did the baker with the cupcakes. She wants you to come see how she set up the dessert table."

I tossed another glance at my boyfriend, who was motioning to me that he was watching me too. I smiled at him, silently promising to give him that alone time we desperately needed. Maybe tonight would be the night.

I stepped up to the podium an hour later and gazed out at the crowded room. At least twice as many people as we had expected had shown up and I was encouraged by the turnout. I got a little emotional when I realized that my eyes were searching for my father, my source of strength, but after a split second I remembered he was no longer with us. 

Some days were like that. Some days I woke up and for a minute, I thought I smelled his coffee brewing in the pot or could hear the sounds of grunts and hits from his many boxing tapes he watched. And my heart would break a little more when I realized I would never see him again.

I swiped at a lone tear trickling down my cheek as the thoughts of my father momentarily took over. I flinched when I felt Colt fingers smooth over my back. "Are you okay?" he breathed into my ear.

I sagged a little, taking comfort in the feeling of his broad chest and arm gripping tightly around my waist. I sighed when he kissed my temple, nodded and began to speak. 

"Can I have everyone's attention?" I paused and waited for the crowd to settle down. Several people moved closer, their eyes zeroing in on me. I felt Colt's absence as he stepped back and let me take control. 

"When I came home a few months back, my father, Charlie, was very sick. He knew that his time here was limited, so he informed me that I would be inheriting his gym. Surprisingly, he gave me the power to change some things around here, which if you knew Charlie, you'd know that was a big deal. I mean, it took me years to convince him to take down that ugly wallpaper in his office." The crowd before me chuckled and nodded their heads in agreement. 

"When I was young, I loved taking care of the injured fighters. And that love turned into me studying sports medicine in college. Now I have the opportunity to use those skills and help our community. This new addition will serve our community with sports physicals for athletes, rehab and therapy for injured athletes as well as self-defense classes for women and martial arts classes for girls and boys. While you're here today, I hope you'll take a tour, check out the hydro-therapy room, have a cupcake and maybe even sign up for a class." I paused and smiled at the friendly faces all around me.

"Thank you so much for being here today for this grand reopening. And I couldn't have done any of this without the encouragement of my father, the support of Big Mike and the love of my boyfriend, Colt. So thanks to them as well."

Colt stepped forward and curled his arm around my shoulder before leaning into the microphone and making an announcement of his own. "Before y'all take off and look around, can I direct your attention over here?" Colt gestured to the wall behind us, where a small curtain was covering a space on the wall. He tugged the microphone from it's holder and guided me toward the wall with an insistent hand on my lower back.

I gazed up at him with curiosity and whispered, "What is this?"

"You'll see," he grinned, glancing around and waiting for the crowd to join us. 

I sulked for a moment, slightly perturbed knowing that he had kept this from me. When everyone had gathered around us, he cleared his throat into the microphone and began. "Most of you know that I've been training at this gym with Charlie since I was in high school. And some of you may know that he took me in after he caught me breaking into the gym when I was a homeless teenager. What you may not know is that I loved Charlie like a father. I didn't speak at his funeral, but I'd like to speak now. The love and understanding he showed me when he took me in...it changed my life. And now all I want is to honor his memory and never forget the opportunities he gave me. So I would like to present this as my way to make sure that Charlie is never forgotten. And that we all strive to be like him...to be the best human being we can. I want to be like him. To be someone who opens their heart and home to someone who needs love. That's what Charlie did for me." Colt paused and peered down at me, his eyes watery and his voice emotional. "So Corri, if you would do the honors?"

I looked up at him with my brow furrowed in confusion. He pointed to a tassled string and smiled. "On the count of three...pull it." He encouraged the crowd to count with him and when they said three, I yanked hard. The small curtain fell away and revealed a large bronze plaque. I gasped when I saw the photo that had been engraved on it. It was a side view of my father holding me above his head. We were both laughing, mouths smiling brightly as his sheer strength was on display with the way his powerful arms held me so securely. I had loved that picture, taken when I was only six years old. It always reminded me how strong, yet gentle my father was. And to see it here, so perfectly replicated on this wall, brought tears to my eyes.

"Read the inscription," Colt directed, handing me the microphone, encouraging me to read it aloud.

I blinked up at him before focusing on the carefully scripted words. "In honor of Charlie Armstrong. May we always remember his kindness and strength and strive to show others the love and care he so easily showed us all during his time here on Earth. Heaven gained a beautiful soul."

The group let out a collective "aww" and applauded loudly. I blinked back more tears as I struggled to move through the throngs of people approaching Colt. I could finally breathe when I collapsed against the back of the door in my office. I staggered to my desk, leaning heavily on it with both hands. I tried to rein in my emotions, but the tears continued to fall.

I was getting my breathing under control when I heard the door open and close. "Corri?" Colt's deep voice was soft and cautious as he approached me. "Is everything okay?"

I spun around to face him, noticing the way his expression fell when he saw my tear-stained face. "Baby...no. I didn't mean to...I didn't wanna upset you. Shit."

I watched him shove his hand through his messy brown curls as he moved closer. "You hate it?" he gasped, his face tight with worry.

"I...I don't hate it," I admitted, stepping closer until we were nearly pressed together. 

Colt's shoulders drooped in relief as he reached for my face and held my cheek tenderly. "Then what is it? Why did you run off?"

"I just needed a minute. I'm so overwhelmed…"

"By the crowd? By my surprise?"

I curled my arms around his waist and pressed my body to his. "No. I'm overwhelmed by the gesture. That plaque is so beautiful...so thoughtful. And I'm overwhelmed by you and all this love I feel for you. It caught me off guard, Colt."

A wide smile spread across his gorgeous face as he leaned in to press his forehead to mine. "Oh thank God. I thought you were mad."

"Mad? No," I chuckled. "I just…" I sucked in a deep breath and sighed, "I want you so much. I can't even figure out why I've made you wait so long. I need you." My words were strained and coming out in breathless tones. Colt scanned my face and nodded slowly.

"You want me? Now?" His voice cracked and I couldn't help but giggle.

"Well," I shrugged, "We do have a whole lot of people to attend to out there."

Colt scowled and then groaned, "Fuck 'em."

I squealed when he reached down and gripped me behind my thighs. Swiftly and easily, he lifted me to sit on the edge of my desk. I smiled up at him when he leaned over me and murmured, "Why wait? I want you so badly." His mouth went straight for the side of my neck, latching on and sucking softly.

"Colt," I panted after a moment. "Not here."

His head jerked back until he made eye contact. "Why not here? Your desk is perfect," he smirked.

I pressed my hands against his firm chest when he leaned into me, trying to ease me onto my back. "Stop!" I laughed. "Tonight okay?"

Colt growled as he gathered me into his arms and lifted me off the desk. "You're lucky I love you so much."

"Why?"

"Because I'm ready," he sighed deeply.

I glanced down at his obvious excitement, trying to break out of those charcoal dress pants. I felt bad that he was so frustrated. "I'm sorry," I told him as I reached for his face.

Colt leaned away and growled. "Please don't touch me right now."

"My poor baby," I mumbled, leaning up to press a chaste kiss to his cheek. "Just a few more hours and I'm all yours."

A dark look took over his face when he heard my promise. He gripped my hips tightly and walked me over to the door. I gasped when he cupped my jaw and slanted his mouth over mine. I couldn't help the moan that bubbled up from deep in my throat. When Colt pulled back, we were both breathless and squirming. He leaned over me and his jaw tensed. "Damn, butterfly. I don't think I've ever been this anxious to go home before."

I hugged him tightly to me and muttered, "I feel the exact same way."

We walked out together, arms wrapped around each other and greeted everyone warmly. Colt never left my side and everytime I glanced at the plaque on the wall and saw my father's smiling face, my heart squeezed a little. I couldn't stop looking at Colt, feeling so grateful for his tribute to my dad and dreaming about what it would be like to finally be together after so many years of fantasizing. I tried not to let the anticipation of it get ruined by all the nervous butterflies swarming in my belly.

Colt and I were finally going to make love and I couldn't wait.

....