"Okay." She smiled and took his hands in hers. He held her palms in his, but then dropped his hands to the side. The part of her skin that touched his heated. She lowered her gaze. "I'm happy to have the time to get to know her. I'd like to stay and get to know her without being a stranger. But I do have to go to the store in a few days to arrange the schedule for next week. I can take Clara with me for a few hours, and then we'll head right back home."
"Sounds fine. We'll work out the details, but thank you." He turned his face into a shadow as he glanced at the door. "Now is a good time, before my wedding in October."
Vicki's shoulders caved. Her lips ached for his kiss, but she'd never be a home wrecker. She firmly believed that whatever she put into the universe came back in a circle. If she tried to steal Colt, something worse would happen to her. She sighed. No. She'd lost too much already.
Colt ran his hand through his hair, and she picked up his habit as she closed her eyes. "That's so close. Where is your fiancée?"
He seemed to count the marble tiles on the floor as his face stayed red. "Washington, D.C. She took a job for the military as a lobbyist."
"She sounds strong and independent, which was always the type of girl you wanted. I'm happy for you."
His eyes widened as he glanced at her again. Without a word, she picked up the bowl in the sink and ran it under the water to wash. Colt rubbed her shoulders and then he took off for the door. "Thanks again for staying."
"No, Colt," she called out, and gazed at him over her shoulder. He stared at her from the door. She dropped her hands to her sides. "Staying here is one major step to letting me in to know my daughter. I am looking forward to telling her who I am before your wedding."
At the door he threw his cowboy hat on and nodded at her. Her heart beat a little faster. If he wasn't engaged, she'd be flirting. Perhaps it was better this way.
Colt Collins would never be hers.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Vicki found the steaks in the freezer had thawed enough and needed to be cooked soon. Dusk settled in the sky, and she added charcoal to the grill in the backyard. At least she had remembered how to set something from camp. Her years on her own, without her last name or family money, taught her how to survive in cities with jobs, not camping.
Vicki turned to watch her daughter one more time. Clara had her radio, and she played in the shade on the patio. Today was perfect. Vicki turned around and lit a match, but nothing flamed. She bit her lip, added more charcoal, and lit more matches, but nothing flamed. She crossed her arms. What was she doing wrong?
She picked up a piece of charcoal and held the match to it. The black charcoal never took the flames.
Clearly she'd missed a step. She dropped the charcoal into the pit and wiped the sweat off her brow. She studied the grill like there was a huge secret. How did her brother, Peter, the born-to-be CEO who was trained from birth to run their family and the many business holding, make grilling food look easy? Her brother wasn't motivated to do anything family related, ever, and even he managed to do stuff like this.
"Step back. I'll get the grill ready." Colt's voice crackled from behind, which sent a thrill down her spine.
"Steak night." She didn't dare turn to look at him. Her body ached for him. A few seconds later, she turned and walked toward the patio as Clara and Colt grew closer to her and the grill. She stiffened her spine and refused to react to the smell of oak trees and oranges. "I'll get the food for when you're ready and bring it to you."
"And the beer," Colt called out as he went toward the barbecue.
She heard the spark of the fire catch in the grill and turned. With her jaw clenched, she asked, "How did you do that?"
With a wink, he smiled, and her heart melted. He had looked at her that way years ago, and she used to melt then. She sighed, and he answered, "I have my ways."
She placed her hand on her hip. "And I have mine, country boy. I'll get Clara to turn up her radio, and you'll dance with me before the night ends."
"Lighter fluid." He dropped his gaze as his cheeks grew red. "You had everything but lighter fluid."
Her skin ignited, and she stared at his hard body. She turned her gaze to the ground, and she cooled her jets, though her lips tingled from a memory. "Ohh."
"I'll grill." He nodded.
After the hurricane, the weather was unusually colder than the usual sauna of Miami summers. She was born and raised in the roasting humidity, but the fire now came from inside her. Colt was too dangerous for her well-being. Today was different. She let out a loud sigh, and rolled her shoulders to let the tension that crept up her spine dissipate.
On the porch, she stomped up the stairs and slammed the door behind her. Colt whistled outside, and she heard the noisy sighs she made.
At least the house wasn't stuffy anymore. Colt had taken down the shutters to let the air back in. One step ahead of her today, but then again, he was a perfect gentleman. She shook her head like that would clear it. She had to lose her attraction to Colt fast. The man was engaged to be married, and Victoria Morgan was here for Clara.
As she took out the plate of steaks, the fresh corn on the cob, and the vegetable kebabs she made, Vicki's fingers twitched. Her body was too tight and achy to be near him.
Denial was hard.
She picked out the condiments off the metallic door of the refrigerator. She clicked her tongue in her mouth, pasted a smile back on her face, and went back outside.
With her hip, she pushed open the door, and she saw how handsome Colt had become. The man she stared at across the lawn who chased after Clara was rugged, protective, and the best father she ever could imagine. Their daughter squealed in delight. Vicki licked her lips. His hard muscles and strong shoulders only added fuel to her raging desires.
A genuine smile formed on her face, but as she went toward them, acid grew in her throat. Her father had never loved her, not like Colt with Clara.
Her stomach knotted, and she lowered her gaze. Perhaps the thought related to how she hadn't told Colt this morning about that kiss. She swallowed, and the tension she suddenly had dissipated. They had to find a way to share, and Vicki swore to herself she'd ensure Clara believed that she was worth more than living her life as a man's pretty accessory.
As she joined them and slipped the plate onto the table, Colt's hand squeezed her hip. She stayed speechless, and he reached over her shoulder to take the plate. Heat coursed through her.
He winked. "Go play with the rug rat while I get this started."
"Daddy, I'm not a rug rat," Clara yelled out. "I want to play tag."
With a fast grin, Vicki took her hand from Colt and then raced to her daughter. "Yeah, Dad. She's not a rug rat, but a princess."
"No. A princess. Apparently now I have two princesses in my life." His grin gave his excitement away. "Everywhere I go, girl rug rats turn into princesses."
Clara giggled like he'd said the funniest thing ever. Then she went to sit with her toys. Vicki didn't argue, and followed her until it was clear Clara wanted to play alone.
She pointed to Clara as she met Colt's gaze. Then she nodded and told him, "I'll go and get the beer."