Colt shook his head and his eyes sparkled. "So you failed at being a proper woman. Not getting me my beer on the first trip."
Colt Collins had turned into a comedian. She twirled with her hand in the air to scold him, but his smile was contagious. His appreciative head dip caught her attention, and she didn't rise to the bait. "Country boy like you never had any manners, Colt. We'll work on that when you dance with me."
Without another word spoken, she disappeared into the house.
A cold beer whetted her appetite too. A minute later, she popped the caps off two Coronas, added lime, and headed back out.
His succulent brown eyes stayed on her as she sashayed back with the beer. She handed one to him, and he quirked his eyebrow after he tasted it. "What happened to 'I only drink wine'?"
"I definitely prefer wine, but I'll drink this for now." She shrugged. "Cheers."
They tapped their bottles, and then he elbowed her side. "John taught you about the lime. I'm impressed."
A giggle escaped her lips. "John or Peter will never drink this in public, but you snuck one or two over a few summers and always added the splash of lime. Years later, when I lived in Texas for a minute, I decided to try."
"Limon," he corrected her with his Miami Spanish.
She shook her head at him, and refused to tell him that lime was the correct American terminology for the green, tart fruit. Only in Miami, the label for yellow lemon and the green lime were inverted in the everyday lingo. She tilted her head. "Country boy still arguing with me just because he likes to be right? What did you do without me as your target overseas?"
"You were never a target, Vicki, though I do admit I like being home." He flipped the steaks and stared at his grill. "You're too easy to tease, sunshine."
Clara left her toys, settled on the bench, and picked up a book.
"I'm probably the most difficult woman you ever met." Vicki exhaled and chose to ignore how he'd called her sunshine and how her entire spirit lifted. Together, they were what a family was supposed to be. Then she winked at him. "I know it's hard for you to say you missed me...Miami and all that glitters in the Magic City. I remember you complaining all the time on how you were never coming back."
She had said me, but switched it to the city. She chewed her bottom lip.
His shoulders tensed, and her heart fell in her chest. Was he about to confront her slip with the fiancée reminder? "I was a bratty teen, but once you're in the sandbox, your viewpoint changes."
Her heart thumped for Colt. Without thinking, she hugged him. He stiffened then let his hands wrap around her waist. She ran her hands in his hair, and then she stepped away. His mouth was open. She placed her hand on her hip to study him. "Something bad happened to you, Colt. If you need to talk, I'll listen."
"Most people call me Collins, except you."
The storm in Colt's eyes had her step out of his arms' reach. She shivered and realized the sky above them was darkening too. Storms moved fast near hurricanes, and soon they'd have rain. "Vicki, I..."
A loud buzz sounded, and they turned their heads toward the house. All the lights flickered on, and they cheered. The air conditioner and everything else now worked.
"Never mind," he said. "It's for the best."
He'd almost said something else. Her eyes widened, but then she stilled. Some things were better left to rest.
"Get that food off the grill." Vicki took a seat at the bench. "We're hungry. And we're still dancing tonight."
Clara yawned, and Colt frowned, but took the steaks off the grill. Seconds later, he placed a plate in front of Clara and mussed his daughter's hair. Their daughter ignored him, picked up her fork, and said, "Thanks, Daddy."
Vicki's heart constricted. Colt was the one that Clara knew and loved. She'd never be able to make up for not being there right from the beginning.
Colt wrapped his arms around Clara and picked her up to hug her. Clara's face blossomed as her father spun her. Then he placed her in her seat. Vicki's heart swelled.
Then he told her, "You being here now is a good thing, Vicki. But it's gonna rain. We have to go."
Vicki's voice cracked. "I'd have been here if—"
He cut her off and kissed her cheek. Vicki's face warmed, and she didn't know what to say.
Then he pointed toward Clara. "Let's talk away from sleepy head first. Get her plate. We have to get inside fast."
The clouds above his head seemed more ominous. Perhaps there was an outer band of the hurricane about to hit. The wind blew in the trees. She swallowed, and followed Colt's orders as he picked up their daughter.
A moment later, Clara hugged her father's neck, yawned, and said, "I'm not hungry. I'm sleepy."
Vicki picked up the plates as best she could and followed behind Colt. He slowed own and walked next to her as she brought as much in as possible. He then turned and told Vicki, "Let's put the princess in bed together. Then we'll get the rest and eat. She's tuckered out from too much playing in the heat today."
"We drank a lot water," Vicki answered fast, like that alleviated guilt. "I took good care of her."
Colt stayed in step with her as a flash of lightning flew in the distant sky. "I'm sure you did fine. She's being good with you, Vicki."
#
In Clara's bedroom, Vicki and Colt worked as a team. He held her. She tugged on the covers. Then he took off her shoes and socks, as she changed Clara into a nightgown. Clara sighed as she snuggled into her pillow without opening her eyes. Once they were done, Colt wrapped her in the blanket, and Vicki fixed her hair into a braid. Clara twisted, but their daughter fell into a deep sleep.
Once they were finished, Colt stood first. "I'll go get the rest of the things before the storm hits."
The cool air of the air conditioning made the evening tolerable. Vicki rolled her shoulders as Colt bolted out of the door and through the house. She stood more slowly, checked on her daughter once more, and then slipped out of the room. The humid day had sucked their energy, and tonight they would sleep well.
A few minutes later, Vicki couldn't wait for him anymore, and followed Colt's footsteps. She opened the door to follow him, as thunder cracked in the air. Colt rushed like a bolt of lightning into the door, which she closed a second later. He shook his head to get out the dampness from the rain and then showed her the beers. "Thanks."
#
In the big, open room, he went to the kitchen to pick up his beer from the counter. Vicki fixed herself a plate, and Colt ran his hand through his hair. The rain outside thundered and poured heavily out the window. Vicki stared at him, but kept her lips sealed.
He said, "I guess I should get to bed."
Not this soon. She shook her head. "I'd like to talk, and we should finish the steaks. You must be hungry, as you didn't eat all day."
"I guess."