Colt Patterson gets pneumonia from the girl next door. No, thank you. That would be terrible advertising.
Knowing there was no other alternative she’d rushed him into her dad’s house. He’d fought her the whole damn way into the kitchen, which had only infuriated her more and she left his babbling self in there to turn the shower on and get it heating for him. That had been an error. He’d been nearly stripped of all his clothes when she turned around. He was standing in front of her almost completely naked and beautiful and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been in such close proximity with a man. That’s your lame excuse for allowing his single touch to your face to unravel your good sense!
If only she could get the sight of his gorgeous bare torso out of her head. A gorgeous thick specimen it had been. And if only she could forget how magnificent they were together. Good Lord, she was getting hot just thinking about him.
Chapter Five
Colt patted his chest dry then wrapped the towel around his waist and headed down the hall toward his bedroom.
He had done a lot of thinking in that driveway. First of all, he didn’t care if it was the last month of winter, first thing in the morning he was taking his mom down to the hardware store and she was going to learn how to use a snow blower. There was no way his mother should be shovelling the driveway by hand. Years of long hours of practising for every season prepared him for the workout in that laneway, but he couldn’t picture his mother managing it alone. And he didn’t want to worry about her doing it either, especially when the winters were brutal with the storms always coming off the lake.
Secondly, he’d acknowledged and accepted his mother was happy in a relationship with Kent. He wasn’t sure about it, he wasn’t all that happy about it, but he accepted it.
Had Kent shoveled the driveway all winter for his mother? Shouldn’t a man who was in a serious relationship with his mother take on those kinds of responsibilities? He was contemplating bringing that topic up over supper.
Thirdly, Colt wasn’t about to stand in the way of his mother’s happiness. He decided maybe Peyton’s agitation toward him was possibly...more than likely...invoked around the fact he hadn’t called after their short time spent together. The memories almost made him turn around and jump back in the cold shower to cool down...again.
Focus! Since they were going to have to learn to be civil with each other now that their parents were together, they needed to put all that occurred between them behind and move on. Like mature adults.
Colt had devised a game plan: he needed to get her alone, apologize, possibly grovel a bit, put on his charm and then they might avoid her tearing a strip out of him in front of both of their families. Which in turn would create a future of discomfort between everyone.
Peyton was a feisty kind of woman.
The game plan definitely eliminated any future actions of chasing her into beach houses or dragging her into showers...or anywhere with knowing intentions of stripping down and uniting in a way that he couldn’t get off his mind.
Colt had been selfish for not calling her, but he wasn’t exactly sure what he would have said if he had. It’s not like he went out looking for her. Once they’d uneasily parted ways he wasn’t exactly sure what the protocol follow-up was.
Focus on the game plan. Stick to the game plan.
Before he stepped in his room he caught a silhouette in front of his window that was certainly not that of his mother’s. This slim figure’s hand was touching the window sill, staring into the shadows of the night. He recognized the layered waves cascading down her back and his fingers itched to run through the soft locks. No, scratch that...he wasn’t thinking about her hair at all.
He stopped and stared at her from top to bottom taking in everything from the denim jeans firmly around her buttocks to the plaid blouse that snuggled her breasts. She had an amazingly hot body. No...No amazing body.
Why did this woman have this effect on him? All the years growing up beside her the contemplation, and sometimes follow-through, of throwing hockey pucks at her to scare her inside so he could practise without her nagging, gawking and hanging around, had surpassed any other thought. And if he’d wanted to hit her straight on he would have, his aim was that good.
Colt should have walked away from his bedroom and back down the hallway into the bathroom until she left. He should have dressed alone before talking to her about his new found game plan. He didn’t.
Game plan? What was the game plan?
Colt shut the door behind him and she jumped slightly as she turned placing her hand on her startled chest.
“This is a nice surprise,” he teased. Those words should have not come out of his mouth and definitely not in that low tone. Stop it. Put an end to this lusting game the two of you can’t seem to avoid. Be the adult. Be the mature adult.
“I was um...well...the bathroom downstairs is broken...and then I got up here...and...” As she tried to explain why she was standing in his room he should have grabbed his clothes and ran the other direction. Instead his bare feet carried him across the warm wood floor to stand in front of her and enjoy her large hazel eyes roaming over his chest like he was a piece of meat.
Never in his entire life had he ever encountered such a desire of flirting, teasing, kissing and touching of a woman as much as he did with this one. After one run-in? Man, what’s gotten into you?
“I didn’t know you were home,” she finally finished with a sighing breath. Her flustered eyes met his craving stare. “I thought you left...went back to the city.”
“Do you make it a habit of sneaking into hot sexy men’s bedrooms?”
Her cheeks flushed. “No, I was looking for the restroom.”
“M-hmm.”
“I was.” She made a face. “Hot and sexy?” She rolled her eyes. “Wow, aren’t we full of ourselves.” She was less hostile at the moment, even with the words she spoke. He wondered if she was off her game because he’d caught her snooping in his room. Why was she snooping in his room? He didn’t actually care when they were in such close proximity.
Colt braved a hand and reached for Peyton’s embarrassed face slowly tracing her jaw line. She stilled at his touch, but she didn’t jerk away like he thought she might, so he didn’t stop.
“I think you were looking for me.”
“I definitely don’t think I was.” Her words sang one song, but her body whistled an entirely different tune. Her face favored his hand leaning into it as her long lashes brushed down on her porcelain skin. He could see the rise and fall of her breasts just below the button-up collar accelerating with their contact.
“You found me,” he whispered lowly, seductively, wanting to consume those parted lips with his own.
Game plan! Bring up the game plan. What was the game plan? What was the game plan!
Her lashes fluttered open and her eyes found his. “Colt, you didn’t call me.”
She’s spot on; you didn’t. Now tell her the game plan. “You didn’t call me,” he pointed out.
Her brows drew together as though she hadn’t considered that. What would he have said if she had called? He probably would have warned her to stay away from him. He couldn’t keep women happy for longer than a night.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you.” Why the hell did he go and say that? This was not the conversation he had rehearsed in his head during his cold shower. Cold, because he was trying to clear away thoughts like this that were going to get them both into trouble.
Colt hoped he was still in the shower. Maybe he had slipped and knocked himself out because this could not possibly be happening. He didn’t hope that at all. He wanted to touch her.
Lowering his face to hers almost touching her lips he whispered. “Remember all those nights you stood over in your window staring into this very room. Haven’t you always wanted to kiss the center man in this room?”
The corner of her lips rose. “How many girls have you used that line on?”
“You�
��re my first.” He dipped down then and caught the low push of air doubting his honesty. He swallowed it with his lips pressing soft, slow, and purposely, teasing kisses against her lips. He tugged softly at her lower lip until he lifted his mouth away only centimeters from hers.
Watching her struggling eyes decide whether to resume score time in his mouth he silently urged her on. But he knew she should stop them both now. She should be the stand guard on the game plan he hadn’t been able to introduce because he’d been more concerned about how her lips would feel against his, her hips pressed to him, her arms wrapped around his neck...again.
Struggling eyes gave way for the mutual hunger between them and she reached up giving him permission to dip deeper into her warm mouth and search her tantalizing tongue that seemed born to engage with him playing a great round of hockey with his tongue
Colt slid his hands up the back of her shirt grazing her warm, silky skin and roughly pulled her body against his. She thrust her hips in response and he felt her cold hands slide up the front of his warm chest slowly stroking every area before circling around his neck.
He definitely should have called her sooner.
His hands moved down her body and grabbed her tight round rear squeezing and getting a delightful sound from her mouth which he caught with his. He lifted her like she weighed nothing enjoying her legs locating his hips and wrapping around like a growing vine. He carried her away from the window where every neighbour could watch them and pressed her back against the wall.
Peyton moaned in pleasure, pulling him closer and tightening her legs. He traced kisses down the path of her long throat and she arched her head back against the wall rocking her hips.
There was something between them that he couldn’t explain...unless he hadn’t been with a woman for so long that his first ride back he was hooked.
His arms were lifting her higher, giving his traveling mouth access to her supple breasts as her fingers squeezed and rubbed his bare shoulders like an exceptionally talented masseuse.
Her moans were so intoxicating that when there was a soft knock on his bedroom door he couldn’t even tear his mouth away from her sweetness until he heard his mother’s voice.
“Colt everyone’s here−” she started, followed by a gasp.
Another horrified gasp escaped Peyton’s mouth and she tucked her head against his chest as though that would hide her from his mother. His back faced his mother thank God because his erection was no doubt showing from under his towel, if he was even still wearing the towel and Peyton’s feet dangled around his waist. He was pretty sure his mother could put together what was occurring without seeing her face.
They were so busted.
This was exactly what he didn’t want to happen and still he couldn’t help but find the humor. Seriously his life had been a stretch of boring days and sleepless nights that this moment made him grin.
Elaine stuttered her words out, uncomfortably shocked, and so quickly that he almost couldn’t take it all in. “We will be downstairs when you two are um...finished. No. No...I mean ready...I mean...” She shut the door with a thud.
Peyton groaned against his chest. “I’m so embarrassed.”
“It’s the first time my mom has walked in,” he joked.
Her head snapped up flashing him embarrassment and anger. “Put me down.”
“We’re not going to...” Continue...finish...why not...they were already busted and he was in full gear ready to get this show on the road.
The horrified look across her face told him she didn’t find that suggestion comical. “No,” she all but yelled at him.
Reluctantly, but probably for the best, Colt backed away from the wall and her legs slid away leaving his bare skin longing for them to return. His towel was still intact. He was a bit relieved his mother hadn’t been staring at his bare rear.
Peyton jerked away from him, not noticing the upper buttons of her blouse were undone more than they’d already been and her pink bra was pushing her full breast mountains even more so on display. His eyes lingered. She caught him staring and snapped her fingers in front of him to get his attention.
“What is wrong with you? Your mother just walked in on us and you can’t take your eyes off my breasts? Are you kidding me right now?”
In his defense she didn’t know how hot she looked...panting, her chest in the air and pouting those lips at him.
“I can’t believe we did this...again.” She glared at him as if he was solely to blame. “I can’t believe your mother walked in on us.”
“Hey, it’s a kiss.”
Her eyes fell down to his towel. “A kiss? That’s all?”
He looked down. He wasn’t embarrassed. “A damn good kiss.”
“Ugh.”
“Come on Peyton, relax. It’s not the end of the world.”
“Oh what do you know?” she snapped.
Why as she so angry? He felt like laughing out loud after just getting busted by his mother. He didn’t dare in fear Peyton might rip the skin from his chest.
“Your shirt is undone.” He reached over to touch the buttons on her blouse, well maybe he wanted to touch more than that and she slapped him away. Her eyes fell to her blouse and she groaned as she started working at buttoning them back up. He would rather unbutton them all the way down the front of her then rip it away and carry her to his double bed...but that was clearly not happening.
He folded his arms across his chest watching her react to the situation much differently then himself and unable to help but feed the fire. “Would you like to go downstairs first then a few minutes after I will follow so everyone doesn’t suspect we were up here-” He slowly looked her entire body over. “You know.”
Her eyes widened as if she had forgotten all her family were downstairs. She let out a groan walking to the door.
“And your lipstick is smeared,” he added.
Her fingers touched her lips letting out a stream of annoyed sounds and turned towards the bathroom.
He chuckled inside as she slammed his bedroom door.
She intrigued him like no other woman he had ever met and therefore the game plan was lost to him.
Chapter Six
Peyton all but slammed the door behind her in a panicked state. She paced the length of the bathroom from one end to the other.
She didn’t notice the flowered wallpaper or colour-matching towels, however she did notice the remaining steam on the mirror and warm after-shower atmosphere. This was where he’d had a shower before coming to her all warm and silky, wet and beautiful. The warm damp smoothness under her fingertips reminded her of what his wonderful chest felt like.
She groaned and pulled her hands across her face, down her throat and gripped her shoulders. She stared at her reflection in the foggy mirror. The buttons on her blouse were mixed. She made sulking sounds putting them back in order.
What had she allowed to occur in there! How had her mind become so overtaken by just the smell of his freshly washed body that she couldn’t keep her lips to herself? Or her hands away from touching his body? Or her thrusting hips from wanting him to carry her to his bed and...Argh! Thrusting hips?
Peyton practically pulled the entire roll of toilet paper off the wall gathering enough to wipe away the rest of her lipstick. It didn’t help. Her lips stared back at her with that soft, you’ve-been-making-out, look. Like that was the worst of her problems at this point; that everyone might think that they were making out. That was the bottom layer of this multi tiered cake she was balancing and if the top started to fall there was going to be a full-out cake throwing match. She hoped it would never come to that. She hoped when she was ready to face her inkling that she’d be proven wrong...very, very, very wrong.
Pull it together. Get downstairs, get through supper and get out of this house!
Peyton quickly scrambled down the stairs noting his bedroom door was still shut and that was her first mistake of the night. The second was kissing him. The third was getting
caught.
Peyton turned at the bottom of the stairs and crashed straight into Abby.
“Whoa.” Abby grabbed her arms to steady them both. “What’s taking you so long?”
“Nothing.” Just an amazing make-out session with center man who had all the moves down pat.
Abby looked past her up the stairs. “You were up there forever.”
It felt like forever and a lifetime being pulled against his strong body, slammed against the wall, touched everywhere he could reach and his long arms could reach quite the distance.
“It’s rude to ask people why their bowel movement is taking so long.” Bowel movement? Get your thoughts organized. Get your breathing under control.
Abby grabbed Peyton’s chin with her quick cold hands. “Why are you so flustered?” she asked, moving her face from side to side examining it.
“I’m not flustered.”
She was definitely flustered.
She tried to pull her face out of the grip of Abby’s painted black tips, but Abby pulled her back.
“Where’s your lipstick?” she demanded.
All over Colt Patterson’s mouth. “I wiped it off because we are eating soon.”
Just then she heard Colt’s door creak open and shut. Every step he took down the stairs made a little thud underneath his muscled body.
Abby’s eyes trailed upwards again, only this time to the man descending down the stairs. Peyton envisioned his naked torso, knowing he would have clothes on now, but she couldn’t help it.
“Hey Abby. Peyton,” he casually greeted much more convincingly than her. He walked around them flashing a white smile and quick wink then disappeared into the kitchen.
Man, he was gorgeous.
Abby’s wide eyes stared back at her. She mouthed, holy crap, giving Peyton the opportunity to reclaim her face.
“Stop it,” Peyton ordered.
Abby laughed quietly, but hysterically.
“Let’s just get through this supper alright and save this for later.” Peyton grabbed Abby’s arm and began pulling her toward the grapevine swag above the doorway which looked more like the gates of hell.
Lakeshore Legend: The McAdams Series (By The Lake Series Book 2) Page 5
