Page 11 of Hard To Fall
Silence falls in the room, and one sponsor whistles. “She’s spicy.”
“I warned you,” Levi says proudly.
“You’re not changing this rodeo,” Colt snaps.
“No,” I reply calmly. “I’m keeping it alive. There’s a difference.”
“You don’t know anything about us.”
“I know systems,” I shoot back. “And this one’s running on duct tape, nostalgia, and your piss-poor attitude.”
“That’s called tradition.”
“That’s called denial.”
The room falls silent once more, and Colt’s eyes are dark. He’s angry and looks dangerous. I may have gone too far this time.
“You enjoy pushing me,” he says.
“Only because you push back,” I answer. “Consider it foreplay.”
Levi makes a choking noise.
His dad groans. “Lily?—”
“What?” I say innocently. “He started it.”
Colt’s mouth twitches, just barely, as he says, “Oh, the good ol’he started it. Very mature.”
“I had to drop to your level so you’d understand,” I snap back.
One sponsor clears his throat. “So…I like her.”
“Same,” Levi says, and Colt’s arm shoots out so fast that if I blinked, I would have missed it.
“Ow! What the fuck you do that for?” Levi cries while rubbing his bicep until he blinks twice and bursts out laughing. “Oh, I get it.”
I clear my throat. “Can we focus and move forward here, please?”
Everyone looks at Colt.
He exhales hard. “Fine. Do what you want.”
“That’s not support,” I say.
“That’s tolerance.”
“No,” I reply. “Support would stand next to me.”
I don’t know where it comes from, I don’t know why I say it except to say I’m not blind. I’ve been watching Colt. I like his fire, even though it's directed at me. It shows passion and confidence. But I need him on board with my plan if this is going to work.
He holds my stare, and I swear you can hear a pin drop. He stands slowly, and I take him in. Broad shoulders, strong chest, forearms I could hang on to.
“You talk a lot for someone who’s new here.”
I tilt my head. “You brood a lot for someone with a loving family business.”
He steps closer, and I inhale his manly scent. Like fresh wood pine and dirt, “You’re going to get hurt,” he says quietly.
