Page 49 of Hard To Fall
Her throat works. “You made that difficult.”
I huff a humorless laugh. “Yeah. I tend to do that.”
She finally uncrosses her arms. “So what changed?” she asks.
I hesitate. This is the hard part. “My dad reminded me I can be an ass.” I huff a laugh. “That my rough exterior is actually a mask for fear.” I swallow hard. “It’s hard to admit that character flaw, but there it is.”
She steps closer. “Colt, everyone has fears. You just can’t let it dictate your life.”
I nod once, jaw tight. “I can’t promise I won’t mess up again,” I say. “But I can promise I’m done pretending you don’t belong here.”
Her eyes search mine. “What are you saying?”
I take a breath and let go, letting my dad's words wash over me again.Make a choice, don’t do it with words.
“I’m making a choice, using actions and not words. It’s something else my dad taught me how to do. He’s actually a smart guy, but don’t tell him I said that.” She smiles as I pull a folded paper from my back pocket and hand it to her. She takes it carefully and unfolds it. She scans it with her eyes and then looks at me in surprise.
“Colt. You’re sure?” She’s blinking, looking at the paper, then back to me.
I laugh. “No. But I think I’ll get there.” I swallow hard again. “If you’re standing beside me.”
She’s watching me carefully, like I’m about to pull a ‘just kidding’ on her.
“Do you want it announced this way?” She shakes the paper lightly.
I nod. “I do.”
She watches me, her eyes becoming glassy, and then she launches herself at me. I catch her easily and melt into her hug. “Fuck, I missed you.” She holds me tighter. “I didn’t mean what I said about you being temporary. But I did mean that I’m scared.”
“Change is always scary. But you’re going to come out better on the other side.”
“I just didn’t know how to choose something good without feeling like I’m losing everything else.” She steps back from me slightly, but won’t let go of me.
“You’re not losing anything, Colt.” She squeezes my hands. “Do your parents know? Levi?”
I shake my head. “No, I want it to be a surprise.”
She smiles and wraps herself around me again. “It’s going to be quite a surprise, but a good one.” She leans on her tiptoes and brushes her lips against mine. “I’m proud of you.”
I breathe her in. “I’m sorry, Lily. I really am. I was a complete asshole, and if you don’t want anything to do with me, I’d understan–”
She kisses me again, letting her hands travel my back and down my sides, before she rubs the front of my jeans, forcing a low moan from my lips.
“I know you are. Now, take me to your place and show me just how much.”
CHAPTER 20
LILY
We crashthrough the front door of his wooden cabin that sits to the left of the barn. Kissing, nibbling, and tearing off clothes, we try to make up for lost time as quickly as we can.
“I need to be inside you.” He’s frantically pulling his boots off, hopping on one foot, and it makes me laugh. “I swear I’ll make it up to you, but please, I need you, Lily.” He pulls me close again, his hands sliding under my shirt.
I wiggle away from him, holding up a hand. “You know, my sister told me to make you beg, and not to take you back so quickly just because you threw out an ‘I’m sorry.’”
His face drops, and he looks like a little kid who just dropped his ice cream. “I’ll do whatever you tell me to.” He sheds his jeans, and his shirt goes next. I back up, but he follows me, the chase igniting heat in my belly.
My eyebrows shoot up. “Really? This is very out of character, Mr. Callahan.” I move around the couch and towards the hallway. I let out a little scream as he hurdles the couch and lands in front of me.
