Page 141 of Worth the Fall
We were in my favorite Chicago restaurant,Maple and Ash, a classy, expensive steakhouse with a dress code.
Colton was wearing a white pearl snap shirt, a tan blazer, and his Wranglers, of course. His wild hair had been combed and styled, something he rarely did, but it was beyond sexy.
He grabbed my hand under the table, his thumb tracing circles over my knuckles. His skin was rough, a stark contrast to the crisp, white linen tablecloth and the polished silverware. On his belt, the Sioux Falls buckle caught the overhead light, a massive slab of gold and silver that drew stares from the tables around us.
I was in my favorite tight black dress with a high slit and bright red heels, almost as red as my lipstick.
Since the rodeos and all the travel, I couldn’t remember the last time I had gotten dressed up this nice.
“Well,” Colton said, “I’m grateful Ally had you, Martha. She speaks very highly of you.”
Martha waved her hand absent-mindedly. “She’s done a lot for me, too. Couldn’t ask for a better friend.”
I gave her a grateful smile.
Jeff raised his mostly empty glass. “Let’s toast the power couple!”
We all raised our glasses.
“To Colton, the underdog on his way to win the NFR,” Jeff began, giving Colton a nod, “and to Allegra, the new marketing director of Apex Strategies. You two are on your way to greatness, and Martha and I can’t wait for a front row seat, literally and figuratively, Colton. I want to see you ride!”
We clinked our glasses together in a “cheers.”
“Thank you, Jeff,” Colton said. “I’ll save two spots for y’all in Vegas.” He looked down at his buzzing phone, and his eyes widened. “Ah, sorry, gotta take this,” he apologized.
I glanced down but couldn’t read the name on the screen.
“I’ll be right back,” he promised, kissing my cheek as hestood.
I watched him walk off, a subtle limp in his step as he wandered and cringed.
“How ya doing, sweetie?”
I turned back to face Martha and Jeff, who had been there for me more times than I could count. “I’m great,” I said with a breathless sigh. “The future is…uncertain, but I know we both will do what it takes to be together.”
She nodded quickly. “It’ll be a lot of travel, but you’re both used to that. It takes sacrifice to have a great love.”
She was right, as always.
Love was a give and take. I had to relinquish my powerhouse control and debilitating fear of the rodeo. Colton had promised to take it easy and focus on his safety for my sake.
If we lived across the country from each other for a little while, it would be okay. We would figure it out.
I would live on a plane if that’s what it took to be with Colton.
I would do anything to be with him.
“He seems like he’d move mountains for you,” Jeff said, looking at me thoughtfully. “Are you ready for something that serious?”
The immediate “yes” on the tip of my tongue felt so right, so sure. I knew I wanted him. I was more sure than I ever was with Harrison.
I nodded with a genuine smile.
Colton made his way back to the table and slid into his chair. “Sorry ‘bout that!”
“Another photoshoot?” I asked, taking a drink.
He shook his head and gave me a soft smile. “My brothers want to go on a fishin’ trip this weekend to celebrate the win. They felt bad that they couldn’t be in Sioux Falls.”
