Page 38 of The Spice Is Nice

Then he lifted me clean off the stool and kissed me. His hands on my waist felt like the answer to every question I had. My core tightened and ached for him, and those damn butterflies wouldn’t stop fluttering.

With my fingers in his hair and my body pressed against his, for several seconds the Copper Cup and everyone in it disappeared.

Knox cleared his throat and muttered, “Everyone’s staring. Might want to get a room.” The ranch hands snickered and joked. Whispers broke out across the room.

Colt finally set me down. I sighed, and my face was on fire, and my ponytail had come half undone. Behind the counter, Sage was leaning on her elbows with her chin in her hands and a smile that meant we’d showed her everything she needed to know.

To top it off, Colt plopped his cowboy hat on my head. Too big for me, I blushed and set it higher on my forehead so it’d stay on.

“Well, with his hat on your head, we all know what that means,” Sage said. “Guess you’re claimed, sister.”

She turned her attention to the ranch hands crowding the counter, taking their orders one by one, oblivious to the flirtations and stares of these men who’d been up since dawn and smelled like hay and horses, and set their eyes on one of the Wylde sisters, like she was the prettiest thing they’d seen all month. Except for Knox, who casually grilled her on Daisy’s whereabouts today.

Colt stayed beside me, his hand resting on my lower back as if it lived there. He leaned down and spoke into my ear.

“Go out with me tonight.”

“Didn’t you get enough of me already?” I teased.

“Absolutely not.”

“Well, I have to close the shop and then I’ve got inventory to do.”

He took my hand. Lifted it. Pressed his lips, traveling my knuckles, one by one, sultry enough that I felt each kiss from my fingers to my core, tingling at the apex of my thighs. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather come with me on a date, overnight?”

“Overnight?” I was sure of nothing. The opposite ofsure. My brain sent frantic signals about self-preservation and the wordtemporary, while my body said, ‘Yeehaw, saddle up this cowboy for another ride.’

“We’re taking some horses tonight into Bozeman for a family auction. They’ll find good homes and people to care for them. Ash is bringing Willow and wants to make a night of it. Knox is pissed because I want to bring you instead of leaving space for whatever his agenda is, but he’ll get over it. We’ll go out to eat, do some axe throwing, find a bar and dance, stay the night, drive back tomorrow.” He chose one knuckle and sucked on it, flicking his tongue at it, his eyes never leaving mine. “What do you say?”

“Yes.” What I wanted to say wasyes, and also please never stop doing that thing with my hand.

“Maybe I can convince Daisy.” I glanced over at poor Knox, who was leaning on the counter telling Sage about a horse that had allegedly tried to bite him that morning.

Colt followed my gaze to Knox, and something complicated crossed his face. “I don’t know about those two. Sometimes I think they’re friends. Other times enemies. It’s like they run hot and cold with no in-between.”

“I’ll handle her. Text me what time we’re leaving.” I rose on my toes and kissed him once, quickly, putting his hat back on his head.

The guys left with hands full of pastries and coffee. My lips and knuckles buzzed from Colt’s attention. I turned back to the counter to find my coffee had gone cold, and Sage was watching me with an expression that was equal parts amusement and wonder.

“He’s done something to you. I don’t know. Made you happier or something.”

“Hm. I hope it’s a good look on me.” I winked and took my cold coffee and headed back to work.

Daisy surprised me by showing up around noon. She came through the front door with a look on her face that said she’d already heard about Bozeman from Sage.

“I’m not going with you tonight,” she announced.

My shoulders dropped. “Why not? If you ask me, you could use a night of fun.”

“So… you and Colt. It’s the real deal?” She diverted attention away from her and Knox.

“Yep. Me and Colt.” I remained behind the register, doing an inventory of the items in our glass case.

Daisy crossed her arms and leaned against the boot display the way she did when she was settling in for a conversation she intended to control. Her auburn hair was up in a clip and she had hay dust on her shoulder and grease on her hands, and she looked exactly like what she was. The responsible Wylde sister, the one who’d held everything together after our parents died and made sure the rest of us survived somehow.

“Talk to me,” she said. “For real. Not the version you’d give Sage or Poppy.”

I sighed and finally told her about the cabin without telling her about the black SUV and a few other sexy details she didn’t need. I told her about the Hollis Ranch, about Caleb, about the way Colt had broken open in front of Ron and Dana, and the way he saved their ranch with a phone call home.