Holding You (11 page)

Nodding my head, I said, “Couldn’t have done it without you, superstar.”

Winking, Colt leaned down and kissed my cheek before turning and yelling for his team to huddle up.

I’m never washing this cheek again.

I COULD ALMOST
smell the fresh-cut grass from the field we played on. Or the smell of the bluebonnets that were in full bloom. Every time I smelled either one of those two things I thought about that simple kiss on the cheek. It had meant the world to me. Never would I have imagined Colt had taken my picture and had it printed out.

Clutching the picture to my chest, I whispered, “Please don’t ever let me hurt him. Please.”

Slipping the picture back under Colt’s T-shirts, I took a shirt from the top. Slipping it over my head, I felt a warm rush run through my blood. Colt’s smell surrounded me as I smiled, shut the drawer, and made my way out of the room and downstairs.

Walking into the kitchen, Alex and Grace stopped talking and stared at me. Glancing back and forth between the two I asked, “What’s wrong with you two?”

Grace tilted her head and gave me one of her famous,
what in the hell are you talking about,
looks. “Yeah, no, Lauren Ashley Reynolds. You’re talking. We want all the good shit. Like how both your parents showed up on your doorstep. Will told us how y’all had to beat it home before your parents.”

Alex sat down and placed her hands on her chin. “I want to hear about the hotel in Rockport.” Scrunching her nose, she gave me a small little nod of her head. “I’m dying to know, is my baby brother romantic?”

Leaning against the counter, I let out a contented sigh as his words flowed through my memory.

“Lauren, I’ve never experienced such bliss as I am being with you right now. The taste of you was sweeter than I could have ever imagined.”

Grinning until my cheeks began to hurt, I looked away from Alex and Grace.

“Holy hell. Look at how her cheeks are flushed. I’d dare say Mr. Mathews made our little Lauren blush a time or two.”

Smiling bigger, I whispered, “Or three . . . or four.”

Alex and Grace both let out yelps of happiness as they bounced around. “How do you feel this morning, Lauren? Was he gentle?” Alex asked with a look of concern on her face.

Dropping my shoulders and nodding, I said, “Oh, yes. He was gentle, romantic, caring, big . . . oh my gosh is he big.”

Grace busted out laughing as Alex sucked in a breath of horror. “No, no, no, no! You don’t ever say stuff like that, Lauren! Ohmygod! I have to bleach my ears.” Alex’s body shuddered as she kept sticking her tongue out like she was going to puke.

Grace wiggled her eyebrows and smiled with a Cheshire cat smile. “So he’s packing, huh? Are you sore?”

Alex rolled her eyes. “Ugh.”

Peeking back at Grace, I nodded my head. “Yes. To both.”

Alex jumped off the stool. “I’m out. I’m so over this conversation. I can’t handle this. He’s my baby brother, y’all!”

Giggling, I turned and poured a cup of coffee. Turning back to Alex and Grace, I smiled and winked. “Let’s just say he is the cream to my coffee.”

Alex’s face dropped and Grace busted out laughing. “Oh . . . oh man did I teach you good,” Grace said as she walked up to me and pulled me into her arms. Pushing me back out, she gave me a once-over. “Seriously though, I’m happy for you and Colt, Lauren. You two were the only fools who couldn’t see the truth. I’m glad you asked him to dance.”

If it hadn’t been for Grace, none of this would have happened. Looking into her eyes, I couldn’t help but notice how they looked lost. Empty almost. As if she longed for what I was experiencing right now. I wasn’t sure why Grace never dated anymore. She was beautiful. Her long brown hair fell in waves across her chest as her chocolate-brown eyes gazed into mine. Her body was killer and she had a ton of guys constantly asking her out.

Giving her a warm smile in return, I barely spoke the words. “I’m glad I asked him to dance, too.”

The front door opened and just like that . . . the air in the room became charged. It wasn’t anything new . . . it had been like this for the last three years. Anytime he walked into a room, I felt him before I even saw him. The scent of sweat and Colt swept around me as he walked up to me. Leaning into me without a care in the world, he pressed his lips to mine and kissed me as if he hadn’t seen me in weeks. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

“Good morning,” I softly spoke against his lips. My insides were going nuts as I internally fist pumped myself again for walking up to Colt yesterday and getting him away from that girl.

“You look amazing in my T-shirt.”

Blushing, I placed my hand on my face. “It smells like you and I missed you this morning.”

Colt his eyes were on fire while he searched my face. “Do you have plans for today?”

My heart had never beat so loudly in my chest. Raising his eyebrow as if he could hear it, Colt slowly calmed my beating heart with one smile.

Barely able to speak, I said, “To be with you are the only plans I have.”

Grace made a gagging sound as Colt and I both turned to her. “Yuk. I think I liked it better when y’all were at each other’s throats.”

Giving her a smirk, I turned back to Colt. “What were you thinking?”

Placing a quick kiss on my nose, he said, “It’s a surprise. I’m going to go take a shower and then take you for some lunch. Get dressed and meet me back down here.”

My insides became inflamed when Colt mentioned taking a shower. Would it look obvious if I followed him up to his room? Then into the bathroom, then attacked him in the shower?

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I smiled.
Get yourself together, Lauren. Gesh. Within the last twenty-four hours you’ve turned into a horn dog.
“Okay, meet you back here in a few.”

Colt dropped his hold on me and headed to the stairs. I missed his touch almost immediately. Flopping against the counter, I let out a long breath.

Waving her hand in front of my face, I looked at Grace. “Holy hell. You have it bad. Really bad.”

Laughing, Will pushed Grace out of the way as he leaned down and kissed my cheek. “You were all he could talk about during our run, Lauren. That boy is head over heels in love with you.”

Wrapping my arms around me, I grinned from ear to ear. “It feels like a dream. Like, something I’ve been wanting for so long but was so afraid to take that step for fear it would slip away again.”

The smell of something sweet caught my attention as I turned to see Alex was making a fruit salad. Her eyes caught mine. “It’s not a dream, sweetie. With the way my brother looks at you I would say he has been wanting this for as long as you.”

Remembering the photo, my stomach dropped like I had just been on a roller coaster.

“I’m headed to the shower,” Will said as he took off and ran upstairs.

Turning to Alex and Grace, I cleared my throat. “I found something in Colt’s drawer when I was looking for a shirt of his.”

Alex glanced up and asked, “What was it?”

The colors of the fruit salad were beautiful. I wasn’t sure why everything seemed different to me today. Smells, sounds, colors. It was as if everything was clearer. “A picture of me from a few years ago. That day we all played football and I scored the touchdown.”

Grace’s head looked up from where she was cutting bananas. “He had a picture of you in his drawer?”

Alex’s shoulders slumped and the goofiest smile spread across her face. “Oh my. How adorable is that? Lauren, he kept a picture of you.” Looking at Grace, Alex smiled bigger. “I have goose bumps!”

Grace chuckled. “I have to admit, that got me right here.” Pointing to her heart, Grace winked at me.

“He’s . . . so romantic. What if I’m not doing something right?”

Alex’s head jerked back. “What do you mean? Lauren, honey, from the look on my brother’s face when he laid eyes on you just now, you are doing everything right.”

Chewing on my bottom lip, I leaned in closer. “Sex wise I mean. I’ve never been with anyone.”

Grace set the knife down and turned her whole body toward me. “Listen to me, Lauren. The fact that you saved yourself means more to Colt than anything. He’s not going to expect you to be an expert.”

Looking away, I wasn’t sure if I should share this or not, but I wanted to talk to someone and who better but two of my best friends. “Um . . . Colt never . . . I mean . . . we were each other’s firsts.”

Looking back at Grace and Alex, I watched as they both melted and let out an “Ohh . . .” as they clutched their chests. “Lauren, how incredibly romantic!” Alex gushed. “Oh my, Daddy taught that boy right.”

Grace smiled and shook her head. “Wow. I’m impressed. Colt is one of the major football players for A&M with girls throwing themselves at him all the time . . . and he saved himself for you, Lauren. That is so romantic, it almost makes me want to throw up.”

Giggling, I nodded my head. Grace walked over to me and placed her hands on my upper arms. “Seriously though, Lauren, how perfect that you both get to learn with each other. What an amazing experience yesterday must have been for you both. Don’t stress about this. Just be with the man you love and everything will take care of itself.”

Walking into Grace’s arms, she hugged me. Pulling back, I smiled at Grace. “Grace, you’re going to make some guy very lucky someday.”

Grace’s smile faded and sadness swept across her face but as soon as I saw it, it vanished and she turned to Alex. “You’re both very lucky to have the most amazing men in your lives. The gift that y’all have been able to give each other is so beautiful and rare.”

Alex’s eyes looked as if tears were building. Walking up to us, Alex wrapped her arms around Grace and me. Holding us tight she whispered, “I love you, Grace. You deserve this love and you’re going to find it.”

Hearing Grace sniffle threw me for a loop. Grace never cried. Stepping back, I looked at her. “Is everything okay, Grace?”

Laughing and waving her hand at me as if she was brushing off my concern she said, “Yes! Oh gosh, yes. I’m just all emotional for you, Lauren. It’s been a hell of show watching you and Colt deny your feelings.”

Alex gave me a little push. “Go get ready for your day. We’ll talk later tonight when we can Skype with Libby, Maegan and Taylor! They’re going to want to know all the details as well!”

Nodding my head, I turned and skipped toward the stairs. Taking them two at a time, I started thinking about what I was going to wear today.

PULLING INTO THE
parking lot of Grand Station, Lauren let out a squeal. “I’ve been dying to come here!” Chuckling, I put my truck in park and turned to her. Lauren had always been so full of life. It was as if she floated through life just unaware of the bad shit and only concentrated on the good. She had no clue how beautiful she was, and that made her more beautiful. We had stopped at Longhorn Steak house for lunch and I wanted to punch every guy who stared at her. But Lauren had no clue they were all eye fucking the hell out of her. Her eyes never left mine. When I talked, she gave me one hundred percent of her attention. I’d never experienced that before with the other girls I had dated.

“Do you know how beautiful you are, Lauren?”

Lauren had been staring at the front door, itching to get out of the truck. When I spoke, she quickly looked at me. Her eyes had been full of life, now they were dark with desire. My pants grew two sizes too small as I attempted to adjust myself. “Do you have any idea how handsome you are, Mr. Mathews?”

My stomach fluttered and I felt my hands begin to sweat. I didn’t want this to be a dream. Waking up and finding out it had been would devastate me.

Reaching over, I placed my hand on the side of her face. “You’re mine, Lauren.”

Lauren’s eyes filled with wetness as she placed her hand over mine. “Forever, Colt Mathews. I’m forever yours.”

Lauren and I both jumped when someone banged on my truck window.

“Fucking yeah! Mathews where have you been?”

Rolling my eyes, I recognized the voice of Phil Lawson. Another Texas A&M football player. “Fuck,” I said under my breath.

Lauren laughed as she looked around my shoulder and out the driver’s side window. “Looks like he’s happy to see you.” Her smile quickly faded and my heart stopped beating.