AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m here to help you move,” he says, like it should be obvious.
“Oh…” I move aside to let him in, but as he heads to my room, my hands start to tingle as the panic sets in. “You really don’t need to do this,” I say while following close behind him. “There isn’t much. I can get it into my car myself.”
Colt stops before reaching my door and looks down at me. His dark eyes searing into mine. “It’s not a matter of you being able to do it on your own or not. I know you can. But I’d like to be a part of it if that’s okay.”
I nod, being stunned into silence. He wants to be here. I should have expected it, but I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to the way he always shows up for me. Or maybe I don’t want to get used to it, so that it doesn’t hurt as much when I inevitably don’t have it anymore.
Colt combs his fingers through my hair, leaving his hand at the nape of my neck. “I don’t have to be here if you don’t want me to.”
And this is exactly why I know that there’s no way I come out of this whole. Because no matter how much I tell myself to keep my distance, to not get attached, all he has to do is look at me like he is now and all my self preservation goes out the window.
I give him another nod, and a low growl escapes his throat, sending shockwaves straight to my core. “No nodding, Libs. Give me words.”
“I like that you’re here,” I blurt out. The corners of his mouth lift and he strokes his thumb across my cheek before dropping his hand and opening my bedroom door.
Colt doesn't says anything, but I see the look on his face when he sees the three suitcases and a lamp together on the floor. Thankfully, it makes the process move quickly and in less than five minutes, all of my belongings are in his truck and we are ready to go.
Pulling up to the apartment building, I’m stunned to say the least. There’s wrought iron and intricate details in the molding. I saw the pictures of the inside, but this is not what I expected the outside to look like. It’s beautiful.
I park my car and Colt pulls into the spot beside me. Before I’m able to get my seatbelt off, he makes it to my door and has it open, holding his hand out for me to take.
“Thanks,” I say quietly as I grab it and climb out of my car.
He just gets to work, tucking the lamp under his arm and keeping two of the suitcase handles together in one hand.
“I can take something,” I offer as I reach for the two bags, but he pulls them back.
“Not a chance,” is all he says before he takes off walking, leading the way. Any frustration I have quickly dissolves when I notice the way his back flexes under his shirt as he moves. By the time we are inside, I’m unable to take anything else in. I’m stuck, captivated by him. His muscles flexing as he lifts the bags up the stairs.
Once we get to the top, I run straight into the back that I’ve been staring at as Colt stops at a door.
His low chuckle fills the hallway. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, sorry.” We haven’t even made it into the apartment and I’m already embarrassing myself. “This us?” I ask, trying to move past this moment.
“Yes, it is.” The gleam in his eye has my heart kicking up a notch. He sets my things down to unlock the door. I grab one of my bags and pull it inside.
“I’ve got it from here,” I say, turning to tell him goodbye. “Thanks again for helping me get it here.”
Colt shakes his head. “Libby, it’s our move in day. This is our apartment. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Oh. I-I just thought you would need to get to work.”
“Work can wait,” he says, taking a slow step towards me. “Today is about us.” He grabs my hand and interlaces our fingers, watching them as he does. “You and me.” Finally looking at me, his eyes the deepest shade of whiskey. “Everything else comes second.” And he places a kiss on my knuckles.
I try to suppress my smile so I don’t look like a complete idiot, but it’s no hope. And when my cheeks start to burn, giving way to my emotions, Colt boops my nose. “Good. Now show me where you want your things to go.”
43
Libby’s laugh is music to my ears. After she tried to kick me out, we ended up having a pretty great time. Unpacking took all of an hour since neither of us had anything other than our clothes. This morning when I saw all she had was three suitcases, I was pretty pissed. I know she lived with someone other than Blake before. For years. She really didn’t accumulate anything of her own in that time?
“Should we get furniture?” Libby asks from the kitchen island where she’s sat cross-legged and beautiful. I love seeing her this relaxed. She felt so distant at the start of the day, but that has loosened as time went on. Instead, she’s been playful and feisty. She’s been my Libby.
“We can. But I kind of like you on the counter.” I wink and relish in the sight of her face turning my favorite crimson color.
“I’m being serious,” she giggles.
I raise a brow. “So am I.” From my spot on the floor, with my legs stretched out and leaned back on my hands, I let my gaze pour over her. Soaking up every inch of her curves. Small beads of sweat, thanks to the Louisiana heat, trail down the center of her chest where I notice the rise and fall keeping a quick rhythm.
