It can never happen again, and I need to make sure Colt is clear on that. Burying my head in the sand won’t work, and it was idiotic of me to ever think it would.
I’m finishing cleaning up my station when, as if he knew I was thinking about him, Colt saunters over to me, that same cocky grin on his face from this morning. “Today was a success,” he murmurs, handing me supplies I’m putting away.
“Yes, it was.”
“It’s nice of you to offer to do this outside of your normal business hours.”
Meeting his gaze, I force a smile on my face. “It’s not a big deal. I’m more than happy to help where I can.”
“I’m sure it’s a big deal to a lot of those families.”
“Thanks for your help today,” I say, wanting to get the focus off of me. “Things ran smoothly because you were here helping Meg with check in. She would’ve been swamped had you not been here.”
“It was kind of fun, actually,” he states. “It’s been kinda dreadful being cooped up at my parents’ house. Getting out and being around people was nice.”
“Good, glad to hear that.” I finish packing up my stuff before I toss my bag over my shoulder. “Well, have a wonderful rest of your afternoon, Colt.”
Before I can escape this conversation, he asks, “Want to grab some lunch?”
Stopping in my tracks, I purse my lips, turning to face him. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” I reply, my voice low.
“Why not?” he asks, head cocked to the side. “It’s just lunch,Doc.Nothing more.” That smirk makes my stomach flip before he waggles his brows and adds, “Unless you want it to be.”
Biting down on my molars, I huff out a breath through my nose as I try to not let his insinuation get to me. And maybe he’s right—at least about some of it. Maybe lunch is the perfect opportunity to have the talk we undoubtably need to have. Set some much-needed boundaries. So, against my better judgement, I nod and say, “Okay, lunch. Butjustlunch, Colt. Nothing more.”
Colt looks like the cat that got the canary. “Whatever you say, Doc.”
Lord help me. I’m in trouble.
6
Colt Bishop
Lou’s Diner is busier than I expected for a Saturday afternoon. Everybody who came to the arena for the free clinic must have had the same idea about grabbing lunch after because it appears all of Copper Lake is inside this small establishment. It takes about twenty minutes, but we’re eventually sat in a booth in the back of the restaurant, near the kitchen. William looks like he’d rather be anywhere but here, and I can’t help but chuckle to myself.
When my dad told me about the volunteer opportunity, I was already interested. Getting out of the house and being around people will be good for me. I know from watching my dad go through it when I was a kid how easily it can be to slip into a dark place with an injury, so it truly didn’t take much convincing. But knowing William was going to be there, and that I could get under his skin, was definitely a nice, shiny added bonus.
There was nothing quite like walking through the front doors this morning and seeing Dr. Hottie grab a couple ofdoughnuts, looking way too damn good for that early in the morning. Knowing I was going to get to ogle him all day while in his element made me even more excited than I already was.
Our server comes, dropping off our drinks before taking our food order. As soon as she steps away, William glances at me from across the table, his lips pressed into a thin line and his brows furrowed. “Listen, Colt,” he starts. “I think we should…talk.”
Breathing out a laugh, I bring the glass up to my lips and let the cold water fill my mouth, swallowing and setting it back down on the table slowly before responding. “I’m listening.”
“About that night…” He pauses, looking positively uncomfortable as his jaw flexes. “I think we can both agree it was a mistake that never should’ve happened and can never happen again.”
Okay,ouch.Not what I was hoping he’d say, but not exactly a shock either. Relaxing into the booth, I shrug it off. “I don’t think it was a mistake,” I say. “We had fun, like two consenting adults.”
William huffs, as if he thinks I’m ridiculous. “Colt, I’m your father’s friend. You must know what we did wasn’t right.”
Arching a brow, I ask, “You’re saying you didn’t have fun that night?”
His nostrils flare as he exhales heavily, and it’s taking everything in me to not laugh. “I did not say that.”
“So, you did?”
“Colt, that’s not really the point.” He sighs, exasperated. “The point is, it can never happen again. Do you understand me?”
A smirk splits my face. “Kind of like it when you go all growly on me, Doc.”
