three hundred pound linebacker could.
When she approached with his tea, Colton swallowed, stilling his leg and fingers. The smile on her face robbed him of breath. All he could do was stare.
"Sugar, are you all right?" She still smiled, but now that little eyebrow raised in inquiry. The thing was, Colton knew she was truly interested, at least in whether he was currently okay or not. It wasn't just a question asked automatically, she truly cared about people.
He cleared his throat. "Yeah. I'm fine. Listen," he began, rubbing his palms on his jeans. Had he even been this nervous before his very first game? "I was wondering if you'd like to take a walk on the beach with me after you get off?" As the double meaning of his words hit him, he hastily amended, "I mean, after you get off work. I didn't mean actually get off ." This was getting bad. What would his team think of their star quarterback now? "I mean…"
Laughing, she sank gracefully into the chair across from him, reaching out to grip his hand. "I know what you meant. That sounds wonderful." Again, that smile…
Fuck! He was such a goner!
"What time should I pick you up?" Why was he holding his breath? She'd already said yes.
"We can go after you finish your meal. I had planned on leaving early today anyway."
"Oh," Colton knew his face fell. "I don't want to take you away from anything important."
"You're not," she grinned again. That smile seemed to always be there. And the thing was, it was genuine; not pasted on because it was socially appropriate or good for business. Everything about Lita was the genuine article.
As she spoke, she stood and sashayed to the back, presumably for his order. The way her hips moved when she walked was hypnotic. Sure enough, ten minutes later, she arrived, piping hot plate of food in hand. Despite his earlier nervousness Colton's mouth watered at the sight and scent of the dish. As much as he would like to think of something witty to say, maybe to regain some cool points, the delicious meal she sat before him was going to have to take precedence. After he ate, he would regroup and be charming.
Getting to know you...
Five long walks on the beach, three candlelit dinners, and two drives up the coast, and Colton had still yet to make a serious move. Lita was having a hard time trying to figure him out. He seemed to be really into her, and yet he hadn’t even tried to kiss her. And then there was the fact he never took her anywhere public. Maybe he had a fat black girl fetish and was ashamed. That was the only thing she could think of. Other than at her cafe, Colton Jeffries might as well be a fictional boyfriend she made up.
“You look pensive,” he offered as he maneuvered his little sports car up Pacific Coast Highway. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Lita offered automatically, staring out the window at the passing scenery.
It really was beautiful, the way the hills and cliffs gave way to the beach and the ocean beyond. It was the perfect kind of date, with the sun setting over the Pacific in all kinds of vibrant colors reflecting off the glassy waters. Still, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling Colton didn’t want to be seen with her in public. As much as she tried not to let it bother her, it did. She was at a point in her life where she didn’t want to be someone’s secret good time girl. One of the main reasons she moved to California was despite her success in business, she always seemed to attract the kind of guys who wanted her in the dark, but ignored her in the light of day. She’d thought she could reinvent herself here. It had been going so well until Colton walked into her cafe.
The man was six foot four inches of pure dreamy rock hard sinewy arms and legs, a washboard stomach, topped with curly blonde hair and the most incredible bluish-gray eyes ever. She should’ve known better than to think a man who looked like him would ever be seriously interested in a woman
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