With my phone camera in hand, I nod and snap another picture.
Colton turns and looks at his son. “You just sprayed me with green shit, and the pretty girl is laughing about it,” he says. My heartbeat jumps at his comment, and even though he doesn’t elaborate anymore, I’ll never forget the way he said I was pretty. That touch of midwestern accent, his tone all deep and husky. It does inappropriate things to my lady bits.
Milo reaches for the food, so Colton shovels a few more bites in his mouth. I grab the paper towels off the counter and hand him a few. Between feeding his son bites, he wipes at his face and blots at his T-shirt. “You might as well eat,” he says, pointing to the containers of food.
Feeling relaxed, I go ahead and help myself to a chicken drumstick and a small pile of mashed potatoes and gravy. I join them at the table, staying as far away from Milo as possible. There’s not much time for chitchat, as Colton spends a big part of his time focusing on feeding his son. When he makes it about halfway through the container, Milo appears to be done, refusing to open his mouth for another bite. Colton jumps up and grabs a warm washcloth and goes to town on clearing the food from his son’s face. Upon closer inspection, however, he finds that green slime… everywhere.
“He’s going to need a bath,” he says, almost dejectedly.
“He’ll get better at eating,” I reassure him.
“But will I get better at feeding him, so he’s not wearing half of his dinner?”
I smile over at him. “Yes, you’ll get better too.”
Colton sighs. “Well, I better grab a bite to eat quickly and then throw him in the bath. Sorry I’m not very good company,” he says as he fills a plate with food.
“You’re fine,” I state, finishing up my mashed potatoes and gravy. “Oh, I have a few pictures of dinner. Would you like me to send them to you?” I ask, retrieving my phone and pulling up my photo app. Leaning over, I hold up the phone, so Colton can see the pictures I snapped of him and Milo. He leans in as well, smiling at the phone display. I catch another whiff of his woodsy, earthy scent mixed with green beans and pull back a little so I don’t do something silly like lick his neck.
“Yeah, I’d love for you to send me those. I’ll forward them to my mom and Gabby,” he says with a smile.
We chat a little while he eats, mostly about Milo’s doctor’s appointment. Apparently, he’s notorious for peeing the moment his diaper is removed, and today was no different. The moment the doctor pulled it open to check him out, Milo let a steady stream of pee fly, barely missing the good doctor’s chest.
Milo starts to fuss. “It’s getting close to his bedtime. I should get him cleaned up,” Colton says as he stands up and takes his plate to the trash.
“Go ahead. I’ll put the food away and head back to my side of the wall,” I tell him, already standing up and moving.
“Oh. Okay.”
There’s something in the way he says those words. It’s as if he’s slightly… dejected that I’m leaving.
Or maybe it’s just me and my wishful thinking.
“Come on, buddy. Let’s get you cleaned up and ready for bed,” he says, taking Milo out of the high chair.
When I turn, I spy a glob of green goo on Milo’s pants that smears all over Colton’s shirt and have to fight my grin. I’m sure Colton wouldn’t appreciate me laughing again at his mess. “Thank you for dinner,” I tell him, reaching over and shaking Milo’s little fist. “Goodnight, Mr. Milo. Sweet dreams.”
Colton is standing directly in front of me, his gaze burning into me. I feel it so strongly, and when I glance up and my hand brushes against his arm, an electric current charges through my blood. I pull back quickly and move to finish cleaning up the food mess.
“You’re welcome,” Colton says behind me. “Goodnight, Hollis.”
“Night,” I reply brightly, barely glancing over my shoulder as I close the mashed potato container.
The moment he heads down the hall, I exhale the breath I was holding. Jeez, Hollis, get yourself together. You can’t act like a crazy, lovesick teenager every time he’s near.
I finish closing the containers and seal the chicken in a baggie. After a quick rinse of the washcloth, I wipe down the messy high chair, grinning at the smears of pureed green beans on the top of the tray, and the bottom. I find the dirty bib and toss it in the washer. Once I clean off the table, I take the soiled washcloth and throw it in the washing machine.
I remember the green food all over both Milo and Colton’s shirts and know it won’t be long before it stains the material. Before I can even give it a second thought, I head through the kitchen and down the short hall.
“Hey, Colton, if you want, I can throw the dirty clothes in the—” I stop dead in my tracks, the words evaporate from my lips.
Colton steps out of Milo’s room, standing directly in front of me, wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts. The baby is naked too, wearing only a diaper, but my eyes… oh, my eyes are glued to his chest. His wonderfully magnificent, perfect chest. It’s hard and muscular, with definition that only comes from hard work and labor.
My God, this man is… wow.
“Hollis?”
I blink. And blink again.
Is he speaking?
“What?”
I can’t stop staring at his chest.
“Did you need something?” he asks, the humor very evident in his voice.
When I glance up, I find his eyes dancing with laughter. Suddenly, it hits me. I’m standing in the middle of my landlord’s hallway, ogling his bare chest as if it were my job. Milo slaps me out of it with a hand to his dad’s face.
“Oh, God,” I gasp, my eyes wide with shock. “I’m so sorry!”
“It’s okay.” He takes a step forward, invading my personal space. I can’t think when he stands this close to me. “Hollis, did you need me?”
Yes, yes, I do. So many things I could use you for….
“I’m so sorry just to barge in,” I reply, averting my eyes. “I’ll just…go,” I add, pointing behind me as I backtrack down the hallway. “Bye!” I holler as I turn and practically run back to my place.
The moment I’m on my side of the door, I slam it closed and engage the lock. I’m panting, my mind reeling with embarrassment and disbelief. I can’t believe I just walked into his house like I owned the place and stumbled on him in his… nearly nakedness. Sure, glorious, but inappropriate. I had no business wandering around, even if it was under the guise of helping him.
I close my eyes and try to not picture Colton’s chest, but it doesn’t work. There’s no doubt I’ll be thinking about that marvelous display of man long after I should have fallen asleep.
Chapter 5
Colton
It’s been a week. Seven days. One hundred and sixty-eight hours since Hollis moved in. It’s been… that exact amount of time that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her. It’s wrong, and I know that, but that doesn’t stop my cock from rising to the occasion anytime she’s near. I can still see her eyes and the way they raked over me the night she caught me without a shirt on. I’ve been shirtless in front of women countless amounts of times. Never in my life have I ever felt more naked yet alive, than I did when her eyes were on me. It’s as if I could feel the heat from her gaze.