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T H I R T Y - F O U R
The stiffening of Colton’s muscles was evident as Kate slipped from the bathroom, the dusty pink material of her floral dress swishing around her calves as she walked. She’d added more waves to her hair, allowing them to cascade over one shoulder. Colton gripped her waist, settling her against his lap while she slid on a pair of nude heels.
His breath was hot against her neck, his nose burying into her soft curls, “Couldn’t you have worn jeans and like, a band tee? You look way too good to be having dinner with Wanker.”
Kate laughed, the sound trailing around the room as she turned to face Colton, brushing her glossed lips against his, “His name is Wade, and it’s a nice restaurant. I don’t want to look like a slob. You do realize there will be a lot of people there? It won’t just be Wade and I.”
“Still, I don’t like it,” he said gruffly. “I’m sure his grandma has some matchmaking plan ready to go.”
“And if she does, I will very politely tell her that I’m alre
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Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - F I V E
The restaurant was small and intimate. Kate had passed it on her daily runs but had never actually been inside. At the front of the restaurant, behind the hostess station, were huge wood-fired ovens where talented chefs prepared pizzas for the already crowded room. The heat from the ovens, along with the large fireplace at the back of the restaurant, flushed her cheeks. She shrugged off her jacket, glancing around the space in hopes of spotting Mrs. Huang or Wade.A long table by the back of the room was filled with people and balloons erupted from the center with the words ’we’ll miss you’ scrawled across them. It seemed a bit much considering he’d be back soon, but Kate shrugged. At the end of the table, Mrs. Huang was seated, deep in conversation with the man next to her.Her matured gray eyes twinkled as she caught sight of Kate, waving her over to the table. She rose on shaky legs, wrapping her arms around Kate in a warm hug, “Oh, I’m so glad you came! Wade said he
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - S I X
“You were right,” she puffed, desperately wiping her mouth in revulsion. She dropped her shoes and purse, scooting past him to the bathroom. She couldn’t get the toothbrush in her mouth fast enough, making sure to scrub the surrounds of her lips until they were raw.“Right about what? Did he fucking try something?”Kate nodded, rinsing her mouth and turning to face Colton’s enraged frame, “He kissed me.”“For fuck’s sake,” Colton barked, his fists clenched by his sides as his shoulders rolled in fury. “I told you!”“Yes, you did,” Kate sighed remorsefully, running her fingers through her hair. “And I should’ve listened. I’m sorry.”Aggravation shook Colton’s tense body, his fist involuntarily rising to strike the delicate plaster of Kate’s bedroom wall. In a sprite movement, Kate’s dainty fingers curled around his wrist, intercepting just in time.Shaking her head, she rose on her toes to cup his stubbled cheeks. He flinched beneath her, and her c
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - S E V E N
Muffled voices rang through the stairwell, slurred words and stumbling footsteps. Colton’s eyes shot open. He’d been unable to sleep for the past four hours, his mind racing from Kate’s declaration of love while his body pulsated at the thought of that fucking piece of shit daring to lay a fucking finger on her. Watching Kate doze peacefully against his chest had calmed him, and he thought maybe sleep would come to him at some point during the night. But as he listened to Wade’s incoherent mumbling and laughter, Colton knew that the only way to overcome his fury was to pummel the shit out of Wade’s fucking stupid face.Rolling Kate smoothly onto the pillow, he slipped silently from the bed, shrugging on a pair of sweats and trying to keep quiet as he raced to the front door. With his heart pounding in his throat, ready to pounce the minute he saw that prick, he turned the knob and widened the door. Wade’s drunken frame floundered up the stairs, a few of his equally drunk frien
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - E I G H T
A cup of coffee rested on the laminate countertop, still slightly steaming, as Kate dawdled from the bedroom. The sun streamed through the curtains in full force and she wondered just how long she’d slept in for. Stifling a yawn, she sunk into the barstool, taking a long, appreciative sip of caffeine. Colton always made the best coffee. Her eyes trailed over the kitchen; washed dishes sat on the sink, the counters wiped down and a torn piece of paper resting by her mug. Kate smiled at Colton’s scrawl.Gone out for a bit. Shouldn’t be too long. Love you xCuriosity awakened her sleepy state. Taking another gulp of coffee, she sighed, flicking open her laptop and hoping to get stuck into some work emails. She would wait until Colton returned before bombarding him with questions.Her optimism for using her free time productively was shattered when a feeble knock rang through the apartment. Kate frowned, cradling her warm mug between her palms as she traipsed to the fr
Rude Awakenings T H I R T Y - N I N E
“Is the blindfold really necessary?” Kate whined, tightening her grip on Colton’s forearms as he led her into a darkened, musty room that she assumed was the garage. “Seriously, is this the part where you kill me?”“You’re a dick,” Colton snorted. Guiding her a few more steps, his hands fumbled to untie the makeshift blindfold before hovering beside her. His head bowed towards the grimy, concrete floor although obsidian eyes stayed on her, awaiting her reaction.Sitting before her was a very un-Colton-like car. Kate would’ve expected a sleek, black classic car or a powerful, bulky motorcycle, not the red SUV that nuzzled between the two white lines of his car-space.Clearing his throat, Colton rubbed the back of his neck nervously, “It’s for you… well us, but for you mainly. Do you… do you like it?” Kate’s mouth opened and closed, floundering for a response, and Colton’s wide palm brushed against the furrows of his brows, “You hate it. I knew I should’ve-”Th
Rude Awakenings F O R T Y
Tapping a button on the keys, the rear door of the SUV glided open, revealing a slightly-skewiff makeshift bead. A thick plaid quilt sprawled over the fuzzy carpet of the trunk while an abundance of cushions were layered against the back of the rear seats. Wedged in the corner, a basket was stacked with bottles of water and cans of soda, along with a variety of snacks.“When did you have the time to set this all up?” Kate gaped, stumbling slightly as Colton hoisted her into the car. Her eyes trickled over to his as he used the fender to jump in after her.Shrugging casually, he strained a smile, “When you were in the shower. I’ve never run those fucking stairs so fast in my life.”Kicking off his boots, Colton clambered beneath the quilt, resting his broad back against the cushions, outstretching his arms for Kate to follow. She obliged, tossing off her shoes and tucking herself under the nook of his arm. There was a slight dampness on the fabric beneath his arms.
Rude Awakenings F O R T Y - O N E
“You promise.” The rawness of his voice sent a soft shudder across Kate’s skin as he repeated her statement, carefully analyzing her serious features as he reiterated, “You’re not going to leave?”“God, no,” she whispered, cupping his cheeks as she kissed him. “I know you think you’re a terrible person, Colton, but you’re not. You’re so far from terrible.”Tugging away from her grasp, Colton stood, brusquely retreating to the back door. Kate watched him closely, her heart jumping to her throat at the prospect of having said the wrong thing. Instead, he closed the door with a forceful slam and flipped open the two quarter-panel windows of the rear seat before sinking down into the cushions once more. Kate gasped as he jerked her into his lap, trailing her gaze to his flaming eyes.Tangling his fingers into her hair, Colton brought her closer, his mouth crashing to hers with a fervent intensity. Salty tears stained his full lips and his heart pounded vociferously ben
Rude Awakenings F O R T Y - T W O
Pulling the car into Colton’s car-space, Kate glanced down at her vibrating phone, a smile immediately breaking through her weary features. Work had been tough, more emotionally draining than normal, and Kate had been feeling unwell for most of the day, so she had decided to leave early. Although, the sight of Colton’s name flashing across her screen managed to instantaneously perk her up;I miss your face. Hurry up and come home.He was heading out with Heath later that night to watch a UFC fight, and Kate could tell he wasn’t keen on going. Austin would be there. Heath was hoping they could bury the hatchet, reunite their splintered group of school friends, but Colton wasn’t prepared to extend the olive branch. Kate hoped that maybe after a few drinks, he’d be more willing, and surely surprising him with an early return would send him off in a good mood.Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Kate scooted from the car, locking the cherry-red doors and clipping up th
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