Leanne Banks - Flirting with Fortune

“Apparently too long,” Colton said.

“Maybe,” she said.

“You don’t have to give up living just because you had a baby,” he said.

She nodded, but she didn’t really agree.

Colton lifted her chin with his finger. “Your life is not over. You can still have fun,” he said.

“I have fun,” she said, unable to resist the urge to squirm. “I have lots of fun with Piper.”

Colton shot her a doubtful glance. “You need to start getting out more. And I don’t mean baby showers.”

Stacey lifted her eyebrows at Colton’s suggestion. “You don’t mean dating, do you?”

“You don’t have to date. You just need to get out. You’re acting—” He broke off.

Stacey frowned. “I’m acting how?”

Colton scrubbed his jaw. “I don’t know how to say this.”

“Well, spit it out,” she said. “I want to know.”

Colton sighed. “You’re acting...old.”

Stacey stared at him in disbelief. “Old?” she repeated. “I’m acting old?” She couldn’t remember when she’d felt so insulted. “I’m only twenty-four. How can I be old?”

“I didn’t say you are old,” Colton said in a low voice. “I said you’re acting old.”

“Well, I have a baby now. I need to be responsible,” she said.

“I agree, but you don’t have to stop living your life,” he said.

Stacey paused, thinking about what Colton had told her. “You’re Mr. Responsibility. I can’t believe you’re telling me to cut loose and be a wild woman.”

“I didn’t say you should be a wild woman. I just said you need to get out more,” he said.

“Hmm,” Stacey said. “I’m going to have to think about this.” She paused. “I wonder who I could call if I decide to get out. If I decide I want to have half a beer.”

“You can call me,” Colton offered. “Remember, I’m Mr. Responsibility.”

In her experience, Stacey knew that Colton was Mr. Responsibility. He always had been and she valued that quality in him now more than ever. But lately, when she looked at Colton, she couldn’t seem to forget what it had felt like to dance in his arms on New Year’s Eve. And that almost kiss they’d shared. Almost, but not quite. She wondered what a real kiss from him would feel like. Stacey almost wished he’d kiss her and she would be disappointed, so she could stop thinking about him so much.

* * *

The next day, Colton showed up unexpectedly at the Joneses’ house. Stacey was happy to see him even though he seemed intent on asking her father’s thoughts about some issue with the cattle. She brought Colton and her father some coffee. Colton tossed her a smile but kept talking with her father.

Stacey couldn’t help feeling a little jealous of the time he was spending with her father. She knew Piper would awaken any moment, and her time would then be divided. Hurry up, Dad. But she knew the mental urging was useless. Her father was usually stone quiet, but when it came to talking about the ranch, once he got going, he didn’t stop.

She checked her watch and felt her stomach clench as she waited for Piper to call out for her. Finally, her father took a potty break. Hallelujah.

“Better today?” Colton asked her as he headed for the door, where Stacey waited on the porch.

She nodded. “I guess so. Sorry if I freaked out on you last night.”

“You didn’t,” he said. “It’s like I said. You just need to get out more. I know your mama would be more than happy to watch Piper for you every now and then.”

“I don’t want to burden her,” Stacey said as she stepped out of the front porch with him. “They’ve taken Piper and me in. I don’t want to take advantage of them.”

“You wouldn’t ever do that,” he said. “Listen, how about if I take you to the bar and grill in town? What’s a good day for you?”

Surprise rippled through her. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude on your, uh, relationship with your new girlfriend.”

He hesitated a half beat. “She won’t mind,” he said. “When do you want to go?”

“I think Thursday may work. I’ll have to ask Mama first. Can I get back to you?”

“Sure,” he said, and squeezed her arm just like one of her brothers would. “Remember to smile.”

She stared after him as he started to walk away. “Wait,” she said, and he turned around. “Do I frown that much?”

He paused. “You used to seem a lot happier,” Colton said. “I hate to see you so sad and burdened.”

“My life is different now,” she said.

“But is it sad?” he asked.

She took a deep breath and thought about his question. “Not really.” She smiled. “I’ll call you about dinner at the grill followed by a beer. I appreciate the pity date.”

“It’s no pity date,” he said. “We’ve known each other a long time. We should be able to cheer each other up. You may have to do it for me sometime,” he said.

“That’s hard for me to imagine,” she said.

“You never know,” he said, and her father returned to the den, ready to talk ranching.

Stacey gazed at Colton. There was more to him than she’d ever thought. Stacey wondered what it would be like to go on a real date with Colton. She wondered how it would feel to be the object of his affection. Rolling her eyes at herself, she shook her head and went to the laundry room to wash another load of baby clothes.

The next day, Stacey played with Piper, after cleaning the house and fixing dinner. She couldn’t help thinking about Colton’s offer for an evening out. It wouldn’t be fancy, but it would be a relief. She debated calling him ten times over, then finally gave in. He didn’t pick up, so she hung up. Five minutes later, she called again. He still didn’t answer, but this time she left an answer.

A half hour later, he returned her call. “Hello?” she said as she stirred soup for dinner and held Piper on her hip.

“Need an escape?” Colton asked.

She gave a short laugh. “How did you know?”

“Saw the hang-up, then heard the desperation in your voice mail,” he said.

“I’m not that desperate,” she said, even though she really needed an evening out.

“I know. Everyone needs an escape hatch every now and then,” he said.

“What’s yours?” she asked.

“If I really want to get away, I can go into town or even Vicker’s Corners,” he said.

“But you don’t have a baby,” she said.

He chuckled. “That I don’t,” he said. “It won’t be fancy. Tomorrow night okay? What time do you want me to pick you up?”

“Five-thirty,” she said.

“Early night?”

She laughed. “These days I only do early nights,” she said. “You have a problem with that?”

“None at all, I’ll see you tomorrow at five-thirty.” He chuckled. “Call me if you need to escape earlier.”

Stacey couldn’t help smiling. “I’ll pace myself. Bye for now.”

The following day, Stacey’s afternoon fell apart. Piper woke up early from her nap, and Stacey feared she’d burned the baked spaghetti casserole. She was having a bad hair day, and Piper was so cranky, Stacey wasn’t sure she should ask her mother to babysit for the evening.

“Are you teething, sweetie?” she asked Piper.

Piper’s sweet face crumpled in pain. Stacey sighed. “Mama, she’s so fussy. I’m not sure I should leave her with you.”

Her mother extended her arms to Piper, but Piper turned away. “Oh, come on, you sugar,” Jeanne said to Piper. “I’ll take care of you. Rub your sore gums with something that will make you feel better.”

“No rum,” Stacey said.

“I wasn’t thinking of rum,” Mama Jeanne said with an innocent expression on her face.

“No whiskey,” Stacey added.