Beth Kery - Claiming Colleen

“I agree,” Eric said.

She nodded once firmly, despite her doubtful expression. “I’ll see you later then.”

“Let’s have lunch tomorrow,” he declared when she started to walk out of his office.

“Why?” she asked, spinning around.

“To plan the engagement party. And, of course, how we implement our ideas for promoting careful consideration instead of impulsive haste with Natalie and Liam.”

Her eyes flickered over him warily.

“What’s bothering you?” he asked.

“Nothing. It’s just…I had no idea you were such a cynic when it came to the idea of true love, Reyes. I suppose I should have suspected it.”

“I like to think of myself as a realist, not a cynic. Besides, you’ve admitted you agreed about this. Committing to another person for a lifetime requires some serious contemplation. There’s no such thing as love at first sight. Right?”

“Of course not,” she said, bristling.

“So, what’s your excuse?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your excuse for being a cynic when it comes to hasty marriage?”

A shadow fell over her features, and he immediately regretted his words. He’d just been trying to get to know her better. Instead, he’d unintentionally struck a bad chord, Eric realized. Colleen had been burned by romance in the past. Maybe she was still sensitive because her husband, Darin Sinclair, had been killed in action.

“I am not a cynic,” she said stiffly. “I just think Liam and Natalie need more time to make sure this is what they truly want.”

He struggled to get back on the right track again. “So, we’re on for tomorrow at lunch?”

“All right. I guess that’ll work,” she said. He lowered his hands and sat forward in his chair when he noticed her further hesitation.

“What is it, Colleen?”

“It’s nothing. It’s just…are you certain Brendan will be okay?”

He exhaled slowly to give himself a few seconds. Seeing Colleen vulnerable wasn’t something he was used to, so he hadn’t adequately prepared himself for the experience.

“He’s not just going to be okay,” he said. “He’s going to be great. I’m even more confident in saying that now that I’ve seen how well the tissue cleaned up. I know you won’t take my word for it, but time will prove my case.”

A smile flickered across her lips; just the hint of it had him longing to see its full, blazing glory.

“I do trust you…about Brendan,” she added softly before she walked out of his office.

Eric leaned back again and brought up his feet on his desk, his gaze fixed on the door that had just closed behind her. He’d told her he hated liars, and it’d been the truth. Eric didn’t like subterfuge and was only planning a few reality checks in the midst of these wedding plans because he cared about Natalie so much. Other than that, he’d do everything in his power to give his little sister a wedding that would make every woman in Harbor County green with envy.

Despite the fact that he disapproved of Natalie’s quick wedding plans, he found himself anticipating having a good excuse to spend time with Colleen. He didn’t think that qualified him as a liar, necessarily, because he hadn’t revealed that morsel of information to her. If he had, she wouldn’t have consented to work with him on the wedding in a million years.

There was something about Colleen. He wanted her, and it was stupid to deny it. He considered himself to be too levelheaded to give in to the Kavanaugh-inspired hysteria that seemed to have affected his friend Mari along with Natalie. He liked women, though…some more than others. Colleen appealed to him.

A lot.

She was a challenge, and he always rose to a challenge, no matter how long he had to wait or how much planning was involved. Given the door of opportunity that had just opened before him, he couldn’t pass up the chance to get closer to the stubborn, gorgeous woman who had just stalked out of his office.

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