Dorothy grew uncharacteristically angry and paced the kitchen floor. “Why does he get to walk away scot-free and go to school while you’re going to give up everything? That’s not right, Colleen. I want you to call him and tell him he has a responsibility to accept.”
“No. That’s not going to happen. Now, please drop it. I don’t want to talk about him ever again. This is my decision and I’ve made it. You can either support me, or I’ll figure something else out.”
Dorothy relented and drew her scared daughter into her arms. “We’ll figure it out together.”
10
Present
Falls Village, Maine
“So, man, can I tell you something without you treating me weird? If I tell Ace and Elliot, I’ll never hear the end of it, but I need to tell someone,” Callan says.
Teyler looks curiously at his new quirky friend and roommate. He moved out of Elliot Montgomery’s man cave and into Callan Black’s apartment because he needed to be closer to Colleen. He needed an excuse to run into her numerous times a day. Once in the morning when he strolled into Spill the Tea for a strong cup of her coffee and one of those scones the hairdresser’s daughter brings in. Her new seasonal flavors are to die for, so much so, Teyler begged her to keep them year-round. Each day, after his coffee and scone, Teyler waves goodbye to Colleen and heads for his five-mile run down by the harbor only to return to the shop in need of a cold brewed coffee and conversation. By then, most of the tourists have left the store and are on the beach, so it’s quiet and he’s able to steal a few minutes with the woman who won his heart as a girl.
“You smell like a gym or,” Colleen leans forward over the counter she stands behind to keep space between them and sniffs the air, “a locker room.”
Teyler is about to apologize and head upstairs to shower when he sees her eyes slowly shut from her arousal. When they open, they’re filled with lust and memories of a summer long ago when she would bury her nose into the crook of his neck and sigh at his masculine scent. They’d been coming down from their orgasms then, he wishes they were now because Teyler Walker hasn’t been this hard up for pussy since…well, since never.
He loves the chase, the slow burn of their desire while on the beach together after she tortures his dick during their yoga class when getting into downward dog right in front of his eyes, but he’d love to be on his knees behind her fine ass, his hands under her cheeks, while his cock slammed into her warm heat.
“Are you fucking listening to me?” Callan asks. “Jesus, you’re as bad as me, huh?”
No, he hadn’t been listening, he’d been picturing how good it would be to fuck Colleen on the beach again. Teyler clears his throat. “No one is as bad as you, Black. Lyons and Monti told me about the candy gram you sent Jordan.” A smile spreads across his face. “I think you’re supposed to hire someone to dress up like a unicorn and deliver it.”
“Right? I told fucking Jenny that, but Beast already had his costume and…what?”
“No.” Teyler laughs. “Nothing, man. What did you want to tell me?”
“It’s about Beast actually. And Jenny.”
Teyler lifts his chin then goes back to his sit-ups from the floor in Callan’s apartment. Normally, he’d spend hours at the gym, but since he’s no longer a star athlete, he just needs to keep healthy and make sure he retains the stamina he’ll need when he finally gets Colleen under him. “What theme did she go with this time for your matching outfits?”
Callan flips Teyler off then goes back to his own rep of crunches. “I’m the anonymous donor. I gave that money to The Perfect Pet.”
“That’s cool. Why don’t you want to tell anyone?”
Callan shrugs. “First of all, Jordan will think I’m only doing it to get her back, which is part of it.”
“Course.”
“Ace and Elliot will rib me until my dying day about the Beast thing. They make fun of me a lot, if you haven’t noticed.”
“It’s a guy thing, we do that. They’re not trying to be mean, they do it because they love you.”
“I’ve learned that, but it’s still fucking annoying.”
Teyler moves to his stomach to start his push-ups. As he moves his body up and down, he can’t help but wish Colleen were there, under him, screaming out his name while she gripped him tight. “Yeah, I talked to my friend last night, Jake. We played together since we were kids; he was one of the reasons I went to Connecticut for school. He’s a great guy, but that motherfucker must have called me a pussy ten times over this situation with Colleen. He’s lived through years of me talking about her, so I guess he’s entitled to an opinion.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t want anyone’s opinion on my donation. Jenny left school to stay in Falls Village. She wants to repair the dilapidated animal rescue for other mutts like Beast. She was able to convince her older brother, Joey, into donating some of the funds she needed to begin the revitalization, but she needed more.”
“So, you gave her the rest? That’s cool, man. I like you.” Teyler laughs.
Callan rolls his eyes. “Yeah, well, that mangy mongrel is the only one who understands me right now and no one but you needs to know that the rest of the funds came from my bank account.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“So, I’ve heard.” Callan chuckles. “That’s a damn shame. Sucks not getting any, huh?”
Then it’s Teyler’s turn to flip Callan off, which he does with both hands.
Now, Teyler finds himself sitting at the counter in Spill the Tea with a melancholy feeling starting to grow. He wants to move things along with Colleen, but she continues to hold him at bay.
At least he’s talked her into spending time with him every day for their yoga sessions and walks along the beach. But as the weather threatens to end those activities, he needs to find other ways to occupy their time together.
“Hey,” Teyler says. “I was talking to Black the other day and Jenny Collins is throwing a Halloween party for the animal shelter. It’s a good cause. I’m thinking about going.”
“Oh, yeah?”
Teyler smiles. “Come with me?”
“Are you asking me on a date, Teyler Walker?”
“I am, Colleen Hamilton, and I can’t wait to see what sexy kind of costume you’re going to tease me with.”
“Tey, I…”
“Shh, don’t say something that is going to piss me off. You’re a beautiful woman with curves that drive me mad. We’ve been working out. You look great. You can wear anything you want. You’re going to turn the heads of every guy there.”
Colleen smiles then shyly looks down at her body. She’s lost a few pounds and firmed up in a couple of places from their exercising. If she’s being honest, she hasn’t felt this good in years and it has everything to do with the handsome man standing before her telling her that she turns him on just the way she is.
“Oh, please.” She scoffs. “What about you? Do you have any idea what you’ve been doing to women for years? Huh?”