Page 53 of Merciless

“Colton!” Annette cheered from the back of the room. I turned in her direction, a wide grin pulling on my lips, when I caught sight of the woman at her side.

My breath stuttered as my gaze roamed over Charlotte’s bright smile. She was the same, yet so damn different. I catalogued every minute difference; her hair was cut short to her shoulders, a light dusting of freckles sprinkled over her nose, and her eyebrows were slightly more curved than before.

I was immediately obsessed with the changes, wanting to find more, when a sharp ache shot up my leg.

My attention swung to Annette, who had obnoxiously run over my foot with her big-ass wheel. “How many drinks have you had, love? You shouldn’t be operating machinery under the influence.”

Annette rolled her eyes, snatching the pie from my hands. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

I scoffed. “So you just invited me for my world-famous dessert? You wound me.”

“It’s my birthday.”

I inclined my head before dropping a peck to her cheek. “So it is. Happy birthday, old girl.”

She chuckled, then I straightened, and that’s when a potent wisp of jasmine floated through the air, causing me to inhale like an addict.

Annette chuckled. “Keep your cool, amateur.”

Before I could reprimand her, she was already rolling away in her wheelchair, proving she had run over me on purpose.

That thought process was soon totalled as Charlotte looked up from across the room, caught me staring, and before I could die of shame, was already beelining for me.

I went with the motions of basic etiquette. As she moved in for a hug, I held on gently, gentlemanly. Although I didn’t want to.

Despite her period away, my feelings hadn’t diminished. Not one bit—as proven by my teen-boy reactions that I couldn’t control.

“Colt?” she asked.

“Huh? Sorry, what did you say?” Shit, dude, get a grip.

“I said thank you for looking out for Mum. When I extended my travels for another year, I felt so damn guilty. But she reassured me that she wasn’t alone. I’m beyond grateful to you for being here for her.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “No need to thank me. I enjoy her company just as much. And you shouldn’t feel guilty about travelling, Charlotte. We’re both glad you’re living your best life.”

Her gaze locked on mine when I said, “We’re.” Shit. Abort.

“Umm, has Gareth returned with you?” I asked.

Yes, I learnt the name of her doctor fiancé. Yes, I could now say it without a scowl—barely. And yes, that was a reasonable, normal, non-weird question to ask, thank you very much.

Charlotte’s expression flashed with surprise before her head cocked to the side. “Gareth and I broke up in Europe, about a year ago. Mum didn’t tell you?”

“Ah, no.” That bloody old swindler.

I awkwardly cleared my throat to distract from my pulse that had picked up in rhythm. “So, where are you travelling to next?”

“I’m going to stick around for a while. Nothing like home, you know? Every time I spoke with Mum, I got homesick.”

“You must have missed her.”

Charlotte gave me a shy smile, her brown eyes shining with something special. “She’s not the only one.”

Chapter 32

COLTON

The past few months had been a whirlwind of excitement. There was a certain anticipation that I hadn’t felt in a long time, which had me reverting back to a giddy teenager with a dramatic crush.