Page 100 of The Perfect Distraction

“Yeah. He wasn’t happy with it and wanted to throw it away, but I insisted on keeping it.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

“That’s what I said, but he’s a perfectionist. Gets that from his mother.”

“Ah.” Beth might have felt uncomfortable talking about Gretchen while she was naked in his bed, but for some reason, she didn’t. Colton hadn’t given her any indication that he was still in love with his ex-wife. Yes, he’d been hurt, but it seemed like he’d put it in its place. And now, after sending the email to Christopher, she felt the same way. Of course, it might be difficult running into him at school events, but she felt better equipped to handle it now, thanks in part to Colton.

“I think we should talk about it, don’t you?” he said, interrupting her thoughts.

“Should we get dressed first?”

“Why?” he asked, looking down at their nakedness.

“You really think we can have a serious discussion while we’re naked?”

“We can try,” he said, purposely ogling her boobs.

Swatting him playfully, she said, “See. It’ll never work.”

“Fine. Let’s get under the covers.”

“You’re determined to stay naked, aren’t you?”

“Hell, yeah. Now that I have you here, I’m never letting you go.”

She focused in on that last part, rolling it around in her head as he pushed back the covers and they slipped underneath.

They lay on their sides, facing each other with the covers tucked under their arms to hold them in place. She still wasn’t convinced that they could have a serious conversation this way, but it was worth a shot.

“Now, about my mom.”

“Yes,” she said, wanting him to go first.

“I’m sorry that she made you uncomfortable. I never expected her to act the way she did.”

“Like you said, you haven’t brought anyone home to meet your family since the divorce. I suppose it’s natural for her to be…”

“Mean?”

She giggled, finding it easier to laugh now that it was behind her. “I was going to say skeptical.”

“You’re being too nice, which she probably doesn’t deserve.”

For some crazy reason, she found herself defending Judy. “I admit she made me feel uncomfortable, but I can also understand where she’s coming from.”

“Great. Then maybe you can enlighten me.”

“It’s all about Joey. She’s trying to protect him from getting hurt—again.”

Colton flinched at that, but he quickly recovered. “But he’s not hurting right now. In fact, he’s thriving. Can’t she see that?”

“Maybe she feels threatened. For the past couple of years, she hasn’t had to share Joey with anyone. And now I show up, some stranger who has practically taken up residence with her son and grandson.”

“Taken up residence, huh? I like the sound of that.”

His tone was light, but his eyes blazed with intensity.

“I think you’re on to something, though. Maybe she does feel threatened.”