Letting Go (Vista Falls #3) Read Free Page B

to Wes, which means I consider you family too.”
    Colt frowned, looking at Wes for some explanation. “Uh, yeah, sure. But why—”
    “This”—she gestured between Colt and Gabby—“is not going to happen, so you can just forget about it.”
    Colt looked more amused than concerned by Sage’s warning as he slipped a hand into the pocket of his black dress pants and rocked back on his heels. “Is that right? And you get to decide this?”
    “Yes! Well, no, but…” Sage glared at Colt, poking a finger in Colt’s chest. “I won’t let you hurt her again. I don’t care what you say, you’re not going to get another chance to break her heart.”
    Colt inclined his head toward his best friend. “You gave this guy another chance. And I know for a fact he’ll never make you sorry you did.”
    “That’s different,” Sage said, crossing her arms. “Wes didn’t bail on me twice.” She held up two fingers to emphasize her point. “Without a word of explanation.”
    “I’ve apologized to Gabby for that,” Colt said, slipping an arm around Gabby’s waist. “And I’ve tried to explain, but I don’t expect either one of you to take anything I say at face value. I know I’ll have to prove myself to you.” He smirked. “To both of you, apparently.”
    Gabby stepped just out of his reach to make a point. He didn’t get to touch her as though he had the right, sending a clear message to every other man in the room that they were a couple or something.
    “Gabby’s not the only one you bailed on the last time,” Sage said, hooking her thumb at her husband. “You bailed on Wes too. You just woke up one morning and decided that you were leaving even though you two had agreed you were going to move the business back here and work at it together.”
    “I’ve apologized to Wes for the way that went down,” Colt said, sounding remarkably patient. “And I’ve told him it won’t happen again.”
    “Why should he believe you?” Sage demanded.
    Gabby looked up in time to see Colt’s eyes darken with annoyance, and she knew the gloves were about to come off. He was done playing nice.
    “Because he, of all people, knows that I’d never let him down.” He looked Wes in the eye, still speaking to Sage when he said, “I’ve always had his back, and I always will. Our friendship comes before business for me. Always.”
    When Sage would have responded, Colt walked away, heading for the bar.
    “Honey,” Wes said to Sage, “I know you’re worried about Gabby, but you had no right to go off on him like that. Prior to this past year, I spent the past fifteen working side by side with Colt, and I know better than anyone that when he commits to something, like our business, he’s all in.”
    Sage watched Colt throw back a drink before she sighed. “Fine, maybe I was a little hard on him. I’ll go make nice.”
     
    ***
     
    Colt felt Sage’s presence behind him before she said a word. But he wasn’t interested in another tongue lashing, so he continued to check his phone, pretending she wasn’t there.
    She stepped up beside him, planting her hands on her hips. “So that’s how it is now? You’re just going to ignore me?”
    “I think you’ve said all you have to say, haven’t you?”
    She made a grab for his phone then opened his black jacket and slipped the device into his pocket. “No, I haven’t.” She smoothed his lapels before adjusting his white rose boutonniere. “You and I were the best of friends once.”
    The four of them had been inseparable in high school, and when Sage was having problems with Wes and needed a guy’s perspective, she’d called him. In fact, Colt had learned she was pregnant even before Wes had.
    “I know.” His tone softened when he scanned her strapless, beaded gown. “And who thought then we’d be standing here now?” He took her hands and kissed them because no matter what she’d said, he couldn’t stay mad at her.
    “I meant what I said earlier,” she