tomorrow. I should be able to give you more details then.”
He showered, stopping to say goodbye to Jared on his way out, half wishing for another chance to run into the blonde, but she was long gone. “Think about the barbecue.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Colin didn’t feel especially festive lately, and besides, the last thing he needed right now was the distraction of a woman.
Chapter Four
Colin’s day had been dampened by another article in the morning Gazette about the group of home owners planning to fight the sale of property for the proposed shelter. Ever since Ellis made the public announcement, the editor had received a barrage of letters arguing for and against it. When Colin saw protesters marching outside the station, he felt as if monsoon season had broken loose over Denver. Mr. Chapman had to be pleased with the results of his plan so far. Papers were selling like never before.
After training for two months straight to get ready for the event, Colin would hate to see the project fall apart. He leaned heavily on Paul’s advice to the Philippians—“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Keep the faith. God started this project, He’ll see it through to the finish.
Despite the discouragement, Colin hoped Jared and Sandra’s Labor Day party would cheer him up. He walked up the steps and rang the doorbell, not really expecting anyone to answer. With a lush yard like Jared and Sandra’s, there was no need to stay inside. Laughter spilled through the seams of the fence and Colin made his way around the house to the trellised gate. Their black Labrador Lizzy greeted Colin with her fierce bark. When Colin said hello, the dog gave him an embarrassed look and wagged her tail in welcome.
“Colin! I was afraid you were going to stand us up again,” Sandra exclaimed, glancing at her watch. “Better late than never. The good news is there’s plenty of food left, the baseball game is almost over, and you didn’t miss the Rockies’ fireworks display.”
Heads turned and friends waved. He felt like a show-boater with Lizzy’s bark and Sandra’s booming voice announcing his late arrival. “Thanks. Looks like you’ve been busy.”
“Can I fix you a plate?” Sandra was a hostess extraordinaire, a disgrace to the feminist movement, according to Colin’s sister. The Hayes’s barbecues were traditionally standing room only. Tonight was no exception.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll make my way to the buffet table in a while.”
Jared arrived with a tall glass of lemonade and yelled, “Forty-five minutes until showtime!”
Colin found an empty chair in a dark corner of the yard and sank into its cushions, fearful that he’d fall asleep and miss the fireworks display altogether. This last week he’d been pushing twenty miles a day. “Looks like you and Sandra outdid yourselves as usual.”
“Yeah, too bad you…” Colin didn’t hear another word Jared said. His attention fell on the blonde from the gym and he realized immediately where they’d met. With her scruffy workout clothes and baseball cap she had looked nothing like she had at the board meeting.
Jared followed Colin’s gaze. “I didn’t think you were interested in dating again.”
“I’m not.” Colin shrugged and shook his head. “I’m just surprised to see her here. Did you invite all of your patrons?”
Jared laughed. “No, but she’s a regular. Let me introduce you.”
Colin looked at her again, and their eyes met. She immediately lowered her chin and turned away, as if she didn’t want to talk to him, either. “No thanks, I’m not interested in being set up.” Which was exactly what had to be happening. What were the odds of running into the same woman three times in a couple of months without someone’s intervention?
“Aren’t you at least a little curious? She’s not like the others, trust me. She’s…”
“No offense, bud, but I’d be more interested in watching a documentary on ant migration.” Colin ignored Jared’s comment, heaved himself out of the chair and headed for the food, Lizzy close behind.
“I don’t think ants migrate.” Jared tossed his paper cup into the trash and blocked the stairs through the garden. “You don’t understand…”
Colin glanced over his shoulder and noticed the woman walking toward Sandra. “Oh, too bad, she’s leaving…” Colin said with quiet sarcasm. “Now can I eat?” He rushed to the table and started filling his plate with salads and warm barbecued ribs.
“She’s not like Bev, or Robin…”
Colin tossed Lizzy a grape, watching her roll it around in her huge mouth as if it were a toy. “Do you see a pattern developing here, Jared?” Colin pushed his way past Jared and away from the woman. “You have a propensity for finding me women with expensive tastes and no heart.”
“I beg to argue with you there,” Jared said defensively.
Colin grabbed a handful of chips then reached for the ladle to add extra sauce to the ribs. “You already have the perfect wife. Find me another Sandra, and I’ll let you introduce us. Until then, I don’t want a thing to do with another one of your rich friends.”
Jared cleared his throat and popped open a soda tab. “Hi, honey. Hey, Nikki.”
Colin didn’t want to believe Jared would stoop so low as to be joking about this. “Nice try,” he said to his friend, and turned, hearing Lizzy yip seconds before she lunged for his plate. Colin spun around to get it out of Lizzy’s reach.
The plate crumpled against the blonde and the ladle flipped from his hand, splattering her head with warm barbecue sauce, sending it dripping down her beautiful face.
“Oh, no,” Colin said, feeling the earth shift to slow motion. “I’m so, so sorry.” He motioned to Lizzy, who was leading Jared on a wild scramble through the yard, ribs dangling from her mouth, sending guests in every direction. “I, uh, Lizzy…uh, that all happened so fast.”
She leaned forward to let the sauce drip off her face and tugged her hair back into a ponytail. He wasn’t totally sure if she was smiling or crying.
“Here are some napkins,” Colin instinctively wiped the spicy sauce from her forehead, eyes and high cheekbones, overcome with an inkling to kiss it from her lips. Now that’s a brilliant way to convince Jared that I’m not interested in romance.
“Let me get you a wet washcloth,” Sandra said, right before she disappeared into the house.
“Ooh, it’s burning my eyes,” Nikki said, closing them tighter.
Colin grabbed another handful of napkins and started at the top of her face again. “I think this is going to take more than a washcloth, I’m sorry to say. Here, you have something on your lip.” He was reaching up to pluck the piece of onion from her upper lip when she pursed her lips and blew it off, right onto Colin. He flinched, then started laughing. “Guess I had that coming.”
She covered her mouth with her hand and her eyes blinked open, then she immediately closed them again. “Is there some water around? I really need to rinse my eyes.”
“I’ll help you inside. Sandra’s probably getting a shower ready.” He thought about the light-colored carpet and glanced again at the bright red sauce she wore from head to toe. “Slip your shoes off out here and I’ll clean them while you shower.”
He helped her balance while she blindly tugged the red leather mock cowboy boots off. Colin noted her tiny feet and slender ankles.
Sandra appeared just as he started to direct her through the door. “Here you go.” She tucked the washcloth into Nikki’s hand.
Colin looked at the mess he’d made and back at Sandra. “It’s in her eyes and hair. Do you mind if she showers?”
“My