Page 17 of Alpha's Claim
“So Etta tells me. In fact, she proclaimed the best sunsets in Texas could be found out here.”
Briar followed Colt onto the balcony, and the view took her breath away. The land stretched out before them, rolling hills bathed in the warm glow of the evening light. The horizon was painted in shades of orange, pink, and purple, as if the sky itself had been set on fire.
“It’s beautiful,” Briar whispered, her voice full of awe.
Colt pulled out a chair for her, his hand brushing her shoulder lightly as she sat down. Even the brief contact sent a spark through her skin, awakening something deep inside her.
“Figured you might like it,” Colt said as he sat across from her, his gaze steady. “I thought you could use a quiet spot to unwind.”
Briar gave him a small smile, grateful for the gesture. “It’s perfect.”
They began eating, the easy rhythm of their conversation lulling her into a sense of comfort she hadn’t felt in a long time. Colt wasn’t just easy to talk to—he made her feel seen, like he was paying attention to every word she said without judgment or expectation.
After a moment of silence, Briar gathered her courage and looked across the table at him. “I found your mother’s garden earlier today,” she said softly, testing the waters. At the mention of his mother, something flickered in Colt’s expression—something tender and bittersweet.
Colt paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. “Yeah? Etta told me you were out there.”
Briar set down her glass, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She felt oddly nervous, though she wasn’t sure why. “It’s a little wild right now, but there’s a lot of potential left. I was wondering... would you mind if I kept working on it?”
Colt studied her, his dark eyes thoughtful. “You want to take on the garden?”
Briar nodded, feeling a strange sense of purpose take root inside her. “I love growing things. It makes me feel... connected, I guess.” She hesitated, then added.
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “My mom felt that way too. It was her pride and joy.” His gaze shifted to the horizon, the light from the setting sun casting shadows across his face. “After she passed... none of us could bring ourselves to touch it. It just felt wrong, like it belonged to her.”
Briar’s heart softened at the quiet vulnerability in his words. There was a depth to Colt that she hadn’t expected—a tenderness buried beneath all the strength and dominance.
“I didn’t mean…”
Colt laid his hand on hers. “You did nothing wrong. I think my mom would be happy to see someone bring it back to life.”
Briar smiled. “If it’s okay with you,” she said gently, “I’d like to take care of it. Bring it back to life.”
Colt’s gaze returned to hers, and for a moment, the air between them thickened with something unspoken.
“You’d be doing me a favor,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “It’s time someone gave it some love again.”
Briar smiled, relief washing over her. “Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”
Colt’s eyes darkened slightly, the flicker of something more—something deeper—passing between them.
The conversation drifted into quieter waters after that, the comfortable silence between them filled with the sounds of the evening—the chirp of crickets, the soft rustling of the breeze through the trees.
Briar found herself watching Colt more closely, noticing the way the candlelight played across his features—the strength in his jaw, the way his hands rested easily on the table, capable and sure. Everything about him stirred something inside her, awakening a hunger she hadn’t known she carried.
She shifted slightly in her seat, feeling the warm buzz of arousal coil low in her belly. It was an unfamiliar feeling, at least not in this way—not with this magnitude. She’d been attracted to men before, but nothing like this. This was different.
And the way Colt looked at her, steady and unwavering, told her he felt it too. But he didn’t push. He didn’t crowd her. He gave her space, even though everything in his gaze hinted at a deep, simmering desire waiting just beneath the surface.
“Sunset’s almost gone,” Colt murmured, glancing toward the horizon where the last sliver of the sun dipped below the hills, leaving the sky awash in twilight colors.
Briar nodded, though her mind was only half on the view. Her heart was racing, and her pulse thudded in her ears as Colt stood and began gathering the dishes.
“I’ll walk you back to your room,” he said softly, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver down her spine.
Briar stood slowly, feeling the heat from his gaze on her as she gathered her courage. “Okay,” she whispered.
As they left the balcony and headed back inside, the tension between them crackled like electricity, unspoken but undeniable. Colt didn’t touch her, but the warmth of his presence pressed close, making every breath feel heavy with expectation. Whatever was happening between them, this dinner was only just beginning.