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and accommodating as Colton. If Rion hadn’t wanted Waffle House, he’d have told her to get over herself and pulled into whatever fast-food drive-through he wanted. And he darn sure wouldn’t becoming around opening her door for her. She laughed at the thought.
    Colton opened the door and cool March air flooded the car. “What’s so funny?”
    â€œI was just thinking how glad I am it’s you instead of Rion here. He wouldn’t open the door for me and if he hadn’t wanted to go to Waffle House, we wouldn’t be here, we’d be eating where he wanted to eat.”
    Colton smiled. “That’s Rion, for sure.” He held out his hand. “Here, I’ll help you out.”
    Placing her palm in his, he wrapped his fingers around her hand and tugged her upward. A tingle shot through her and Andi felt dizzy. Her entire balance was thrown off as she levered too fast and too hard to her feet. She landed against the broad wall of his chest with a thunk . Immediately his other arm shot around her, wrapping around her waist to steady her.
    She braced her other hand against his chest and a sudden breathlessness washed over her. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever been this close to Colton as an adult. Andi looked up and everything else around them seemed to vanish. She lost herself in his green eyes for what could have been seconds or a lifetime. On one hand she knew an abiding contentedness, a desire to stay there forever, but on the other hand she wanted much, much more. She wanted to link her arms about his neck and press herself more firmly, more intimately against his lean strength. Instinctively, she did press closer to him.
    â€œYou okay?” he asked. His breath, warm and fragrant, stirred against the curling tendril the hair-dresser had draped over Andi’s left temple when she’d given Andi her updo.
    â€œI’m fine.” Other than her nearly debilitating desire for him. “I’m just a little light-headed from not eating and I lost my balance.” That much was true. She left off the part about wanting him desperately.
    â€œThen we’ll definitely get you inside and fed.” He released her hand but kept his arm firmly around her waist.
    â€œI’m fine now,” she said but made absolutely no attempt to move away from him. She liked his nearness, the feel of his solid warmth next to her and his clean scent.
    â€œI’m not taking any chances with you face-planting on the sidewalk,” he said as they stepped onto the sidewalk from the parking lot.
    She elbowed him in the side. “That makes me feel elegant.”
    He grinned down at her and something warm and wonderful shot through her. “I can’t help that but I can keep you from falling while you’re on my watch.”
    â€œAh, the sacrifices of a man with honor.”
    â€œYou have no idea,” he murmured somewhat cryptically as he pushed open the restaurant door and then the one beyond that.
    The moment they crossed the threshold, clapping and whooping erupted. Andi was startled. She’d beenso wrapped up in Colton she hadn’t even thought about the people inside the restaurant.
    â€œWelcome to Waffle House,” said one of the waitresses behind the counter in standard Waffle House greeting. She was an older woman with short dark hair. Everyone else beamed at Colton and Andi, including the guy manning the grill.
    The greeter continued, “When you helped her out of that car and swept her up close to you and then y’all stood there gazing into one another’s eyes—that was the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen. Wait.” She threw up her hand. “We’ve never had newlyweds come in still all dressed up.” She dabbed at her eyes with a paper napkin. “I’m sorry…I always cry at weddings. And seeing the two of you gazing into one another’s eyes in the parking lot just did my heart a world of