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thump.
    She screamed and jumped back against the wall, staring in horror at the door. Then she giggled to herself, feeling silly for being so scared. After all, it was just an old farmhouse.
    “Colt, is that you?” She opened the door, but her smile immediately faded as she stared into the looming blackness of the silent basement. Her heart began to race with fear. “Colt?”
    Suddenly, out of the darkness, a black shape came barreling straight for her.
    She screamed and instinctively guarded her face with her hands, falling backward, her back against the wall.
    A large crow squawked frantically above her before it flew away and out the front door.

    Colt’s heart stopped when he heard a woman’s shrill screams coming from within his house. As fast as his legs could carry him, he bolted through the thick brush, up the back steps, into the kitchen. He saw Brielle sitting on the floor.
    “Brielle?” His breathing was ragged as he rushed to her side.
    “Colt?” She looked relieved to see him as she placed a shaky hand over her heart.
    “Are you all right? What happened?” He grabbed her arm and helped her to her feet. Sweat from his panicked sprint beaded his brow.
    “Nothing, it was just a stupid crow,” she scoffed.
    Colt grinned, partly because she was okay, and partly because he was glad to see her.
    “You think it’s funny?” She glared at him as she dusted off the back of her jeans and straightened her white work blouse.
    He looked down and tensed when he noticed the top button on her blouse had worked its way undone, exposing her upper bosom. The sensual vision of her cleavage and softly mounded breasts partially aroused him.
    Averting his eyes quickly, he met her angry gaze. “No. I wouldn’t make fun of you, Brielle. I’m just glad to see you is all. Are you sure you’re okay?”
    Though she still appeared flustered, she exhaled and her tension lessened. “Yes, I’m fine. So what are you doing here anyway?”
    Colt was surprised by her bold question. He chuckled slightly. “I think I should be asking you that question.”
    She looked away, her cheeks a rosy pink. “Oh, right. Um, oh…” She reached into her pocket and handed him a crumpled ball of money.
    “What’s this?” He stared at the wad of money lying in his palm.
    “Your change.” She smiled smugly. “You forgot it, along with a proper good-bye.”
    As he shoved the money into the front pocket of his jeans, he grinned sheepishly. “Right. I guess I was just anxious to buy the truck.”
    The heat from the early summer day was quickly warming the inside of the house. Colt took off the long-sleeved shirt he wore over his T-shirt and hung it on the knob of the basement door. When he turned back to Brielle, he took pleasure watching as her eyes roamed over his biceps and settled on his chest, before she looked him in the eyes again.
    He smirked. It appeared that he had the same effect on her as she did him. “Do you see something to your liking?”
    Eyes wide, she immediately shook her head. “No! I was just … just … wondering what color blue that was?” Her cheeks flushed pink.
    Colt smiled a half-smile, admiring her modesty. He was used to women who weren’t afraid to show their lust for him. They would’ve simply replied, “Yes.” But not Brielle. She was different. The kind of woman he respected.
    He had a sudden urge to take her into his arms and kiss her. Shaking the thought away, he looked down at his shirt and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know? Navy?”
    She nodded agreeably. “Well, that’s all I wanted. I’ll see you later … sometime … at the diner,” she blurted awkwardly. Without waiting for a reply, she turned and quickly headed out the front door.
    What? She’s just leaving? Colt chuckled under his breath, amused at the way she handled being caught gawking. He quietly followed her.

    Once she was safely outside, Brielle took in a deep calming breath. She felt uncomfortable at how taken aback