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"Because a leopard doesn’t change his spots, India Knowing the truth about him will save you a lot of heartache You wouldn’t be the first woman in this area to fall for his lies and lines and you won’t be the last" Cat pushed onto her elbows and looked at India over her shoulder "Besides, didn’t Blake West ask you out?"

"Yeah he did"

"What happened?"

Colt happened "We decided to stay friends"

"Was that before or after you and Colt hooked up?"

"Before"

"See! That’s what I mean You and Colt had been friends forever, and when his cousin starts paying attention to you, a cousin he’s always had a rivalry with, then Colt becomes interested in you?

Isn’t that just a little…ironic?"

It wasn’t as if India hadn’t thought of that And discounted it

She opened her mouth to protest, but Cat wasn’t done

"Al in here yesterday"

"She’s a regular custo she didn’t co she came in here to talk to you Did she warn you off Colt?"

India looked up "Why would she do that?"

"Because you’re not the type of wo, are you?"

"My,it iave her a superior sniff "What do youto dump me because he duoing to have a permanent relationship, so she coinal point You being at the McKay fa with the local tattooistto stop it"

Fling As if

"So what did she say to you?"

None of your goddamn business

"Because you looked upset"

Maybe it’s because I look like I could use a big bottle of scotch

"Probably not as upset as you were knowing Colt caht"

"Who?" Dammit She shouldn’t have asked It’d be just like Cat not to tell her And then for India to find out it’d been Colt’s sister-in-law and to get pissed off for nothing

"That gorgeous redheaded laho moved to town earlier this year and took over her father’s law office…Ginger Paulson?"

That’d explain Colt’s evasiveness about the wo to him at the community center "Maybe it was business"

"Oh honey, it sure didn’t look like they were talking business"

Cat gasped withmouth and told you when you didn’t know"

No, you aren’t sorry you , lazy-assed bitch

Rather than allow catty Cat the satisfaction of seeing how badly she’d upset her, India shrugged "I appreciate you tellingper out wedding dresses and invitations"

Suspicion darkened Cat’s eyes "Really? You’re sure you’re not upset?"

"Positive," she lied "Besides, I a what I want from Colt McKay"

"What’s that?" Cat asked

India’s lips twisted in a parody of a s you, when I want it to be such a big surprise for him?"

Colt was stuck in hell--the foyer at the back of the building between the tattoo studio and the stairs leading to India’s apartment

He’d been there for the last twentyto remember whether he’d slept with Cat, but it was pointless There was a period of eighteen months that’d been a total blur But he did know in the years he’d been sober, whenever she’d come on to him at Dewey’s, he’d let her knoas not interested In fact, he’d been downright rude to her on a couple of occasions

So…his rudeness, not calling her after a two-night stand…he could see why she had it in for him

What sickened hi doubts into full-blown doubts, was that India hadn’t defended him Not once She’d demanded clarification on a couple of points But never once had she said, you’re wrong I know Colt I know his heart I know his soul I know theonce

And as up with her cryptic claiut-level fear froze his breath in his lungs Was India just another person who took what they wanted from him, expected his support, but when push came to shove, couldn’t offer it in return?

Support or trust?

A leopard doesn’t change his spots

Colt shifted the bouquet of flowers and lu to tiptoe They’d tiptoed around these issues plenty, it seemed, and the time had come to face them dead on