Can't Fight It - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,3

this mess.

“I can see that.” A soft angelic voice greets my ears and has me stopping in my tracks.

I turn to look over my shoulder, and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen is standing just inside the doorway. Long brown hair, tan skin, and big green eyes that are regarding me with amusement.

“I’m sorry, do I know you?”

“You’re Colton Callahan, right?”

“I’m Colton.” My mind is going through every woman I’ve ever met, but I’m pretty sure I would remember her.

She takes a step forward and holds out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Hollis, your new roommate.”

“Colt, everything okay?” Chase enters the room, but I don’t look at him. I can’t seem to pull my eyes from the goddess standing in front of me.

My new roommate.

Fuck me.

“Y-You’re Hollis? You’re a woman.” A sexy as hell, mouthwatering temptation is more like it. To a man who’s been in the desert a good portion of this last year, she’s a tall, cold drink of water. I can hear Chase laughing, but my eyes remain on her.

“Is that a problem?” she asks, tilting her head to the side.

“Babe, wh— Oh, hi.” Gabby offers her hand to Hollis. “I’m Gabby, Chase’s wife.”

“Hollis.”

Gabby’s mouth forms the perfect O. “You’re Hollis?”

“I am.” She turns to me and grins, then scrunches up her nose. “What on earth?” She moves toward me, and that’s when I remember that not only is my hand covered in my son's shit, but he’s covered as well.

“Right. I need to handle this.” I turn on my heel and rush toward the bathroom. Once Milo and I are behind the locked door, for good measure, I take a deep breath. “This isn’t what I was expecting, bud. We’re going to have to tell her to leave, right? She can’t live here with us. No way. Sleeping with our tenant is not a good idea. Daddy’s just going to have to tell her there was a mix-up, and she needs to find a new place. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.”

I take my time getting my son cleaned up before wrapping him in one of his infant towels that I just folded and put away this morning. From the bathroom, I head down the hall to his room and quickly get him in a fresh diaper and clean clothes. He’s smiling up at me, happy as can be.

“Your belly feeling better?” I ask. He coos and kicks his legs, which is a good enough answer for me. “All right, bud, time to do this.” I lift him into my arms, and we head back toward the living room. I stop when I see Chase carrying two totes and Hollis behind him wheeling two suitcases.

“Thank you for your help, Chase.”

“No problem. My nephew has bad timing.”

“Maybe I should go see if he needs help,” Gabby speaks up.

“He can handle it.”

“All better,” I state and the three of them turn to look at me.

“Come here, you little stinker.” Gabby takes Milo from my arms and snuggles him close. “Aunt Gabby missed you.”

“This is the last of it,” Chase tells me.

“The room’s great. Thank you,” Hollis adds.

I open my mouth to tell her to leave, and nothing happens. It’s like I forgot how to speak. I try again and still nothing. What the hell is wrong with me? She has to go. I can’t live with her. Nope. I thought she was male. Someone I can have a few beers with, maybe watch the game. I can’t with her. What if I want to bring someone home? How awkward would that be having a female roommate? Even as my mind ticks off reasons, I can’t form the words. I can’t tell her to leave.

“So, Hollis. We were just about to order some pizza. You in?” Chase asks.

“I don’t want to impose.”

“Not at all. That will give us all a chance to get to know one another. Chase and I are here a lot, or Colt and Milo are at our place, so I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

“Sure. I’ll eat anything. Give me a few minutes to freshen up from the drive, and I’ll be right back.” I watch her as she disappears through the small hallway off the living room that leads to her room. I don’t take a full breath until I hear her bedroom door close.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, followed by a tight squeeze. “You all right, brother?” Chase laughs.

“Hollis. I thought she was a