Montana Mavericks: a hot cowboy collection

by Rebecca Zanetti

  Plus, his girlfriends were usually blond, beautiful, and buxom. Melanie didn’t fit into any of those slots. The mere idea of Colton seeing her naked sprang hives over her chest.

  The waitress slipped their baskets before them and hustled off to wait on a group of boys who’d just sat down.

  Colton eyed his large sandwich. “Is it Milton? Are you serious?”

  Melanie reached for a chip. No. She and Brian were more like buddies, but it was nice having somebody as a plus-one. “I don’t know. We’ve been dating for a while, but I’m not sure where we stand.” In fact, she probably would know more later after her doctor’s appointment, but she didn’t want to go into her problems with Colton. Yet.

  “Okay.” He took a bite of his food. “Remember when we talked about owning a business together as kids?”

  She grinned. The boys had wanted to own a strip club, and she’d wanted a horse farm. “I do remember.”

  “Now’s the time,” Colt said.

  “No.” She shook her head, shoving down hope. “I can’t invest right now.”

  “I know. Hawk and I will bankroll the start-up costs, and your third will be in labor—overseeing the construction and the publicity for the first two martial arts gyms. One in Mineral Lake and the other in Billings,” he said.

  She tapped her fingers on the table. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I don’t need a handout.”

  He grinned, and at that point, she empathized with the Taiwanese broker.

  Leaning back, he sighed. “Listen. We need somebody on the front lines, and I’m too busy taking over the business, and Hawk will be overseeing the fighting. It would set his mind at ease to know you were looking after things.”

  Fire flushed through her. “Don’t you dare use Hawk as an emotional point.” She hated that he had to leave again for danger so far from home.

  Colton shrugged. “I’m just telling you what he said. Plus, we’d have to pay somebody to oversee the construction, so we might as well pay you. We trust you, and now you don’t have to work three jobs. Win-win.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “You’re not planning my life. Period.”

  He sobered. “Believe me, I’m not planning anybody’s life right now.”

  She frowned, concern focusing her. “What’s wrong?”

  He shrugged, an odd vulnerability darkening his eyes. “Maybe nothing. I invested heavily in a business, and it may have been a mistake.”

  Colton Freeze making a financial mistake? Melanie raised both eyebrows. “Ouch. Can I help?”

  “Yes.” His upper lip quirked. “Please come on board to oversee the construction of my baby. I need somebody I can trust so I can concentrate on the other matter.”

  He was impossible. Talk about going for the jugular. Or heartstrings. Owning a business with Colt and Hawk had always been one of her dreams, and there had to be a way to make it happen. She would like to help him, and this might be fun. “If I do agree, then that’s my buy-in. No salary.”

  “We need the salary because we already included the line item as a cost in the construction loan,” he countered.

  Oh, he had an answer for everything, didn’t he? She bit her lip. “I wouldn’t mind burning the outfit from Adam’s bar.”

  “Now that would be a pity,” Colton said.

  She focused on Colton. “Stop flirting with me.”

  “Can’t help it. I know how you kiss.” His tone rumbled guttural low.

  She rolled her eyes. “I would love to call your bluff, Freeze.”

  “Not bluffing.”

  He wasn’t. She knew him, and if she made a move, he’d meet her more than halfway. “Our friendship is the only stable thing I have right now. The only stable thing in Hawk’s life. I’m not going to ruin it,” she said.

  “Why haven’t we ever gotten together?” Colt’s brows drew down in the middle.

  She kept herself from squirming on the chair. “By not sleeping with you, I remained in your life. Special.” Which was the absolute truth.

  He grimaced. “I’m not that bad.”

  “No, you’re not.” In fact, he was freakin’ amazing. “You’ve never wanted to get serious or settle down, and usually whoever you were dating did. So when it ended, you avoided them.” If Colton ever avoided her, it would break her heart.

  “I’d never avoid you,” he said, his eyes flaring.

  “I never wanted to take the chance.” Now she winced. “Plus, now we’re too different.”

  His cheek creased. “We both own ranches and love it. How are we different?”

  “You’re loaded with a ton of degrees. I only took one class in college.” She squirmed in her seat.

  “Seriously?” His amusement fled. “Degrees are just degrees and have nothing to do with intelligence, work, money, or anything else.” He shook his head.

  She smiled. “Said the guy with a bunch of degrees.” Sure, she was smart. But still.

  “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. If you want a bunch of degrees, go get them. You’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, and you thinking this is crazy,” he said.

  Warmth flushed through her that he realized she was just as smart as he was…even without diplomas. “Maybe. Even so, I’m staying in the friend arena,” she said.

  “Like I said, you’re an intelligent woman.” Even so, regret filled his eyes for the briefest of moments. Then his cell phone buzzed, and he glanced at the face, quickly returning the text. “Hawk’s in town looking for us. He should be here in a minute.”

  In less than a minute, Hawk strode in, wearing flak and not cowboy boots.

  Melanie’s heart dropped. “You’re heading out.”

  “Yes.” Any peace or relaxation Hawk had earned while on leave had fled, leaving his face a hard, cold mask. “Just got my orders. Wanted to say good-bye.”

  Mel skirted the table to duck into a hug. “Be careful, and come home.”

  He hugged her back, longer than usual. “I will. You be safe, take care of Colton, and protect my business interests while I’m gone.”

  She leaned back to smile. “You planned this.”

  “Nope.” A small smile flirted with Hawk’s lips. “But I want everything in place when I get back. Please.”

  “Okay.” There was no other answer she could give. “I promise if you come back safely, I’ll take care of the construction.”

  “Excellent.” He released her and turned as Colton stood.

  Never afraid to show emotion, they hugged, and a lump settled in Melanie’s throat.

  “Come back.” Colton stepped away.

  Hawk yanked an envelope from his back pocket. “Just in case.” Long strides took him from the room.

  Concern bracketed Colton’s face as he watched his friend leave. Then, tucking the envelope in his pocket, he sat.

  Melanie sat back down. “What’s in the envelope?”

  Colton shrugged. “He leaves one with me every time, and it feels like a bunch of letters. I’m assuming they’re for us, probably my mom, and my sister. I never look and just give it back when he gets home. Like I will this time.”

  Melanie stilled. “A letter for your sister Dawn?”

  “They’re good friends,” Colton said.

  Dawn and Hawk were a lot more than friends, but now wasn’t the time. So Melanie nodded and tried to smile. Why did it seem like things were changing? She glanced at the rest of her sandwich, no longer hungry.

  She considered asking Colton to accompany her to the doctor’s appointment later but quickly discarded the idea. There had to be some personal distance between them if they were going to remain friends and now business partners. Inviting the man to her appointment required an intimacy they didn’t have and never would.

  Something in her wanted that closeness with him.

 
For the first time, she wondered if their childhood friendship could last into adulthood when deep down, she was beginning to want more.

  Chapter Five

  Colton pushed back in his chair and surveyed his office. Dark paneling covered with landscape paintings of Montana, and more specifically, Maverick County. When he relocated, he’d take the same paintings.

  They were home.

  Quiet ticked around him since Anne and Tyler had gone out for a late lunch. His shoulders felt like boulders perched on them. Hawk had left for his mission, Dawn was still at school, and now Melanie was dating a banker. One not good enough for her. Plus, the idea of her really falling in love with somebody else turned him cold.

  The idea that he needed her so much worried him. This didn’t fit in with his life plan for the next few years.

  His phone buzzed, and he smiled when he saw it was Sophie. “Hi, Soph. What’s up?”

  “Colton?” her voice emerged high and frantic. “I’m ten minutes out of the city, and something’s wrong.”

  “Whoa.” He stood, already crossing his office. “Wrong with what? The car?”

  “No,” she whispered. “The baby. I can’t find Jake, and I’m an hour from home, and the sheriff, and Doc Mooncaller. You’re the closest one to me right now. I don’t know what to do.”

  Panic rushed through Colton to be immediately squashed. There wasn’t time for panic if Sophie needed help. He calmed his voice into a soothing tone. “Where are you?” He loped into a run through the office and outside to his truck.

  “I pulled over at the Exxon gas station outside of Billings.” Tears filled her voice.

  Colton started his truck and drove into the street. “Okay, Sophie. Here’s the deal. You sit in the car, take deep breaths, and try to calm down. I’ll be right there, and I’ll take care of everything.”

  “Okay.” She took an audible deep breath.

  “Give me an idea of what’s happening,” he said.

  Her voice caught. “I had a bad twisty zing of pain, and now I’m spotting.”

  That couldn’t be good. “Where’s Jake today?” Colton asked, his mind calculating the best scenario.

  “He’s at the federal courthouse in Billings, but his phone is off, so he must be in court,” she said.

  “Okay.” Colton pulled onto the interstate. That was good that Jake was in the city. Very good. “I need to hang up for a second and make a couple of calls, and then I’ll call you right back. Okay, sweetheart?”

  “Okay.” She sniffed.

  He hung up and dialed one of his financial clients, the best gynecologist in Montana, and received quick reassurances that they’d see Sophie as soon as he got her there. Then he dialed the courthouse and was told that Mr. Lodge was in court.

  “I’m sure, but I need you to get a message to him,” Colton said to the curt woman on the phone.

  “I’m sorry, but not while he’s in court.” Derision dripped from the woman’s tone.

  “Listen lady, we have a family emergency, and you need to get my brother out of court. Now.” Colt’s rare temper began to compete with the panic sweeping him. “Believe me, while you don’t want to face Jake’s wrath, you really don’t want to deal with me. Tell him to meet me at Rollings Women’s Center. Now.”

  “Well,” she huffed. “I’ll see what I can do.” She clicked off.

  Colton fought a growl and took the exit for the gas station. He found Sophie sitting in her car, tears on her face, pure terror in her eyes.

  Instantly, he shot into calmness. “Any more pain?” he asked casually as he helped her from the car.

  “Um, no.” Her face relaxed marginally. “It’s too early for the baby to arrive.” Panic reasserted itself as the color slid from her cheeks.

  “The baby is not coming.” He lifted her into the truck. “This is a glitch, happens all the time.” What did he know about pregnant women and babies?

  She grinned, her lips trembling. “Been studying the issue, have you?”

  No, but he should’ve been. He shut her door and jogged around to jump in the driver’s seat, his mind reeling. “Sure. This is just fine, but we’re going to see a doctor anyway. The best in the country.”

  “The entire country, huh?” Sophie’s shoulders relaxed even though her hands shook in her lap. “How fortunate that he lives in Montana.”

  “Where else would he live?” Colton fought for a reassuring tone as he pulled back onto the interstate, forcing himself to only drive a few miles over the speed limit. Okay, twenty. He cleared his throat. “Did anything like this happen with your last pregnancy?”

  “No,” she said.

  He glanced over, not liking the dark circles under Sophie’s eyes. She looked way too delicate and frightened. “This will be fine. Take another deep breath.”

  They arrived at the clinic in record time, and Sophie started to open her door.

  “Wait.” Colton jumped out and crossed around to lift her from the truck.

  “I can walk, Colton,” she protested.

  “No.” He hustled into the clinic and marched up to the receptionist. “Doctor Jordan is waiting for us.”

  The door flew open behind them, and Jake ran inside.

  Oh, thank God. Colton turned and deposited Sophie in her husband’s arms.

  Jake snuggled her close. “Are you okay, Sunshine?”

  A nurse opened a door by the receptionist and motioned them inside. “The doctor is waiting for you.”

  They disappeared after the nurse. Colton swallowed and walked over to sit, dropping his head in his shaking hands. What if he hadn’t gotten there in time? Had he driven too quickly and hit too many potholes? What if—

  He lifted his head and took several deep breaths. Enough. He’d just sit in the plastic chair and wait for the good news. It would be good news. He wanted to call Quinn or their dad but decided to wait until he heard something. Anything.

  So he called the ranch and gave instructions for somebody to drive out and fetch Sophie’s car.

  Then he waited.

  Alone in the waiting room, he watched as woman after woman, all in different phases of pregnancy, went in for an appointment and then left. Some were accompanied by men, some by other women.

  Finally, Jake and Sophie exited the mysterious land of pregnant women.

  Colton stood and schooled his face into calm lines. “Well?”

  Sophie smiled, weariness in every line of her body. “I’m okay.”

  His butt hit the chair. Thank God.

  She touched his shoulder. “Deep breaths, Colton.”

  He chuckled and stood to hug her. “That’s excellent advice.” Then for good measure, he hugged his older brother. “We’re sure?”

  “Yes.” Jake clapped him on the back, black eyes still worried. His power tie was askew, and he’d removed his suit jacket. “They can’t explain the twinge. I guess a lot of weird stuff happens in pregnancy, but the spotting is normal. We had an ultrasound, and the baby appears healthy—although the doctor has ordered bed rest for Soph the second we get home.”

  Sophie leaned in. “It’s another boy.”

  He knew it. Colton smiled as his shoulders dropped from up around his ears. “I figured.”

  “At least we can use Nathan’s clothes again.” Sophie pressed her hands together. “Now I need to get back to work on the sketches for the sports complex we’re building across town.”

  “No,” Jake and Colton said in unison.

  Sophie’s eyebrow rose. “Huh?”

  “Home to bed. The doctor said bed rest.” Jake shoved a hand through his thick black hair.

  Sophie nodded, still way too pale. “I know, but I can sketch from bed.”

  Jake nodded. “I guess that makes sense, so long as you sleep a lot, too. We’ll need to figure out what to do with your car.”
/>   “I had somebody from the ranch go get it,” Colton said.

  “Thanks,” Jake said, his gaze intense.

  “No problem,” Colton said.

  Jake stepped closer to him. “No, I mean thanks. Really.”

  Colton nodded, his throat closing.

  A nurse in pink scrubs bustled out from behind the receptionist with a purple box in her hands. “Mrs. Lodge? These are the new prenatal vitamins we’re recommending and giving to all our pregnant patients. Run them by Doc Mooncaller when you see him, but they have a better balance of the calcium and iron, and we really like them.”

  Sophie took the box with a big smile. “Thanks.”

  Colton escorted them outside and to Jake’s truck. “I have to close down the office but will head home afterward. Call me if you need anything.”

  They drove off, and Colton stood for a moment, letting the cool breeze calm him. Across the street sat a bar, and he really wanted a drink. But he probably wouldn’t stop at one, and the last thing he needed was Quinn arresting him for a DUI once he’d driven back to town. So, he headed for the ice cream store next to the bar. It was probably too cold to eat ice cream, but he didn’t care at the moment.

  He greatly enjoyed his double scoop of mint chocolate chip and was almost calm by the time he’d finished the cone. Buying a small vanilla cone in case Tyler still played at the office, he turned toward the door.

  Right in time to see Melanie exit the gynecologist’s office—with a big purple box of prenatal vitamins in her hands.

  He faltered and dropped the vanilla ice cream on the floor.

  Chapter Six

  Melanie tucked the box of prenatal vitamins in her purse and ducked her head against the wind as she headed toward the jewelry store to return Loni’s brooch. She texted Brian to meet her at the store, hoping they could grab a latte.

  She returned the brooch and turned around to run straight into Brian’s mother. Ugh. “Hello, Mrs. Milton.”

  Mrs. Milton slid her designer sunglasses off her Botoxed face. “Melanie.” She glanced around the store. “Looking for rings, are we?”