Runaway Colton

by Karen Whiddon

  The fact that she compared his job to that of a surgeon made his smile broaden into a grin. “I appreciate that,” he said. “But I checked several bars. Most of them told me they wouldn’t hire a bartender under the age of twenty-one, even though they could legally.”

  “You underestimated Renee’s determination.”

  “I sure did.”

  The sound of her delighted laughter unfurled the last remnant of tightness in his chest. He caught at her, pulled her close and held her, breathing in the strawberry scent of her hair. He held on a bit too long, wishing he never had to let her go, before releasing her.

  That night, though they went to separate bedrooms, he lay alone in his bed wide awake, fighting the desire to go to her. He wondered if she thought of him, or if she’d dropped into sleep quickly, without a care.

  Finally, he fell into a fitful sleep, waking early. Since he saw no sign of Truman, he figured his pet had spent the night with Piper. Lucky dog. Whistling softly, Cord put on a pot of coffee before heading out to feed the livestock.

  When he returned, Piper had started making breakfast. She flashed him a smile as she handed him a cup of coffee. “Take a seat,” she said. “Do you want your eggs sunny side up or over easy?”

  Struck by the cozy, domestic feel the morning had taken on, he shrugged. “Whatever way is easier for you.”

  “I like sunny side up.” She turned back to her skillet. “You know, I’m really glad I was able to come back so quickly.”

  “Me, too,” he said, his heart pounding. Now would be the time to open up, to tell her how awful he’d felt when he’d thought she’d gone for good. To ask her to never leave again.

  But the words stuck in his throat and the moment passed.

  “Here you go,” she said, still smiling. “Breakfast!” She placed two plates on the table. Though the fried eggs had burned edges and the toast appeared barely toasted, he thought it might be the most appetizing breakfast he’d ever seen.

  They fell into a companionable silence while they ate. When they’d finished, Piper carried the plates to the sink. “So what are your plans for today?” she asked. She batted her eyelashes at him, her sexy smile inviting him to answer in kind.

  “I’m planning to work,” he said, pushing away his regret and keeping his voice deliberately casual, even as he fought off the desire coursing through his veins. “I’ve got to run into the office and start getting everything in order if I’m going to have a prayer of turning that company around.”

  “Have fun.” Her light tone matched his, in direct contrast to the smoldering heat that darkened her green eyes. “I’ll see you at dinnertime? I’m making something pretty special.”

  Relieved, he nodded. He’d noticed the pan of dried beans she’d left soaking overnight in the sink. This, he thought. This was what happiness felt like. “Sure. I’ll be back by then. And, Piper?”

  A smile quirking up one corner of her mouth, she eyed him. “Yes?”

  “Thanks for all you’ve been doing around here. I really appreciate you cooking for me.”

  She grinned. “You’re welcome.” And then she got up, grabbed him and pulled him close for a kiss. “There,” she said once they broke apart, slightly breathless. “To go with the hug.”

  While he tried to collect his thoughts, she spun around and sashayed out of the room, wiggling her fingers at him in a goodbye wave as she left. Of course her ever-faithful sidekick Truman went with her.

  Bemused and aroused, Cord got into his truck and headed into town.

  Back at his office, his mood changed to serious. He knew he needed to get his business back on track if he intended to have a prayer of making a living. He had more than himself to consider now. Renee wanted to go to art school and she sure as hell deserved a chance.

  Fowler still claimed he wanted to settle up with him, but Cord knew he needed to refuse. He hadn’t done the job he’d been hired to do, not really. In good conscience, he couldn’t accept another dime from the other man. Not only that, but he gathered the remainder of the down payment to return to Fowler. He couldn’t keep it. No matter how badly he needed it.

  As if thinking about him had summoned him, Fowler appeared shortly before lunchtime. He walked in, wearing his usual impeccably tailored suit, and held out a large, thick envelope. “Here you go. The rest of what I owe you.”

  Cord took a deep breath, then shook his head. “Keep it, man. I can’t take your money. I found Piper shortly after you hired me and ended up helping her instead of doing the job you paid me to do.”

  Clearly not used to people refusing cash, Fowler stared. “We had a deal,” he began.

  “Exactly. And I didn’t keep up my end of it. So there’s no need for any further payment. In fact, here’s most of the down payment back.” Cord dropped the envelope on the desk for Fowler to take.

  “I don’t want the money back, despite the fact that you lied to me.” Fowler said the words matter-of-factly. “Someone told me you never lied. I knew that wasn’t possible.”

  “I usually don’t. This time, I did. I’m sorry, I was wrong. Everything I did, I did for a reason,” Cord began.

  “You’re splitting hairs.” Fowler grimaced. “Save your explanations. I truly don’t care.”

  He dropped his envelope onto the desk, right next to Cord’s. “Whatever your motivation, I appreciate you looking after my sister,” he said, his voice gruff. “Reid actually filled me in on everything. I know she’s staying with you. And I know she doesn’t want to come home, for whatever reason. I have a feeling her reluctance is due to a conversation Marceline and I had with her. I think I mentioned that to you. We were unfair and wrong.”

  Wow. Cord sat back in his chair and eyed the other man. “Maybe you should try saying that apology to Piper.”

  “I should and I will. When she’s ready to hear me. Reid gave me her number and right now, she won’t even take my calls.” Unbelievably, Fowler appeared hurt.

  “Give her time,” Cord said, not sure what else to say. “She’s been through a lot.”

  “Yes, she has.” Turning to go, Fowler left the envelope on Cord’s desk. “Keep the money. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve earned it.”

  As the door closed, Cord stared at the thick white envelope. For perhaps the first time since he’d met Fowler, the other man had shown a decent, almost humble side. He opened it up and took out the contents. Stunned, he counted the neat stack of hundred dollar bills three times. While he knew Fowler technically still owed him twenty-seven thousand dollars, he hadn’t imagined the other man would pay it in cash.

  With this, not only could he keep his business afloat until he got new clients, but he could afford to pay some of the balance after scholarships to send Renee to art school.

  First, he had to get the ball rolling around here.

  He pulled out a file where he kept the names and phone numbers of all the local bail bondsmen. He picked up the phone and dialed the first number. Time to start reestablishing contacts and let everyone know he was back in the game.

  Just as he’d finished the call, his door opened again and Fowler stepped inside. “You got a minute? I drove down the street and turned around when I realized there was something else I needed to discuss with you.”

  “Sure.” Cord indicated the chair across from his desk. “Take a seat. If you’ve come back to get your money, it’s all right here.” He pushed the envelope across the desk.

  Sitting, Fowler eyed it but made no move to take it. “No, that’s not why I’m here.” He sat back, his relaxed—for Fowler—posture told Cord he meant to stay awhile. Truth be told, Cord was sort of glad. He’d never enjoyed working the phones.

  “I’m guessing Piper told you the body wasn’t Eldridge’s?” Fowler continued. “I was all fired up to get the will read, but now I wish I hadn’t. Turns out old Hugh—he’s Dad’s attorney—will be controlling the company.”

  Since no response appeared to be required, Cord simply nodded.

 
“I thought that reading the will would really help simplify things. With Eldridge missing, it’s difficult for me to make any major decisions.” Fowler grimaced. “Now, there’s no damn point. Hugh has no idea how to run Colton Incorporated. Do you have any more of that bourbon?”

  “Sure.” Cord got out the bottle and poured Fowler a glass. “Here you go.”

  “You’re not having any?” Fowler asked, raising his and taking a deep swallow.

  “Not just yet. You were saying?”

  “Too much,” Fowler responded. “Forget everything I just said. It’s personal, and I had no business involving you.”

  Cord inclined his head in a quick nod, figuring the other man would soon get to the point.

  “Actually, I came to talk to you about Piper. I don’t know if you’re aware, but Eldridge had someone specific in mind he wanted Piper to marry. A guy who works for us named Shane Sutton. He’s an upper level manager and his family is very wealthy. I like him a lot.”

  Cord wasn’t surprised. From what he’d seen and heard of the Colton family patriarch, control was exceedingly important to him. “No. I wasn’t aware. Piper never mentioned that to me. Does she know?”

  “Oh, yeah. Eldridge made no secret of his attempts to push the two of them together.”

  “I take it Piper didn’t like him?” Heart pounding, Cord waited for Fowler’s answer, stunned by the depth of his emotion.

  “I don’t think she ever gave the guy a chance, honestly.” Fowler smiled and took another drink. “You know how she is. She was upset Eldridge truly wanted to control her life. And Pipe’s the type of person who will do the opposite, just because she hates being ordered around.”

  Relief flooded him, though he took care not to show it. “I don’t blame her. That’s kind of sad, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah.” Fowler gave a short, humorless bark of laughter. “He’s like that, you know. When Reid wanted to go into law enforcement rather than work on the family ranch, I thought he was going to disown him.”

  Cord nodded, not sure where Fowler might be going with this.

  “How is Piper, by the way?” Leaning forward in his chair, Fowler focused on Cord. “I know you’re helping her, but you haven’t mentioned her state of mind.”

  “Great. She seems really happy.”

  “Good. Do you have any idea why she won’t come home for good?”

  Cord had several, though he felt sure Fowler already knew them. Whatever Fowler was getting at, his usual direct approach had vanished.

  “What’s going on?” Cord asked, instead of answering. “You’re circling around something, which must be important. Why don’t you just come right out and say whatever it is you need to say.”

  “Fine.” Fowler gave him a half smile and a look of grudging respect. “You’re absolutely right. Let me ask you something first. Do you love my sister?”

  Stunned, Cord wasn’t sure how to respond. Since he could only speak the truth, he did. “I don’t know. I think I could, very easily.”

  Fowler nodded. “What about her? Does Piper believe herself in love with you?”

  Funny how his heart skipped a beat at the thought.

  “Again, I have no idea. If she does, she hasn’t said anything to me.”

  “All right. This situation might not be as bad as I first thought. At least I know where we all stand. Listen, Cord.” Again Fowler leaned close, his breath smelling like bourbon. “Since you think you could possibly love Piper, I want you to think about what she’s giving up staying with you.”

  “Giving up?” Cord frowned. “I’m not sure I follow.”

  “Piper was raised with every luxury imaginable. Servants, cooks, even her own personal shopper. She wants to start her own business, did you know that?” Fowler rushed on without giving Cord a chance to answer. “The Colton name and my connections, as well as Marceline’s and Whitney’s, will be invaluable to her in getting started.”

  “True.” Chest tight, Cord figured he knew where the other man was heading.

  Fowler cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. “I know you two have a relationship going. Reid told me. Hold on.” He held up his hand when Cord started to speak. “And that’s all well and good, as long as you keep it casual.”

  “Which it is,” Cord put in, biting back his growing anger.

  “For right now. But if either of you are considering taking it to another level, such as, I don’t know, professing your undying love, I hope you really think about the consequences.”

  “Which are?” Cord asked through clenched teeth.

  Draining his drink, Fowler shook his head. “Look, you seem like a nice guy. And Reid tells me you’ve got a little farm on the outskirts of town. But you have to know, once the rosy glow of infatuation fades, Piper will never be happy there. How could she be, going from Colton Valley Ranch to a small farm?”

  Cord stood, his hands clenched into fists. “I think you’ve said enough. I’m going to have to ask you to leave. Here.” He shoved the envelope the rest of the way across the desk. It flew off and landed in Fowler’s lap. “Take your money with you.”

  Rising, Fowler let the envelope fall to the floor. “Again, keep it. That’s just a drop in the bucket to me. I know I’ve made you angry, but all I ask is that you think on what I’ve said for a couple of days. Will you do that?”

  “Get. Out.” Hand shaking, Cord pointed toward the door. “Now.”

  Making no move to pick up the envelope, Fowler shook his head and eyed his empty glass. “Thanks for the drink. Please, consider what I’ve said. Believe me, it’s sound advice. Have a good evening.”

  And he left.

  As soon as the door closed, Cord got up and locked it. He picked up the envelope from the floor and carried it back to his desk. Then he got his bourbon, poured his own glass and slugged it down.

  *

  Piper couldn’t wait for Cord to come home. Renee had gone to work, and Piper had made one of her favorite childhood meals, a big pot of ham and pinto beans. She’d even baked some sweet cornbread to go with it. The recipe she’d used had never been written down, but instead had been passed from one Colton woman to another. Whitney had learned it from Eldridge’s mother years ago before she’d passed, and had taken it upon herself to teach Marceline, Alanna and Piper how to make the Southern delicacy. This had been the only time she’d ever done anything even remotely domestic with her daughters, and for that reason, Piper cherished the memory.

  Now, Piper had prepared this particular meal for a reason. Years ago, when Cord had lived on the ranch, Whitney had instructed her cook to make a huge pot of it and had it taken down to the hired hand barracks to feed all the hands. Piper had trailed along after the crew. She’d seen Cord’s reaction when he’d taken his first bite. He’d told her later he’d never had anything so good. As a kid who’d tasted everything from caviar to lobster on the half shell, she’d felt sorry for him at the time.

  She wondered now if he’d remember. Actually, she could hardly wait to see.

  When she heard the sound of his truck tires on the gravel road, she rushed to the front door. Then, deciding she didn’t want to appear overeager, she went back into the kitchen to give the pot one more stir. Truman looked up and grunted, before drifting back to sleep.

  Cord came in, his expression black as he strode past her without a single word or even a glance. Her welcoming smile died on her lips as she watched him disappear into his room, closing the door firmly behind him.

  Crud. What else could have gone wrong? She considered giving him a minute, but she’d never been a coward or one to back away from trouble. So she marched on down the hall to his room and tapped on his door.

  “What?” The harshness of his tone made her stomach clench.

  “Are you all right?” she asked.

  “I’m fine,” he snapped back. “I’m just not a good candidate for company right now.”

  She turned the doorknob and went in anyway. Cord sat on the edge of his bed, head
in his hands. He looked up when she walked in but didn’t move.

  “You should go,” he told her, his voice as hard as the look in his eyes.

  “I made a special dinner.” She spoke softly, soothingly. “Something you used to like a lot back when we were kids. Do you want to come eat?”

  “No.”

  “Are you sure?” she pushed. “You’re usually hungry at this time of day.”

  He uncoiled himself and got to his feet. “Don’t make me be cruel to you.” The pleading note in his otherwise cold voice made her heart ache. And his words...

  “What are you trying to say?” Bracing herself, she crossed her arms and kept her head up.

  “I didn’t ask you to cook for me.”

  “No. I do it because I love to cook. And you’re an appreciative audience.”

  The compliment bounced off him like rubber-tipped arrows on a suit of metal armor. Any other time, such a corny analogy would have made her smile. Not now, when she had a pretty good idea of what he was about to do.

  What she didn’t understand was why.

  “I think it’s time you go back to where you belong,” he said. The bleakness in his eyes felt like a punch in the stomach.

  “What happened today, Cord?” she asked, moving closer. “When you left earlier, everything was fine. Now just a few hours later and you act like I’ve sprouted a horn and grown hairy warts. What gives?”

  His nonchalant shrug didn’t fool her. “I came to realize you don’t fit in my world,” he said. “Right now, all of this simple living probably feels like a novelty. Fun, different, maybe even exciting until the newness wears off. Then, when you realize you no longer have all the little luxuries you had at Colton Valley Ranch, you’ll go running home as fast as you can.”

  Now she got it. “You’re afraid I’ll hurt you.”

  Instead of responding, he looked down. When he raised his head again, his features might have been carved in stone. “Go, Piper. Get out. I don’t want you here any longer.”

  Stunned, she didn’t move. She knew this wasn’t true—it couldn’t be. But Cord didn’t lie. If he told her he didn’t want her, he must mean it.