Can't Fight It (Fair Lakes Book 3)

by Kaylee Ryan

  I glance around at the sample photos on the walls. Most are large portraits, beautifully framed, and displaying the photographer’s work. Two catch my eye right away. It’s a little girl posing on an All Fit T-shirt. I realize I’ve seen that photo before. At the gym. It’s little Sophia on her daddy’s shirt.

  But the photo next to that one is the one I study now. It’s Milo, only a month old, and sleeping on an Army jacket. My heart clenches as it rises to my throat. I’ve seen this one too. It’s on Colton’s living room wall. The gift Gabby and Chase gave him when he moved in.

  Suddenly, I know what I need to do.

  I slip inside the studio, the photographer giving me a wide smile. “I’ll be with you in just a minute,” she says as she finishes snapping pictures of the sleeping angel on the cloud.

  Milo and I have a seat in the sitting area. He’s anxious to get out of the stroller, so I unhook his belt and hold him on my lap. He’s super chatty, now that he’s had some juice, and is giving big cheesy grins.

  “Oh, that’s the smile I want to catch,” the photographer says as she approaches. “How can I help you?”

  “I don’t have an appointment,” I start. “I was hoping you had an appointment available this morning?”

  “While I take appointments, I also love walk-ins, sweetie, so you’re next! Do you have a set in mind?” she asks, as she reaches her finger out, Milo grabbing on.

  “Not really, but he’s the little one in that photo over there,” I say, pointing to the wall. “The one with the Army jacket.”

  The photographer smiles widely. “I remember him. His daddy was away in the Army, right?”

  I nod, that familiar lump in my throat returning. “He’s home now, but I’d love to get an updated version of Milo for his wall.”

  She agrees. “Yes, I can picture it now. I still have the jacket too. Let me get the set ready. Give me two minutes,” she says as she turns, heading toward her studio. “I’m Helena, by the way.”

  “Hollis,” I reply, following slowly as Helena removes the white cloud and the sky backdrop. She pulls a brown version down, stretching it out over the floor.

  “How about you strip him down to his diaper? I think that’ll be a cute picture.” Helena goes to the clothing rack and pulls the Army jacket off the hanger. She pulls a small wooden crate from the stack and flips it over in the middle of the set. Then, she drapes the jacket over the crate, arranging it so it covers the wood and displays the branch of the military’s name across the floor.

  “What do you think of this?” she asks.

  “I love it,” I tell her, my heart galloping in my chest with excitement.

  “Will he be able to sit on the crate? You can stay close,” she says.

  “He should be okay. He’s practically a little monkey all of a sudden.”

  When I set him down on the crate, his pudgy little legs on the floor, Helena brings over a helmet. “What do you think of this? I can set it on the floor, or it might be really cute if he’s wearing it.”

  I can’t help but smile. “I’ll leave it up to you,” I say as the scene starts to come together perfectly.

  “You hold it, and I’ll get my camera ready.” It only takes her a few seconds. Helena snaps a couple of pictures and checks the screen. “I’m ready to go.”

  For the next ten minutes, she takes photo after photo of Milo. The little guy is all smiles as he looks at the funny lady making silly noises and faces at him. Tears fill my eyes as I watch, unable to hold in the emotion any longer. Unable to hide what this little boy and his dad mean to me.

  “How about you stand behind him, Mommy? Kick off your socks and shoes first and slip back on his little blue jeans, but keep his shirt off. See if you can get him to stand up, holding onto your fingers,” she directs.

  That’s when my heart basically explodes with love.

  “Oh, I’m not….” But I can’t seem to get the rest of the words out.

  Because in my mind, I want to be his mom.

  I am his mom.

  So I do as the photographer instructs. I stand behind him, my blue painted toes on display as I stand him up. Milo takes my fingers immediately, looks up at me, and smiles. I hear the shutter snapping, but I don’t pay it any attention. My eyes are cast down on the little boy who owns my heart.

  “I think we got some amazing pictures,” Helena says, setting her camera down beside her. “I’m assuming these are gifts?”

  Picking up Milo, I nod.

  “I’ll have them ready Christmas Eve. I’m offering a framing special too right now for the holidays. Frames are forty percent off with the purchase of photos. You can get him dressed and throw your shoes back on. I’ll pull these up on my computer so you can pick which ones you want.”

  I spend the next fifteen minutes placing my order. I’ve never spent money on professional photos before, and I’m a little surprised at the price, but they’re worth it. I order an eleven by fourteen of the Army jacket photo for Colton. Milo’s holding the helmet on his head and smiling a big grin at the camera, his first two front teeth on full display. I order a bunch of smaller ones too to give to family, as well as an eight by ten for Connie and Wes.

  Then, I look at the one of Milo and me. You can’t see my face in the photo, only my legs from just above my knees and my hands. I’m not the focal point of the picture, though. That’s Milo. He’s standing in front of me, his little Buddha belly on full display. He’s smiling, but not at the camera. This time, he’s looking up. He’s grinning at me. And even though you can’t see my face, I know I’m smiling down at him too.

  That’s why I order it and have it framed.

  For me.

  To remind me of the love and adoration I have for this little boy, who clearly adores me too.

  We finish up our shopping, stop in the food court for a quick bite to eat, which includes jarred sweet potatoes and Hawaiian delight for Milo, and head for home. The snow is falling, sooner than anticipated, so I take my time. Even in Colton’s truck, I drive a little under the speed limit, careful to slow to a stop at all intersections. When we pull into the driveway, I finally feel like I can breathe. I didn’t realize I was practically holding my breath and completely tense until I’m parked safely in the garage.

  I leave my bags and the stroller, for now, anxious to get Milo inside and to bed for a nap. He’s been a trooper today, but I can tell the crash is coming. With my keys already in hand, as Colton keeps instructing, I head toward the back door, Milo’s car seat in hand. I’m barely inside and have him released from the buckles of his seat when the front doorbell rings.

  “Who could that be?” I ask, picking up Milo and positioning him on my hip.

  When I glance out the peephole, I don’t see anyone. Did I imagine it?

  I turn around just as the doorbell rings a second time. My heartrate escalates as I glance through the peephole again. This time, I see a woman standing there. I don’t recognize her. Against my better judgment, I release the lock and pull open the door. A burst of cold air hits me, and I try to adjust Milo, so he’s shielded from the frigid temperatures.

  “Can I help you?” I ask through the glass screen door.

  “Actually, yes. Hollis Taylor?” she asks politely, a friendly smile on her face.

  “Ummm, yes,” I confirm, my hand on the door. It would only take one second for me to step back and close it quickly.

  But I’m unable to move.

  I have no time to react.

  Behind the woman stands a man.

  One I recognize.

  A face that’s haunted my dreams for months.

  The one from the alley.

  The one I’m running from.

  He steps completely into view, his hands stuffed in his pockets as he says, “I’ve been looking for you.”

  Chapter 15

  Colton

  With the snow starting to fall, the calls and cancellations begin to roll in. Normally, I would be irritated because that makes the day drag by
, but Chase and Harrison have decided to close the gym. For the safety of the employees and the members. We’re all going home. I can’t be mad about that. Hollis and Milo should be home from shopping by now. An early day with my two favorite people sounds like exactly what I need.

  “You going to make it home in that?” Chase asks, pointing out the window to Hollis’s car.

  “Yeah, I should be fine. It’ll just take me a little longer.”

  “You want me to drop you off?” he offers.

  “No. I’m good.” It’s going to take me a little longer to get home, but that’s a small price to pay knowing that Hollis and Milo were safer today in my truck. I need to talk to her about maybe getting an SUV. She needs something with four-wheel drive or at least all-wheel drive for these Missouri winters.

  “Can’t believe you let her take your truck,” Chase comments.

  He’s grinning, so I know he’s giving me shit. “So, you’re telling me that you would let Gabby go out with your baby when you knew the weather was getting bad in that”—I point out the window to Hollis’s car—“instead of your truck.”

  “Nope.” His reply is immediate.

  “That’s what I thought,” I fire back, and he laughs as my phone rings. Glancing at the screen, I see Hollis’s name, and I smile. “Hey, babe, we were just talking about you.”

  “Colt.”

  The way she says my name has fear racing down my spine. “What is it? What happened?” My voice is steady and stern, with a hint of fear that my brother picks up on immediately.

  “Everything is fine.” She tries to reassure me, but I can hear it in her voice that everything is not fine.

  “Hollis,” I warn. I hear her words, but I also hear her voice, and I can’t describe it. Is it fear? Is it pain?

  “Are you on your way home?” she asks, her voice soft.

  “Yes. Tell me what happened,” I say, pulling her keys out of my pocket and heading for the door. I’m stopped when Chase’s hand lands on my shoulder. He holds up his keys and points to his chest. I get what he’s saying. He’s driving. I nod, and he turns off the lights and locks up before we climb into his truck and head toward my place.

  “I’m fine. Milo is fine,” she says, her voice cracking.

  “That’s good, baby. I need you to tell me,” I say, glancing over at Chase. He has a worried expression on his face, but he keeps his eyes on the road. Focused on getting us to them. To my entire fucking world.

  “It’s a lot to explain. I promise you that we’re both fine.”

  “What’s a lot to explain?” I question her. Trying like hell to pull something out of her. Any morsel of information to know what I’m walking into.

  “It’s over. It’s finally over,” she says, and now I know she’s crying.

  “What’s over, Hollis?”

  “I’m safe. We’re safe.”

  The tension I was feeling lessens. “Can you tell me what that means?” I ask her.

  “I will when you get home. I just… needed you.”

  My chest tightens. I never in my life thought hearing a woman tell me that she needed me could cause my heart to swell as it tries to beat out of my chest, but that’s exactly what’s happening right here in the passenger seat of my brother’s truck. “Chase is bringing me home. We’re in his truck so we can get there faster. We’re maybe ten minutes away,” I tell her.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you when you get here.” She pauses. “Colt?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I love you.”

  Damn this woman, and what she does to me. “I love you too. I’ll be there soon.”

  “Okay.” The line goes dead, and I drop my phone to my lap.

  “Well?” Chase asks.

  “I don’t know, man. All she managed to tell me was that she was safe. That we’re safe. I don’t know what that means, but I can only assume the guy has been caught? I hope to hell he’s either dead or rotting in jail. I hate looking over my shoulder, and what’s worse is the worry and fear for Hollis and all of you. My son, you and Gabby, and Mom and Dad. Everyone who is close to us.”

  “She’s all right? Milo…” He swallows hard. “He’s all right?”

  “Yeah. She assured me they were both fine.”

  Chase nods. He loves his nephew, their bond is… special. Chase thought he was Milo’s father for a while, and he fell in love with him only as a father can. Then, he learned that he wasn’t the father, but the uncle. It was hard for him. I think the fact that he and Gabby are so close to the delivery of their own baby helps. I also know it’s a bond that I will never be able to explain, and I don’t want to. It’s special between the two of them. My brother, although younger, he’s the true hero. He stepped up, and even after he found out Milo wasn’t his son but his nephew, he loved and cared for him until I could. I’ll never be able to repay him for that.

  “Seems like my little brother is always bailing me out,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. I’m still scared as hell, but I trust Hollis.

  “Nah, you would do the same for me.”

  “I would. I appreciate you driving me. I’m sure you’d much rather be home with Gabby.”

  “She’ll understand. I’ll call her when we get to your place.”

  “Thank you, Chase. For stepping up with Milo, for loving him and taking care of him. For being here with me now.”

  “That’s what family does.”

  “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

  “Your thanks is enough. I mean, you can throw in some babysitting when my little girl gets here. Give Mommy and Daddy some alone time,” he says, smiling, his eyes still on the road.

  “Definitely,” I say, and then his words register with me. “Little girl?” I ask. He’s so blissed out over the thought of his wife and daughter he doesn’t even realize what he just said.

  “Fuck,” he mutters under his breath. “Did I say little girl? I mean, when my girl delivers.” He tries to cover up his slip and does a terrible job at it.

  “No, that’s not what you said.” I’m grinning from ear to ear. “I’m getting a niece,” I say. “Don’t worry, Uncle Colt and Cousin Milo will help you scare off all the boys.”

  “Let’s not talk about my daughter and boys,” he says, his voice stern.

  His grip tightens on the wheel, and I hold in my laughter. That could be any of us, and the thought of a daughter, and all the dicks out there… that shit is scary.

  “There!” I point at him. “You admit it.”

  “Fuck, don’t tell Gabs. She’d kill me if she knew that I let the gender slip. She has this big reveal planned when we’re all together for Christmas.”

  “I won’t say a word,” I assure him as he pulls into my driveway. “You recognize that SUV?” I ask Chase. It’s all black with tinted windows. I know before I ask the question that he’s not going to know who it is.

  “No,” he says, putting his truck in Park, but I’m already reaching for the handle and climbing out. “He’s here. He found her, and her call was her way of getting me here. Fuck!” I run into the house, slipping and sliding on the snow and ice. I almost bust my ass, but I get my footing under me and keep running. I don’t stop until I reach the front door, and bust through, not knowing what I’m walking into, but knowing that my entire fucking life is behind these four walls.

  Twisting the handle, I push through the door and survey what I see. Hollis is sitting on the loveseat with Milo asleep in her arms. She’s holding him close, but she doesn’t seem to be afraid or in distress.

  “Colt.” She smiles as tears shimmer in her eyes.

  I rush to her, taking the seat next to her. Leaning over, I kiss her softly on the lips, running my hands down Milo’s back. I then look at the man and woman sitting on the couch. “What’s going on?” I ask, keeping my eyes on them.

  “Who are they?” Chase asks, joining us. He walks over to the loveseat and perches on the arm on the other side of Hollis, crossing his arms over his chest.

 
; “This is Nancy Dawson and Tom Lane.”

  “LAPD, special task force,” Tom offers.

  “Why are you in our home?”

  “Tom is the cop, Colt. He’s the one I saw that night,” Hollis tells me.

  “Leave,” I say, my voice deadly calm.

  “No,” Hollis speaks up. “I’m sorry I’m not doing very well at explaining. I’m just relieved that it’s all over.”

  “Okay, baby.” I kiss her temple, resting my hand on her thigh. I then turn my gaze to Tom. “Start talking.”

  He nods. “Special Task Force also means undercover. I was undercover the night Hollis ran into us in the alley. We had to stay in part. I wanted to tell her that she was safe, my partner Hannah too, but Hannah couldn’t leave what looked like a drug bust to chase after an innocent bystander.”

  “You were dealing?”

  He nods. “Yeah. We had been working on this bust for months. I was playing the part of the crooked cop, stealing drugs from the evidence room.”

  “It wasn’t real drugs,” Nancy speaks up. “It was manufactured to look that way. That night was the big bust. Hollis just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  “The messages?” I ask them. “She’s been getting messages.” I look over at Hollis. “Did you tell them?”

  She nods. “I did.”

  “I can explain,” Nancy says. “That night, Hollis being in the alley wasn’t all that went wrong. There were supposed to be two men meeting Tom that night. One of them didn’t show up. One was arrested, and Tom got away. Obviously, we let him. However, they knew he was a cop and insisted on a copy of the police report. Hollis was mentioned. Not her name, but a woman. They were insistent that we, the police, knew who she was. We didn’t know that night, but we found her.”

  “That’s why I went to the shelter. I had a note.” Tom reaches into his pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. “I was going to hand you this, but you ran.” He holds out his hand, and I reach for the note. “I was being followed, so I had to sound menacing. When you’re undercover, you never know who is lurking in the shadows. You never know who you can and can’t trust. That note was the only way for us to let you know that you were safe. He didn’t see you that night, Hollis. It was only me,” Tom says reassuringly.