Secret Baby (The House of Morgan, #2)

by Victoria Pinder

  The bell chimes of the door on Vicki's way out told her that she could breathe again. Her skin felt like ice, but the humidity that pressed against her would make her melt. As she walked across the parking lot, her stomach flipped. Why Colt would marry Belle, she had no idea. Vicki started her car and closed her eyes. Her skin crawled with anxiety. She swallowed and found her phone. "Clara is the only good thing in my life now."

  Her skin jumped as the air conditioning blasted against her. She picked up her phone and called her brother, but no one answered at John's house. She checked her messages, but she had no new or missed calls. Her shoulders caved as she told herself she'd not cry.

  A few minutes later, she knocked and John let her in. "Why didn't you answer?" She hugged her brother and heard her daughter's laughter in the back. "How is Clara?"

  John tucked his hands in his pockets. "She's great. We went to the store for some ice cream."

  Alice waved. Vicki nodded and swallowed. John brought her to the table, where she saw papers from Peter's lawyer. She read that it was a contract for authorization. She'd need a lawyer if Belle became Colt's wife. She gazed at Clara as she signed the papers on the table that authorized the attorney. Then she pushed the papers toward John, and her phone rang again. She glanced at the number and sighed. Finally. Colt's name flashed on her screen. Her heart raced as she answered. "Colt. Hello."

  "I was booking Belle an airline ticket all morning. I'm at the airport with her now, and this day has been long."

  He hadn't been at the store. She massaged her neck and stared at John, Alice, and Clara. Now was not the time to sound bitter, so she swallowed. "I called and left a message."

  "I know. It's been a hectic morning. I'm glad you're with Clara. We'll talk when I get home."

  "Belle made me meet her at my shop." The static on the phone was so intense that she wasn't sure he'd heard her. "Hello?"

  The line was hard to hear, but the sound did change into machines in the background. Colt told her, "I have to go."

  "Can you hear me?"

  "I'm heading inside with her bag, then she'll be gone. On your way home, can you and Clara meet me at the diner around seven?"

  Her racing heart beat for a new reason. Maybe Belle was a momentary blip, though that didn't explain the dress shop. A family dinner with Colt relaxed her mind. "Sounds good. Thank you."

  "And tell my sister hello for me, and that I'll stop by soon."

  "I will." She smiled up at her friends. "We'll see you tonight."

  Her family smiled at her, and Vicki stared at Clara. "Ready to go? We have errands to run, and then we'll have dinner with your dad."

  "Okay," Clara answered. "Bye, Uncle John and Aunt Alice."

  Vicki shook her head and then hugged John and Alice. She grabbed her bags as Alice walked them out. "My brother is a good guy. I knew he'd not let you down."

  "He is always good to me." In Vicki's dreams, she'd have been in a family and lived on that farm with him, but she couldn't let those dreams mess with her reality. "But he's still engaged."

  "I hope for your sake and his that everything works out."

  Her friend was generous. Vicki found her keys in her bag and held out her hand for Clara. Once they were near the door, Vicki whispered to Alice, "Tonight, Clara and I meet him for dinner, just the three of us."

  "Good luck." Alice held the door.

  Vicki walked Clara her to the car. Once her daughter was secure in the car seat, Vicki let the bubbles that grew in her stomach send a smile through her. Tonight, they were going to be a family. It was all that mattered. Today was going great.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Vicki's heart skipped a beat the moment she parked the car in the lot outside the diner. Colt would tell her what happened today. Her stomach flipped with the thought that he'd found a way to work everything out with Belle. It sounded like they had dated for years. She closed her eyes as she imagined Colt kissing her and saying he wasn't getting married.

  She swallowed, and then fixed her hair one more time with the front mirror. Then she stared into the backseat. Clara wore a new pink dress that matched Vicki's. Once the decision to dress alike hit Clara, Vicki had jumped in to find the perfect outfits. There were a few differences in the attire. The bottom of Clara's dress flared out, and Vicki's bottom clung to her body. The high belts also made her waist seem tiny. All of this was to show Colt that they were a family. Clara danced to her music.

  Vicki's makeup was flawless. She stepped out of the car and thought she saw a flash of light. A memory of New York where the Hudson family smoked her out once played in her mind. She shook her head, blamed the sun, and helped Clara get out of the car seat. She fixed the hem of the dress at the same time. Finished, they went inside, and Vicki held the door.

  Clara ran the moment she spotted Colt as he stood next to a table. Vicki's heart leapt as her gaze followed her daughter. Then her hands went to fists at her side and she plastered on her widest smile as she sashayed over. Heat raced up her spine, as she saw Colt in his blue jeans and button-down white shirt. Clara hugged her father, and his face almost showed relief. That wasn't possible. He couldn't know she'd spoken to a lawyer, unless Alice told him.

  Clara babbled that she had a great day, and that Vicki was awesome. He mussed her hair as he stood and offered his arm to Vicki.

  Her arms ached to hug him, but she held them locked at her side. Then, a second later, he opened his arms and offered a hug. Vicki's heart beat faster, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. His huge bicep almost blocked out the world as she did. She licked her lips and wished to kiss him again.

  "Dad, Vicki and I went swimming, but I missed you so much." Clara jumped up in her seat and scooted over to the center as he stepped back. "Dad, you sit next to Vicki."

  Vicki adjusted her shirt and glanced at Colt's brown eyes. If she was engaged to him, she'd never let him have dinner with another woman. She took the seat opposite their daughter and let Colt sit where he wanted, though he followed their daughter's orders.

  "Bossy as ever." Colt wrapped his arm behind her chair. "Should I offer Vicki a napkin on her lap or just hand it to her?"

  Vicki laughed and then shook her head at Clara. "Handing it to me is fine."

  Colt winked. "No, wait. The princess is directing."

  "Hand it to her and kiss her hand, Dad."

  Vicki shook her head, though she imagined how his lips would feel against her skin. She took the napkin from his hand and threw it in her lap. Colt elbowed Vicki and her entire body relaxed. "Why did Belle leave so suddenly?"

  "Gone back to D.C.," Colt said. "She had a job to finish."

  Clara bounced in her chair. Colt leaned closer to his daughter. "Did I tell you how I met Vicki?"

  Vicki blinked. He intended to change the conversation from Belle to childhood. She opened her mouth, but then Clara giggled. "How, Dad? Tell me."

  Colt's arm on her chair seemed permanent. Vicki settled into her seat and scooted closer. "I followed your Aunt Alice to get her to go home so Grandma would serve our dinner. I'd told Aunt Alice not to talk to the blonde earlier, but she dragged me to say hello. Vicki then told me she sat behind me in Spanish class. I knew that, but I hadn't had the nerve to say anything to her."

  Vicki's mouth fell open. "You knew?"

  He stared at her and nodded. "You scared me."

  He was never afraid of anything in his life. "You?"

  His cheeks tinged red as he turned to Clara. "Yeah. Then she smiled at me every day after, and I switched my seat in accounting to sit closer to her."

  Vicki added, "Your dad was two years older than us, so he didn't talk to any other girl my age."

  "She says that now, but Victoria Morgan was the girl everyone was afraid of in school."

  "I was not."

  Clara asked, "You did? You were afraid of Vicki?"

  Vicki shook her head. "Your dad has a great smile, and he's trustworthy. It's pretty rare in my world."

  Colt winke
d at her. "I came home from a semester at college, and after I kissed you, you freaked out that you'd betrayed your friend."

  "I just graduated high school." Vicki laughed as she remembered how innocent she was then. "Then I told you my dad would never approve."

  "So Vicki and I were a secret, and we didn't tell your grandparents, either." Colt then winked at Clara. "Remember I told you not to tell Grandma when we visit Aunt Alice?"

  "You dated my Vicki, Daddy?" Clara asked.

  It was clear that her daughter intended to ask about her mother again. Vicki blinked. Her heart soared. This was the moment she'd been waiting for.

  The click of heels interrupted. The waitress stood over them and placed drinks on the table. Vicki's skin was warm as Colt ordered for their daughter. Then she stared at the menu for ten seconds, and added that she wanted a chicken sandwich. Satisfied, she slid the menu to Colt. Her hands grazed his and heat ignited on her skin. Vicki hoped this interruption didn't change what had almost happened.

  "I never had a mother, and my father never liked me," Vicki said. "John and Peter were older and away. All I had that summer was the music and your dad."

  "My dad loves me," Clara added as she stared at Colt.

  They had a bond that was deep and true. Vicki saw that. "He does."

  Colt sat straighter in his chair. "Clara's easy to love."

  Vicki smiled and held her breath. She had to try. "Having someone who's moral and upright standing next to you is good to have. I didn't think people like your dad existed, and didn't understand for a long time how amazing Colt is."

  Colt lifted his hand off her chair then ran it through his hair. "No. This can't happen. Vicki, you were my every fantasy."

  What was he talking about? She wanted to tell Clara she was her mother, and why did goose bumps grow on her arm?

  Colt continued, "I had to grow up, and I spent most of my life between the middle of the desert, half a world away, and changing diapers."

  She wouldn't try to erase their bond. She hoped to be part of their family. "But we're talking about our family now, and what's important for us to move on."

  "Yes." Colt nodded and crossed his arms. "I hear what you’re saying. I can’t right now. We'll do this tomorrow. Right now, everything is going too fast. I just need to breathe."

  If he didn't want to tell their daughter, then they had a big problem. She glanced at both of them and sighed. One more day wasn't unreasonable. She nodded. "Every moment of my adult life was spent with regret over what happened with you. I can wait one more day for the truth, Colt, but it's not fair to ask for more. I'm trusting you to do this."

  Vicki also hoped to ask what had happened to Belle. One more day was all she could take, though. It was time Clara knew the whole truth.

  "Is it true what was in the papers about your father with tax evasions that are completely legal?" he asked.

  She closed her eyes, inhaled, opened her eyes, and answered, "Yes, every word. He cared more for the Morgan brand and his corporate legacy for Peter than he cared for anyone within the House of Morgan. My father believed that a man's job in life was to leave everything he could to his heir."

  "Mitch Morgan hatched a scheme to get Collins’ lands years ago, because he'd figured out how to drill for oil. My father always thought yours was a thief, though that's not official." His eyes rolled to Clara, who sipped her iced tea, making faces of exuberance every time she tasted her drink. "You deserved better, Victoria Morgan. I'm glad you're free and can experience what family is supposed to be."

  She shook her head, but Colt's words seem to find a way to sprint up her spine and left her tingling. "My shop and the money in my account is all I have now from the House of Morgan, officially. I refused to allow Peter to leave me shares."

  "I'm sure the money is far more than most people can imagine." Colt reached across the table to stroke her hand, and her shoulders became less tense. "Vicki, you don't know how to trust anyone or how to do anything but run away."

  The only honest person she truly knew stared at her. Her eyes met his and she gulped. She needed to change topics fast, as her stomach twisted in knots. "What happened to Belle?"

  His cheeks turned red. "I told you. She's gone. I drove her to the airport."

  Gone wasn't how a man in love typically talked, was it? "For good? Or is the wedding still on, Colt?"

  He stared at the table. Then he gazed at Clara. "I told her I'd cancel the wedding, return the gifts, and pay back any money spent."

  Her heart thundered as heat coursed through her. She had to school her face and not smile. He was in pain. Her lips didn't quite close, and all she could say was, "Ohh, wow."

  He reached across the table again and took her hand. His sexy eyes stared back at her, and she lost her voice. Her cheeks burned as he told her, "I did it because I am not packing Clara and moving to Washington. Our lives are here."

  "I'm glad." With unshed tears in her eyes, Vicki had so many more questions and so much to say, but not in front of Clara. Not yet. They might turn out to be a family, and tomorrow they'd tell her.

  The waitress returned with plates of food. "Let's eat," Vicki said.

  He massaged his neck. "I don't want to hurt you, Vicki. You're important too."

  They had a chance to start something now. She gazed at her plate to not give away her thoughts. "The promise you made about the natural and right moment is soon, Colt. Then we have no walls that might come between us."

  "I understand." He nodded.

  Clara ate her food in silence mostly, but stared at both the adults.

  Vicki's heart kept up its pitter-patter every time she peeked at Colt, so she focused on her chicken sandwich until there was nothing left on her plate.

  Done, she glanced at Colt. He had finished too. She bit her lip for a moment and then asked, "Want me to drive Clara, or do you want to take her?"

  He shook his head. "I let you have her all day. Meet you at home."

  A home sounded great. He walked behind her to her car and then buckled Clara in her car seat. With their daughter staring at them, he kept one hand in his pocket and hugged Vicki goodbye. She pressed her arms around his shoulders and whispered, "See you at home."

  He nodded.

  Fire burned inside her on the ride back. For once everything was going right in the world, and she couldn't wait.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Colt beat them home, and waited for them on the porch. Vicki stared at his manly silhouette—his hard muscles, chiseled chin, and cowboy hat—as she drove up. Her heart surged the moment she parked and imagined that he'd come into the light and kiss her. The image left her breathless, and her lips tingled. She swallowed and tried to ignore the visions as she turned off the engine. Clara was fast asleep in her car seat.

  "Leave your suitcase for me. I'll get it later."

  The sound of his voice was like a warm tropical breeze. His broad shoulders drew closer as she unlocked her door and stepped out of the car. Her body warmed as he came closer, though he headed for the back. She straightened her dress as he picked up Clara. Vicki followed him inside the house with the small bags.

  She placed her shopping bags on the counter as Colt carried Clara right into her to bed. A moment later, she kicked off her Jimmy Choos and then went to her daughter's room. Colt already had her on the bed, so she fixed her sweet daughter's hair on the pillow. She'd not miss another day. Tomorrow, no matter what happened, they had to tell Clara.

  Clara lightly snored.

  Colt stood and took Vicki's hand. His huge hand sent a wave that washed through her as he led her back to the living area. As he led her to the couch, she flipped on the lights as hope surged through her. Her entire body tingled with his nearness. He helped her settle on the couch and then sat beside her.

  "Colt, tomorrow we are telling her I'm her mom. This pretense is over."

  "Yes." His brown eyes darkened as he stared at her. "Tomorrow, princess. Today was already dramatic, and we have to make sur
e we paint this picture clearly to Clara. I don't want to build up some dream then dash her hopes, Vicki. You both deserve to be treated with honor."

  A spell of some sort was in the air. Everything felt magical. She whispered, "What made you believe it was time to tell her?"

  "Do you want to wait?"

  "No." Her lips tingled as she stared at his mouth. "But what made you change your mind?"

  His hand went on top of hers. "You've been nothing but great with our daughter, and Clara deserves a mother that loves her."

  "Thank you. I'm grateful." She pushed her hair behind her ear. "What happened with Belle?"

  "I don't want to talk about it. Not yet."

  She scooted closer to him, and he whiffed his manly smell. "Colt, I'm here for Clara."

  He held still. "Is that all?"

  Desire wasn't part of their deal, but she'd not say that. It wasn't fair. She met his gaze. "What else is there?"

  Her lips tingled as she opened them and he stared at her mouth. Her skin radiated warmth. Then he shook his head. "Vicki, we are the past. Clara has a future and we're her parents. We have a responsibility..."

  No, he'd not break whatever possessed them both right now. She placed her hand on his arm. "You changed the diapers and did the hard work, Colt, but that doesn't make us any less human."

  His shoulders dropped. "I don't want you to think there is a 'we' because I ended things with Belle. Vicki, you deserve far better treatment, and I'm not ready."

  Guilt didn't belong in their lives. They hadn't done anything to Belle. Vicki's mind went blank. "The only deadline here is telling Clara. No one gets hurt."

  He swallowed then placed his hands gently on her hips. She opened her arms and hugged his shoulder. Fireworks went off inside her body. If they went slowly, they might build a future. "I thought you weren't ready?"

  His arms went around her more firmly, and her eyes grew wider. "You're the light that beams in the darkness, Vicki."

  She closed her eyes. Then he leaned closer, and her body fluttered. "Fireworks" didn't begin to describe how his lips on hers set her off. She stilled until he tugged her hip to bring her closer. She followed, and she could taste the smell of oranges in the air around her.