Vicki reached for his shoulders and massaged his neck for a moment. He turned around and stared at the blonde bombshell who'd changed his life years ago. His heart lifted as she stepped closer to him and wrapped his arms around her. She sighed and said, "Alice sent me a newspaper article. I want to show you." She handed him her phone.
Vicki Morgan, the daughter of the notorious Mitch Morgan, is yet another heiress behaving badly. An affair, revenge, and a secret pregnancy all rolled up into a day in the life of a bored and wicked life.
He blinked and reread that first line. "We had sex the other day. You can't be pregnant."
"I'm not." She shook her head. "I even had my yearly gynecological exam yesterday, so it's definitely not true."
"Why did you go to the doctor? Perhaps that's where that story came from."
"I was waiting for Alice and the doctor was available. I wouldn't have to come back if I did it then, and that sounded good. Every year I get tested for cancer because I don't know my mother's health history."
He nodded. "Okay, princess. Don't worry about it."
Clara's door opened and she tiptoed back into the dining area. "Mom, Dad, is everything all right?"
Colt scratched his chin, and then he told both of them, "Grandma will be here soon, and we shouldn't plan on leaving the farm today."
Clara smiled and went into the living room to watch something on television.
Vicki's face went white, but she held her tongue. Colt traced her arm and offered her a small hug. "Everything will be fine."
Vicki's arms trembled. "She doesn't want me here. Maybe I should go to Alice and John's..."
He hugged her. "Princess, you don't want to go anywhere. Not until we figure out a game plan."
"What happened?" Vicki shook her head, and he took her hand in his. They were in this together. "This entire story doesn't make sense."
"Clara's settled in the living room now. We'll figure out how to handle this."
"Peter's message said to call him. He'll have his staff take care of the press, if we want."
"If he can make the reporters go away, then call your brother."
She picked up her phone. A few seconds later, she said, "Peter, whatever you can do. The new story is one hundred percent nonsense. I'm not pregnant. I drove Alice to the doctor's yesterday, and she was with him the entire time."
A minute later, she hung up and said, "Peter said lie low for twenty-four hours and his team will threaten lawsuits to anyone running this story."
"Not a problem."
She averted her gaze. "On a different note, I'm scared to meet your mother."
He turned and took both of her hands in his. "We'll have grown-up talk. If my mother says anything to you, she's gone."
"Dad, I want to see Grandma," Clara called out, and then turned again to the television.
"Of course." He kept his hands entwined with Vicki's as he told his daughter, "I am speaking to your mom."
Clara called back, "Daddy, I like having a mom."
Vicki's big blue eyes threatened to water again. He held her hands closer to his chest and swayed her gently as he said, "I like having your mom here too. So don't worry about anything."
Clara stayed quiet, and he assumed she was watching a cartoon.
His gaze returned to Vicki, who closed her eyes as she leaned forward and hugged him. He traced her back with his hands as he let his heart still. This was his family, and they needed him.
"I think we should get married to protect Clara."
She bolted out of his arms. "What?"
Had he said that out loud? The idea came from thin air. Vicki completed their family and him. Colt reached out for her hand. "She deserves a family, and the gossip will die down fast if we appear as a team."
She stared into his eyes. "So you want to get married for our daughter?"
"Vicki, I know it sounds crazy, but it will work." He came closer and placed his hand on her shoulder. "We're already a family, but the negative news cares about us because your last name is Morgan. Collins are respectable and boring farmers with a ranch. Besides, it worked for John and Alice."
Vicki paced and crossed her arms. "Not because you love me?"
"Vicki, we're adults." The word love wasn't fair. He reached for her hands, but she jerked away.
She placed her hand on her forehead and shook her head, "I'm not that much of an adult, Colt. And no. Marriage without love is the worst idea."
Then Vicki walked away. He listened for her door closing. The moment he heard it, he understood that he had said the wrong thing. His mind raced. He had no idea how to fix this now.
He gazed outside. The wind rustled a few branches of his trees, and outside would smell like oranges. Vicki was part of this place now.
In the desert he had dreamed she'd come back to him. For years as he'd juggled his career and raising his daughter, he hoped Vicki would return to them. The moment she'd returned to his life and sent her bolts of chaos in everything, he'd been right back to the same thing. This time he needed to ensure she stayed with him. She made him feel alive.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Vicki's heart raced. As she leaned on her bedroom door, she ran her hand through her hair. Colt thought they could get married without love? Her entire body trembled.
Then she heard a knock at the front door.
Every muscle in her body stayed tense as she heard Colt open the front door with a "Hey."
Pinpricks settled on her skin, and she paced. There was no way she could face someone who wanted her gone right now. His mother must be with him. She'd tell him that he was a fool to ask her to marry him. If their roles were reversed, she'd not be fond of any guy who hurt her own daughter.
As tension raced up her spine, she rocked. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Colt would be the worst choice, as she loved him.
No voices emerged outside.
As she stood, she listened. Eventually her throat was parched, and she went into the kitchen for water.
Images of the worst-case scenario played in her mind as she filled her glass. At any second, they could walk inside and face her.
She took her glass and tried to slip into her room, but Clara called out, "Can we go see my horse, Mom?"
Colt must have taken his mother outside. Vicki sucked in her breath. "Let's shower and get ready first."
"Yeah!" Clara jumped off the couch and raced to her room.
Vicki gulped down her water. The dryness remained. Eventually Colt could love her, but he needed time to see it. There had to be a way to stall. She'd not marry out of obligation or because it was the "right thing to do."
Then her phone rang. Vicki heard Clara's shower as she answered, "Hey."
"Why hello, my villainous, man-stealing best friend out to trap my brother." Alice giggled. "That sounds even more ridiculous if you say it out loud."
A small smile broke out on Vicki's face. "Alice, don't be silly. I don't know what to do. Your mother is outside, talking to Colt."
"She's nice. Relax. She'll help you."
Vicki closed her eyes. "I can't. Colt's big plan today was to marry me just to keep me safe."
Alice answered fast, "What?"
"Relax, I said no." Vicki opened her eyes and stared out the window that led to the porch. She inhaled. "Now your mother is coming inside, and I don't know if I can handle someone's hate."
Alice said, "She doesn't hate anyone. You're being overdramatic."
Vicki's hand went to her waist. "To stay out of the papers, I have to stay here. I have nowhere to go."
Alice asked, "Why do you think my brother asked you to marry him to keep you safe? I think he's always had a thing for you."
"He said it was to protect me."
"Okay, Victoria, why would he want to protect you if he didn't love you?"
"'Cause Colt is great guy and he's Clara's dad," Vicki whispered as her heart thumped against her chest.
"Love has nothing to do with it?"
Vi
cki's skin heated. "No, not consciously, anyhow."
"So it's possible he loves you subconsciously?"
This conversation made her skin tingle. "This is getting confusing. I don't know."
"My brother's an idiot if he doesn't love you, and I think he does. I think he always has."
"I'm not a mind reader. I can't tell. If he does, I need him to tell me."
Alice sighed. "Okay, let's change topics. I don't think we can do anything except wait for him to figure it out. So my advice is to be calm and peaceful today. Don't worry about Mom."
Vicki dropped her arms back to her sides. "Easier said than done. Peter said he had his team of lawyers on the case for me, so the news nonsense will die down."
"I suspected that, as no one has asked my opinion in the past hour. Besides, you have bigger issues. Stick to my brother's side like glue, and be supportive if he tells you he's off to visit the ex anytime soon."
Vicki hadn't thought of that. "You think he will?"
"He's going to want to see for himself," Alice said. "So when he goes to visit Belle, be gentle. I don't think he loves her, and if he broke it off with her, he knows it too."
"I don't know." Vicki stared at her daughter, who came out of her bedroom all dressed to go out.
"Don't worry. Stay and be calm with Colt until he figures it out."
Clara tugged Vicki's pant leg and stared at her as she stepped into her boots. Vicki nodded at her and told Alice, "I have to go. Talk to you soon."
"Bye."
Vicki went down to her hands and knees and tied Clara's boots. She held out her hand, "Let's go."
Clara clasped Vicki's hand, in total trust. "Grandma will be back with Dad for lunch, so we can't spend all day. Stewball needs an apple."
Clara tugged at her to move faster. Vicki's heart lifted in her chest, and she felt lighter. They went out the back door.
"Is Stewball your horse?" Vicki wouldn't keep Clara long. Vicki had no clue about horses and hadn't visited the stalls. Now, as her muscles relaxed, Vicki wanted to see all of her daughter's life.
"Grandma helped me name her when she was born." Clara ran ahead into the side structure that must be a barn. "This way, Mommy."
Mommy was a great word. Vicki quickened her pace, until they walked into the barn. The overwhelming smell made her nose curl. Despite the smell of manure, Vicki's smiled from one look at how animated her daughter became near the horse. The bop of her blonde hair was all Vicki needed to see. She'd figure out a way to stay.
"Mom, you're not over here. Come faster."
Vicki rushed to the stall and saw a miniature horse. A grin grew on her face.
Colt was a good father and a good man. He was worth waiting for.
Patience was a virtue she'd somehow figure out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
After his mother left to run an errand, Colt finished with his double check of every security measure on his farm. No one else would dare set foot on his property. He brushed past a line of trees in his truck, peered through the fence, and saw a small crowd of reporters gathered across the street. Clearly her brother Peter hadn't called everyone off yet.
The local news was usually about someone bleeding, but today they waited outside his house like Colt, Vicki, or Belle had done something wrong.
Colt turned his truck around and went back to the house.
He parked his truck and stared through the windows of his house. The fog in his brain wouldn't let Vicki's discussion of love go. He had to think of what he could do to convince her that she was part of their family, and she needed to stay right here, on the farm, with him.
It was a tall order. He stared at his calloused hands and kicked the dirt under his feet as he climbed out. He never should have agreed to marry Belle in the first place. It was his fault she was in the hospital.
Afternoon rain clouds formed. He swallowed. The moment he took the first step onto the porch, his phone rang. He read the caller identification. Belle. He stepped off the porch, returned closer to his truck, and answered, "Hello."
"Hey, I'm still in the hospital while they run a few more tests on me, but I've been watching the news. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I shouldn't have called you the other day in a panic. Vicki took my sister to the doctor's. She hadn't run off."
"I'm happy for you, then."
He should at least ensure she made it back to Washington in one piece. She was his responsibility. "Do you want me to come see you?"
"You don't have to. Look, none of this might be true or it might all be. I have to ask. The news is saying Vicki Morgan used you to drive a wedge in her relationship with her father years ago, and then took off without a care for some world tour. I wanted to check on you and make sure you want to do this."
"Don't believe everything you read." His voice cracked. Their breakup scene left his gut cold. "I'm going to come over tomorrow. It will be good to see you."
"Okay. I'll look forward to it, Collins."
For years, Belle had been the one that stood by him. Belle had always called him his last name, but at least she was dependable. Vicki was unpredictable. Her blonde hair passed near one of the windows of the barn, and his heart beat twice as fast. She should be in the house and not with the horses. He had no idea what Belle said, but he said, "Bye, then."
She sighed. "Bye."
He ended the call, and walked toward the barn and Vicki. He searched through the stalls then saw her next to Clara, as they fed Clara's miniature horse.
With a giggle on her lips, Vicki called out, "Colt, our baby girl has me feeding the animals."
"Good. Everyone works on the farm." His lips tingled to kiss her, though he kept the feeling to himself.
As he approached her, Vicki tilted her head. "Where is your mom? I thought I heard her at the door."
"She was here but then had to go check on something for my father. She'll be here for lunch."
"Where did you go?"
"Tend to the farm and to ensure the fence was secure."
He scratched his five o'clock shadow. With a long, deep breath, he told her, "Vicki, I don't know what to say to you now."
"Let's get Clara to the house so we can shower and be presentable when your mom shows up."
He kept still to not spook her and repeat this morning. "I need to see you alone, Vicki."
"Okay," Vicki said, though she offered her hand to Clara. Clara bounced and then took his hand too. Then she used them both as anchors to swing.
Colt whispered to Vicki as their daughter rocked their arms, "I promised to go see Belle in the hospital."
"Okay." Vicki nodded. "Your sister can read you like a book."
"Alice?" Colt asked. "Why mention her?"
"We talked," Vicki told him. "When are you planning to go?"
"Tomorrow morning." His skin heated the longer he stared at Vicki.
His body ached to claim her and keep her in bed until she agreed to marry him, but that wasn't going to work. And he'd never been very good at seduction.
They walked in the door, and he stared at the couch. An image of Vicki's soft lips as he took off her clothes played in his mind.
He'd absolutely not touch her until she agreed that marriage was what they both wanted. He needed a plan to succeed, but seduction wasn't it. He'd find a path to keep her at his side.
#
Vicki set the table for dinner, even though Colt had no word from his mother. It was strange that she wasn't here yet. She'd spent less than ten minutes this morning and said she'd return soon. Now the dusk of the evening sky had already settled, and night would be here soon enough.
Vicki ensured that the knives and forks were perfectly aligned.
Colt showered early and stayed near the house instead of staying out on the farm till the last minute. She set the last plate. Everything looked amazing. Vicki sucked in her breath and opened the front door. The humidity of the day hit fast, and stirred a yawn. Colt had to be around here somewhere. Vicki called out f
rom the front porch, "Colt."
He stepped from the side of the house near his bedroom window and called out, "Vicki, what's up?"
He sounded so casual. She squinted to see past him. The blazing sunset blocked her view, and she couldn't peek around the house. The hair on her arms stood up, like someone else was outside with Colt, but she didn't see a car. "Dinner is done."
He nodded at her. "Great. I'll just need a fast shower. Can't wait for tonight."
He'd taken a shower less than an hour ago. She shook her head. The buzz of a car engine sounded in her ear. She turned toward the driveway and saw a silver Volkswagen heading straight for the house. Vicki stepped inside the door. "Greet your mother, Colt. I want to go straighten the napkins."
"I've never heard of straightening napkins."
"I need to make sure everything appears beautiful." The last thing she needed was to hear what a horrible choice Vicki was for Colt. Her hands shook as she raced into the house to check on the table setting.
A few minutes later, as she finished, the front door creaked open and Clara ran over to greet Mrs. Collins. "Grandma."
Her little feet thumped on the wooden floor. Vicki couldn't look at any of them. She slowly lifted her head to watch Colt's mom hug Clara.
His mother nodded at her, and Vicki was sure she'd faint. She held the chair and nodded in return. "Good evening, Mrs. Collins."
With her arms crossed at the door, his mother stood, with her feet slight apart, like she was ready for battle. "Colt told me your father lied to you about Clara."
Vicki's skin jumped off her body, but she tried to hold still. "He did. My father had a habit of lying to everyone, including his own children."
"Why?" His mother stared hard, and Vicki's skin had goose bumps.
Vicki stared at the thin lips of the woman and answered in a quiet voice, "I embarrassed the House of Morgan."
His mother dropped her hands. "Mitch Morgan was always a jerk. I had a hard time believing he'd do that to his own flesh and blood, but that sounded just like him."
"I had boatloads of practice in mocking my father," Vicki said. "Dinner is simple tonight. Tortellini with oil dressing and Caesar salads. I hope that's okay with you."
Secret Baby (The House of Morgan, #2) Page 17