Colton's Secret Son

by Carla Cassidy

  The knot in Knox’s stomach remained tight. “What did the sheriff tell you?”

  She frowned. “He said he’d have a talk with Chad and reminded me that Chad was a good old boy with a bit of a problem who was probably just blowing off steam.”

  “Any man who talks to a woman that way is scum,” Knox said. “Do you think this guy might be dangerous?”

  Her frown deepened. “To be honest, I don’t know. I just thought it was time to speak to Sheriff Jeffries about the messages. You know, better safe than sorry.”

  The conversation halted as their food arrived. For a few minutes they ate in silence and for the first time since arriving back in Shadow Creek he thought about the incredible strength Allison had to possess.

  For the past almost ten years she’d been a single parent and had to take care of her ailing father and keep the business running smoothly.

  It would be a daunting task to do just one of those things, but she’d done it all and obviously done it successfully. A new admiration for her winged through him.

  “Other than those text messages, the construction company is doing okay?” he asked, breaking the silence that had stretched for too long.

  “Relatively okay. Since I took it over we’ve had some bumps in the road,” she replied.

  “What kind of bumps?”

  She told him about Brothers Construction and the vandalism that had taken place on several of the sites. “I’m convinced they’re responsible because it only happens on jobs where I underbid them. Unfortunately, I make reports and nothing comes of them.”

  “Does Sheriff Bud Jeffries do anything in this town?” Knox asked.

  She offered him another little smile. “He eats doughnuts and glad-hands everyone important in town. He’s up for reelection in the fall.”

  “Is anyone worthwhile running against him?” Knox finished the last of his burrito in a single bite.

  “Not that I’ve heard.”

  He leaned back and watched as Allison finished the last of her meal. “How about a margarita to finish things off?” he suggested when she pushed her nearly empty plate aside. He didn’t know why, but he was reluctant to end this unexpected time with her.

  “I really shouldn’t...but I wouldn’t say no to an order of sopaipillas.”

  “Then the lady shall have sopaipillas.” Knox gestured for the waitress and within minutes he and Allison were sharing an order of the fried pastry with dipping honey.

  “I bought two ball gloves and a baseball earlier,” he said. “Cody doesn’t play any kind of organized sports?”

  “I’m sure he’ll love playing ball with you, but no, he’d much rather spend all his free time at Jade’s place with the horses than on any kind of a sports team. He even asked me for a horse the other day.”

  Knox lifted an eyebrow. “Have you considered buying him one?”

  “Not yet, and don’t you think about it, either,” she replied with a firm tone. “I take things slow, Knox. I want to make sure this horse thing isn’t just a whim that will be forgotten next week when he suddenly decides something else is more important.”

  “A horse would make a fine birthday present.”

  “Maybe we’ll talk about it when it’s closer to his birthday.”

  “When exactly is his birthday?” It was pathetic that he didn’t know the exact date. It had been in the fall when he’d heard she’d had a baby.

  “October fifth.”

  He nodded. “If it’s a matter of the expense, I’d be more than willing to help with that.”

  “I appreciate that, but I’m not ready to commit to a horse just yet.” She shoved her dessert plate away and glanced at her wristwatch. “I really need to get back to the office.”

  “Wait a minute and I’ll walk you there.” Once again he motioned for the waitress, this time to get their check. Within minutes they were headed for the door, and at the same time Jason Tankard walked into the restaurant.

  Allison and Knox had been friends with Jason in high school and Knox greeted the tall, thin man with a friendly handshake. “How have you been, Jason?”

  “Good...busy. I own the computer repair and printing place down the street and when I’m not there I’m at home chasing around three little rug rats, a boy and twin girls. I married Rebecca Cook. You remember her?”

  “Sure, I do,” Knox replied. He had a vague memory of a quiet, dark-haired girl with glasses. Truly, he hadn’t paid much attention to the other girls in high school. He’d been so captivated by Allison.

  “If I hadn’t already heard you were in town, I’d for sure know it this morning,” Jason said.

  “Really? What happened this morning?” Knox asked curiously.

  “There’s a big story on all of you Coltons on Everything’s Blogger in Texas,” Jason replied.

  Knox’s gut tightened. “Guess I’ll have to check it out.” He suddenly felt ill. Nothing good ever came from that sleazy gossip site.

  “I’d better get some lunch and then get back to the store. It was good seeing you again, Knox... Allison.”

  “You, too, Jason,” Allison replied.

  They left the restaurant and this time it was Allison who linked her arm firmly with his. “I have a computer in the office if you want to check it out.”

  It was odd, that after everything that had happened between the two of them, she obviously sensed his tension. Of all the women in the world he wouldn’t have believed that, at this time in their complicated lives, he would find support in her arm entwined with his.

  He could have easily pulled up the story on his cell phone, but he was surprised to realize he wasn’t ready to tell her goodbye yet.

  * * *

  Allison was thankful nobody was working in the shop when she and Knox arrived at her office. She sat down at her desk and turned on her computer while Knox picked up a framed photo of her father with Cody that she kept on her desk.

  “Good picture. Your dad was a good man,” Knox said as he put the frame back down. “He probably had nothing but hatred in his heart for me when he died.”

  Allison looked up in surprise. “Why on earth would you say that?”

  “Surely he knew Cody was mine, and I was nowhere around.”

  The tension that had stiffened his shoulders when he heard about the blog was now accompanied by a deep frown that slashed across his forehead.

  “Knox, I don’t know what Dad knew for sure. When I told him I was pregnant, I also told him I was going to be a single parent. He never asked me who the father was and I never told him. I do know how much he loved you when we were dating and I don’t think anything that happened over the years changed his feelings for you.” She was surprised to see his eyes narrow as if in pain.

  “Let’s see what that blog has to say,” he said, his voice thicker than usual. He moved to stand behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

  The warmth of his hand instantly evoked thoughts of the kisses they had shared, kisses she’d tried desperately to forget.

  “You know this blog is nothing but idle gossip. Most people know not to believe a word of it,” she said as she went to her bookmarks and clicked on the one that would take them to the page.

  The headline read: Can’t Get Enough of the Coltons? We Have the Real Scoop.

  He leaned closer to read as she did the same. His hand tightened on her shoulder. The first two paragraphs of the blog entry were devoted to Matthew Colton, Livia’s half brother. Matthew was a man who had killed nine people, including his wife, leaving his children to grow up in foster care. He’d eventually died in prison but not before telling everyone that the only thing he truly feared was his ruthless sister, Livia.

  But it was the next paragraph that tensed every muscle in Allison’s body.

  A reliable source tells
us Livia’s eldest son, Knox Colton, is back in Shadow Creek and apparently he left something behind when he left town to become a Texas Ranger ten years ago...a son. He’s been seen squiring the boy around town and spending time with his lover, Allison Rafferty.

  The article went on to talk about River Colton being overseas as a marine and Jade’s concern that Livia might return to town. Another paragraph talked about Leonor and Claudia and their lives in Austin and New York with intimate details about the two women. The next paragraph was devoted to Thorne and his father.

  Knox’s anger was palpable in the air. He walked around the desk and sat in the chair facing her, his jaw pulsing as his lips pressed into a tight slash.

  Allison wasn’t thrilled that her life had been exploited on the blog. She definitely didn’t like the idea that now everyone who read the stupid website would know that Knox was Cody’s father. She could only hope and pray that Livia remained in the dark about Cody’s existence.

  “Just let it go, Knox,” she said softly, shoving her own whisper of fear aside. “Like I said before, nobody believes what they read on the site.”

  He leaned forward, his eyes blue fire. “I need to know who is giving out that kind of personal information.”

  “They’re probably just making most of it up.”

  He shook his head. “You don’t understand. Everything in that blog is true. Somebody has to be feeding them things about all of us, things that are personal.” He rose to his feet. “I need to get going. I’ll see you tomorrow when I pick up Cody.”

  Before he got to the door, Allison saw Brad Billings enter the shop. She stood and stiffened. Could this day get any worse?

  “Who is that?” Knox asked.

  “Brad Billings...one of the owners of the construction company who I believe has been vandalizing my sites.”

  Brad wasn’t a tall man, but what he lacked in height he more than made up for in width. Although his arms were thick and muscled, his stomach was big and soft.

  He opened the door to the office and stepped in, his brown eyes narrowed as he glared at her. “You need to keep my name out of your mouth,” he said.

  “Excuse me, but I don’t believe we’ve met,” Knox said.

  Brad looked at him and snorted. “I know who you are and I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to this mouthy bitch who keeps talking to the sheriff about me and my brother.”

  Knox stepped up to Brad. “You obviously don’t know who I am if you think you can talk to her that way.” Knox’s voice was deadly calm.

  Allison hurried around her desk in an effort to keep things from escalating between the two men. “It’s all right, Knox.”

  “No, it isn’t okay,” he replied, not taking his narrowed gaze off Brad.

  Brad’s chubby cheeks flushed and he took several steps back from Knox. “Look, I don’t want any trouble here.”

  “The only reason you would be here is to cause trouble,” Allison replied angrily. “And I’ll talk to the sheriff whenever I have vandalism on a job site. If you and your men aren’t guilty of anything, then you have nothing to worry about. Now get off my property before I call the sheriff to remove you.”

  Brad flashed her another glare and then turned and strode out of the office.

  She placed a hand on Knox’s bicep, unsurprised to find it bunched and ready for action. “Remember in high school when Jake Prann called me a bad name?”

  The tension in his muscles eased. “Yeah, I punched Jake in the nose and got a two-week school suspension for fighting.” He looked at her with a small smile. “I really wanted to punch that doughboy in his face.”

  She fought against a laugh and the internal thrill of having a man protecting her. “And I appreciate the sentiment.” She dropped her hand to her side. “I don’t think he’ll be back.”

  “If he does come back and you’re here alone, lock your office door and call the sheriff.” He reached up and gently shoved a wisp of her hair from her cheek. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He frowned and took a step back from her. “After all, you are the mother of my son. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He was killing her one sweet gesture at a time, a tender caress, a stand of protectiveness and the kisses that had rocked her to her very soul. What did Knox really want from her? Another chance at getting things right between them? She seriously doubted that.

  However, she could believe that he might want to seduce her into a hot sexual relationship for as long as he was in Shadow Creek. She turned and went back to her desk.

  A habit. That’s all they were to each other. An addictive habit as strong as smoking cigarettes, as potent as any drug on the streets.

  Knox was definitely her addiction and it was one that needed to be broken. It had been ten years since she’d been in his arms as they made love. She was determined that she wasn’t going to go there again with him.

  * * *

  Earl Hefferman sat in a cheap motel room just outside of Austin and read the Everything’s Blogger in Texas blog entry for the day.

  He had a riveting interest in everything Colton. More important, he definitely had a riveting hatred for everything Livia Colton.

  He shifted positions on the lumpy bed and groaned as the wound in his side screamed in protest. She’d thought she’d killed him. Instead of paying him what she’d promised when he’d picked her up in the prison construction site and driven her to the Mexican border, she’d shot him and left him for dead.

  Well, he wasn’t dead. He was very much alive and Livia Colton owed him big-time. He’d been her right-hand man for years. He’d known what kind of woman she was, but despite that he’d never thought she’d turn on him.

  He read the blog a second time and then slammed his laptop shut. Music blared from the room next door and he fought the impulse to bang on the wall. He reminded himself the last thing he needed was to draw attention.

  Instead he picked up the bottle of prescription pain pills he’d bought from a kid on the streets. He shook one out and popped it into his mouth and then chased it with a swallow of beer.

  He couldn’t very well show up in any hospital or clinic with a gunshot wound. Too many questions would be asked and he couldn’t afford that. It wasn’t that long since he’d been on probation. Thank God packing the wound had made it stop bleeding.

  He’d already given up enough of his life serving time because of his allegiance and complicity with Livia and her crimes. She owed him. He had no idea where she might be now. She could still be in Mexico or she could be in the motel room next to his.

  He wouldn’t put anything past her. With her beauty and charm and that soft Texas twang of hers, she could wrap most people right around her little finger.

  But not Earl. Oh, no, she owed him, and one way or another she was going to pay. He stretched out on the bed as the effects of the pain pill began to work.

  As sleep started to overtake him, he smiled as he thought of everything he had read on the blog about the Colton siblings. All he had to do was figure out how to use that information to get to Livia.

  Chapter 6

  Knox had spent most of Wednesday afternoon on the phone with all his siblings, trying to figure out how the blog had gotten so much personal information about them.

  He hadn’t had to call his sister Claudia. She’d called him, outraged that somebody was feeding the blog intimate details of their lives. All the rest of the siblings had denied having anything to do with the story that Everything’s Blogger in Texas had published.

  Knox couldn’t imagine who the source of the information could be. Although all of her children had known of the relationship between Livia and her notorious serial killer half brother, it certainly hadn’t been something she had told others. It wouldn’t have fit into her narrative of being a society queen.

  Whoe
ver had talked to the person at Everything’s Blogger in Texas had shared enough information to suggest they had intimate ties to the family. But who?

  By the time Thursday afternoon rolled around, he was more than ready to put all of that behind him and spend time with Cody.

  He arrived at Allison’s just before the time for Cody to get off the bus and walk the short three blocks home. As he knocked on Allison’s door, a restless energy filled him. He didn’t know if it was because of the unresolved questions about the blog or because his night had been spent in erotic dreams of him and Allison.

  She opened the door, and as always when he caught sight of her a fist of visceral want punched him in his gut. He wanted to hate her, but he couldn’t. He wanted to hold a grudge against her, but as she smiled at him and gestured him inside, any ill feelings were impossible to maintain.

  And that irritated him.

  “When are we going to tell Cody that I’m his father?” he said in greeting.

  The smile of welcome that had been on her lips fell away. “Knox, you’ve only been in town a week.”

  “Yeah, well I’m thinking about all the years I’ve already missed with him.” He narrowed his gaze on her. “Besides, now anyone who read that stupid blog knows about my relationship with him.”

  “He’s not ready yet.” She crossed her arms defensively.

  “He likes me well enough,” Knox retorted. He wasn’t sure why but a part of him wanted to pick a fight with her, to get a bad taste in his mouth where she was concerned. “What if one of his school friends says something to him? I’d rather he find out from us than on the streets.”

  “He didn’t mention anyone saying anything to him yesterday when the blog was published.” Her frown deepened. “I know he likes you, Knox, but he hasn’t known you long enough to love you...to trust you. I...I wanted that for you before you tell him.”

  Knox jammed his hands in his pockets, deeply frustrated. Would it be better to wait until Cody loved him to tell him the truth? Surely telling Cody the truth would only made the boy love him faster.