“Excuse me?”
“So you two had a thing a while back?”
“He told you that?” Ellie couldn’t imagine Colton talking to anyone about his relationships. He’d been so quiet and almost secretive when they were young. Unless…unless he made up some fabrication of what had happened. “I suppose he painted me as the bad guy in this?” Shocked at her own snarkiness, she apologized. “I shouldn’t pin you in the middle. I’m sorry, Rachael.”
“Oh, don’t be. Colton is a mystery to us all. And while we respect each other’s privacy and the need to keep certain things to ourselves…our dating relationships are never private. Those are on the table and allowed to be meddled with by nosey brothers and sisters.”
“I guess you didn’t have much privacy growing up with a house full of teenagers.”
“Never. We were all adopted in different years and at different ages and don’t pry into each other’s lives before becoming a Riley. That’s sacred territory.” Rachael got up and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Would you like a cup?”
“Please.”
They sat across from each other sipping the hot brew and listening for signs of life from the guests above. “Guess everyone’s sleeping in today.”
“I’m surprised the smell of your muffins hasn’t driven everyone out of their beds in droves.”
“You’re good for my ego, Ellie.”
“Your brother’s the one with the ego—” Blushing again, Ellie hid her face behind her mug. Colton didn’t have an ego and that was part of the problem. He’d been a humble gentleman back when they were teens and he was a quiet, efficient worker now. It was his eyes, the intense stare down he’d given her too many times in the past week that churned her breakfast and made her too weak to eat lunch. He haunted her thoughts morning, noon, and night.
If she wasn’t remembering their sweet moments from the past she was daydreaming about the brooding, sexy beast working on her house and imagining what it would be like to be in his muscled arms again. He looked like the kind of man who had an inflated ego, knowing how desperately sexy he was and that he could charm the bra off a woman with the click of his tongue.
“There it goes again. You have me totally intrigued and I’m not normally a nosey person with friends. Just family. It must be Mackenzie and Lucy rubbing off on me. They’d be all over you like a fruit fly on a bunch of week-old bananas if they were here.”
“Fruit fly?”
Rachael shrugged. “First analogy that popped in my mind. I hate fruit flies. Not that I hate Kenzie or Lucy. But they’re terribly insistent. I promise not to allude to your and Colton’s past if it bothers you. Pinky swear.”
“You are starting to sound more like Mackenzie. I don’t know Lucy as well.” She’d met her a few times at Coast & Roast and when they’d gathered at the Inn a few months ago to swoon over Maggie and Graham’s wedding album.
“Lucy was adopted when she was seventeen. I left for California shortly after and Colton was already overseas. They’d met a few times when he came home on leave but I don’t think he ever stayed more than three or four days. They’re still pretty much strangers. New family dynamics with Colton and Lucy home.”
Seventeen. The same age she was when she was pregnant with CJ and in love with Colton. Ellie couldn’t imagine what kind of life Lucy had at that age to be adopted and taken in, starting over once again.
“How old was Colton when he…never mind.” She shouldn’t be asking questions about his personal life.
“He never told you?”
Ellie shook her head. “I didn’t even know he was adopted until he showed up for work and I discovered he was your brother.” She knew Rachael was one of many adopted siblings. They were new friends, so she didn’t expect to know everything about Rachael’s family and his name had never come up in their conversations. “Back then we…Colton didn’t talk about his family. I didn’t even know his last name or where he lived.”
“Oh.” Rachael’s lips turned downward.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so insulting.” Yet it was. Colton didn’t talk about his family. It was like he…like he was ashamed of them.
“That’s okay. I guess I should have expected that from him. We used to tease him when he’d come home from work only to leave right after showering. I guess he was meeting up with you?”
Ellie smiled. “Probably.”
“Is there a love story buried in there? I’m a sucker for a good love story. I read all of Susan Mallery’s books imagining our little town of Rocky Harbor to be similar to Fools Gold. And Jill Shalvis. When I need a good laugh I read her. Tell me your love story.” Rachael leaned forward on her elbows, a sparkle in her eye.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but our story isn’t one for the likes of Shalvis or Mallery.”
“Nora?”
Ellie laughed. “Hardly. Maybe some YA novel without the happy ending.”
“I guess if there was one you two wouldn’t be so miserable.”
“I’m not miserable!” Ellie straightened her shoulders and set down her coffee cup with too much force, splashing amber liquid on the counter. “If he’s miserable it’s because he chose to be. I didn’t walk away. Colton did. He left me standing there, alone, helpless and pre—”
“Mommy?”
Ellie shot out of her seat and rushed to CJ. “Hey, baby. How are you feeling?”
“Can I have some juice?”
“I got it.” Rachael got up and poured him a glass of apple juice in his favorite Duck Dynasty cup. “Here you go, big guy.” She ruffled his hair and gave Ellie a knowing look. Had she said too much?
“It’s your day off. Go enjoy it.” Ellie shuffled down the hall with CJ and climbed into bed with him.
“Were you talking about me? Am I miserable?”
“Oh baby.” Ellie pulled her son into her lap and cradled him, breathing in the smell of his shampoo. “No. You’re not miserable. I bet you’re feeling that way though, aren’t you? Is it your belly or head?”
“My belly. I think I’m going to—” He didn’t need to explain what he was going to do. He showed her quite vividly, covering them both with last night’s dinner.
Ellie continued to cradle him while he cried and threw up an impressive amount of food. Poor baby. Once she thought he’d expended his entire insides, she lifted him in her arms and carried him down the hall to the bathroom. She stripped both their clothes and turned on the shower.
CJ still barged in on her when she was using the bathroom but had recently been embarrassed when seeing Ellie in just her bra or underwear. This, however, was not a time to be modest. Besides, CJ was half passed out and unaware that his mom was in the shower with him.
She rinsed off quickly, not taking the time to wash herself too thoroughly since she’d get messy again stripping CJ’s sheets and cleaning his room. Once CJ was well scrubbed, she turned off the water and wrapped him in a towel, then grabbed one for herself. His bedroom stank, so she carried him to her bed and tucked him in before placing another kiss on his cheek.
Ellie slid into an old robe, tying it tight around her waist. Her hair still dripping, she toweled it off as she walked down the hallway and tossed it in the middle of CJ’s bed.
“Gross.” Thankfully the Inn came with an industrial sized washer and dryer. Stripping the sheets and pillowcases, she cringed as she carried them out of her suite and into laundry room. She’d need to disinfect herself a few times at this rate.
Shutting the lid to the washer, she turned as she clapped her hands together and bumped into a towering stack of testosterone.
“Ouch!” She looked down at her bare feet, where a work boot the size of her car crunched her toes.
“Shit. Sorry.” Colton stepped back, his hands wrapped tightly around her biceps.
Ellie shrugged him off and limped past him. “Watch where you’re going.”
“I believe you walked into me.”
“It’s my house,” she called over her shou
lder.
“I came in to see if you had an extension cord.”
Ellie turned and blew her wet hair out of her face. Facial hair didn’t turn her on. Maybe on Robert Downey Jr. or Charlie Hunnam. Or Colton Riley. He filled out his plain white T-shirts too well. They were stretched to their limits and on too many occasions she willed the threadbare material to burst open like the Incredible Hulk. That’s what happens when you’re a single mom to a nine-year-old. You fantasize about superheroes and the actors who play them.
“Top shelf above the dryer,” she spit out and stormed into the kitchen for a much-needed slice of pumpkin bread before she did something stupid like ask him to join her in the shower.
Chapter Four
Colton
The woman may look like an angel but she stank like the inside of his trailer before he’d disinfected it. However, Colton wasn’t so put off he couldn’t appreciate the view of Ellie’s swaying hips and curved backside beneath her thin robe. He figured her to be the fancy silk robe kind of girl, not the cheap plaid flannel type.
When she disappeared around the corner, he opened the door to the laundry room and was accosted by the same stench he smelled on Ellie, and a mixture of laundry detergent. No wonder she looked like hell. The woman was sick as a dog yet still up early taking care of the Inn. Colton saw what he was looking for and went to find Ellie.
She sat on a barstool, her head resting on the counter and a cup of coffee by her elbow.
“You should be in bed.”
Ellie flinched, her arm knocking the cup on to the ground, where the ceramic shattered. Dark coffee made a mess on the floor and the side of the cabinets.
“Are you kidding me? Why the hell did you sneak up on me like that?”
He couldn’t sneak up on a deaf-blind man with his heavy gait. “You saw me three seconds ago and knew I’d have to come back through the kitchen to go outside. That’s not exactly sneaking up on you.”
Ellie glared at him before hopping off the stool, her bare toes unable to step around the coffee mess.
“You’ll cut your feet.” Colton picked her up and placed her back on the stool.
“I’m not an invalid.”
“Who said you were?” he growled. “Where are your paper towels?”
“Under the sink.”
Colton found them and lowered himself on to his right knee. Three months ago he’d never thought he’d be able to squat or kneel without pain, and while he didn’t feel the usual daggers pulsating through his left leg—or what was left of it—it didn’t feel good either.
After sopping up the coffee and finding all of the broken pieces of the mug, he grabbed on to the counter to pull himself up.
“I could have done that.”
“You’re welcome.” Colton stuffed the paper towels in the trash and washed his hands in the sink.
“Would you like some coffee? Or pumpkin bread? Your sister made it.”
“In that case, sure.” He helped himself to the pot and opened a few cabinets until he found the one with mugs. Taking two down, her poured the coffee and asked over his shoulder, “Cream, sugar, black?”
“Cream. Please.”
He opened the fridge and found five bottles of various flavored creams. Of course she’d like her coffee all fancied up. Only the best for the princess. “Which one?”
“The Irish cream. Just a splash.”
Colton doctored her coffee and slid it across the counter to her. “The flu?”
“Yeah. Came on pretty quick. Obviously.” She sipped her coffee and closed her eyes.
“Can’t my sister help out around here or something? You look like hell.”
“Gee. Thanks.”
“If you have the flu you shouldn’t be spreading germs to your guests.”
“I don’t need you to tell me how to run my inn.” Ellie stood, the gap in her robe opening as her hands moved through the air. He’d almost forgotten how she liked to talk with her hands. He spent a lot of time watching her across the lawn of her parents’ summer place talking on the phone, her arms moving as if trying to signal an S.O.S.
The deep V of white skin contrasted brightly against the dark purple robe, calling like a beacon on a lighthouse for him to stare. The swell of her breasts reminded him of what he’d once had and lost, and would never touch again.
“Eyes. Up here.”
Caught staring and not ashamed of it, Colton grinned, keeping his gaze fixated on her chest.
“Wow. How pathetic is that? The first smile I’ve seen you crack and it’s because I’m showing a little skin.”
“You’ve always been nice to look at.”
“And a compliment too. You’re the one who’s sick if you think a woman stinking of puke is nice to look at.”
Coming to his senses, he set his coffee on the counter and nodded toward the hall that lead to her bedroom. A room he’d never be qualified to enter. “You should get back in bed.”
“Can’t. It’s occupied.”
A knife of jealousy stabbed at his chest. Of course she had someone waiting for her. Ellie probably had a line of men waiting to bed her. Grabbing the extension cord he’d left by the sink, he stormed out of the kitchen, letting the door slam behind him, not giving a rat’s ass who he woke up.
***
Ellie
Ellie had never seen Colton so moody. Back when they were teenagers he’d always been cool and composed. Even when she showed him the pregnancy test he’d been calm. She’d been a bundle of nerves and tears and Colton had held her and soothed her, telling her they’d figure it out. That he’d take care of her and the baby.
So young, with her senior year of high school starting and plans for college, the last thing she wanted was a baby. And her parents would kill her, after showing their disappointment and embarrassment.
They talked for days about possible solutions. The only time Colton showed any sign of anger was when she tossed out the idea of abortion. He was adamant that they would not terminate the pregnancy. Adoption was a possibility, but Colton was quiet when she discussed the pros and cons of giving their baby away. He’d comforted Ellie and promised to be by her side every step of the way.
She hadn’t wanted to tell her parents for a few months, not until she was showing, but Colton convinced her to talk to them sooner rather than later. They were set to leave Maine in less than a week to return to Pennsylvania, and he didn’t want her to be burdened with the secret when he couldn’t be there to help alleviate some of the stress. He’d wanted to be with her when she told her parents, knowing they would not react well to the news.
Humiliation would be their first reaction and Colton didn’t deserve to be put down the way she knew her father would treat him. He’d always been insecure about her being the rich girl and he the working hand. So she’d dropped the bombshell at dinner one night.
Max swore. Ginnie gasped. Thomas threw down his linen napkin and stormed into his study. An hour later he’d called her in. Her parents sat in the two leather chairs and asked her to sit on the matching sofa.
“It’s the pool boy. Isn’t it?”
“Colton is more than the pool boy, Dad.”
Thomas snorted. “More? Tell me, can he support you and this child on the measly paychecks I give him each week? Or is this his way to siphon more money from me? Does he plan to live off of your trust fund for the rest of his life?”
“No! Colton is in college. He’s studying to be a lawyer.”
“He goes to a community college,” her mother added. “He included that on his application. They don’t give out degrees in law.”
“He’s planning on transferring to USM.”
“And you have another year of high school. And college. Now is not the time to play house.” Her mother sat perfectly straight, ankles crossed, hands folded tightly in her lap. Prim and proper as always.
“And my career. This doesn’t look very good, for a senator’s daughter to get knocked up before she’s out of high school.”
/>
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Father, but Colton and I are having this baby. He promised to take care of us, and I believe him.”
“You’re young and naïve. You’ve lived a sheltered life surrounded by housekeepers and cooks and nannies. How are you going to care for someone else when you’ve never had to even care for yourself?” Her father stood and poured himself a glass of bourbon. “Your mother and I need to discuss this. You’re dismissed.”
Ellie had never been dismissed before. While her parents may not have been very hands-on, they weren’t neglectful or cruel, just career orientated. Wishing Colton had given her a phone number to contact him, she tossed and turned all night, needing to talk to him.
What did she know about the father of her baby? Not his last name. Not where he lived. He was either so poor he didn’t have a phone or he didn’t want her to learn about his family. Doubt circled around her, clouding her brain.
Ellie waited for him to show up for work the next morning, but he never did. Nor did he come the following day. Or to see her off when her family packed up after Labor Day weekend.
He was gone. Never to be heard from again. For months she held on to the belief that Colton loved her and would return. A million scenarios ran through her head. He’d been in an accident and was in the hospital, unable to contact her. After calling around to the area hospitals asking if anyone with Colton’s description had been admitted, she then grew angry.
He refused to give her his information. If he truly cared, he’d get in contact with her.
Anger swelled inside her chest again. Ellie finished unloading the dishwasher and looked out the kitchen window. The view couldn’t be beat. She’d done well for herself, worked hard to support her child, and if a little luck helped her obtain the inn, well, she earned it. And she deserved answers from Colton.
CJ deserved answers as well. Ellie hadn’t yet decided if she wanted to tell Colton about his son. If he truly cared, he wouldn’t have taken off and abandoned her and their unborn child. He would have asked her what happened to the pregnancy. If he had half a brain he’d see his fish-hook grin and gorgeous eyes in CJ and put two and two together. She may have lied about her son’s age, but there was no denying his parentage.
Wounded Love (A Rocky Harbor Novel Book 3) Page 4