Colton's Christmas Baby

by Karen Whiddon

  A second group of men were assembling small artificial Christmas trees. There had to be at least thirty boxes stacked near them. Approaching, Damien didn’t ask this time. He just reached for a box and opened it, getting right to work, ignoring the way their carefree banter stopped, then started up again, haltingly, when he made no effort to join in.

  “Hey, handsome!” A feminine voice called, barely discernable over the rowdy version of “Jingle Bell Rock” playing.

  When he didn’t turn, someone tugged on his sleeve.

  Turning, his eyes locked with Eve’s bright-blue ones, and his mouth went dry.

  She didn’t appear to notice. “When you get finished over here, will you come help me?”

  Dumbstruck, he nodded. Had she already forgiven him for storming out the day before? “I’ll help,” he managed.

  “Fantastic!” She smiled, sending his heart rate into double time. “I’m over there, unpacking napkins and paper plates, but I’m going to need someone to help me put the tablecloths on the tables once they’re all set up.”

  “Give me a minute and I’ll be there,” he said, aware of the other men’s interested stares. “I’m just about done with this tree.”

  With a nod and a wave, she moved off.

  Finishing the tree in record time, he forced himself to stroll over slowly. When he reached Eve, she was rolling plastic cutlery sets inside holiday napkins.

  “There you are.” Reaching out, she touched his arm.

  Hands in pockets, he nodded. “Listen, I need to apologize for what I said last night.”

  “No need.” Her smile never wavered as she gestured around the room. “I saw how they treated you. I didn’t understand before. Now I do. No worries.”

  He wanted to hug her. Not wanting to start gossip, he restrained himself.

  In the course of the afternoon, as Eve dragged him from group to group, chore to chore, he realized she was single-handedly making sure everyone accepted his help and, more importantly, him.

  She didn’t know it, but she’d given him a present greater than gold.

  Hours later, when all the tables were in place, and fifty artificial trees had been covered with white lights, everyone gradually left to go home. Damien stood next to Eve, watching his father’s wife check on all the finishing details.

  “Are you coming over later?” Eve asked him quietly. “I put fixings for beef stew in the slow cooker and made a loaf of bread in my bread machine.”

  Heart so full that it hurt, he nodded. “I’m starving.” And he was, for more than food. “What time?”

  “Give me an hour to shower.”

  He tried to hide his eagerness. “Do you want me to bring anything?”

  For an answer, she winked. “Just your big ol’, bad self.”

  Showering and changing in record time, Damien found himself in the truck on the way to Eve’s house in forty-five minutes. He stopped at a small grocery store and purchased a bottle of alcohol-free wine. As he drove toward town he caught himself whistling, and he shook his head, grinning.

  He parked in her driveway and his grin widened as Eve opened the front door before he’d made it halfway up the sidewalk. She’d changed from her jeans into a soft sweaterdress the same blue as her eyes. Her long blond hair was still damp from the shower. And her welcoming smile starting a slow burn of desire deep inside him.

  “Hey,” she said softly, stepping back to let him inside. He gave in to the impulse and kissed her.

  When they broke apart, both were breathing heavily.

  “Wow.” Blinking up at him, she shook her head. “You’re amazing.”

  “I was going to bring you a bottle of wine,” he said. “But I remembered you couldn’t drink it, so I brought this instead.” He lifted the alcohol-free wine bottle, wishing he’d bought it earlier so he could have had Maisie put it into one of her fancy bags or something.

  “Wonderful.” Beaming at him, Eve carried the bottle into the kitchen. “This will be perfect with the beef stew.”

  “It smells great.” Damien inhaled appreciatively. “Fresh baked bread and homemade stew. You can’t ask for more than that.”

  At his compliments, Eve positively glowed. He followed her into the kitchen, where she had a perfectly set table with a large candle burning as a centerpiece.

  “Do you need any help?” he asked.

  “Nope. I’ve got it under control. Why don’t you go sit in the den and I’ll holler at you when it’s ready to eat.”

  Though he didn’t want to leave her side, he nodded and wandered into the other room. A fire blazed in the fireplace and he took a seat on an overstuffed chair, watching the flames and thinking.

  This could be his life. Sharing this home with the woman. If he hadn’t been sent to prison, he’d probably be a dad by now, with a couple of kids and a life full of love.

  An ordinary life. Something he hadn’t even realized he craved until recently.

  “It’s ready,” Eve called, breaking him out of his reverie.

  As he took a seat at the table, it occurred to him that he’d been given a second chance. Being with Eve made the impossible possible.

  The fragrant stew tasted delicious and the crusty French bread she’d made in her bread machine was the perfect complement. Damien had seconds, which clearly pleased her.

  When they’d finished, he insisted on cleaning up and ordered her to take a seat by the fire. As soon as the last dish was stacked in the dishwasher, he joined her.

  As he put his arm around her and side by side they leaned back, full and content, he felt a glimmer of hope brighter and stronger than anything he’d felt since being imprisoned.

  Lost in his thoughts and enjoying the feeling of closeness, he looked down at Eve and realized she’d fallen asleep. Moving carefully, he covered her with a light blanket and let himself out of her house through the back door, since he could lock it behind him.

  On the drive home he cursed his foolish optimism. It was all very well and good to hope for the future if you were an ordinary man. But with all his baggage, Damien knew that this would probably be only a dream for him. That didn’t stop his chest from aching as he parked and went inside to go to bed alone, already missing Eve.

  Finally the day of the big feast dawned. Montana weather, never the most reliable, gave them an early Christmas gift of clear skies and unseasonably warm temperatures, with a forecast of highs in the fifties.

  All Honey Creek’s shops and businesses closed early, and a great feeling of festivity filled the air. Outside, the men tended to the huge smokers, ensuring that the meat was cooked, while inside the arena the women set out tray after tray of cooked dressing, sweet-potato casserole, green beans and rolls.

  As the celebration approached, most of the ranch hands were given a break from their daily chores. Working abbreviated three-hour shifts, they rode out in groups of three or four to check on the herd and the fence, and spent the rest of their time engaged in friendly poker games under Darius’s radar.

  Since the ranch hands had begun to treat him like one of their own, Damien tried to participate in the games. He wanted to relish the experience, so fresh and new after years of confinement, but although he’d honed his poker skills during the years in prison, he couldn’t concentrate. He could think of nothing but Eve, her beautiful bright-blue eyes gazing so expectantly at him, her full lips curving in a smile. When they were last together, they couldn’t stop touching each other.

  He couldn’t help but wonder if they’d sit together, which would mean she’d have to sit at the head table with the rest of his family. Her sister Susan would be there with Duke, as would his Wes’s and Duke’s fiancées. Of course, if Eve sat by his side, that would be akin to making a public statement, something they hadn’t really discussed.

  The other alternative, which he liked better, would be to sit with her among her family. Same statement, but less visible.

  Or, he reflected glumly, they could sit separately, which would be the most sens
ible option if they didn’t want gossip. He didn’t really care if people talked about him, but Eve was a different matter. He’d do what he had to do to protect her even if he didn’t like it.

  Eve arrived at the Colton Ranch an hour early, hoping to catch Damien alone, but as she waited in a long line of cars on the road leading to the ranch, she realized several others had chosen to come early as well.

  Teenagers were hard at work directing cars to one of the two pastures designated for parking. After Eve pulled into her slot, she checked her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her new green sweater looked good with her blond hair and she’d tucked her jeans into a pair of furry boots.

  One hand on the car door, she swallowed. Oddly enough, she felt nervous. Though she and Damien had been getting together nearly every single night, she wasn’t sure how to act here at his home with the entire town watching.

  Would they sit together? The entire Colton clan usually held court at a long, raised table in the front of the crowd. Her sister Susan would be up there this year, next to her fiancé, Duke Colton, as would Lily Masterson with Wes, and Rachel Grant with Finn, and the other Colton children, Joan, Brand and Perry. If Damien asked Eve to sit there, it would mark her as of special significance, something she wasn’t sure she was ready or willing to accept.

  No complications, she reminded herself. Damien understood that as well. All would be good. Still, that didn’t stop her from wiping sweaty palms down the front of her jeans as she walked up to the barn.

  Inside, townspeople milled around, gathering in small groups to talk. Some were claiming their seats, saving places for their friends and family. The only Colton she saw was Sharon, busy directing a small army in the placement of the large trays of food with their accompanying warmer candles.

  Moving off into a corner, Eve pulled out her phone and sent him a text. I’m here. Where are you?

  Look behind you, came back.

  Slowly she turned. He stood in the entrance, alone, watching her. Her heart leapt into her throat and she had to forcibly restrain herself to keep from running into his arms.

  Keeping her expression as casual as possible, she strolled over to him. “Hey, you.”

  “Hey, yourself.” His velvet-brown gaze searched her face. “Want to sit together?”

  Eve froze. “Up at your family’s table?” she squeaked. “I don’t…”

  “We don’t have to.” He touched her arm, his fingers gentle. “If you don’t want to sit up there, we can sit somewhere else.”

  For the first time she considered what this meant to him, that he was willing to give this up. For the first time in fifteen years, he had the right to sit with his siblings and his father at the family table. Eat with them, be with them, celebrate the holiday with those closest to him. And he wanted to give this up to be with her?

  Part horrified, part humbled, she looked away. Her clan, with all her brothers and sisters and their spouses, as well as extended family, usually took up two entire tables. This time, her sister Susan would be eating up front with Wes. This was to be expected, since the two were engaged to be married.

  But if Eve were to sit with Damien, people would assume…

  When she dragged her gaze back to him, she saw an impassive cowboy, trying hard to pretend not to care. She knew this man and, as much as she might try to deny it, she cared about him. As a friend and…more. The realization both terrified and exhilarated her.

  “I’ll sit up front with you,” she said, impulsively deciding. “It’s time I stopped worrying so much about what people think.”

  Pure joy flashed across his face, so quickly she might have imagined it. He gave a slow nod, then took her hand, threading his large, calloused fingers through hers. Giving her a mischievous grin, he led her toward the front of the huge indoor arena.

  “Let’s really give them something to talk about,” he said. Then he kissed her.

  Time both stood still and rushed forward. For the space of several heartbeats she couldn’t move, couldn’t react, then the heat of his mouth moving across hers seared her, bringing her to life.

  “Ahem.” Someone cleared a throat behind them, yanking Eve right back to her surroundings. Face flaming, she pushed away and looked up, straight into her mother’s curious face.

  “Bonnie Gene.” Damien stepped forward. “Sorry about that. Eve looks so pretty, I just had to kiss her.”

  If the ground could have opened up and swallowed her, Eve would have taken a nose dive for it. “Hi, Mom.”

  Ignoring Eve, her mother looked Damien up and down. “Staking a claim?” she asked, eyes twinkling.

  He gave her a wicked grin. “Maybe I am.”

  She nodded. “Good.” Without another word, she turned and walked away.

  Shocked, Eve stared after her. “What the heck was that about?”

  His grin widened, inviting her to join in. “I think your mother just gave me her stamp of approval.”

  Shaking her head, Eve began to move forward, not touching him this time. “Let’s go find our seats.”

  “Regretting your decision?” he asked, his voice suddenly serious. “Because if you are…”

  “You’ll let me go back and sit with my mother? How fun would that be now?”

  “No. I was going to say that I’m not letting you out of it.” He took her arm, ignoring her resistance. “Sweetheart, if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it up right.”

  With that, he led her up to the front. As she took her seat next to him at the long table, she felt a bit like royalty of olden times. Banishing the feeling, she smiled at Finn and Rachel, just arriving.

  Damien got up to talk to Finn, and Eve took the time alone to calm herself. She’d never been a coward and hated that she felt so nervous now. It wasn’t as though she and Damien actually were an item.

  The room began to fill up as more and more townspeople arrived. Sharon Colton, still busy making sure the serving lines were set up correctly, would be one of the very last to take her seat. Her husband, Darius, would, as usual, make a grand entrance and once he made it to the front, he’d tap on his wineglass to get everyone’s attention. Only when the room became completely and utterly silent, would he announce it was time to eat.

  After that, pandemonium would reign.

  “What are you doing here?” Her sister, Susan, appeared behind Eve, eyes wide. “I saw you sitting up here all by yourself and thought I’d better rescue you. Mom and the rest of the clan are at our usual table,” she hinted.

  Fidgeting, Eve felt like a little kid. “I’m here with Damien.” There. She’d said it.

  Smile faltering, Susan did a double take. “With Damien? Colton? Are you sure?”

  Just then Damien came up behind them. Putting his hand possessively on Eve’s shoulder, he smiled. “Hi, Susan. Where’s Duke?”

  “He, uh, went to see if Jeremy needed any help parking the cars.” She darted a look from Damien to Eve and back again. “Eve says you’re here together?” Voice rising on the last word, she made this sound like they’d just announced they were submitting to bizarre experimental drug testing in the Yucatan.

  Glancing from one sister to the other, Damien frowned. Only the quirk at one corner of his mouth told Eve he was trying not to crack up. “Yes, we’re together. Why? Do you have a problem with that?”

  Susan immediately began backtracking. “Er, no. It’s just that I didn’t know Eve was seeing anyone. And I don’t think Duke even knows you’re dating Eve.” She began looking around wildly, trying to find her fiancé. “We need to bring him over here and fill him in, don’t you think?”

  Trying to keep from laughing was a battle and Eve finally lost it. “Susan,” she managed between chortles, “relax. Damien and I are just good friends.”

  Before anyone could say another word, the rest of the Coltons hurried to their places. A commotion at the entrance to the arena let everyone know that Darius was preparing to make his grand entrance.

  And, exactly as he’d
done every other year, he did. Moving up the center aisle, shaking hands on one side and then the other, and basking in the adulation as if he were a rock star. Completely used to this, Eve sat back and watched, amused. Beside her, she felt Damien’s sudden tension and remembered he’d been in prison for the last fifteen years. The entire production, with its familiar ceremony and almost ritualistic feel, would seem strange to him.

  She wondered what he’d done while in prison. Thinking this made her realize how little he talked about his experiences there. Maybe because the memories were too painful.

  Then Darius climbed the steps to the platform and the Colton family table. As he made his way to his seat in the center, his gaze locked on Eve, and the hard look in his eyes wasn’t the least bit friendly. In fact, he looked downright dangerous.

  Chapter 12

  Luckily, Sharon Colton bustled up to the table next, drawing Darius’s gaze away from Eve. Troubled, Eve looked down at her plate, wondering if she’d imagined the disturbing malice in the look the Colton patriarch had given her. Surely she must have. After all, what reason would the head of the Colton family have to dislike her? If it was because she was a Kelley, she’d think her sister Susan would draw more of his ire—especially since Susan was actually marrying his son Duke. Eve was merely Damien’s guest.

  Darius intoned the traditional blessing, finishing as he always did, with a request to form lines at the buffet. When he turned to take his seat, his gaze drifted impersonally over his collective family, before narrowing on Eve.

  Again, she felt the force of his glare. Telling herself it was due to an overactive imagination didn’t help—not when the man kept shooting her venom-filled looks. Resolving to ask Damien later, Eve decided to let it go for now.

  Next to her, Damien talked with his twin brother, Duke, her own sister’s fiancé. Eve forced herself to relax, leaning back in her chair and watching as the crowd surged to form lines near the self-serve buffet tables. A veritable army of servers stood by, carving meat and constantly refilling trays of food, making sure everything was hot.