by Anya Nowlan
A sense of bleakness flowed over him at Jessy’s words. As a law enforcement officer, he knew that people who had been missing as long as Rachel were unlikely to turn up alive, if they turned up at all. It hit him hard, trying to accept that Jessy and Lana might never get closure on what became of Rachel.
“Thank you,” Jessy whispered as Maisy arrived with their food.
Hovering at their table for a second, Maisy looked tenderly at Lana, thoroughly attached to the girl from the couple of times they had stopped by before.
“Now I meant what I said. You ever need a babysitter, just let me know,” the woman warned with a warm grin.
“I will,” he replied, before Maisy disappeared back behind the counter.
Lana was done with her food, so Colt grabbed a couple of toys from the stroller and placed them on the small tray attached to the high chair to keep her occupied while he talked to Jessy. Biting her lip, Jessy looked wrapped up in her memories and unsure of how to continue, her gaze sneaking to Lana every now and then.
Even though he knew it might be an overly familiar gesture, Colt couldn’t stop himself from reaching out across the table and placing his hand over hers. She didn’t seem to mind, looking up at him with a shy smile.
The leather seats of the booth crinkled softly as he leaned forward, listening to her heartbeat quicken and her breath catch. The tension between them was back with a vengeance, sealing them up in their own little bubble, the air thick around them.
“Go on whenever you feel like it,” he said softly.
“The cops found nothing that proved anything bad had happened to her. There was no sign of Rachel having given birth in any of the hospitals in the general area of where she could have been, so the case went cold. With the police doing little to find her, I decided to look for her myself. I couldn’t accept that she was just gone and that was that.”
Colt squeezed her hand, nodding. From his time as a cop and then a sheriff, he knew how important it was to get closure on cases like these. It helped people move on with their lives.
“You and your sister must have been very close,” he commented, before letting go of Jessy’s hand. “There’s something I think you should see,” he added, pulling out his wallet.
Tucked into one of the pockets was the note he had found in Lana’s basket. They never did manage to get any usable fingerprints from it, so he had decided to keep it. He wasn’t the sentimental type, but Lana might want to see it one day.
It also served as a reminder of how lucky he was to be the one to find Lana. It was the best thing that could have ever happened to him.
Carefully unfolding the paper, he handed it over to Jessy. Frowning, she pulled it closer, letting her eyes move over the words. There was a sad smile on her face when she looked at him again, with clear recognition on her gaze.
“That’s Rachel’s handwriting. I’d know those fancy loops of hers anywhere.”
Jessy’s happiness at finding a piece of her sister was obvious as she looked from the letter to Lana. And he was happy that her little girl would get to know her biological family.
Yet there was another thought that kept popping into Colt’s head as he looked at Jessy.
Is she here to take Lana away from me?
Twelve
Jessy
This is it. Lana is Rachel’s daughter. There is nothing more to doubt.
Her hand was still warm from Colt’s touch as she watched him play with Lana after she got fussy in her seat, knowing just what to do to calm her down and make her smile. It was a lovely sight to see – a devoted father and his adorable daughter.
Yet it also brought up some troublesome thoughts.
With her quest to get to Lana, Jessy hadn’t even considered what she was going to do when she finally found her niece. Colt was the only family Lana had ever known, while Jessy was practically a stranger to the girl. She couldn’t possibly rip Lana away from her father, but she also desperately wanted to be a part of the girl’s life.
Take it one step at a time, she thought, sipping her milkshake.
She had only just found Lana. It was too early to start dwelling on the complicated. This was a huge victory and she was going to enjoy it as long as she could, before the real world had a chance to come crowding back in.
They were almost done with their food and Lana was getting tired, yawning and wiggling in her seat. Colt picked her up and she snuggled up against him right away, her fingers grabbing onto his shirt. She looked so safe and loved in his arms, and Jessy smiled to herself.
Wherever you are, Rachel, you sure did pick the right doorstep to leave Lana on.
Softly rocking Lana from side to side, Colt gave her an apologetic smile.
“We have a lot to talk about, but it’s our bedtime. Seems Lana tuckered herself out at daycare today. Can I walk you back to your hotel?”
Strolling down the quiet streets with Colt by her side, maybe even slipping a hand in his… It was a tempting image, more so than she even wanted to admit.
And it could also be a terrible idea.
She had just found out she was tied to this man in ways she couldn’t have even imagined when they met only hours ago. This was a situation that needed to be handled cautiously and calmly. Getting involved with Colt would only confuse things further.
Even if I really, really want to…
It was a hard decision to come to, especially when he was right there in front of her, all carved muscle and wickedly dark eyes. It didn’t help that he was the most caring and attentive man she could ever wish for.
“No, it’s okay. You go tuck Lana in, I’ll be fine on my own. But I’d like to see you guys again tomorrow,” She said, keeping her voice even and the waver that wanted to hit out of it.
Colt nodded, looking like he had an idea.
“Of course. I inherited a cabin from my father and I’ve been fixing it up. Until now, I’ve been leaving Lana in daycare while I take a couple of hours to get some work done on it, but if you’d be there to keep an eye on her…”
Jessy nodded eagerly, excited to spend a day with her niece. She smiled despite the worried thoughts roiling around in her head.
And Colt will be there…a part of her sighed, despite all logic and the painstaking work she’d put into convincing herself that getting involved with him would be a horrible idea.
“You can count me in. Just tell me when and where.”
“I’ll pick you up at the hotel around noon. It’s up in the mountains and hard to find if you haven’t been there before.”
“Sounds great.”
It really did.
Jessy paced around her hotel room the next morning, waiting to hear from Colt. They’d exchanged numbers last night before going their separate ways, and she’d been tossing and turning all night, thinking about going up to the mountains with him and Lana.
Rachel’s daughter looked even more like Rachel than Jessy could have imagined. It was a touch painful at first, to look at Lana and remember Rachel wasn’t there, but then it became comforting in a way.
Even if I never find my sister, I can make sure Lana knows about her. Rachel will never be forgotten and I can honor her by giving Lana all my love.
It was a bittersweet moment for Jessy, accepting that her sister might be gone forever. She wasn’t naïve, it wasn’t like the thought had never occurred to her, but finding Lana and seeing the note Rachel had left with her baby girl really drove it home.
Rachel would have had to be in some very serious trouble to leave her child behind, and the fact she hadn’t gone back for Lana indicated that trouble caught up with her. Jessy wasn’t ready to give up hope just yet, but clinging to the dream of her sister still being alive after all this time was becoming more and more painful as time went by.
Her phone ringing pulled her back into the real world. She answered it to hear Colt’s voice flow into her ear. It was still as gravelly and sexy as ever, making her pulse jump as she listened to him talk.
&nb
sp; “Hey, I’m outside the hotel. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes, I’ll be right there,” she replied, grabbing her purse and heading to the door.
“Great, we’ll be waiting.”
Despite the innocent words, something in the tone of Colt’s voice made her skin prickle. Masculine yet gentle, he was unlike any man she’d ever met before, and the effect he had on her was heady.
The sun was shining brightly when she stepped outside, but luckily the heatwave seemed to have passed and the temperature was somewhere in the low seventies. A cherry red Land Cruiser sat in the parking lot, its windows down. Colt hopped out, waving to her, and her heart skipped a beat.
How am I supposed to keep my head on straight when he looks so delicious? Jessy wondered, walking over to him on jellied knees.
“Hey, you,” he greeted her with an easy smile.
Dressed in ripped jeans and a plain t-shirt, he looked casual and relaxed as he ran a hand through his dark, glossy hair. Walking over to the other side of the car, he opened the passenger side door and gestured her inside.
A proper gentleman.
“A beautiful day to spend up in the mountains, don’t you think?” he asked, grinning at her.
“It sure is. I can’t wait to see your cabin.”
“It’s not much, but it’s mine,” he uttered with a shrug and a grin, closing the door behind her and walking around the car to the driver’s side.
Lana was strapped into her car seat in the back, smiling at Jessy when she got in. Colt hopped into the driver’s seat and started the engine, his huge frame crowding the cabin. Jessy’s shoulder bumped into his as he started the car and took off, and the way they were pressed together felt almost intimate.
What I wouldn’t give to feel his body crushing down on mine, and his lips trailing down my neck…
As if he somehow knew what she was thinking, Colt threw her a look filled with such hunger that for a moment, she wasn’t sure if she could control herself. If they weren’t busy bumping along towards the mountains with Lana in the back, she might already have flung herself into his lap.
It suddenly hit her she would be spending the whole day watching him work, away from civilization and prying eyes. If that wasn’t enough to test a girl’s willpower, she didn’t know what was.
Turning off onto an unpaved road, Colt threw her another smoldering look that almost melted her in her seat.
Uh-oh.
Thirteen
Colt
With the finishing touches on the new windows almost complete, Colt looked out onto the front lawn where Jessy was chasing Lana in the tall grass. The little girl was giggling, running as fast as she could on her short toddler legs. She was damn fast, though, for a kid her age.
“Gotcha!” Jessy exclaimed, picking her niece up and twirling her around.
It looked like a scene out of a movie, the part where everything had fallen into place and everyone was set to live happily ever after. Unfortunately, that wasn’t entirely the case with Colt, Lana and Jessy. There was still a lot they had to figure out.
Lana is the most important part of this equation. As long as she’s happy, I’m happy, Colt reassured himself.
His phone buzzing on his pocket made him turn away. He didn’t have many numbers in his new cell, but the caller still came as a surprise.
“Ethan?” he asked, answering the call.
“Yeah. How you doing, getting settled in alright?”
“It’s taken some doing but the cabin’s getting there. But I have a feeling you aren’t calling just to chat?”
“You’re right. There are a couple of new faces in town. Shifters. I wanted to ask if you know anything about it.”
“No one even knows I moved here. They aren’t friends of mine, if that’s what you’re implying. Are they causing trouble?”
“Not trouble exactly, it’s just the vibe they give off. My brother ran into them near the hotel and they seemed to be hell-bent on avoiding him, like they didn’t want any other shifters to know they’re here.
“Since you used to be a sheriff, I thought maybe someone you’ve arrested followed you to settle a score.”
“Thanks for the heads up. I wasn’t exactly swimming in hardcore criminals in my last town. I don’t know of anyone who would bother tracking me down here.”
“Okay, then that’s that. They’re probably just passing through. Thanks.”
Ethan was most likely right, but the fact he bothered to call Colt in the first place made him feel slightly concerned. Not wanting to be seen by the local clan was always a bad sign when it came to shifters passing through a town.
Yet it wasn’t like Colt could or should do anything about it.
I’m not the sheriff anymore, it’s not my business.
Colt put his tools down, finally done with the windows. With the sun beating down on him while he worked, his shirt had become damp with sweat, so he pulled it off, wiping his forearm across his brow.
Jessy and Lana were sitting down on the ground, with Jessy telling Lana something he couldn’t hear. He made his way over, holding a hand over his yes.
“Hey, guys, time for a little break?”
Looking up at him, Jessy’s smile vanished as her eyes became transfixed on his torso. He almost asked her if something was wrong, but the way her scent became colored with desire made him stop short.
Oh, right. I’m not wearing a shirt.
His bear rumbled in his chest, satisfied with the response he had drawn from Jessy. Grinning, he stared down at her, enjoying the way her gaze swept over him appreciatively. It made him feel better about the way he had trouble tearing his eyes from Jessy whenever she was around.
Mutually assured destruction always felt easier to endure, somehow.
Sitting on the grass, wearing her short shorts and a V-neck tee, she was the perfect image of understated sexiness. He could see her throat work as she swallowed, fixing her baby blues on his face.
“A break sounds good. You’ve been working hard,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Her gaze darted back to his chest for just a moment, before she shook her head imperceptibly and turned away. Chuckling to himself, Colt walked to his car and pulled a blanket and cooler out of the trunk, snatching up a clean shirt as well.
Even though I like seeing her distracted, we have some important things to talk about, he mused, pulling the garment on.
Spreading out the blanket, they settled down, with Colt next to Jessy. His knee bumped against hers, stirring something inside him. He made no attempt at putting distance between them.
She was so perfect, glowing under the sun and stretching out her smooth legs, with Lana nestled in her lap. Everything seemed right when she was around.
Family.
The word echoed through Colt, filling his mind and heart with strong, primal emotion. Even though Jessy wasn’t Lana’s mother, he still felt that the three of them belonged together, and his bear clearly agreed.
Handing Lana a sippy cup, he started laying out the food, consisting of sandwiches and different fruits.
“Lana, how about some oatmeal?” he asked, pulling out a Tupperware container.
“I can do it,” Jessy said, reaching out for the box and spoon he was holding.
Lana clapped her hands together, twisting her head to get a better look at Jessy and grabbing at the spoon.
“Did you get the windows done already?” Jessy asked matter-of-factly while feeding Lana.
“Yup. And I’m pretty much done with the interior, I just need to clean up all the tools and debris,” he said with a nod.
“It really is so beautiful up here. I can’t imagine growing tired of waking up to this view,” she sighed wistfully, sweeping a hand across the mountaintops.
And I wouldn’t mind waking up to a view of you in my bed, Colt immediately thought, unable to stop himself.
He kept that thought to himself, though.
After being done with her meal, Lana was luck
ily content with curling up in Jessy’s lap, giving the adults a chance to talk. The little thing must have been tuckered out from all the fresh air.
Intense attraction and gut feelings aside, Colt still had a lot to learn about Jessy.
“So, what did you do back in…” he trailed off, realizing he didn’t even know where she was from.
“Portland,” she helpfully interjected, unwrapping a sandwich. “I was an accountant. I’ve always been good with numbers, so it felt like the obvious choice. For the most part, I enjoyed the work, even though it wasn’t very exciting or anything like that. Nothing like being in law enforcement,” she said, throwing Colt a knowing look.
“It’s not all gunfights and car chases, trust me. There’s a lot of boring paperwork, too. Drunken louts, household arguments, so on.”
That was true, to an extent. He actually had been part of more than one gunfight, but he didn’t want to start on such a violent topic right now. Especially not with Jessy slowly leaning against him and Lana falling asleep in her lap.
“Did you grow up in Rockport?”
Colt shook his head, taking a healthy bite out of a sandwich before continuing.
“No. I was born here, in Sweetwater, actually. This cabin isn’t just a vacation spot, I used to live here with my family when I was little. When my dad passed away, my mom moved us to Sacramento.”
Jessy’s expression softened noticeably at that.
“I’m sorry about your father. My parents have passed away, too.”
“Do you have any more, siblings, in addition to Rachel?”
“No, it’s just the two of us. And now Lana. That was our mother’s name, you know,” she said, smiling down at the little girl.
Colt grinned.
“I always wondered where the name came from. It’s beautiful.”
“So was she.”
Jessy cleared her throat, and Colt got the feeling she would rather not get into her parents, so he changed the subject. That desire to keep her safe and happy was back with a vengeance.