Colton Cowboy Jeopardy (The Coltons 0f Mustang Valley Book 8)

by Regan Black

  He smoothed a hand over her hair, then tipped up her chin and gave her a soft kiss. The tears she’d held back escaped now as his tenderness surrounded her. She forced herself to smile before she turned into a watering pot. “You smell like pizza.”

  He grinned. “Lucia’s. Sorry I didn’t get it to you hot.”

  She released him long enough to take the pizza from the car. “Smells heavenly, hot or cold. Let’s eat.”

  “One thing,” he said, following her into the bunkhouse. “Those texts weren’t from your dad, were they?”

  She shook her head, temper and sadness battling within her heart. “I knew it and still it’s a gut punch.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

  The apology and endearment, though he’d said it before, washed over her like a cool breeze. She tried not to read too much into it but might as well have been trying to hold back a sunrise. There were so few things in recent weeks that made her smile and gave her joy. She wouldn’t ignore a single one of those gifts.

  They ate their fill of pizza while she told him about the call and the file she’d compiled and uploaded.

  “So the messages were definitely a setup,” he said, clearing the table. He returned to his chair and reached over, covering her hands with his. “That can’t be easy to digest. What if I went to your dad’s office to speak with him? Or asked Spencer to deliver him a message?”

  “A policeman walking into an investment-banking firm doesn’t send the right message. And Regina is mean, but not stupid. If you walked in there, she’d storm the ranch just like you were worried about at first.”

  “Fair.” He stretched his neck. “If you trust someone else, I’ll go to them.”

  “I’ll think about it,” she said. Silas stirred and she opened her laptop. “Go ahead and take a look at the file. Make sure there isn’t something else your brother might need.”

  “He’s the cop, not me.” He read through the file, swearing occasionally under his breath while she fed her son. “These threats need to be on an official record somewhere,” he said at last. “If you’re ready, why don’t I take this to my brother and let him decide what comes next. I visit him often enough at the station that it’s not suspicious.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” Jarvis echoed. “Just like that?”

  “Isn’t it past time?” She sighed. “Hearing Dad’s voice flipped a switch for me. As things stand right now, I lose him either way. By hiding or pushing Regina to do her worst. It’s a huge risk, and it scares the hell out of me, but I’d rather lose him while trying to win, than just roll over.”

  Once Silas had a full tummy, he didn’t want to settle down. He kept turning toward Jarvis’s voice as they talked, smiling and babbling and making Mia wish for so many impossible things.

  Jarvis had found her while looking for his roots. He didn’t have family in mind for his future. She respected that, she did, but Silas was the next generation and that meant making plans and building up hope for the days and years ahead.

  Her internal debate must have translated to Silas. Her son was happy enough but clearly had no intention of going back to sleep. “At least he isn’t screaming this time,” she said. “But it promises to be a long night.”

  “We could take him for a drive,” Jarvis suggested.

  She glanced over and noticed he was serious. “Where?”

  He hitched a shoulder. “Around the back roads. Don’t babies like that kind of thing?”

  “They do.” Her foolish heart fluttered. Had Jarvis been reading up on baby care, or did he remember that about Silas in particular? “He fell asleep when I drove to see you after Regina’s party.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  They took his truck because the car seat bracket was already installed. He drove because he knew both the truck and the area better than she did. That left her free to pop Silas’s pacifier back into his mouth whenever he spit it out.

  “Far cry from Selina’s Jag,” he said as they reached the paved road that bordered this side of the ranch. “She let me open it up on this road.”

  “How fun for you.”

  “It was. I got it to ninety-five before I brought myself back down to earth. Selina giggled like a teenager.”

  “I bet. Have you always wanted a sports car?”

  “I used to dream of driving a Mercedes,” he said. “That daydream is a rite of passage for business majors.”

  “One quick drag at ninety-five cured you?” She studied his handsome profile, wondering what he wasn’t saying.

  His lips tilted up on one side. “I wouldn’t say that. The truck is comfortable. It suits me better right now.”

  “Well, I’m sure you look just as good driving the truck as you did driving Selina’s car.” She admired his capable hands on the wheel, wished she had the guts to ask him to put those hands on her.

  At last Silas fell asleep and they turned back toward the bunkhouse. “Oh, look, a shooting star.” She leaned forward, pointing through the windshield.

  He craned his neck and then sat back in the seat, a smile on his face. “Better make a wish.”

  She didn’t tell him she already had.

  Back on Triple R land, he drove on past the bunkhouse. The tires bumped over the ground, but he kept on going until at last he stopped and cut the truck lights. Looking proud of himself, he rolled down the windows, allowing the cooler night air to flow through the truck.

  “What are we doing?” she asked.

  “It’s a surprise.” He hopped out of the car and pulled a blanket from behind his seat. “Come on.” That sexy, irrepressible grin flashed. “If Silas wakes up, we’ll drive some more.”

  He managed to lower the tailgate in near silence and she gawked while he spread out a blanket over the truck bed. Then he walked back to where she waited and extended a hand.

  She placed her palm in his and his fingers curled around her as he assisted her up. Into the truck bed and his strong embrace. His arms banded around her, his fingers locked together at the base of her spine, just above the curve of her backside.

  His lips touched hers softly, the urgency building with each heartbeat, each dreamy touch as her lips parted and his tongue twined with hers. A wicked, eager thrill rushed over her, from her scalp to her toes and she moaned against his mouth, wanting so much more than she had a right to ask for.

  She longed for a deeper connection, more than these tantalizing kisses. Sex. Affection. Love.

  He’d demonstrated such warm affection for her and she could probably persuade him to have sex with her, though she knew it wouldn’t feel complete without love. Maybe that made her old-fashioned, but she had endured enough disappointment. She eased away, resting her head on his shoulder and her hand over his thudding heart.

  He gave her a squeeze. “Let’s watch the stars,” he said.

  She peeked through the window, confirming that Silas was still asleep, then she and Jarvis stretched out side by side in the pickup bed.

  As stars shot through the dark velvet sky, Mia’s thoughts meandered through the past and present. Her husband hadn’t loved her enough to adjust and adapt when she got pregnant. And here she was with Jarvis, who demonstrated wonderful care for her and Silas, yet claimed he wasn’t cut out for family life.

  She watched another star fall and made another wish, this time for one more season of the type of happiness she’d known before her mother had died.

  “Did you make a wish?” he asked.

  “I can’t seem to stop,” she admitted. “You?”

  “Not really. I stopped making wishes when I was a kid.”

  “After your parents died?” She shifted to her side so she could see him as well as another section of the starry sky over his shoulder.

  “I think it was later,” he said, his wistful tone breaking her heart. “Our aunt coul
dn’t seem to give us anything beyond the basics of food, shelter and clothing.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Jarvis.”

  “Life can play dirty,” he said. “Then and now, I think we were all grateful to stay together. That singular factor saved us more than anything else.”

  They were quiet then, content to rest with only the sounds of Silas’s soft snores and the occasional hoot of an owl.

  “It’s peaceful out here,” she said softly, not wanting to shatter the spell. “It makes me feel small and gives me hope at the same time.”

  “Hope to go home?”

  “Well, yes. You know I want my life back.” They watched another streak of starlight. “I also hope to find someone to love and build a family with. I’ve always craved that special bond my mom and dad shared. They were so in love.”

  “Love?” He shifted to stare at her, incredulous. “You still believe in love after everything you’ve been though?”

  “Yes. Every time I look at Silas,” she said with confidence.

  “Oh, sure. That’s different.”

  Was he almost agreeing with her? Hope flared that he might defeat the grip of his past. “How can love be different from love?”

  He immediately pulled back, from her or the conversation, far enough that the cool air moved between them. It was mere inches, but it felt like a canyon holding them apart while she waited for his answer.

  “You know what I mean.”

  She was so tempted to comfort him, to gloss it over. If she did, the opportunity might never come around again. Boldly, she said, “I’d like to.”

  He sighed, surprising her by pulling her close. “Aside from my brother and sister, love has let me down every time,” he admitted. “Mom and Dad loved us and it didn’t save them.”

  “Everyone dies.” She watched another star fall. “Not loving someone won’t keep you safe, either.”

  “I don’t understand you. You elevate optimism to an art form.”

  “How can I not?” Snuggling into his warmth, she searched for the right words. “I’ve seen true love firsthand. So have you. Granted, I settled for an illusion of the real thing. Roderick loved the image of us. He didn’t love me. Love is adaptable. Steadfast and devoted, in any facet or form, love sticks.”

  He shifted again but didn’t release her. Maybe she was getting through. If she could do nothing else for him, she’d give him a chance to heal from his devastating losses. “Whatever you call it, loyalty or responsibility or commitment, you show love, Jarvis. It might not be the romantic facet of love, but love is there, in your choices and your actions.”

  His body tensed. “I really want to disagree with you.”

  She tapped her shoe to his boot. “Why argue when we could enjoy the stars?”

  Giving her shoulder a squeeze, he relaxed and they watched the sky until her eyelids were drooping. “You should take us back,” she said, sitting up a bit. “We all need some rest.”

  “In a minute.” He laced his fingers with hers, his face tipped up to the sky.

  “Do you know your constellations?” she asked.

  “That’s Cowboy 101,” he said.

  “Really?”

  “No.” He bent his head and kissed her. “But these views are a big perk on night shifts.”

  “You love being a cowboy.”

  “Does that bother you?” he asked.

  “No.” She’d spent her life around powerful businessmen and been groomed and educated so she could hold her own in any setting, social or professional. Her time around barns had included the glossy, luxury side of ranch operations, not the more functional side. She liked what Jarvis did, the obvious pride he took in his work, and the honest-work scent of sunshine and sweat that lingered on his skin after a long day outside. “Does it bother you?”

  “Not a bit. I don’t have any desire to go back to an office, whether or not I find evidence that this ranch belongs to my side of the family.”

  “So you’ll work for Asher forever?”

  “Not forever.” He took his eyes off the sky and shot her a confident look. “I’m still learning. He’s an excellent manager on all fronts.”

  “That shouldn’t come as a surprise,” she said. “He has a tremendous reputation.”

  “We didn’t exactly run in the same circles, Mia. We still don’t. Not yet, anyway.” He pushed a hand through his hair, mussing the dark locks. “More than once I’ve thought, if this place is mine, I’d find a way to keep him. If it’s not and I buy my own ranch, I might lure him away.”

  His low laugh rolled over her, as warm as melted chocolate and equally as tempting. What would that sound feel like under her hands? Her mouth watered and she yanked her wayward thoughts back into line.

  “I could broker a land deal for you,” she teased. Being here, feeling safe with him was such a treat. But a life in hiding couldn’t last. Silas would need his regular checkups. Regina might as well stake out the pediatrician’s office if she wanted to catch Mia and make good on her threats.

  Mia watched the shadowy scenery on the drive back to the bunkhouse. She could make a new life elsewhere, but with Regina’s threats looming over her head, worry would be a constant companion. That was no life for her son and she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her father to cope with Regina’s devious nature alone. The woman was greedy and Mia had no doubt she’d continue to take whatever she wanted, whenever she chose—even Norton’s life.

  Tomorrow, she’d allow Jarvis to bring everything to his brother on her behalf.

  * * *

  Jarvis rested quietly in the bunk. Mia’s sweet curves were pressed up against him and she was out. Looked like fresh air and car rides were effective sleep-enhancers for mothers, too.

  Unfortunately, he couldn’t stop thinking about her persistent faith in love.

  After everything she’d been through, she wasn’t just wishing for love; she was determined to create it, to celebrate it as though it was a reliable emotion. She wouldn’t find or create love with him, obviously.

  He was temporary.

  That rankled more than it should, considering he wasn’t in the market for a family, anyway.

  He’d been telling himself this was about protecting the ranch, protecting his potential legacy and treating Mia as he would want someone to treat his sister. But he didn’t feel anything brotherly toward the woman in his arms. No, he felt invested. Attached.

  That attachment went beyond uncomfortable and straight into dangerous. To her. The only love he trusted, the only relationships that hadn’t ended in disaster, were those with his brother and sister. And even that dynamic had changed since they were both engaged and planning weddings now. Those right and true relationships nudged Jarvis a bit more to the fringe.

  He wasn’t resentful, exactly. He was experiencing what might be best described as envy nipping at his heels. And bafflement. How could Spencer and Bella take the chance? What did they have that Jarvis lacked?

  Oh, he could go and ask. His siblings would listen, try to help. Even if they could help him figure out the mess in his own head, he wasn’t in the mood for lectures on his choices about business, ranching or women.

  He breathed in the soft clove fragrance of Mia’s shampoo, and pushed the envy and pointless questions aside. There would be plenty of time to sort out his issues once Mia and Silas were safe and gone.

  Chapter 10

  Mia read the text message from her father and pocketed her phone while she considered her reply. She’d brought Silas outside for an early morning walk while she tried not to think about Jarvis going to share the ugliest parts of her life with his brother later today. This time, she thought the sweet request for an update on the baby was probably from Norton and not one of Regina’s tricks. She couldn’t imagine her stepmother being kind even as a ploy.

  Only last month, she’d
walked with Silas through the neighborhood where she’d grown up, or through the park in town, her son in his stroller. Today she carried him in the sling, not straying too far from the remote Triple R bunkhouse, not another person in sight.

  The warm sunlight painted the grassy pastures and highlighted the mountains in the distance, framed by the cloudless, blue sky. The picturesque setting made her feel like everything would eventually work out.

  With a baby nearly three months old, she’d expected to be taking meetings and calls and building up a solid network for her new real-estate career by now. Instead she was still out here, hiding from her stepmother’s threats.

  Although she’d used her time to keep up with properties and trends in the area, she’d had far more fun helping Jarvis with his history and search. It was an easier task because she didn’t have a stake in whatever he found. The deeds, acreage claims, and sales from Herman and Eugene’s generation were convoluted. With luck, if Jarvis found the box, those conflicting documents might be explained.

  He’d absolutely won her over with his determination to keep searching, even after she’d found documents on file that Eugene and his descendants came by the property legally, negotiating back and forth with T. Ainsley. For a man who claimed he didn’t believe in family, Jarvis was going all out to prove there was merit behind his grandfather’s stories. She hoped that whatever he found would be exactly what he needed for his heart and his future in ranching.

  Her phone chimed again. Another text, this time a direct request for an update on the progress on the listing. Why had her father told her he wasn’t going to talk business if he didn’t mean it? And why had she lied about working with a buyer?

  “Mommy never should’ve lied,” she said to Silas. “Let this be a lesson—mommies and daddies always find out the truth.”

  Daddies. Oh, how she wanted a daddy for her son someday. When she thought of Silas calling a man daddy, having a father figure to emulate, Jarvis’s face came to mind. It was ridiculous, putting that face to her fantasy, yet she couldn’t seem to remove his dark eyes, square jaw and lopsided grin from the picture.