He repacked the ring as the saleslady handed him his receipt to sign. Once he paid, he fled into his car. He'd have to find a way to tell her that she was part of his life. Nothing made sense without her.
His heartbeat was steady as he started his car and headed home. Vicki was his future and all that mattered, other than Clara.
He hummed to a song on the radio for a few minutes as he drove. Then his phone vibrated on the seat beside him. Alice's name flashed on the screen. He picked it up and hit speakerphone as she said, "Where are you?"
He turned off the radio so they could speak. "Hello to you too."
In a fast, must-tell-everything-in-one-breath tone, Alice launched. "Vicki's thinking about leaving your home. What did you do?"
His heart thumped in his chest. "What do you know?"
Alice sighed, like she was speaking to him as if he was Clara and should know he was wrong. "She spoke to John and Peter this morning. She's sad."
Vicki had no reason to be sad. His mind raced to their last conversation. He had told her he was going to see Belle. Earlier yesterday, she had said no to his spur-of-the-moment proposal, but this time he'd have an entire plan. "Alice, she can't leave me. Not now."
Alice's voice was softer. "Why not, Colt?"
He gripped the steering wheel and paid attention to the empty road. He'd do whatever it took to convince Vicki to stay with him. "I'll talk to her when I get home."
"Do some fast talking there. I want you both to be very happy."
He had no idea how to ask someone to marry him. He bit his bottom lip and then asked, "Alice, how did you know that you wanted to marry John?"
"I've been in love with him all my life. Once we were actually together, it was easy to say yes. Are you going to ask Vicki?"
His heartbeat thrashed in his ears. He'd not tell Alice. He should ask Vicki first. "Bye, sis."
"That means you are."
He shook his head as he turned off the highway and returned to the side road that took him home. "Bye."
"Good luck. I'll be praying for you both."
Luck had brought Vicki to him. It was up to him to ask, and he flashed to planning exactly how he'd do so. Adrenaline pumped in his veins as he made his way onto the ranch. Vicki made the sun shine in his life. The question of why she might leave raced in his head.
If she married him, then she'd have his heart. He inhaled and crossed his fingers that it was enough. Then he parked the car. He was home. It was time to set the scene.
Chapter 28
Vicki waited in the living room, and their daughter listened to her music. Colt had taken a long time at the hospital this morning. Vicki read a book, and wondered if her daughter might like piano lessons, as she seemed to love music. If so, Vicki would find her one.
Today had to be her last day here, if she intended to keep her heart strong. Her shoulders threatened to cave in, and her eyes would water if she thought that Colt might not love her. She'd have to be strong. Clara was a reason to stay, but that shouldn't be enough. She'd not push Colt if he wasn't ready for a relationship, and she had to protect her heart.
A knock at the door sent her heartbeat into a race. Vicki stood and told Clara, "I'll be right back."
Her daughter's head bopped, and Vicki hoped she’d heard her.
A few seconds later, she returned to the living room. She'd not sign Colt up for a church that came to the front door.
As Vicki stared at her daughter, Clara gazed at her with her big blue eyes. "Okay, and Mom, we're going to have to work on making you more sexy so you can marry Daddy."
Marriage without love wasn't possible for her, not that Clara would understand that. Vicki stared at her green tee shirt and sweats. "You don't like this outfit?"
"I'll pick out something for you to wear so Dad notices you." Clara scratched her head. "Then he can't resist you."
Dress-up was a fun game. Clara jumped out of her chair. Vicki nodded. "Okay, pick out my outfit, Clara."
If clothes kept Clara happy, Vicki had nothing to say. Her daughter walked past her and headed toward her room. Vicki smiled then and went to her room to pack her items.
To keep Clara happy, she'd wear just about anything, including a circus clown outfit.
Once she had everything ready, Vicki went into the kitchen and retrieved chicken pieces so she could make them lunch. No one must see that she'd break into a million tears and create a river from her sadness. Then she started the coffee pot. Colt hadn't come home from work to grab a morning cup and then head out again.
She swallowed and refused to think she would miss simple routines.
Clara came out of the bedroom. "Hurry, Mom. Change before Daddy sees you."
Vicki turned on the oven, wiped her hands on her sweats, and marched back to her room. She danced into the room and sang, "Gonna get pretty."
Clara wrinkled her nose. "Don't sing for Dad, Mom."
In the room, Vicki blinked. Her daughter had picked out a black designer glitter dress she’d worn for New Year’s once, two years ago. "Where did you find this?"
"At Aunt Alice's," Clara told her. "I took it from her to give it to you."
"I'll be sure to thank her later." Vicki kept the smile on her face then took her tee shirt off. "Can I wear my bra?"
"Mom, be serious. This is important."
"I see. I'm sorry." Vicki shook her head and then picked up the dress to tug down over her head. With the dress half down, she tugged off her bra and tossed it on the bed. Finished, she shook her hips. "Isn't this overkill for lunch?"
Clara giggled.
Outside someone slammed a car door, and Vicki's skin jumped. Today she'd tell Colt goodbye. She glanced out the window and told her heart to stop racing.
"It's one of Dad's workers on the farm." Vicki offered her hand and waited for Clara. Clara reached up and then they walked out together. "Okay, let's get to making lunch. Didn't Grandma ever tell you that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach?"
"No. Is it?" Clara's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. "Mom, we have to cook an amazing lunch."
"Don't worry about that. I was joking." Clara tugged her toward the kitchen. "No matter what, your dad and I will always be in your life."
Once in the kitchen, Vicki directed Clara to the toast and to set the table. She stirred the last bit of eggs to bread the chicken and heated up a few leftover vegetables and mashed potatoes from last night's dinner. A few minutes later, she hunched over and used the spatula to finish scraping everything into serving bowls.
Behind her she heard Colt voice call out, "Princess, I'm home."
No, she wasn't ready for him. The scent of oranges and oak wafted in the air. Vicki straightened her dress that was too short. Her face heated and she glanced at him near the door. His gaze went up and down her body, which made her warmer, everywhere. "Let's eat, Colt."
He wiped his feet outside on the rug again, and then proceeded inside. He mussed Clara's hair, but his gaze never left Vicki. She prayed she hadn't blushed all over her body, but it was possible. She finished with everything on the table.
Colt brushed past her, and she tingled from their momentary contact. Then she sat and told him, "We're going to have to talk after lunch. Don't run off."
Colt sniffed the food and she waited for his comment. He said nothing and served the food. "My mom will be here soon to take Clara for the rest of the day. It will be just the two of us, so we can talk."
He must know that she intended to end their time together. Her neck tightened. Clara might not understand yet. Perhaps their talk was better one on one. She'd return tomorrow and see Clara every day. Vicki nodded and served food to her daughter and Colt. His big, sexy eyes stared at her. The air conditioner had to have broken, because she was hot. "Let's eat, unless you think it's poisoned."
"I'm impressed, Vicki. I didn't know you had it in you."
She shook her head and waited for him to take a bite. He smiled at her, and then she ate.
Aft
er cleanup, Vicki told them, "I'll go change now."
"No, Mom." Her grandmother's car roared into the driveway as Clara said, "You're pretty as you are. Let's go greet Grandma."
Colt’s mother might think her one of the Miami weather girls on television who were ready to hit the club after saying that today was hot and sunny. Vicki shrugged as the door opened and Clara ran to get her. "Okay, then."
Colt stood in the driveway as she walked out. Then Clara pushed her forward. "Let Dad see more of your back, Mom. He's stared at you a few times now, and I think he likes you."
Colt's eyes flashed. He heard every word as he glanced at her.
"Thanks for letting me know." Vicki winked at her daughter and then turned so Colt might see what their daughter had dressed her in. "Clara picked this out for me. What do you think?"
Colt winked. "I'd say this dress is magical."
"Magical?" she said. "You spending too much time watching cartoons with Clara?"
"Not as often as you think." He shrugged as his mother approached.
Vicki kept her hands up to cover her chest. "Mrs. Collins…"
"I told you already, Vicki. Call me Ellie." His mother hugged her and asked, "Are you two going to a party?"
"Clara wanted to play dress-up, and chose this for me." Vicki crossed her legs and hoped if she hid one of her legs, Ellie would not notice how short the dress was.
Ellie shrugged. "Got it. No worries. Clara, sweetheart, let's get in the car."
"Okay, Grandma," Clara said as she opened the backseat to get into her car seat.
Ellie stared at her son without blinking. "Clara will be fine with us."
Vicki waved goodbye. She'd go change in a minute. "Thank you."
Ellie opened the driver's door. Colt went over to her and hugged his mother. Then Ellie told Vicki, "Don't worry about anything. We're all family. Thanks aren't necessary."
This definition of family that the Collins had was nice. The House of Morgan was fractured and broken—not that it had ever functioned as anything remotely like a family. Colt came beside her and took her hand. "Let's go inside to talk, Vicki."
Vicki waved at the car as it drove off. Clara waved back. In this one moment, she had her family and she'd never lose Clara again. Now she had to somehow steel her spine against her own heart when it came to Colt. She needed to be loved.
Chapter 29
"Today is humid. It's suffocating." Vicki crossed her arms the second the doors closed.
Colt reached behind his back to check that the ring was in his pocket. Now he needed to get her to the swing again. He needed to somehow stop his body heat from rising. "I'll need water and then we can go outside."
Her eyes narrowed, like she was gearing up to tell him goodbye. He held his breath and waited, though she simply said, "Why?"
The dress she wore showed off her ample breasts. He closed his eyes and reminded himself he had a question. This was his last shot at keeping his family. He couldn't lose focus. "As you said, it's hot outside."
Colt went to the kitchen, grabbed a water bottle from the refrigerator, and swallowed the entire container.
"I should go change first. I'll be ready to talk in a minute."
The cold water hadn't quenched the fire inside him. He opened his mouth and stared at her. "Vicki. It's not just talking I want."
She didn't move. He came closer, and he could smell the sweet scent of strawberry. She batted her eyes as he placed his hands on her hips. His mouth begged for a taste of her. She whispered, "Aren't you going to kiss me, Colt? Isn't that what this is?"
"Kiss you?" His voice cracked. He gazed up at her pink lips, pert nose, high cheekbones, and blue eyes. If he kissed her, he'd not want to stop. He hovered close to her. What held him was how important the question and his plan was. "I want far more than a simple kiss."
She froze in his arms. She didn't pull away or open her eyes, but her entire body became tense in his arms.
The smell of strawberry shampoo wafted in his nose, and he lost his argument. He leaned forward, and she uncurled like a butterfly leaving its cocoon. The softness of her lips brushed against his mouth, and he opened his lips a little more. She pressed further and the tingles down his spine grew. He released a groan then wrapped his arms around her tightly. He then truly kissed her.
Victoria Morgan tasted sweeter than any ice cream he'd ever had, and he'd always claimed ice cream was his favorite. Kissing Vicki blew that out of the water, and he craved more.
Her hands traced his neck, and his temperature climbed.
He'd never be able to kiss anyone else for the rest of his life. He choked out, "I had a plan…"
She squared her shoulders and stepped out of his arms. "I'm leaving, Colt."
His heartbeat quickened. "You can't."
She balled her hands into fists at her side. "I can't stay here. I have to honor myself, and I deserve more."
No, he'd messed up this proposal already. He ran his hands through his hair. "You deserve better than me, that's for sure."
Her lips puckered. Then her eyes were as a wide as saucers. "Colt, I don't have you."
He offered to hold her hand. She had to understand. She couldn't leave. "You do have me, Vicki. When the sun rises, it's your smile I see on the horizon. When the sun sets, you're the vision I see that makes me come home. All my life, it's always been you that starred in my dreams. I can't live without you anymore."
Tears ran down her cheeks. Had he ruined everything? He had no way to fix this now.
Then she reached out and took his hands. "Do you love me, Colt?"
The trembles in his heart grew, but he dare not hope. He stared into her eyes. "Is that your question?"
She ran his hands up his chest and cupped his cheek. The water in her eyes unmanned him as she whispered, "I can't stay without knowing."
His lips parted. How did she not know? Adrenaline fueled his dreams that she jumpstarted.
"I love you. You're in my every heartbeat, Victoria Morgan. It's always been you."
She choked on her tears. His entire body thrashed as he wrapped his arms around her. He'd not lose her now. Then she snuggled into his arms and hugged him. "Colt, why didn't you tell me?"
The smell of strawberries undid him. He held her close and rocked her gently. "I felt guilty."
She took her head out of his neck and met his gaze. "And now?"
Every second seemed like a moment he had to remember forever as he reached into his pocket. Then he opened the box. "I'll be lost if you don't marry me."
She peeked at his hand and then her hand left his side to cover her lips. She dropped her hand and softly picked up her ring. "Marry you?"
His hands itched to slip it on her finger. He nodded and waited for permission. "Yes, Vicki. I need you."
A huge smile grew on her lips, and she jumped in his arms. "Colt, yes."
His own heart contracted. This was the moment. He took the ring from her. "Yes what?"
She held out her hand to let him place the ring on her. "Yes, I'll marry you. I love you. You're my hero."
He pressed it onto her finger and his lips met hers again.
He'd never lose her again. Vicki Morgan was his.
Chapter 30
Peter Morgan drove his Aston Martin onto the rocky driveway. Alice and John followed in their Jeep. Vicki left Colt's side on the porch and waved at her brothers. Today she told them she was staying with Colt forever.
The House of Morgan didn't need her.
Peter pursed his lips as he stepped out of his car, but he said nothing.
John ran around his Jeep and helped Alice get down. He held her with both hands.
Vicki called out, "Over here."
Clara was playing a card game with her father on the swing.
Vicki paced and heard footsteps on the wood patio. Her brothers came toward her. She clicked her heels and waited. The moment they drew close, she threw her arms around Peter and then John and finally Alice. Alice ran her hands do
wn Vicki's spine and hugged her closest as she asked, "What is going on? Why are we here?"
Vicki tugged out of the hug. Then she took her brothers' hands. "I didn't want this to be a phone call."
John's eyes narrowed. "What?"
She met the gazes of both of her brothers as she heard Colt stand behind her. "Peter, John…I told Colt I'd marry him."
Alice squeezed John's side. "I knew it! Oh my God, congratulations. We're going to be sisters again."
Vicki wiped her eyes. She'd not cry. "Alice, thank you."
Then Alice tugged her fiancé's arm. "John, tell Vicki congrats."
Peter scratched his chin and then stared at Colt and not at her. "Are you sure, Vicki? The Collins siblings are slightly dramatic."
Colt placed his hands on Vicki's shoulder. Peter stood taller.
Vicki stood straighter. "Colt is the sweetest man I ever met."
Peter shrugged. "That's all that matters. I just want my sister to be happy."
Colt sat down with Clara, and John and Alice went over to join them.
Vicki kept her voice lower as she told her brother, "Speaking of drama, I'm happy you and Jennifer are no longer together. She's nice, but Peter, you deserve someone you can give your heart to."
Peter's shoulders tightened, and he leaned forward. "Jennifer broke up with me. I'm happy as it is. Either way, congrats, sis."
His arms went around her, and she hugged her brother. Unlike their father, Peter had a heart and much to give. She tugged away and then cupped her brother's face. "Peter."
"Yes?"
She stared at Peter. He controlled billions of dollars and ran every company in the House of Morgan portfolio. So many women must vie for his attention, much like their father always had hangers-on. With a family, he'd be on a different path than their father. She prayed Peter found a better path. She let go of his chin as she turned to face Colt and Clara. She then pointed to how full her life was. "One day soon, you'll find someone to fall in love with and build a family."
[House of Morgan 01.0 - 03.0] Boxed Set Page 38