The Airman's E-Mail Order Bride (Heroes of Chance Creek Book 5) (10 page)

She found the doorknob and was about to turn it when a light switched on.

“Heather, where the hell are you going?”

Heather froze. Footsteps behind her told her Colt had climbed out of bed. When he touched her shoulder and turned her around, she closed her eyes.

“Too late for that,” he said, smoothing a thumb over her cheek.

She couldn’t think of an answer and he chuckled. “Come on, you knew I knew who you were.”

“But I didn’t know if you knew that I knew.” She opened her eyes and found him gazing at her with affection.

“Christ, woman, what were you trying to prove?” His hands fell to her waist and stayed there. His presence had overpowered her when she couldn’t see him. Now that she could, his raw maleness set her heart beating.

“I wanted… I wanted you to remember me when you married that other woman.”

“Hell, I never stop thinking about you. How’s a fake marriage going to change that?”

This time when she closed her eyes, it was from the pain. He meant to go through with the fake marriage after everything they’d done together. She reached blindly for the doorknob, but Colt stopped her. “Hey, I’m talking to you.”

“I can’t do this.”

“What can’t you do?”

“I can’t watch you marry someone else.”

His hands came up to cup her face. Before she could protest, he bent to kiss her thoroughly, sending her pulse racing and scattering her thoughts until he pulled away.

“Who says I’m going to marry someone else?”

“But—” She stared in shock as Colt lowered himself to one knee. Naked, he was more magnificent than a man in a tailored suit. He had no ring, but Heather didn’t care.

“Heather Marie Ward, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

It had to be a dream, but when Heather blinked he was still there, still on his knees, still looking at her like she was all he’d ever wanted. A tear spilled down her cheek. “I…”

“Say yes,” he coached her.

“I…”

“Y…E…S,” he said slowly. “You can do it, baby.”

Heather laughed. “Yes!” A fleeting image of Richard flashed through her mind. She should say something. She should tell Colt he was a father. But Colt surged to his feet, tossed her coat and purse aside, and pushed her up against the door as he bent to capture her mouth with his again. Helpless to withstand his passion, Heather forgot everything else as he kissed her senseless, the taste of his lips and tongue overriding all of her instincts. He tugged her shirt up and over her head and captured her wrists in one hand as he unhooked her bra. When he lowered his head to cover her nipple with his mouth, Heather was lost.

They didn’t make it back to the bed. When she couldn’t wait another second, Colt lifted her up, wrapped her legs around his waist and took her right there. His thrusts bumped her up against the door, but she didn’t care what the neighbors thought. Possessed by him, brought to the brink of ecstasy, she gave herself up to his touch and when she went over the edge into her release, Colt cried out and bucked against her in the throes of his own.

Long after they
returned to bed and Heather slipped into a light sleep, Colt realized he was shaking. At first he thought it was from his time outside of the covers naked in the cool room, but while his skin warmed the fine tremors that slipped through him didn’t stop.

Was this…? Colt shied away from the word fear. He wasn’t afraid of anything. Scratch that—he was afraid of losing Heather again now that he finally had her.

She’d said yes.

He couldn’t describe the emotion that had filled him when she’d agreed to be his bride. It was like time had reversed itself and he was sixteen again, whole and happy just to be alive.

That didn’t mean all would be smooth sailing, though. He wanted to be with Heather and after touching her again there was no way he’d give her up, but he still had to face his brothers when he took her home. Even if Austin was married to someone else now, he might resent it if Colt was with Heather. And Austin and Mason might be angry about what he’d done the day Aaron had died, too.

If tensions ran too high between him and his brothers, he would need to convince Heather to move away from Chance Creek. He supposed she would agree to that once he had a chance to explain things to her. They didn’t have to go far, after all. They could land in any of the towns between Billings and Bozeman, close enough to visit her mother and his family from time to time. He’d find work on a ranch. She could get whatever job pleased her. Still, even when she woke and they kissed again, he found himself reluctant to discuss that possibility.

“Now what do we do?” she asked, sitting up. The covers slipped down, giving him a view of her beautiful breasts. Colt sighed. He guessed they couldn’t make love forever.

“I think it’s time to go home.”

She glanced at the clock on the bedside table and stiffened. “You’re right. I’ve got to get to work.” She scrambled to her feet and began to pick up her clothes.

“What do you do for work these days?”

“You’ll never guess.” She moved toward the bathroom and a moment later he heard the shower come on.

“Then tell me.” He got up and followed her.

“I own Renfree’s Home Décor now,” she said when he joined her in the shower. He grabbed the soap, lathered up, but when he went to soap down her body, Heather wasn’t having it. “I’ve got to hurry. My employee is opening for me, but at this rate I won’t get there until after lunch,” she said, but stood on tiptoes to kiss him.

Colt sighed. “An entrepreneur, huh? I always knew you’d do well for yourself.”

“It’s harder than I thought it would be. Sales are down from last year. I’m afraid the store won’t be a success.” She made quick work of washing her hair and scrubbing her body, then stepped back to give him a chance under the shower. Colt followed her lead and didn’t linger.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Just keep looking at me like that.”

He knew what she meant. It was as if for the moment they shared a protective cocoon of love, and it was all the more precious because it was fleeting.

When he was done, Colt turned off the shower, then moved around the motel room packing while Heather got dressed. She used the blow drier that came with the room to dry her hair, then quickly pulled it up in to a ponytail.

“I like your hair that color. Blond suits you,” Colt said.

“You don’t think it’s too much?”

“I think it’s perfect.”

She smiled, gazed around the room and nodded. “I think that’s everything. I guess I’ll head out and see you soon, then.” She shrugged on her winter coat and strode to the door.

“Wait. Hold up, there. I meant let’s go back to Chance Creek together.” He crossed the room to block the door. “What’s your hurry?”

“I told you, I have to work.” She didn’t meet his gaze and for a second he wondered if she was having second thoughts.

“We need to go to Crescent Hall and tell everyone our news.”

“Right now?”

“Why not?” Colt suddenly felt energized. Why wait a moment longer to face down the demons of his past? He’d carried his guilt with him for far too long. It was time to finally set that burden down. If his brothers were angry with him he’d find some other way to make things right. With Heather by his side he could do anything.

“But I have work.”

“It won’t take long.”

“But—”

“But nothing. Let’s go.” He grabbed his bag and jacket and hustled her right out the door. A quick stop in the motel office let him pay his bill and he walked Heather to her truck, eager to get on their way. “Follow me, okay?”

“Of course.” But she didn’t seem happy. She raised a hand to tuck back an errant strand of hair and Colt realized why.

“First things first. You need a ring.” How could he have forgotten that? He pulled out his phone and searched for the nearest jewelry store.

“Colt, I—”

“You don’t have to say anything. I know; I’m a complete idiot for forgetting.”

“That’s not—”

“Just follow me. We’ll get the prettiest ring they have.” He kissed her cheek and jogged to his own rental car, knowing Heather would feel better as soon as he’d put a ring on her finger. He had to remember this was as strange for her as it was for him. He wasn’t going to give her enough time to think of all the reasons it couldn’t work.

Fifteen minutes later, both of them pulled into the parking lot outside of the store. Taking her hand when they met up, Colt hurried her through the door and tugged her to the jewelry cases that featured a selection of rings. The store was empty of customers so early in the morning, but Colt figured that worked to their advantage.

“I mean it; we have to talk.” Heather dung in her heels and stopped him.

Colt turned her to face the rings. Hell, no. He didn’t want to hear why they should slow things down, or put the wedding off. He’d asked her to marry him and she’d said yes. If they talked about it, they’d be buried under all the reasons they shouldn’t do it. He could count them on his fingers right now. They hadn’t dated in years. They’d barely dated at all. They’d betrayed Austin. Aaron had died alone. Just thinking about all of it made his chest tighten. The way he saw it, their one chance at happiness lay in not thinking or talking until they were married. If they stuck to making love everything would be fine.

“Later. Pick a ring.”

“But—”

“How about that one?” He pointed to a beautifully cut diamond on a platinum band. Fairly traditional, but special all the same, just like Heather. Colt gestured to a clerk who came to open the case.

The clerk handed the ring to Colt and he slid it on her finger. “What do you think?”

She softened. “It’s wonderful. Colt—are you sure?” He knew she was asking about more than the ring.

“I’m sure. You and I are meant to be together. That’s all that matters, okay?”

She hesitated.

“Try on some more,” he said, picking another one out. He did his best to ignore the worry he saw in her eyes. He’d set his course and he meant to keep it, no matter what.

Heather did try on a few more rings, but in the end she returned to the one he’d chosen.

“I like this one best.”

“We’ll take it,” he said to the clerk.

They picked a wedding band to match and one for Colt as well, although the store didn’t have one in his size. He got the next larger one, knowing he could get it resized at the jewelry store in Chance Creek. The clerk put the bands in small velvet boxes, but Heather kept the engagement ring on her finger. Colt settled the bill and they emerged back into the crisp daylight.

“I feel… official,” Heather said.

Colt lifted her hand. “You are official. Officially about to become my wife. We’ll schedule the wedding soon. I don’t want to wait.”

An expression he couldn’t decipher flitted over her face, and she opened her mouth to speak. Colt sensed trouble again, so he leaned down and kissed her. “Come on. Let’s go surprise the hell out of my brothers.”

There it was again—that look of… Colt couldn’t pinpoint her expression. Worry? Fear? He led her to her truck. Too bad if Austin was angry. Too bad if everyone else thought it was wrong. He’d never let Heather go now.

“But, Colt—”

He opened the door for her and helped her in. “See you at the Hall.”

“Colt!”

He closed the truck door firmly and strode to his car. There might be a hundred reasons why they shouldn’t get married.

He didn’t care about any of them.

“You’re what?” Camila
squeaked over the phone when Heather called her. Heather put her on speaker phone, fired up her engine and backed out of her parking spot.

“Engaged—to Colt.” Heather was so excited she could barely speak, and at the same time she was terrified. She wanted to tell Camila everything, but she knew her friend would die if she found out Heather still hadn’t told Colt about Richard. She’d tried, but every time she opened her mouth, he cut her off. He was excited, too, and that thrilled her to the core. Still, she didn’t know what to do.

“That’s amazing! See, I told you my plan would work!”

“I thought your plan was for me to leave Colt tied up.”

“My plan was for the two of you to be in the same place at the same time—with at least one of you naked. Where are you now?”

“Leaving Billings. I can’t talk long.” She wished she could. She needed Camila’s advice more than ever.

“Are you coming back to Chance Creek?”

“We’re on our way to Crescent Hall. Colt wants to announce our engagement to the rest of his family. He bought me a ring.”

“Take a picture and send it to me.”

Heather stopped the truck in the middle of the lot, quickly took a photo with her phone and sent it. Glancing up, she saw Colt looking at her through his rear-view mirror. He lifted up his hands in a
what’s going on
gesture. She waved at him.

“Just sent it, I’ve really got to go.”

“I’m so excited for you! So Colt was okay when he found out about Richard?”

Heather winced as she put down the phone again and began to drive. She followed Colt to the lot’s exit. “Listen, I can’t talk. I’m about to get on the highway. See you soon!”

She hung up before Camila could say another word, pulled out into the traffic, and trailed Colt down the road, but as she drove, her worry grew. Why wouldn’t Colt let her tell him about Richard? It was as if he knew she had something to share he didn’t want to hear, and now they were headed for disaster. She had to tell him before they reached Crescent Hall, but she could barely keep up with him, let alone pass him and try to get him to pull over. She couldn’t message him and drive at the same time, either. She’d have to intercept him before he went into the Hall.

When they got to Chance Creek, however, Heather got caught at a light and she was a half-mile behind Colt when he turned into the ranch’s driveway. By the time she pulled up and parked, he had walked up the steps to the porch and was opening up the front door.

Heather leaped from the truck. “Colt—wait a minute!”

She was too late. The door swung open and Mason appeared. Slightly taller than Colt, he had the upright bearing and muscled body of a long time Navy SEAL.