Page 47 of Secret Baby
The click of heels interrupted. The waitress stood over them and placed drinks on the table. Vicki's skin was warm as Colt ordered for their daughter. Then she stared at the menu for ten seconds, and added that she wanted a chicken sandwich. Satisfied, she slid the menu to Colt. Her hands grazed his and heat ignited on her skin. Vicki hoped this interruption didn't change what had almost happened.
"I never had a mother, and my father never liked me," Vicki said. "John and Peter were older and away. All I had that summer was the music and your dad."
"My dad loves me," Clara added as she stared at Colt.
They had a bond that was deep and true. Vicki saw that. "He does."
Colt sat straighter in his chair. "Clara's easy to love."
Vicki smiled and held her breath. She had to try. "Having someone who's moral and upright standing next to you is good to have. I didn't think people like your dad existed, and didn't understand for a long time how amazing Colt is."
Colt lifted his hand off her chair then ran it through his hair. "No. This can't happen. Vicki, you were my every fantasy."
What was he talking about? She wanted to tell Clara she was her mother, and why did goose bumps grow on her arm?
Colt continued, "I had to grow up, and I spent most of my life between the middle of the desert, half a world away, and changing diapers."
She wouldn't try to erase their bond. She hoped to be part of their family. "But we're talking about our family now, and what's important for us to move on."
"Yes." Colt nodded and crossed his arms. "I hear what you’re saying. I can’t right now. We'll do this tomorrow. Right now, everything is going too fast. I just need to breathe."
If he didn't want to tell their daughter, then they had a big problem. She glanced at both of them and sighed. One more day wasn't unreasonable. She nodded. "Every moment of my adult life was spent with regret over what happened with you. I can wait one more day for the truth, Colt, but it's not fair to ask for more. I'm trusting you to do this."
Vicki also hoped to ask what had happened to Belle. One more day was all she could take, though. It was time Clara knew the whole truth.
"Is it true what was in the papers about your father with tax evasions that are completely legal?" he asked.
She closed her eyes, inhaled, opened her eyes, and answered, "Yes, every word. He cared more for the Morgan brand and his corporate legacy for Peter than he cared for anyone within the House of Morgan. My father believed that a man's job in life was to leave everything he could to his heir."
"Mitch Morgan hatched a scheme to get Collins’ lands years ago, because he'd figured out how to drill for oil. My father always thought yours was a thief, though that's not official." His eyes rolled to Clara, who sipped her iced tea, making faces of exuberance every time she tasted her drink. "You deserved better, Victoria Morgan. I'm glad you're free and can experience what family is supposed to be."
She shook her head, but Colt's words seem to find a way to sprint up her spine and left her tingling. "My shop and the money in my account is all I have now from the House of Morgan, officially. I refused to allow Peter to leave me shares."
"I'm sure the money is far more than most people can imagine." Colt reached across the table to stroke her hand, and her shoulders became less tense. "Vicki, you don't know how to trust anyone or how to do anything but run away."
The only honest person she truly knew stared at her. Her eyes met his and she gulped. She needed to change topics fast, as her stomach twisted in knots. "What happened to Belle?"
His cheeks turned red. "I told you. She's gone. I drove her to the airport."
Gonewasn't how a man in love typically talked, was it? "For good? Or is the wedding still on, Colt?"
He stared at the table. Then he gazed at Clara. "I told her I'd cancel the wedding, return the gifts, and pay back any money spent."
Her heart thundered as heat coursed through her. She had to school her face and not smile. He was in pain. Her lips didn't quite close, and all she could say was, "Ohh, wow."
He reached across the table again and took her hand. His sexy eyes stared back at her, and she lost her voice. Her cheeks burned as he told her, "I did it because I am not packing Clara and moving to Washington. Our lives are here."
"I'm glad." With unshed tears in her eyes, Vicki had so many more questions and so much to say, but not in front of Clara. Not yet. They might turn out to be a family, and tomorrow they'd tell her.
The waitress returned with plates of food. "Let's eat," Vicki said.
He massaged his neck. "I don't want to hurt you, Vicki. You're important too."
They had a chance to start something now. She gazed at her plate to not give away her thoughts. "The promise you made about the natural and right moment is soon, Colt. Then we have no walls that might come between us."
"I understand." He nodded.
Clara ate her food in silence mostly, but stared at both the adults.
