Page 63 of Secret Baby
"Not a problem."
She averted her gaze. "On a different note, I'm scared to meet your mother."
He turned and took both of her hands in his. "We'll have grown-up talk. If my mother says anything to you, she's gone."
"Dad, I want to see Grandma," Clara called out, and then turned again to the television.
"Of course." He kept his hands entwined with Vicki's as he told his daughter, "I am speaking to your mom."
Clara called back, "Daddy, I like having a mom."
Vicki's big blue eyes threatened to water again. He held her hands closer to his chest and swayed her gently as he said, "I like having your mom here too. So don't worry about anything."
Clara stayed quiet, and he assumed she was watching a cartoon.
His gaze returned to Vicki, who closed her eyes as she leaned forward and hugged him. He traced her back with his hands as he let his heart still. This was his family, and they needed him.
"I think we should get married to protect Clara."
She bolted out of his arms. "What?"
Had he said that out loud? The idea came from thin air. Vicki completed their family and him. Colt reached out for her hand. "She deserves a family, and the gossip will die down fast if we appear as a team."
She stared into his eyes. "So you want to get married for our daughter?"
"Vicki, I know it sounds crazy, but it will work." He came closer and placed his hand on her shoulder. "We're already a family, but the negative news cares about us because your last name is Morgan. Collins are respectable and boring farmers with a ranch. Besides, it worked for John and Alice."
Vicki paced and crossed her arms. "Not because you love me?"
"Vicki, we're adults." The wordlovewasn't fair. He reached for her hands, but she jerked away.
She placed her hand on her forehead and shook her head, "I'm not that much of an adult, Colt. And no. Marriage without love is the worst idea."
Then Vicki walked away. He listened for her door closing. The moment he heard it, he understood that he had said the wrong thing. His mind raced. He had no idea how to fix this now.
He gazed outside. The wind rustled a few branches of his trees, and outside would smell like oranges. Vicki was part of this place now.
In the desert he had dreamed she'd come back to him. For years as he'd juggled his career and raising his daughter, he hoped Vicki would return to them. The moment she'd returned to his life and sent her bolts of chaos in everything, he'd been right back to the same thing. This time he needed to ensure she stayed with him. She made him feel alive.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Vicki's heart raced. As she leaned on her bedroom door, she ran her hand through her hair. Colt thought they could get married without love? Her entire body trembled.
Then she heard a knock at the front door.
Every muscle in her body stayed tense as she heard Colt open the front door with a "Hey."
Pinpricks settled on her skin, and she paced. There was no way she could face someone who wanted her gone right now. His mother must be with him. She'd tell him that he was a fool to ask her to marry him. If their roles were reversed, she'd not be fond of any guy who hurt her own daughter.
As tension raced up her spine, she rocked. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Colt would be the worst choice, as she loved him.
No voices emerged outside.
As she stood, she listened. Eventually her throat was parched, and she went into the kitchen for water.
Images of the worst-case scenario played in her mind as she filled her glass. At any second, they could walk inside and face her.
She took her glass and tried to slip into her room, but Clara called out, "Can we go see my horse, Mom?"
