Chapter Nine

 

He could feel Colby’s eyes drilling into him, but she’d had her chance. Now was his time with her mum. “You must be proud of your wee Colleen,” he said, hoping for an in with this cantankerous family. “Seeing as she won state as often as she did—”

He caught a glimpse of Colby shaking her head out of the corner of his eye, but his big mouth kept going. “And to have a hero in your family, one of the Army’s first female Rangers. Sweet Jesus, you must be proud.”

Bella’s mood turned sour, her face along with it. “Why should I be?”

Colby’s lashes fell, but Ash couldn’t believe it. “Not proud?” he asked. “Of your daughter or of—”

“She defied me then and she defies me still,” Bella shrieked, stabbing a finger at Colby. “Look at her. Why should I be proud of her? All she’s ever done is leave me behind?”

That would’ve been a good time to leave, but the poor woman’s bony fingers clenched the edge of her blanket as if she was on the Titanic and holding onto a life preserver. Her skin was so thin he could see her pulse pounding at the hollow of her wrinkled neck.

Ash dropped to a knee at her bedside, not wanting her upset. “Not proud of your only child, Mum?” he asked gently. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. She means everything to you; I know she does. And you mean everything to her. You’re her mum. That’s the way it works between máthairs and their wee ones.”

Colby jumped to her feet, shaking her head. “No, Ash. It’s—”

“But I’ve been so scared for her.” Bella’s anger dissolved into tears. “And she’s been so naughty. She takes chances, and she comes home injured, and...” Bella lifted one hand to her mouth and whispered, “I’m afraid I’ve let her run wild. I should’ve taken her in hand years ago. She needs a good spanking is what she needs.”

Ash would’ve grinned and agreed if he hadn’t already known that would set Colby forever against him. ‘There, there,” he offered instead, not risking a glance at the tension-filled woman at the other end of the bed.

Bella cocked her head, her eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry, but what did you say your name was?”

“Ash Callahan, ma’am,” he said politely, daring to take hold of her hands. Bluish veins etched the backs of her hands, and her slender fingers were cold as ice. “There now, be at peace, Mum. She’s come home to you, and there’s no need to be afraid for your daughter. You raised a fine, strong woman who’s come home to stand by your side.”

More tears and an awkward silence followed. Bella gulped. What’s an Irishman to do, but fill in the gap? “That’s children for you, isn’t it, Mum? They want to spread their wings and fly, but we want to keep them safe in the nest, don’t we? I believe ‘tis only natural. That’s what makes a good mother, that instinct to protect what’s yours, is it nah?”

He could swear Colby’s eyes were burning a hole into the side of his head, but what could he do? Leave her poor mother alone and distraught? He hadn’t the heart for it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you’ve got the bluest eyes,” Bella gushed, untangling one hand from his grip to cup his chin. “Look how handsome you are. Just like my Burton.” She ducked her neck into her shoulders. Her brows lifted. “Burton and I used to do the most scandalous things at his construction sites after the crews went home. One time we went skinny dipping in the water barrel, and we nearly got caught, and it was such fun!”

He couldn’t hold back a grin at that secret she’d no doubt carried a long time. “Do I see a wee little bit of the devil in your pretty gold eyes, too?”

“Maybe,” she chuckled. “I think you and me need to get better acquainted, Mr. Callahan. You’re quite the catch.” She turned her cheek to him, just as Colby lifted her fist to her mouth and coughed. “I think Mom needs her rest.”

Ash lifted his gaze from mother to daughter. “You’re right,” he said, then to Bella he murmured, “I’ll be back later to check on you. Is there anything you’ll be needing while I’m gone? I’d be glad to get it for you.”

Sweet Bella Quaid batted her lashes. “A brandy would be nice.”

He pressed a son’s kiss to her cheek, smart enough to know that Colby had just turned her back on him with a curt, “I’ll send Tula up, Mom. Take a nap. See you later.”

Bella lifted one hand to the cheek he’d just kissed and fluttered her fingers. “Don’t stay away too long. Bah-bye.”

An interesting turn of events. Ash strode out the door right behind Colby, feeling as if he’d made at least one woman in the household feel good about herself. Little did he know…

“What do you think you were doing in there?” Colby hissed, her finger in his face and her beautiful amber eyes throwing orange sparks that did nothing to dampen his spirits.

He nodded back at her mother’s closed door. “Treating your mum with some respect,” he replied simply. “She’s failing, isn’t she?”

“What was your first clue?” Colby spat.

“Jesus, woman! Why are you so mad all the time?” It wasn’t as if he’d weaseled his way into the poor woman’s heart for the sake of a loan or anything. Ah, but that might be what Colby thought, that he’d only talked about his new business to set her mother up for a handout. “You don’t,” he hissed.

“I don’t what?” she shot back at him. “Think you’re up to no good? When haven’t you been?”

“I’d never!” he volleyed right back at her. “Your mum’s not a well woman, and she needs her daughter’s support, but if you’re so—”

“I’m not!”

“Blimey woman, will you let me finish? I don’t need money that bad, and even if I did, I would nah take advantage of a sickly woman. The nerve of you!”

Colby opened her mouth, but shut it as quickly. She took a deep breath. “What are you talking about?”

He wasn’t so sure. “You do nah think I was trying to shill your mum? I wouldn’t do that, you know. Not to your mum nor anyone else’s mum.”

The most bewildered maple-colored eyes stared back at him, brimmed with tears he hadn’t seen coming. Ah, this woman was breaking his heart.

“I never thought you were, Ash. It’s not that,” Colby choked. “It’s just that… I came home to dissolve Quaid, Inc. I refuse to take over the family business, b-but she... she never told me she was worried about me, not once. All those times I came home hurt. All this time I thought…”

Her stomach lurched with a sob, and holy Mother of God. He hadn’t seen this coming, either. His Colby was—crying?