CHAPTER 28
Colton finally relaxed when the captain’s voice came over the intercom. “Flight attendants, take your seats.”
His pulse drummed in anticipation as the plane banked, circling Manhattan’s Regional Airport, squaring up to land on the tiny runway. Two and a half weeks. That’s all it had been since he’d last held Lydia, smelled her perfume. Brought her coffee as she struggled to wake up at the crack of dawn.
It felt more like a lifetime. A lifetime of falling asleep without Lydia tucked under his arm. A lifetime of not seeing her happy smile after a good ride. A lifetime of watching her unawares, the way she moved in a room, or cocked her head while listening to a client.
A guilty twinge ate at him as he thought about all the time he was taking from her boot making today, but she’d insisted when he’d told her he’d managed to grab a last-minute flight back to meet his new niece. He never flew. Hated it. But he only had three days between rodeos and Ponoka, Alberta, was too far to drive. And if he could steal three days with Lydia, even if he had to sit around and watch her work on her boot orders, he’d do it. That decision was a total no-brainer. Ribs protesting, he bent to look out the window as the tiny plane taxied to its gate. There was no way he’d see Lydia from this distance, but it didn’t stop him from trying.
Colt shot out of his seat the second the seatbelt sign turned off, careful not to knock his head. Grabbing his carryon and Stetson from the overhead, he shuffled out, mentally prodding his fellow passengers along. The early summer humidity hit him as he made his way down the roll-up steps. It was probably thirty degrees warmer here in Kansas than when he’d left Canada, and if his nose didn’t mislead him, they’d have thunderstorms tonight. As soon as his boots hit the tarmac, he began to scan for Lydia.
“Colt,” she called jumping up and down, waving from the unsecured part of the airport.
His mouth turned up as he picked up his pace. That was his girl, sweet as ever, and looking at no one but him. His chest expanded with warmth and something else. Something deeper.
She launched herself into his arms as soon as he cleared the gate. “Gently,” he reminded her as he swung her around.
“Oh, right. Your ribs. Should you be lifting me?”
“Absolutely. It was only a small tumble. Just a little tape.”
Her brows knit together. “I hate knowing you got hurt.”
“Comes with the territory.”
“And how’s your shoulder?”
“Better with the brace.” He’d been surprised what a difference the brace made this time around. He could see now, how over time, his shoulder had been growing weaker. With the added support of tape and a custom fit brace, he’d turned in his strongest rides of the season. “Stop talking and kiss me.” He bent and took her mouth, something inside him sliding home as her lips surrendered to his. “I missed you,” he murmured through a tight throat when they broke apart.
She tipped her head back, eyes dancing. “Yeah? How much?”
So much, it hurt to breathe. The realization shook him to his bones, as if he’d been thrown by the meanest, nastiest bull, even as he recognized the truth of it. His buddies had razzed him for days about his surly demeanor, how he was no fun anymore, always turning down their invitations to hit the honky-tonks after a performance, but he didn’t even care. He was hooked, and he wasn’t the same without her. “I’ll show you just how much, later.”
Her eyes grew hungry. “Promise?”
“I do.” Promising to make Lydia fly came as easy as breathing. He took her hands, pressing a kiss to the tops, using the gesture to study her hands. Her fingers smelled faintly of leather, but it was her swollen knuckles and red, ragged fingertips that sent concern ricocheting through him. “I thought you said you were going to rest.”
Guilt colored her expression. “I’d planned on it.”
“But?”
“But the orders keep coming.”
He squeezed her hands, but not too hard, for fear of hurting her more. “You have to say no, hon. You’ll burn yourself out. Worse, you’ll end up with a repetitive stress injury. Hell, sweetheart, look at your hands.” He shook them gently. “You’re well on your way. Then what?”
“But a friend of mine who’s a dresser for an up-and-coming New York designer just ordered six pairs for her models for a trunk show in August.”
“When did this happen?” Excitement for her warred with hurt that she hadn’t mentioned anything.
“I just received the deposit this morning. I thought there was a chance it would happen a few days ago, but I didn’t want to jinx it by saying anything.”
“You’d never jinx anything by telling me.”
“Because you’re my good-luck charm?”
“Something like that.” He kissed her again, relaxing into his bones as their mouths met briefly. “Let’s go. I want to meet this niece of mine.”
“She’s adorable, Colt.” Lydia gushed excitedly, eyes lighting up. “She’s got the cutest little face, and Emmaline made her a pair of booties that look like cowboy boots.”
“This I gotta see.”
“I’ll warn you,” Lydia stopped when they reached her SUV. “The ranch house looks like a pink bomb went off.”
He laughed as he dropped his bag into the back and slid into the passenger seat. “Still like the new wheels?” he asked as she pulled out of the parking lot.
“Are you kidding? It’s amazing. But you still shouldn’t have. I’d never have purchased a new vehicle.”
“Do you honestly think I’d let my fiancée drive a 1978 Dodge Dart? That old thing was a firetrap. Ask your sister, she’d know.”
“Believe me, I appreciate it, but it’s still too much. You have to let me pay you back.”
He scowled out the window. “It was a gift, Lydia. Why can’t you just accept that it was a gift?”
“Because I’m not really your fiancée,” she finally said after a spell.
The pain in her voice gnawed at him. Unsettled him. “I don’t care about that. You needed a car, and I wanted to give you one. Don’t overthink it,” he said tightly, ignoring the longing tightening his belly into a fist. He’d give her a million gifts to see her light up the way she had when he’d dropped the keys into her unsuspecting hand.
Ninety lively minutes later, Lydia turned under the arch that now proudly displayed the Resolution Ranch logo. The rundown ranch of his childhood now completely transformed into a working ranch for veterans, thanks to Travis and the support of Prairie’s tight-knit community. Lydia set the brake, turning to him with an excited smile. “Ready to meet your niece?”
He was. No joke. Eager anticipation rolled through him. This little person shared his DNA, the good, the bad. And with Travis guiding her, who knew what mountains she’d conquer in her lifetime? “Stay put.” He hopped down and hurried around the front of the SUV, extending his hand to help Lydia down once he opened the door. He shut it behind her, then remembered. “Wait a sec. Can’t show up empty-handed.” He jogged around to the trunk and grabbed his carry-on. Lydia would be proud of him, he’d wandered the exhibition hall in Augusta, Montana, for a full hour before deciding on the stuffed pony and onesie, which he’d then wrapped – badly – on his own. He held up the gift bag as he shut the trunk. “Now I’m ready.”
Travis opened the door as they hit the steps, little Avery Allison nestled asleep in the crook of his arm, and the biggest, goofiest grin on his face. “So this is little Avery.”
Colt couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak. He’d never describe his brother as a happy man. Yet, the man before him was fucking giddy. Glowing like the goddamned sun. Colt needed to sit. Or a drink. He couldn’t process what his eyes were telling him. It made no sense. This was Travis. Happy. A rush of longing poured over Colton. He wanted that. He didn’t have a clue how to go about getting that, whatever it was that Travis oozed. He stared at the scrunched up little person in Travis’s arms, then back at his brother, then back to his niece. She was responsible for that?
Travis had looked happy at his wedding. Peaceful and calm. But this? This was something entirely different. Colt glanced sideways at Lydia who caught his gaze, eyes shining with the same light as Travis’s. What was it? The longing nearly brought him to his knees. Swallowing and clearing his throat, he held out the gift bag. “Congratulations.”
“Come in. Elaine’s on the couch.” Travis stood aside and let them pass, then handed the gift bag to Elaine. “Let’s see what Uncle Colt brought.”
Uncle Colt. The more he heard it, the more he liked it. “Where’s Dax?”
“He’s off at a friend’s, but he’ll be back for dinner. I hope you stay?”
“You better,” Travis ordered. “We’ve got casseroles in the kitchen. Dottie brought enough food for a month.”
Colton raised his brow in question to Lydia, who nodded. “The only plans we have involve cooing over that beautiful baby.”
“Let’s see what’s inside.” Elaine pulled out the horse with a grin. “This is perfect, Colt. We’ll stick it in her crib.” She pulled out the poorly wrapped package.
Lydia’s eyes went wide, but she shot him a smile of approval. Elaine carefully unwrapped the package, then held up the outfit for everyone to see.
Lydia clapped a hand over her mouth as she let out a squeal.
“So I did okay?” Butterflies launched in Colt’s stomach.
She nodded, hand still covering her mouth.
Elaine held up the pink onesie with the words “Future Rodeo Queen” embroidered in a rope font. “I love it, Colt,” she said, giving him a grateful smile. The kicker, and what had sold him on the outfit was the sparkly pink tulle skirt sewn to the onesie. Who could resist that? Clearly, he was a sucker for little girls.
He planted a kiss on Elaine’s cheek. “Congratulations. She’s beautiful.”
“How can you say that when you haven’t even held her yet?” she teased. “Have a seat. Travis will hand her over. She just ate, so her tummy’s full and she’ll nap for a while now.”
Colt’s fingers buzzed with energy. He’d never held a baby. A human baby, at least. And they seemed much more fragile.
“Don’t be nervous,” Elaine assured him. “Holding her is easier than riding broncs.”
He chuckled. “If you say so.”
Travis closed the distance, and suddenly little Avery was nestled in the crook of his elbow. “She hardly weighs a thing,” he said, awe filling his voice. Wonder filled him, choking off his air, and poking at his eyelids. He inhaled sharply. He didn’t cry. Ever. But the sensation bubbled up again. He studied her tiny face, the barely-there eyebrows, the dark eyelashes sweeping her cheeks, the button nose, the rosebud mouth. He’d never seen anything like it. “She’s perfect,” he said thickly, voice cracking.
“Looks just like her mama,” Travis said proudly.
“I think she looks like you,” Elaine corrected.
After a few minutes, once he realized tiny Avery Allison wouldn’t break, he settled back into the chair.
“See?” Elaine pointed out. “He’s a natural.”
“I don’t know about that.” He shot a look at his brother. “But I promise I’ll do my best to be a good uncle. To give her what we never had.” Again, his eyes prickled. Jesus, he was turning into a fucking water fountain.
Travis held his gaze, years of unspoken words passing between them. It didn’t matter anymore. None of it. Sure, it would come up, but the old hurts needed to be released so this perfect little thing could grow up happy and supported. Colt resolved to do better, to be better. To be worthy of little Avery. To be someone she could be proud of when she was older.
Lydia grabbed his free hand, giving it a squeeze. He squeezed back like she was his lifeline. He couldn’t let go. Not just of her hand, but of her. This? This was so much richer because he could share it with her. She was what was missing from his life.
And the way she stared with such love in her eyes at little Avery, punched him in the gut. Never in a million years, in a million plans for his life, had he envisioned settling down.
Until now.
The realization hit him with the momentum of a runaway truck on Rabbit Ears Pass. He was in love with Lydia. He wanted her – not just as his fake fiancée, but the whole hog. Picket fence, dogs and kids. For the first time in his life, she made him want a future, and it scared the shit out of him. More than anything, he wanted to see Lydia gaze at their baby like she gazed at Avery. And he wanted the perma-grin Travis wore, with a desperation that stopped his heart.
Someway, somehow, he had to convince Lydia to marry him for real.