Digitalis (48 page)

“Reckon so,” he said. His father had told him not to squander the days, not to let things come between him and his love for Piper.

He shifted toward her. “I messed up.”

She frowned, confused.

“I was angry at God, angry at life, but too bullheaded to see the truth.” He scratched his head and winced at the stitches. He huffed. “Nah, that ain’t entirely true. I could see, but I rejected it. Rejected you.”

She looked down.

He might as well get it all out. Time for him to start clean. “I wanted someone to blame for the things going wrong in my life, and I blamed you. That was the only control I had, and I exercised it.” He inhaled and let it out. “I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve the way I treated you.”

She tucked a strand of her long, tawny hair behind her ear. “I understood. I can’t say it didn’t hurt, but I understood.” Her gaze drifted away, sadness lingering there. “It’s in the past; let’s leave it there.”

He nodded, then lifted her hand and kissed the wedding ring. “I have the rest of our lives to make up for it.” Once more, he took a glance around the place that had taken Emelie’s life. A sign hung from two hooks over the door and read C
OMING
S
OON:
E
VA’S
C
AFé
. He touched the edge of it. “Looks like someone’s going to rebuild.”

“Life goes on.”

So it does. Despite his every effort, his heart continued beating, and life came at him full speed. He turned and smiled down at Piper, his
wife
. “I’m ready to rebuild.”

W
hat if she hates me?”

Colton tucked the pillow under his side and reclined next to his wife.
Dawg
, he liked that word. “Why would you think she’d hate you?”

On her back, she stared up at the ceiling of their temporary home, a three-level brownstone he’d leased until the ranch house was rebuilt. “Look at what happened, what my being in your home caused—your father is gone.” When Piper glanced at him, a tear spilled over her cheek.

He swept the drop aside. “My mom is a very reasonable woman.”

“I am a reasonable woman, but …” Her chin trembled, and she smoothed a hand over his face. “I would find it very difficult to forgive someone who caused your death.”

Kissing her palm, he closed his eyes and prayed for the right words to say. He wanted to ease her fears, but he had his own misgivings about his mother’s reaction to the news of their marriage—not to the marriage itself, but to the quickness. “You weren’t the cause. A sniper was the cause. No more talk like that, agreed?”

Hesitating for a few seconds, she searched his face. “Then you’ve truly forgiven me?”

“I think God smacked some sense into me the day I nearly died. I said and did a lot of things that I’m right ashamed of. I’m sorry. I was lost in anger, in fear that my life had finally collapsed despite me trying to hold it together.”

“I’ve seen the change in your actions, but what changed in here?” She pointed to his chest, directly over his heart.

“I realized it wasn’t mine to hold together. My mother told me not to let what happened be a reason to lose you. She was right.” He kissed her. “If you hadn’t been so steadfast, so ardent in your love for me, I don’t know that I could’ve realized how much I love you.”

She nodded. “You should have phoned her, told her we married. What if she gets angry?”

“That’s not something I wanted to tell her with thousands of miles between us.” He scooted closer. “Besides, whether she’s happy or not, it’s done. I have no regrets.”

Something sparked in her eyes.

At that second, he saw where her concern lay. “Darlin’, nothing or no one but death could separate us. I’m yours. You’re mine.” Colton brushed silky strands away from her face. “I married you because I love you. Whatever may come, we face it together.”

She wrapped her arm around his neck and hugged him. Colton gathered her close and buried his face against her shoulder. He planted a kiss there, then one next to her ear. His passion rose, and he swept his lips over hers. Her fingers traced a teasing line down his back, causing him to deepen the kiss.

A sharp gasp came from behind. “Colton Benjamin!”

He jerked up and looked toward the door near the foot of the bed. “Mom!”

She caught McKenna’s shoulder and spun his daughter away. “What is the meaning of this?” Her silvery brows knitted together as she scowled at the two of them. “I raised you better than to … to …”

“Mom,” he said, pushing to his feet. “It’s not what you think—well, yes … yes, it is. But—” His mind clicked into gear. “Wait, how did you get in the house? You weren’t even due till lunch.”

She bristled. “We took an earlier flight because we were anxious to see you.” With a key in her hand, she glared. “The real estate agent overnighted the key to me. I knocked, but no one answered. And never mind changing the subject.”

Colton turned to Piper and held out his hand. She was dressed modestly, even in bedclothes, but he could see her trepidation. Piper slid her hand into his and stood beside him.

“It took longer than expected to get back stateside because I took a blow to the head. I almost couldn’t see at all—”

She motioned to the bed. “What does this have to do with your … your—”

“Easy, Mom. It’s not inappropriate when you’re married.”

“Marri—” She gasped.

With a sheepish grin, he nodded. “We got married in Cyprus.”

“We could not be married in Israel because Colton is not of Jewish lineage,” Piper said, her words tumbling over one another. “But in Cyprus, you can marry on a day’s notice if arrangements are made.” Her hand tightened in his, and instinctively, he pulled her closer.

His mother’s mouth opened slightly, then closed. Tears enlarged her blue eyes.

“You got married?” Mickey spun around, her blond hair whipping into her face. She rushed forward and threw herself at Piper, who lifted her up. “You’re my mommy now!”

But Colton noticed his mom hadn’t moved. Closing the three feet between them, he hoped to head off any bad feelings. She wasn’t supposed to come in and find them like that. He’d wanted to tell her over dinner or on the way home from the airport. “Mom?”

She shook her head, crying. “He told me you’d marry her.” She drew up straight and swallowed the tears. “I just … didn’t think it’d be so soon.”

“Maybe you and I are too much alike.” Colton chuckled. “The guys helped me see I would’ve thought this thing between me and Piper to death. I love her. She loves me. I know God wanted me to marry her, so what was there to think about or wait for?”

She glanced across the room, and he followed her gaze. Piper sat on the edge of the bed with Mickey in her lap. She’d given her the necklace and ring they’d bought for Mickey in Cyprus.

“She’s afraid you hate her,” he whispered.

His mom sucked in a breath. “Hate her?”

“I’m not sure she has forgiven herself for her role in that night.”

Head tilted, she considered him. “And have you?”

“Reckon it’s only natural you ask.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck, regret thick and churning in his gut. “I was just so angry about Dad, scared …. What she did for her father was no less than I would do for those I love or am sworn to protect. She didn’t mean for it to happen. I can see it now.”

She touched his arm, eyes wide and glossed. “I am so relieved. I wasn’t sure you could ever let go of it after your father’s death.”

“Honestly, I didn’t intend to. But God knocked me upside my head—literally.”

“Sounds like I have some stories to hear later.” With a small smile, she tiptoed up and planted a kiss on his cheek. She composed herself, then strode across the room and stood before Piper.

Nervously, Piper’s gaze drifted upward. She swallowed hard and came to her feet, but Mickey climbed into Piper’s arms again, hugging her. Colton wanted to extricate his daughter, but feared interrupting the moment. He fisted his hands and forced himself to stay put. They needed to do this.

“Ben always knew you’d be a part of our family. He’s gone now.”

Oh dawg. Maybe this wouldn’t end well. His muscles contracted, and he started forward—

Stay
.

“But you’ve loved Colton from the start, and though he couldn’t see it at the time, I know he loved you. Now you’ve left everything you know and love—including your own father.”

Piper darted an anxious look to him, and he gave her a nod. “Baba must remain behind and in hiding, for a while.”

“You two will have to tell me what transpired later, but for now, I just want you to know that while I would’ve preferred a right and proper wedding, I am so very glad you’re my daughter-in-law.”

Surprise leapt into his wife’s beautiful face. She half smiled, half cried. “You are?”

“Of course. You belonged here from the start.” His mother pulled Piper into a hug, tears streaming down her face. “I only wish Ben could’ve seen this.” She eased back and smiled at Colton. “He was always so proud of you—but this, this would’ve been a dream he wanted to see.”

After a couple of minutes, Piper mumbled, “I’m so sorry. Thank you. Thank you.”

“No more of that talk. Agreed?”

Piper laughed. “Colton said the same thing.”

Hands on either side of Piper’s face, his mom smiled. “Welcome to the family, Piper.”

“Daddy,” McKenna said as she bounced off the bed and into his arms. “When do I get my baby brother?”

As soon as he’d turned loose of the reins, life had taken a swift turn for the better. Two months had passed, but Colton still couldn’t quite wrap his mind around it all. God had blessed him in ways he’d never imagined possible—the home rebuilding went faster than expected. Just another month or so, and they could move in.

But there were situations that caused a man to think long and hard about the way he conducted himself.

Like Nightshade. With a beautiful wife, a daughter, and a mother he provided for, it got a man’s mind racing. Wondering at the risks of being part of an elite group. Made a new ache twist his intestines.

As he strode into the warehouse, light dimmed through the grimy windows that lined the upper rim of the perimeter. He had to put it all in God’s hands when he got called out on missions. He’d come clean with Piper, explained about the team, about the need to keep their conversations short and vague when referencing Nightshade. And that he could never reveal anything about the missions. He could see her fear, felt it almost as if it were his own. Come to think of it, maybe the fear was his own.

Griffin, Midas, and the Kid sat in the lounge, a loose term for space furnished with two faded wingback chairs and the torn leather sofa that leaned to one side because of a missing foot.

“Cowboy,” Griffin said. “How’s the wife?”

“Doin’ all right.” He shook hands with the man, then moved to Midas, who patted his shoulder.

The throaty twang of a motorcycle ripped through the hanger, reverberating off the exposed steel rafters. Max drove right up to the edge and killed the engine. Seconds later, the Old Man’s 300 slid into the bay.

“Gentlemen,” Lambert said as he climbed up the four steps with Max right behind him. “Thank you for coming. I know you all have plans for this fine Saturday morning, but I felt you would want to hear this news.”

Colton slumped against the sofa as Max joined them, setting his helmet on the cheap, badly scarred coffee table. He ripped the zipper open and stood braced. Something about his posture put Colton on edge, though he wasn’t sure what.

“You will be pleased to know that we are adding two men to the team. They’ve both been through extensive checks—background, psychological, criminal, you name it. I’ve had them tested over the last few months to verify their appropriateness for Nightshade.”

Griffin scooted to the edge of the wingback chair. “We don’t have a say?”

“Already have.” Max held his stance, arms folded over his chest. “Squirt survived the mission, performed beyond my expectation. I gave him my full recommendation.”

“I can buy that,” Griffin said.

He might have agreed, but Colton saw the hesitation in Griffin’s expression and heard it in his words. Colton understood. Every person on the team took the lives of the others into their hands. A precarious situation. Even more so when dealing with someone you didn’t know.