Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (102 page)

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Authors: Charity Pineiro,Sophia Knightly,Tawny Weber,Nina Bruhns,Susan Hatler,Virna DePaul,Kristin Miller

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BOOK: Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set
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He slammed the briefcase to the floor, glaring at her. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

She surged to her feet and drew herself up to her full height, braced her hands on the desk and leaned right into his face. "It means if just once in your wretched life you'd thought of someone else's feelings, if you'd just once opened that goddamn mouth of yours and said 'I love you,' she'd still be with you, you fucking moron!
That's
what it's supposed to mean!"

He ground his teeth. "You're on drugs,
chica.
Rini used me to get her degree, then took off. End of story."

"Well, isn't that convenient," Tanya mocked. "Spared once again from the dreadful ordeal of loving someone."

He grabbed his tie and straightened it, seeking its soothing texture. "That was a cheap shot, T. Especially coming from you."

She dropped abruptly into her chair, looking properly chastised. "Yeah, well. It's not like
I
have anyone crying himself to sleep over me." Her statement was razor sharp, but the look in her eyes was sympathetic.

The wind knocked out of his sails, Cole fell back into the seat, propping his arms on his knees. "Hell, T, I miss Chance a lot more than he misses me," he said, deliberately misinterpreting her words. "I miss him like mad. And believe me, I'm going to fight—"

"I'm not talking about Chance, and you know it."

He looked up, half wanting her to convince him Rini was miserable down at Rincon. "She's the one who bailed. If she's crying, don't blame me."

"No, not you. Never you." Tanya sighed deeply. "Cole, all she wants is three little words. Is that so much to ask? You love her. You know you do."

He lifted his chin. "It doesn't matter how I feel. I can't trust her. She took my son and left me."

"And why do you think she did that?"

He shrugged uncomfortably, twisting his tie between his fingers. "Does she need a reason? It's what always happens."

Tanya rolled her eyes skyward. "Oh, puh-
leeze
. Not that old tune again. Listen to yourself! Rini just wants to be loved by the man she married. Is that so hard to understand?"

He looked at his cousin, not quite believing what she was telling him. But knowing he had to find out. In the past few days he'd rediscovered what his life was like without Rini in it. It wasn't worth living.

"You really think it's that simple?" he asked, hope stealing through him. "That she'll come back if I tell her I love her?"

Tanya smiled. "I know it is. That and a good explanation of why you were kissing some woman in a café the day she left."

Cole's jaw dropped nearly to his knees. "Kissing—? You've got to be— That was Lindsay, and we were just talking. Well, mostly," he added with a prick of guilt.
Damn
.

"You were kissing
Lindsay
?" Tanya looked scandalized.

"Hell, no. It was just a sympathy peck. Her dad is about to disown her over Jeff. You know damn well there's no way in hell—"

Tanya held up a hand. "Don't tell me, Cole. Tell Rini."

There was a knock on the door and the receptionist stuck her head in. "Reeve Southwell to see you, T."

"Thanks, Lilly. Show him in." Tanya rose and looped her arm through Cole's as they turned toward the door. "I want you down at Rincon by the weekend,
nuyukssum.
No excuses."

"You're asking a lot of me, T."

"No more than you can handle. It's time to move on with your life. Put the past well and truly behind you, and look ahead. I know you can do it."

He kissed her on the cheek. "I'll think about it, my cousin."

Chapter Seventeen

 

 

Later that afternoon Cole was still thinking about what Tanya had said. He stretched out in his easy chair and bit into his bologna sandwich. It was the third time in a row he'd had that same pitiful dinner entrée after skipping lunch. He told himself he was too busy to make full hot meals like Rini always did, but he knew that was a crock. It was only three in the afternoon and he had nothing to do but mope. He simply had no appetite for anything she hadn't cooked.

Setting his beer on the ottoman, he picked up a small stack of stuff sitting there. One-handed, he sifted through the credit cards, receipts and checkbook Rini had left scattered on the kitchen table when she'd fled. He spent a long time contemplating each one. Staring at the name embossed on them.

Katarina Lonetree.

It sounded melodic and right. Just like a love song.

He shuffled the pile, picking up a picture he'd fished out of his desk drawer the day she'd left. The photo showed them at their wedding reception at Alexa and Brad's, having been snapped just at the moment he'd suggested they take their leave. The look on her face was enough to bring a grown man to his knees.

Insecurity, apprehension, even fear were all there in her eyes. But underlying everything was a look of pure adoration. It was obvious she thought the sun rose and set in the man she was looking at. Him—Colton Ace-Jerk Lonetree.

How could he have missed seeing that look in her eyes all this time? Was Tanya right? Had he waited and waited for a commitment from her when all it would have taken to ensure a lifetime of happiness was a commitment from himself? He closed his eyes and groaned out loud, holding the picture to his chest.
Oh, Rini, forgive me, babe. What a fool I've been.

"Cole?"

Startled, he jerked his eyes open. "Rini?" He leaped up from the chair, scattering all but the picture he had clutched in his fist. "Oh. Alexa." Disappointment crushed him.

"Sorry, Cole. Just me. You didn't hear my knock."

He smiled bleakly and gave her a sincere hug. Since the day of Chance's birth, Alexa had, for some reason, turned into his staunchest supporter. He wasn't quite sure what the test had been, but he was glad he'd passed. "A sight for sore eyes. What brings you to this sorry house?"

"The front door was open. I wasn't sure you'd let me in…"

"Of course I would. Want a beer?"

"No thanks. My stomach's been a bit jumpy since Rini—" Spotting the picture in his hand, her mouth curved up. She gestured to it. "Is this a good sign? Last I heard, you still hadn't spoken."

He led her to the couch and perched beside her. "I want her back, Alexa. I love her. Tanya has the crazy notion I'd never have lost her if I'd told her that."

Alexa let out a breath and sank back into the cushions, regarding him. "That about sums it up."

"Why the hell didn't you tell me this before?" He scrubbed his face with his hands.
He was whining.
He couldn't believe it.

She grinned. "None of my business. Besides, I figured you'd have plenty of time to come to your senses. Who'd ever guess Rini would have the strength to leave as soon as she did? It took two years with David."

"Just my luck she changed."

Alexa laid a hand on his arm. "Yes. Your luck, and your doing. You're good for her, Cole. She blossomed with you. Now, go get her back before she takes root somewhere else."

Suddenly, he had an awful, terrible thought. "How does she like her new job?"

"Loves it. She can't stop talking about how great Dr. Redcloud is and—" Alexa stopped in midsentence, her mouth forming an O when she darted a glance at his crestfallen face. "But I'm sure there are plenty of nursing jobs up here she'll like just as much."

"Yeah. Sure." He stood, jamming his hands in his pockets. Maybe there was some flaw in her new routine he could use to convince her the job wasn't so great. That she'd be better off with him—just in case his declaration of love was too little, too late. "Where's Chance while she's at work?"

Alexa brightened. "She found a wonderful woman who loves taking care of him. She lives just a couple of blocks from the Health Service. I sure hope I'll find someone as reliable as Mrs. Padilla when—"

He jerked to attention. "Who?"

"Her name is Lanie Padilla. She's a treas—"

His jaw clamped and his eyes narrowed. "She's got
that
woman watching my baby?"

Alexa nodded uncertainly. " What's wrong? Oh, God, is she an ax murderer or something?"

"Worse."
No way. No. Fucking. Way.
He grabbed his jacket and keys and stormed out. "Lock the door when you leave, Alexa," he shouted over his shoulder.

Not a chance that woman was getting her hands on his son. Not after what she'd done to her own.

 

* * *

 

Smiling, Rini hung back in the doorway for a moment and watched Mrs. Padilla and Chance, who were playing on a satiny quilt spread on her living room floor. The woman was remarkable. Rini thanked God every day for sending her.

Chance spotted her standing there and squealed, kicking his plump little legs and arms in the air, a silly toothless grin smeared across his face.

"Hey there, little tiger," she cooed, stepping forward and scooping him up, squeezing him to her. "Did you miss your mommy?"

He gurgled in response.

"He hardly had time," Mrs. Padilla said, chuckling. "Between his two naps and you spending your entire lunch hour here with him."

"But Mommy misses her baby boy so much," she said in baby talk, tickling his tummy. Chance nuzzled her breast and she laughed. "Yeah, yeah. I know what you missed."

"Would you like to sit down and feed him before you go? We can chat."

"Just for a few minutes, thanks, Mrs. Padilla. That would be nice."

"Please, call me Lanie. How about some tea?"

"Sounds wonderful. I've been running all day." She sank onto the sofa and stared down at her uniform, wondering what the best way to approach Chance's feeding would be.

Lanie dug a flannel receiving blanket out of the diaper bag and handed it to her. "There. In case my son comes in. The shock might kill him." She winked, her eyes sparkling, then went in to set water to boil.

Warmed by her thoughtfulness, Rini watched Lanie move around the narrow galley kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a breakfast bar. "How old is he, your son?" she asked conversationally.

"Twenty-nine."

"Oh!" Rini's eyes widened, then she burst out in giggles. "Yes, I see what you mean." She adjusted Chance at her breast. "How many kids do you have?"

Lanie halted with her hand on the whistling kettle, then jerked it away from the hot steam and dabbed at her fingers with a towel. "Two. I have two sons." She turned and stared intently at her. "What did your husband say when you told him I'd be watching the baby?"

"Why does everyone ask me that?" Rini shifted uneasily under her scrutiny. "I'm sure he'll be as pleased as I am."

Lanie brought the tea tray in and set it on the low table in front of the sofa. She fiddled with the napkins a bit and twirled the plate of cookies on the tray so the big gooey ones were in front of Rini. "He doesn't know, then."

Rini picked up a cookie and nibbled on it. "It won't be a problem."

Lanie's brows lifted skeptically. "Don't count on that. My guess is when he finds out, he'll be storming through that door in record time." Melancholy had seeped into the older woman's voice.

But what possible reason could there be for—

"You see, I'm—"

Oh, Lord.
Their eyes met, and Rini realized with dawning horror that she was looking at the one woman on earth Cole would never allow within a mile of his son.

"I'm his biological mother."

Her heart sank. "Oh, Lanie," she said on a groan. "He's going to kill me."

"Me, more likely." The older woman made an attempt at a light tone, but her voice cracked on the words.

Good Lord, Lanie Padilla was Chance's grandmother. "What are we going to do?" Rini groaned again, and slumped down on the sofa. "We'll just have to reason with him, that's all."

Lanie patted her hand. "Somehow,
reason
is not a word I'd use in the same sentence with Colton Lonetree and Lanie Padilla."

"But why? I just don't understand this...this weird hang-up he's got about you. Lots of adopted kids are reunited with their birth parents and are thrilled about it."

"I don't know, Rini." She shook her head sadly. "I made every effort to see him when he came back to Rincon as a teenager. He would have nothing to do with me then, and he still won't. I guess my giving him away is something he just can't forgive."

They sat quietly for several minutes, the sound of Chance nursing contentedly blending with birdcalls and the rustle of leaves filtering in through the open front door.

Rini thought about Cole not forgiving his mother. She finally understood why he had been so angry when he'd thought she was considering giving up their baby. And why he wouldn't ever forgive her after what she'd done to him, twice now. She had committed the one unpardonable sin—she'd abandoned him, just as his own mother had done. And she'd taken his child, to boot. Colton Lonetree could never love a woman who had done these things to him.

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