Yet he knew he felt different now. And he knew it had to do with Charish being home.
A baby.
It kept replaying through his head. A little boy or a little girl who would be a part of her.
It felt selfish, but he was glad the guy had bounced. Whoever he was, he didn’t deserve Charish. Sure as hell didn’t deserve a kid with her.
How much courage did that take, to face motherhood alone while relocating and literally starting over? She’d impressed the hell out of him, once he got over the shock of thinking she had a guy in the picture.
In hindsight, his reaction bothered him. It gave away too much, especially when he fully intended to keep the upper hand this time around. It was the only way he knew to protect himself—to protect his heart.
Another chance. With Charish. Damn straight he’d be running the show.
Charish thought she’d imposed on him, when he’d been the one insisting. He had a million questions for her. He wanted to get to know her again.
He wanted her to know him, to understand that he was a grown man in command of his own life.
It seemed like a total dick move now, but for a little while there, he’d figured on getting cozy with her again, then he could be the one to break things off. He’d told himself that he was still raw about it because she’d ended it instead of him.
Now he knew he was full of it.
He still wanted her. He still planned to have her. But the ending was now up for grabs.
It didn’t matter how much time had passed. Deep down, where no one could know, Charish would always be the one for him. His first, and his last, whether they were close or living far apart.
But she was here now, planning to stay, and if anything, the baby would keep her from uprooting again.
A baby.
Damn, but it made him smile every time he thought of it. He remembered when Violet carried Paisley, but other than feeling her kick every so often, he hadn’t been in on the intimate details. He remembered that his dad had been extra attentive, which annoyed Violet’s independent nature, but he’d also been extra loving, and she’d been on board with that 100 percent.
Watching it all unfold had been fun, especially since Violet didn’t have any difficulties. She’d worked at the diner right up until the day Paisley was born, and even after that, she didn’t slow down much.
Would Charish be the same? God, he hoped so, because the idea of a rough pregnancy made him sweat.
He’d taken to the role of big brother with ease. Charish might not know it yet, but somehow he’d find a role in her life as well. Given how she’d reacted each time he touched her yesterday, he could count on eventual success.
She was no longer the virginal girl who adored him. Now she was a woman, and that excited him even more.
* * *
CHARISH WORKED FOR part of the morning, then decided she needed a break, and on a whim, she headed to the creek. Knowing others would be there, she brought along big sunglasses and parked at the farthest end, where the creek narrowed, making it impossible to swim. Farther down, the creek widened near a field where many people would take advantage of the entertainment value, letting their kids swing from a rope to drop into the cold water.
Other than a few older boys looking for crawdads under rocks along the creek’s edge, she didn’t see anyone—though she could hear them, some probably on a picnic as she and Colt used to do, others playing ball or just enjoying the sunshine.
Leaving her sandals in the van, she went to the bank and found a nice flat rock. Keeping the sun to her back, she poked her toes into the water and let her mind wander.
She’d be seeing Colt again tonight. How would his family react? Would they resent her? She didn’t think so, even though they had every right.
A sudden whine interrupted her thoughts and she sat forward, listening. The boys had wandered on, so she didn’t think it was them.
There! She heard it again. It sounded like an animal, and her heart started tripping. Then she heard a low bark, followed by a longer whine.
Thinking some poor dog had gotten separated from his family, she waded into the creek toward the woods on the other side, moving quietly, her ears attuned for any sound of distress.
It took her a few minutes to see the small, scruffy terrier tangled in the wild blackberry bush.
“Oh, baby. Are you okay?” He tried to wag his tail, maybe even his whole body, so she quickly shushed him. “Easy now.” Picking her way over sticks and sharper rocks, she moved up the bank. “You really got stuck, didn’t you?”
Again, he tried to reach her, then yelped when a particularly nasty bramble snagged on his nose.
“Shh, shh.” Reaching into the bush, scratching her arm in the process, Charish tried to figure out how to free him.
It wasn’t happening. “I won’t leave you, baby. Hang on.” She tried to think of what to do...but really, she only had one answer. She bit her lip, debating—and the dog whimpered.
That made up her mind. She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and put in the call.
CHAPTER FOUR
WITH HIS LAWN MOWER and a variety of tools in the back of Uncle Jason’s truck, and Diesel riding shotgun, Colt headed to Charish’s house. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer the door. Frustrated, and seeing Diesel’s disappointment, he paced for a moment, wondering if he should wait for her, or maybe—
When his cell rang, he pulled it from his pocket and saw it was Heidi. Had she spotted him in Charish’s yard? Sitting on the top step, Diesel beside him, he answered. “Hey, what’s up?”
Heidi said in a rush, “I’m heading into a meeting, but Charish just called.”
One hand on Diesel’s scruff, Colt sat a little straighter. “And?”
“She’s fine, but she went to the creek and apparently there’s an animal stuck in a bush and she wants to know if you can bring some clippers to help her get it free.”
“Yeah, I’ll head there right now.”
Heidi laughed. “Now, how did I know you’d say that?”
“If you’d give me her number—”
“I told her I would text it to you, so you could find her easily, but she said she’s away from the crowd, down by where you two picnicked one summer?”
Yeah, he knew the spot—because they’d done a hell of a lot more than picnic. “Got it. Send along her number and I’ll head that way right now. Thanks, hon.”
“I feel like cupid.” Heidi sighed. “You owe me, so make sure you’re at the diner tonight.” With a kissing sound, she disconnected.