She sighed and whispered, "Colt, I'll be there as soon as I can. I miss you."
Soon he'd marry Belle. He'd keep his promise, and with time she'd like it here. Belle would eventually ease into the place, then she'd quit her busy job. His family owned at least a quarter of all Florida farmland of orange groves. Soon enough the running of the agricultural corporation would fall on his shoulders, and he'd not deal with the military. The Collins organic empire would continue to prosper, and Clara would never suffer. "I miss you too, honey. Night."
As he turned off his phone and set it to charge, Vicki's easy smile haunted him.
He headed to bed. All the women in his life confused him, and Belle had somehow joined the number. He yawned and collapsed on his bed. Tomorrow, after a good night's sleep, he hoped he'd have a sense of clarity. Today's visit to his sister had changed everything, and Vicki might be permanent in his life. He had no idea of his next move.
The moment he closed his eyes, he remembered Vicki's sweet smile at him that day in the coffee shop as they discussed football, or how her rosy smell had mixed into the essence of her taste. She had been the captain of the cheerleaders, and watched every game with such intensity.
The past should stay in his memory. He had his daughter.
He'd fallen instantly for his baby girl, but the mother had always been a mystery. What if she had been lied to? Did he dare believe her tale, or did that make him a sucker?
CHAPTER THREE
With the moon still in the morning sky and the humidity not quite pressing so heavily right now, Vicki clutched her car steering wheel. Eleven o'clock was so far away. Her heart raced.
If she barged down Colt's door and yelled and demanded, she wouldn't help her cause. Today she had to be a lady. Her mind whirled with possibilities, but she dare not act. He'd set the time for eleven to meet, and she respected that. He'd raised their daughter, and she'd not fight him, if she could avoid it. Colt could be reasonable. She'd not see their daughter today, but one-on-one conversation with Colt was a good start.
Her fingers curled so tight that her hands were white. Her whirlwind of thoughts wasn't helping.
She started her car and eased in her seat to drive. Vicki fought her heart, which begged to beat on his door, but she forced herself to turn toward work. Work would be good right now, and she had to prove to herself she was fine. She'd go to the bridal boutique she'd opened, despite how her skin jumped. Weddings were like music, and people's happiness buoyed her own spirits. She'd rearrange the store in the early morning hours. She'd always had a good eye. Then she'd let Josie earn her pay as the manager.
Eleven o'clock would be here soon enough. Vicki sighed to relax and drove down the familiar street.
She'd be reasonable if he would. But no one would keep her from her daughter. She'd take Colt down if she had to. She stared at a stop sign and jerked her car to a stop. She shouldn't have almost missed that.
Wait. It wasn't a good idea to be so defensive. She rolled her shoulders and parked the car in her usual spot. No one was here. She clutched her bag and went inside. Without a thought, she walked inside and picked up a few dresses to move back to the shelf.
Once the storm of crazy thoughts in her head passed, she blinked. Her heart still raced, but she worked hard to bring order into her new business. She had to prove to Peter that her dreams of a store weren't a passing phase in her life. Her brother's name alone spurred her into action, and once she was done with straightening out yesterday's leftover dresses and placing them onto the shelves, she stared at the clock. The time was almost here.
A smile broke out on her face as she read ten thirty. Her stomach rumbled with nerves again. With an intake of breath, she let her heart lift in her chest. She quickly left the shop, and raced toward the coffee shop a few blocks away. The small café had a chalkboard with all the drink options, and the waiters all wore green aprons. She sniffed the air. The pastries were freshly prepared. The room was airy, clean, fresh, and bright. Colt had picked a good place.
She stood in line. In her younger years, she'd preferred to stay here than go home. She always chose the seat in the back that overlooked the window patio to see who would drive in, in case someone from her father's world found her.
Vicki became jumpy again. She had no time for reminiscing. She played with the edge of her designer no-sleeves pale pink work blouse, and waited at the cashier. Once the woman nodded, she ordered a decadent cold frappe, something she'd hadn't ordered since her teenage years, and a bagel. She was early, so she'd grab their old seat, if it was available.
Her palms were sweaty as she added her receipt to her wallet, and told herself she needed to be smart. Her daughter was safe and alive. Colt Collins hadn't dismissed her and threatened court. He'd been willing to listen, and she had to be prepared. The boy she knew was sweet and fair. She gulped. The man she saw the other day was hard-bodied and capable of anything. She sighed and refused to let her mind wander into the "what if" questions that flashed in front of her eyes. He'd hear her out.
A pain stabbed her in the gut. If she had trusted him and not her father, her life would be so different today.
At the window, she stared at the clear blue sky. Everything was so bright today. Slowly, she rolled her shoulders back and then straightened out her pencil skirt. A Morgan on a mission must always smile and hide her intentions. The rest of the world might believe that the Morgans were respectable, but those who knew her, John, or Peter knew the truth. The House of Morgan was a facade. Her grandfather and father had stolen Collins land years ago for oil and transformed the money into a banking empire. As a child, she's always wondered about her mother, and she'd not do that to Clara. Clara deserved better.
A black pick-up truck parked, but Vicki knew it wasn't Colt. The waitress brought her drink and bagel. Everything in her life was wrong.
Vicki's shoulders tightened and her neck pinched.
Overhead, the bells chimed, and she scanned the counter. Goosebumps grew on her arm as she smelled orange trees mixed with the forest. Colt wasn't inside, but then she saw his blue truck turning into the parking lot. She sat straighter. This was real. She swallowed as her breathing became more shallow. She rolled her shoulders and tried to sip her drink.
Her body was on overdrive as he stepped out of his truck and walked toward the shop. She straightened her necklace. Colt Collins was an honorable sort and would join her any second. In high school, Collins had a brilliant mind and kind heart. Then he joined the Marines, and Vicki had no doubt he excelled there too.
The waitress came over and asked, "Can I get you anything else?"
Vicki swallowed. "No, I'm good. My friend just parked."