Clara called back, "Daddy, I like having a mom."
Vicki's big blue eyes threatened to water again. He held her hands closer to his chest and swayed her gently as he said, "I like having your mom here too. So don't worry about anything."
Clara stayed quiet, and he assumed she was watching a cartoon.
His gaze returned to Vicki, who closed her eyes as she leaned forward and hugged him. He traced her back with his hands as he let his heart still. This was his family, and they needed him.
"I think we should get married to protect Clara."
She bolted out of his arms. "What?"
Had he said that out loud? The idea came from thin air. Vicki completed their family and him. Colt reached out for her hand. "She deserves a family, and the gossip will die down fast if we appear as a team."
She stared into his eyes. "So you want to get married for our daughter?"
"Vicki, I know it sounds crazy, but it will work." He came closer and placed his hand on her shoulder. "We're already a family, but the negative news cares about us because your last name is Morgan. Collins are respectable and boring farmers with a ranch. Besides, it worked for John and Alice."
Vicki paced and crossed her arms. "Not because you love me?"
"Vicki, we're adults." The word love wasn't fair. He reached for her hands, but she jerked away.
She placed her hand on her forehead and shook her head, "I'm not that much of an adult, Colt. And no. Marriage without love is the worst idea."
Then Vicki walked away. He listened for her door closing. The moment he heard it, he understood that he had said the wrong thing. His mind raced. He had no idea how to fix this now.
He gazed outside. The wind rustled a few branches of his trees, and outside would smell like oranges. Vicki was part of this place now.
In the desert he had dreamed she'd come back to him. For years as he'd juggled his career and raising his daughter, he hoped Vicki would return to them. The moment she'd returned to his life and sent her bolts of chaos in everything, he'd been right back to the same thing. This time he needed to ensure she stayed with him. She made him feel alive.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Vicki's heart raced. As she leaned on her bedroom door, she ran her hand through her hair. Colt thought they could get married without love? Her entire body trembled.
Then she heard a knock at the front door.
Every muscle in her body stayed tense as she heard Colt open the front door with a "Hey."
Pinpricks settled on her skin, and she paced. There was no way she could face someone who wanted her gone right now. His mother must be with him. She'd tell him that he was a fool to ask her to marry him. If their roles were reversed, she'd not be fond of any guy who hurt her own daughter.
As tension raced up her spine, she rocked. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Colt would be the worst choice, as she loved him.
No voices emerged outside.
As she stood, she listened. Eventually her throat was parched, and she went into the kitchen for water.
Images of the worst-case scenario played in her mind as she filled her glass. At any second, they could walk inside and face her.
She took her glass and tried to slip into her room, but Clara called out, "Can we go see my horse, Mom?"
Colt must have taken his mother outside. Vicki sucked in her breath. "Let's shower and get ready first."
"Yeah!" Clara jumped off the couch and raced to her room.
Vicki gulped down her water. The dryness remained. Eventually Colt could love her, but he needed time to see it. There had to be a way to stall. She'd not marry out of obligation or because it was the "right thing to do."
Then her phone rang. Vicki heard Clara's shower as she answered, "Hey."
"Why hello, my villainous, man-stealing best friend out to trap my brother." Alice giggled. "That sounds even more ridiculous if you say it out loud."
A small smile broke out on Vicki's face. "Alice, don't be silly. I don't know what to do. Your mother is outside, talking to Colt."
"She's nice. Relax. She'll help you."
Vicki closed her eyes. "I can't. Colt's big plan today was to marry me just to keep me safe."
Alice answered fast, "What?"
"Relax, I said no." Vicki opened her eyes and stared out the window that led to the porch. She inhaled. "Now your mother is coming inside, and I don't know if I can handle someone's hate."
Alice said, "She doesn't hate anyone. You're being overdramatic."
Vicki's hand went to her waist. "To stay out of the papers, I have to stay here. I have nowhere to go."
Alice asked, "Why do you think my brother asked you to marry him to keep you safe? I think he's always had a thing for you."
"He said it was to protect me."
"Okay, Victoria, why would he want to protect you if he didn't love you?"
"'Cause Colt is great guy and he's Clara's dad," Vicki whispered as her heart thumped against her chest.
"Love has nothing to do with it?"
Vicki's skin heated. "No, not consciously, anyhow."
"So it's possible he loves you subconsciously?"
This conversation made her skin tingle. "This is getting confusing. I don't know."
"My brother's an idiot if he doesn't love you, and I think he does. I think he always has."
"I'm not a mind reader. I can't tell. If he does, I need him to tell me."
Alice sighed. "Okay, let's change topics. I don't think we can do anything except wait for him to figure it out. So my advice is to be calm and peaceful today. Don't worry about Mom."
Vicki dropped her arms back to her sides. "Easier said than done. Peter said he had his team of lawyers on the case for me, so the news nonsense will die down."
"I suspected that, as no one has asked my opinion in the past hour. Besides, you have bigger issues. Stick to my brother's side like glue, and be supportive if he tells you he's off to visit the ex anytime soon."
Vicki hadn't thought of that. "You think he will?"
"He's going to want to see for himself," Alice said. "So when he goes to visit Belle, be gentle. I don't think he loves her, and if he broke it off with her, he knows it too."
"I don't know." Vicki stared at her daughter, who came out of her bedroom all dressed to go out.
"Don't worry. Stay and be calm with Colt until he figures it out."
Clara tugged Vicki's pant leg and stared at her as she stepped into her boots. Vicki nodded at her and told Alice, "I have to go. Talk to you soon."
"Bye."
Vicki went down to her hands and knees and tied Clara's boots. She held out her hand, "Let's go."
Clara clasped Vicki's hand, in total trust. "Grandma will be back with Dad for lunch, so we can't spend all day. Stewball needs an apple."
Clara tugged at her to move faster. Vicki's heart lifted in her chest, and she felt lighter. They went out the back door.
"Is Stewball your horse?" Vicki wouldn't keep Clara long. Vicki had no clue about horses and hadn't visited the stalls. Now, as her muscles relaxed, Vicki wanted to see all of her daughter's life.