Colt’s mother might think her one of the Miami weather girls on television who were ready to hit the club after saying that today was hot and sunny. Vicki shrugged as the door opened and Clara ran to get her. "Okay, then."
Colt stood in the driveway as she walked out. Then Clara pushed her forward. "Let Dad see more of your back, Mom. He's stared at you a few times now, and I think he likes you."
Colt's eyes flashed. He heard every word as he glanced at her.
"Thanks for letting me know." Vicki winked at her daughter and then turned so Colt might see what their daughter had dressed her in. "Clara picked this out for me. What do you think?"
Colt winked. "I'd say this dress is magical."
"Magical?" she said. "You spending too much time watching cartoons with Clara?"
"Not as often as you think." He shrugged as his mother approached.
Vicki kept her hands up to cover her chest. "Mrs. Collins..."
"I told you already, Vicki. Call me Ellie." His mother hugged her and asked, "Are you two going to a party?"
"Clara wanted to play dress-up, and chose this for me." Vicki crossed her legs and hoped if she hid one of her legs, Ellie would not notice how short the dress was.
Ellie shrugged. "Got it. No worries. Clara, sweetheart, let's get in the car."
"Okay, Grandma," Clara said as she opened the backseat to get into her car seat.
Ellie stared at her son without blinking. "Clara will be fine with us."
Vicki waved goodbye. She'd go change in a minute. "Thank you."
Ellie opened the driver's door. Colt went over to her and hugged his mother. Then Ellie told Vicki, "Don't worry about anything. We're all family. Thanks aren't necessary."
This definition of family that the Collins had was nice. The House of Morgan was fractured and broken—not that it had ever functioned as anything remotely like a family. Colt came beside her and took her hand. "Let's go inside to talk, Vicki."
Vicki waved at the car as it drove off. Clara waved back. In this one moment, she had her family and she'd never lose Clara again. Now she had to somehow steel her spine against her own heart when it came to Colt. She needed to be loved.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
"Today is humid. It's suffocating." Vicki crossed her arms the second the doors closed.
Colt reached behind his back to check that the ring was in his pocket. Now he needed to get her to the swing again. He needed to somehow stop his body heat from rising. "I'll need water and then we can go outside."
Her eyes narrowed, like she was gearing up to tell him goodbye. He held his breath and waited, though she simply said, "Why?"
The dress she wore showed off her ample breasts. He closed his eyes and reminded himself he had a question. This was his last shot at keeping his family. He couldn't lose focus. "As you said, it's hot outside."
Colt went to the kitchen, grabbed a water bottle from the refrigerator, and swallowed the entire container.
"I should go change first. I'll be ready to talk in a minute."
The cold water hadn't quenched the fire inside him. He opened his mouth and stared at her. "Vicki. It's not just talking I want."
She didn't move. He came closer, and he could smell the sweet scent of strawberry. She batted her eyes as he placed his hands on her hips. His mouth begged for a taste of her. She whispered, "Aren't you going to kiss me, Colt? Isn't that what this is?"
"Kiss you?" His voice cracked. He gazed up at her pink lips, pert nose, high cheekbones, and blue eyes. If he kissed her, he'd not want to stop. He hovered close to her. What held him was how important the question and his plan was. "I want far more than a simple kiss."
She froze in his arms. She didn't pull away or open her eyes, but her entire body became tense in his arms.
The smell of strawberry shampoo wafted in his nose, and he lost his argument. He leaned forward, and she uncurled like a butterfly leaving its cocoon. The softness of her lips brushed against his mouth, and he opened his lips a little more. She pressed further and the tingles down his spine grew. He released a groan then wrapped his arms around her tightly. He then truly kissed her.
Victoria Morgan tasted sweeter than any ice cream he'd ever had, and he'd always claimed ice cream was his favorite. Kissing Vicki blew that out of the water, and he craved more.
Her hands traced his neck, and his temperature climbed.
He'd never be able to kiss anyone else for the rest of his life. He choked out, "I had a plan..."
She squared her shoulders and stepped out of his arms. "I'm leaving, Colt."
His heartbeat quickened. "You can't."
She balled her hands into fists at her side. "I can't stay here. I have to honor myself, and I deserve more."
No, he'd messed up this proposal already. He ran his hands through his hair. "You deserve better than me, that's for sure."
Her lips puckered. Then her eyes were as a wide as saucers. "Colt, I don't have you."
He offered to hold her hand. She had to understand. She couldn't leave. "You do have me, Vicki. When the sun rises, it's your smile I see on the horizon. When the sun sets, you're the vision I see that makes me come home. All my life, it's always been you that starred in my dreams. I can't live without you anymore."
Tears ran down her cheeks. Had he ruined everything? He had no way to fix this now.
Then she reached out and took his hands. "Do you love me, Colt?"
The trembles in his heart grew, but he dare not hope. He stared into her eyes. "Is that your question?"
She ran his hands up his chest and cupped his cheek. The water in her eyes unmanned him as she whispered, "I can't stay without knowing."
His lips parted. How did she not know? Adrenaline fueled his dreams that she jumpstarted.
"I love you. You're in my every heartbeat, Victoria Morgan. It's always been you."
She choked on her tears. His entire body thrashed as he wrapped his arms around her. He'd not lose her now. Then she snuggled into his arms and hugged him. "Colt, why didn't you tell me?"
The smell of strawberries undid him. He held her close and rocked her gently. "I felt guilty."
She took her head out of his neck and met his gaze. "And now?"
Every second seemed like a moment he had to remember forever as he reached into his pocket. Then he opened the box. "I'll be lost if you don't marry me."
She peeked at his hand and then her hand left his side to cover her lips. She dropped her hand and softly picked up her ring. "Marry you?"
His hands itched to slip it on her finger. He nodded and waited for permission. "Yes, Vicki. I need you."
A huge smile grew on her lips, and she jumped in his arms. "Colt, yes."
His own heart contracted. This was the moment. He took the ring from her. "Yes what?"
She held out her hand to let him place the ring on her. "Yes, I'll marry you. I love you. You're my hero."
He pressed it onto her finger and his lips met hers again.
He'd never lose her again. Vicki Morgan was his.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Peter Morgan drove his Aston Martin onto the rocky driveway. Alice and John followed in their Jeep. Vicki left Colt's side on the porch and waved at her brothers. Today she told them she was staying with Colt forever.