Which led him right back to the issue at hand with his brothers.He sighed.A big red diesel Chevy turned and barreled up the driveway.Cord’s truck. And was that Colby in the passenger’s seat?What the hell?“Speak of the devils,” Edgard murmured. He ran his hand down Trevor’s back before dropping it from view. “We’d better get goin’.”“Tell Chass thanks for the muffins.”Edgard and Trevor chatted with Cord and Colby for a few minutes before they disappeared up the driveway.Colt stood his ground and waited, hating that he felt nervous.Colby climbed out first. “Mornin’ Colt.”“Mornin’. What brings you guys by?”The truck door slammed in response.“Didja need something?” Did I do something wrong again?“No. Gotta say, it’s sad the only time we show up at your place is when we need something.”“A damn shame,” Cord added.“You’re both welcome here any time.”“Good to know.”Both men leaned against the truck. Colby still favored the leg he’d busted up rodeoing, and had taken up a cockey
Yeah, he remembered her all right. The redhead. He dialed her number. “Ginger? It’s Colt McKay. What can I do for you?” He waited while she explained. A big grin broke out when she finished.“Sure I can meet you. Tomorrow night? At Dewey’s? It’s a date.”******The bell on the front door clanked.India threw her sketchbook on the counter and stretched. Talk about a slow day. She slapped on a smile and entered the main part of the store, which showcased the Sky Blue product line.“Good morning. Something I can help you with?”The woman turned around. Carolyn McKay.India tried not to let her smile slip. She’d known Carolyn for a few years, in a professional capacity, as India the saleswoman who tempted Carolyn with new Sky Blue products. Was she supposed to act differently now that she was dating Colt?“Hi Carolyn. How are you?”“Fine. And you?”I’m dragging ass because your son fucked me senseless and we didn’t use protection, so I could very well be pregnant with your grandchild.Not
Colt couldn’t move. It felt like a thick rope was wound around his body from his shoulders to his knees.Where was he? At the ranch? He heard laughter. Smelled dust and coffee. He stomped his feet. It wasn’t dirt beneath his boots but concrete.Strong hands grabbed him by the arms and dragged him. His heart nearly beat out of his chest. “Okay, enough of the rough stuff.Or are you givin’ me back some of what I gave to you? I said I was sorry.”The blindfold was ripped from his eyes. He blinked until Bert’s face came into view.“Bert? What are you doing here? Where’s India?”“The time has come for you to face your fears.”“But I have faced them. I haven’t had a drink in years!”Colt looked around. He was in the middle of a circle. The circle of trust, just like the A.A. meetings. Except this circle was composed of his family, Cord, Colby, Carter, Keely, his mother, his father, his uncle Harland, his cousins Dag West, Quinn and Bennett McKay, not his fellow A.A. members.He looked at Da
“Because a leopard doesn’t change his spots, India. Knowing the truth about him will save you a lot of heartache. You wouldn’t be the first woman in this area to fall for his lies and lines and you won’t be the last.” Cat pushed onto her elbows and looked at India over her shoulder. “Besides, didn’t Blake West ask you out?”“Yeah he did.”“What happened?”Colt happened. “We decided to stay friends.”“Was that before or after you and Colt hooked up?”“Before.”“See! That’s what I mean. You and Colt had been friends forever, and when his cousin starts paying attention to you, a cousin he’s always had a rivalry with, then Colt becomes interested in you?Isn’t that just a little…ironic?”It wasn’t as if India hadn’t thought of that. And discounted it.She opened her mouth to protest, but Cat wasn’t done.“Almost as ironic as Carolyn McKay waltzing in here yesterday.”“She’s a regular customer of Sky Blue.”“But I’m betting she didn’t come in here to buy lotion. I’m betting she came in her
Her gaze zoomed to the flowers on the table and then back to him. “What are those for?”“They’re not given out of guilt, if that’s what you’re thinkin’.”She frowned. “Why would I think that?”Was India really going to play dumb? “I heard you and Cat talkin’. Brought to mind Ma tellin’ me when I was a kid that eavesdroppers never hear anything good about themselves. Guess she was right. But then again, I didn’t exactly hear you leaping to my defense, Indy, when Cat started in on my character—both past and present.” He looked at her with a mix of misery and anger. “I expected more from the woman I’m dating.”“How was I supposed to respond? Anything I said would’ve been the wrong thing.”“Some of the things she said were an outright lie. Any positive response about me or our relationship would’ve been better than the flip crack that we’re just havin’ fun and you weren’t pickin’ out wedding announcements.”“Aren’t we just having fun? Dating for kicks? Nothing serious, right? Especially s
India winced.“You wanna tell me what’s going on?”“Domini didn’t tell you?” After India talked to Bert, she’d called Domini. Usually India relied on Skylar for personal problems, but she was dealing with two sick babies and an equipment breakdown at the factory. The last thing Skylar needed was more stress.So India had sobbed on Domini’s shoulder for half the damn night. In addition to being a great listener, Domini gave practical advice. Which was why India had allowed a cooling off period before she set about making things right…only to realize Colt had all but disappeared.“No, I haven’t talked to Domini, besides when she swings by to refill my coffee. She’s been a little busy around here.”“Why? Did Cat take off again?”“Huh-uh. Cat got fired.”“What! When?”Cam beckoned her closer. “You didn’t hear this from me. But after Domini’s, ah, talk with you the other night, she was furious.She got Macie and Velma on a conference call and gave them what-for. Said she was sick of coveri
“Indy said that? To Ma?”“Yep. Caro was a little stunned. She was even more stunned when India said she agreed with Cam, that we’re all a bunch of idiots and hypocrites. Demanding you change and when you do, not believing that you have.” His dad picked up a rock and threw it in the pond. “I’ll admit that accusation threw me for a loop.”“Why?”“’Cause it’s true. ’Cause we’ve all been pretty selfish for years.And yeah, I’m includin’ myself in that group. It pisses me off I was so busy judgin’ you, that I didn’t see what was happenin’ right in my own damn family. Saw your brothers had followed my lead and were wrongly judgin’ you too. It took Cam to bring it to a head.” He scowled. “Although, now that I think back, Keely mentioned something along those same lines, what’s the point in changin’ if no one believes you can.” He shot Colt a sidelong glance. “I’ll admit she was right. To you. Be no livin’ with that girl if I admit it to her.”Colt smiled.“Son, I’m just gonna say this flat o
“Yeah? Anyway, I wanted to give you something tangible, so I brought you a bag of tokens from the pizza place in Moorcroft where we had our first date.”“As a token of your affection?”“Pretty pun-tastic, huh?” She gave him a small head butt. “See?I knew you’d get it. You know me so well, Colt. Better than anyone ever has.”“Same goes. So you have to know my meeting with Ginger Paulson—”India put her fingers over his lips. “You don’t have to explain. I was a jerk. I trust you. Period.”He nipped her fingertips. “I’m gonna tell you anyway. Her son Hayden is Buck’s little buddy. Hayden wanted to do something special for Buck, and Ginger thought I could give them some ideas.”“That’s all?”“Yep. So now—”“Now you need to listen,” India blurted. “First, I’m sorry. For not defending you, for acting like a lump of shit when Cat spewed all those horrible things about you. I lashed out at you when I should’ve lashed out at her. It’ll never happen again and I’ll beat the living shit out of a