Rescuing His Heart, page 18
nobody like her who made him feel worthy and accepting.
Colton pushed himself up against her body, kissing her, he swiped his thumb against her cheek, admiring her beauty and passion for wanting this as much as him. Her hands slid over his arms, and she tucked them into the back of his unbuttoned jeans, sliding them off with one push at a time until he was able to wiggle them to the floor. Sara was proving she was just as eager as him, putting his mind at ease and letting him know it was okay.
Colton smoothed his hot hand over her body, kissing her shoulder blade and down to the fullness of her breast. His erection pulsing, he slid her bra strap over her shoulder and kissed her while unhooking the clasp.
“I have a condom,” she said, wiggling away from him. She jumped out of bed, grabbed the throw blanket from the armchair, and wrapped it around her as she ran down the hall.
He held his breath, not wanting to lose the momentum. Like superwoman, holding her cape, she dashed toward him and slapped a condom package on his chest. He sighed with relief. He didn’t have one and didn’t carry one because he wasn’t expecting an affair.
Colton took off his boxers. Sara watching him which sent a flurry to his gut, he rolled the condom on himself and moved up on the bed, clamping his hands around her waist to lift her on top of him. At the same time, she unraveled the blanket, revealing her perky breasts and narrow waist. He deepened the kiss as he squared her body with his.
The heat between them ignited, and the fire started.
He wasn’t testing himself anymore; he was beginning to know his boundaries for getting through life while torturing himself in the process.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sara scrambled out of bed to shut off her alarm clock. Plopping her head back down on her pillow to let her heart return to a normal rhythm.
“Good morning,” Colton said, his lip curling, he rolled his head toward her, with unruly hair and eyes half open.
“Morning. Sorry,” she said with a pout. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I have to get ready for work. Feel free to sleep.” She moved to the edge of the bed, and Colton put his hand on her arm.
She looked over her shoulder.
“I’ll make you breakfast while you shower,” he said, dropping his hand.
“Really?” Her heart swelled. “I was just going to have a piece of toast.”
“I got this. You do what you have to do.” Colton flipped the blanket up, got out of bed wearing his boxers, and slipped on his jeans. Sara rubbed her lips together as she watched Colton bare-chested walk out of her bedroom, making her hungry for more than just breakfast. If she didn’t have to be at work, she could think of other things she’d rather be doing, and staying in bed for a couple more hours in Colton’s arms was one of them.
Sara wrapped herself in a robe and made her way to the bathroom. How could she be in love with a man she had known for less than a week and also have the idea of dating a man she met online? Although Johnathan was a second thought now, she needed to sort herself out.
Sara showered and dressed. She headed into the kitchen, and Colton handed her a cup of coffee.
“Oh, nice. Thank you,” Sara cooed. Since when did she wake up to breakfast made and coffee poured for her?
Colton, wearing his T-shirt from last night, flipped eggs in a pan.
“Can I help you with something?” She stood in the kitchen, watching him comfortably moving around. He opened a cupboard and took out two plates. “I’m good. How do you like your eggs?”
“Doesn’t matter.” She shook her head, lips pursed. “However you are making them.”
He had his back to her. His T-shirt stretched across his shoulders, and his jeans hugged his butt. She licked her lips. “What are you doing today?” They hadn’t talked about the next couple of days. Would he be looking for his own place? Colton was hard to read, and he wasn’t one for sharing voluntary information. She wanted him to tell her on his terms, but she wasn’t sure how much longer she could go without knowing his plans.
“I’ve got a few things to do,” he said, buttering the toast. He plated the food and spun around, offering breakfast.
She eyed it and smiled. “Thank you.” She carried her plate in one hand and coffee in the other toward the table.
“How about for you?” he asked and scooped his eggs onto a plate.
“I have stories to write.” She brought her cup to her mouth. “Do you think you’ll, um, stay in Moonlight?” She wrinkled her nose. She was never afraid to ask questions, so why was it hard for her to ask him his plans?
“Soon.” He glanced at her and took his snatched the toast from the toaster. “You haven’t mentioned when you’re leaving on your trip. It’s coming up, isn’t it?”
Her shoulders caved. “I’m supposed to be leaving Thursday if Jerry came back in time. My boss.” She cut into her egg and took a bite.
“You’re going to Australia for two weeks, is that it?” Colton brought his plate to the table, sat down, and forked a bite. “You don’t seem excited about it.”
“That’s right.” She took a bite of her toast. “There’s a lot going on and I might not be able to go, so...”
“What’s in Australia? Why do you want to go there?” he asked between bites.
“My cousin lives there.” She washed down her bite with a sip of coffee. “I’m staying with him.”
“Your cousin?”
She nodded and scooped another bite.
“It’s not an ex-boyfriend?”
Would it matter if it was? She grinned, making eye contact with him. “Nope. I’ve been saving all year for this trip. It’s a place I’ve wanted to visit and he invited me.” She flattened her lips. “My cousin is a geoscientist and teaches at the university. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to go, so I booked my flight.” She watched him slow down his bite, nodding, thinking. “You’re going to be going back to Texas.”
“Yeah. I’ll be leaving soon too.” He brought up his head to meet her eyes.
What would it take to crack him? What was he afraid of by not telling her his plan? He had to have a plan. Avoiding making eye contact, she scraped her fork against her plate to scoop up the last bite of egg. “What are you doing today?”
“I’m going to figure out what needs repairing on my plane.”
Sara looked over at the clock on the stove. “Oh, no! I didn’t notice the time.” She jumped up. “I’m sorry. I have to go. Thank you for breakfast. We’ll chat later.”
Colton jumped up, meeting her in the middle. He held out his hand to touch her arm. “I’ll see you later? Maybe tonight?”
“Yeah, sure.” She ran out of the kitchen and gathered her bag and coat, struggling to put it on. Colton pulled out her coat sleeve to help her and she pushed her arm through and at the same time, slipped her feet into her thick heels and stomped her feet in her shoe as she flipped her hair out of her coat. Grabbing her bag with her wallet and notebook inside, she jangled her keys from her pocket. “Thanks.”
As she turned around, the sparkle in his eyes sent an avalanche to her stomach. Colton was here because he had something to accomplish. It wasn’t about her. What they shared last night didn’t matter. It was only an affair and wouldn’t amount to anything more because she wasn’t what he wanted, and she had a trip pending and he had his life to go back to.
SARA GOT TO WORK ON time and clicked off her document she was working on and opened her emails.
Liam came by her desk, cupping his hand through his flopping, dark hair. “I’m doing the page layout. Where do you want the advice column?”
She tore her eyes away from the screen and put her teeth together. “Page four?”
“Put it anywhere on the page?” Liam held his hand behind his bent neck.
“Wherever you think,” she said. It would be the last one to print before Jerry came back anyway.
“Do you have one ready to go? Deloris said there’s like twenty emails. We don’t even get a lot of response from Letters to the Editor.” Liam shuffled his feet toward her desk. “When I was at the rink on Sunday, someone came up to me and asked if I knew who Peaches was.” He stared. “So, who is Peaches?”
“Oh, someone I know who gives good advice.” Her stomach flip-flopped.
Liam flexed his shoulders. “I haven’t seen this much interest in our paper since Thomas Wallace ran for mayor.”
She held her stomach. What if people didn’t like what Peaches had to say? Would Jerry fire her for overstepping her boundaries?
Her cell phone rang, and she leaned over to grab it, and Liam turned on his foot and sauntered back to his desk. Sara brought her phone to her ear. “Hey, Kel.”
“Sara. I got a favor to ask you. I know you’re getting ready to go on your trip, but are you busy after work?”
“Not too busy.” She didn’t know if she was going and she hadn’t packed. She was losing Colton for good. “What’s up?”
“Can I ask you to take a couple of photos of me? Maybe two? Three max? My website’s ready to go, but I need a photo of myself, and I only have goofy ones, nothing serious. Ugh. I’m cringing thinking about it.”
“Sure. I can do it. I’ll be home by five.”
“Is the pilot going to be there?”
“His name is Colton.” She laughed. “And I don’t know.”
“What do you mean? Didn’t he stay the night?” She sounded disappointed.
“I mean he is. Yes, I’m sure he will be.”
“You slept with him, and now you’re having second thoughts.”
“Kel,” Sara snapped. “I’d love to chat, but I’m at work.”
“Talk about an instant husband,” Kelly mocked.
“It’s not like that.”
“I can’t wait to hear all about it,” she sang and hung up.
Sara butted her lips. She liked coming home to a man, but she wanted whoever she was with to feel the same way she did.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Colton took the mountain bike from Sara’s shed. It was the only thing he could think of using to get twenty miles to Omak without asking anyone for a ride. Ignoring the ache in his left foot, Colton peddled harder so he could get into the next town before noon. Grey clouds moved
overhead, and he maxed out on the speed his legs would take him down the highway.
He saw the Omak Airport sign first, but it was Denise’s house he was looking for. He needed to get it over with because the anticipation had been built up for months. He rehearsed how he would tell her why and explain why he had the envelope. He would apologize for taking so long to get it to her, but he had to see her in person. Give her his condolences and plead his innocence.
Colton’s thighs burned, reminding him he needed to push himself to full capacity if he wanted to be healthy. Being physically and mentally fit wasn’t an option when he was in the Air Force, he wouldn’t allow himself to be anything else. After Owen’s death was around the same time, his divorce papers went through, his life fell apart, and he didn’t know how to fix it without asking anyone for help. Not like anyone could fix it for him, but he’d lost his friends, his wife, his dog, and himself, and he may even lose Sara.
Colton kept his eyes on the road. He past the welcome sign and entered green sporting fields and a Dunk & Donuts. He slowed down. Leg muscles twinged, but he arrived. Pulling into the parking lot of a gas station to check Google Maps, he’d be at his destination in twenty-five minutes.
Colton took out a protein bar he bought earlier, took a big bite, and opened bottled water he had placed in the holder. He drank and ate while vehicles passed him, and airbrakes from semi-trucks thundered. Colton took a long drink and put the lid back on his bottle, placing it into the holder. He had to keep going.
With wobbly legs and an achy foot, he peddled and listened to Google Maps give him directions, taking him into town and through a residential neighborhood. He slowed down, reading the address numbers. The houses lined both sides with few cars parking on the street. He was taking a chance if Denise was home. He didn’t know if she worked but followed his heart and his mind to a bungalow similar to Sara’s. Colton checked the address on his screen and looked at the house. His eyes fell from the house to his phone, making sure there wasn’t a mistake because he didn’t have another address.
Reviewing the house address one last time, he got off his bike and walked it up the driveway and lay it against the beam, which held up the front awning. His stomach squeezed. He flexed his hands and put his hand inside his coat pocket, pinching the envelope. He took a breath, releasing his hand to his sides and knocked. He stepped back on his trembling legs, and his chest flared from expanded lungs. Would she recognize him? Would she know who he was?
He tapped on the door and took a step back and waited. There was a child’s high-pitched voice on the verge of crying coming from inside. He knocked again.
“Mommy, door,” the toddler said, just as the door opened, and the boy peeked his head around his mom’s leg.
“Hello,” Denise said, tilting her head. Her eyebrows narrowed and then relaxed. “Colton?” She froze. “Colton?” She covered her mouth. “You’re here? What’s going on? Come in!” She extended her arm and touched his hand.
Colton smiled and bowed and stepped inside.
“I can’t believe it.” She shook her head and threw her arms out, embracing him in a long hug. Colton clamped his eyes shut, not wanting to cry too, but tears began to form, and he fought to make them fall.
Denise brought her hands back. “You look great. How are you?” She searched for his eyes.
“Good.” Colton rocked on his feet.
“What are you doing here? I mean, here? Sorry.” She swiped her hair out of her face. “It’s good to see you.”
“I should have called.”
“Mommy.” The toddler tugged on her jogging pants. “Mommy.”
“Your timing is perfect,” she said and bent down to scoop up her son. She brought him to her hip. “It’s Uncle Colton,” she said, smiling at her son and patting his belly.
Colton’s stomach squeezed like ringing out a wet cloth. He wasn’t an uncle, but he accepted the reference.
“Owen would tell Riley you’re an uncle.” She smiled at her son. “Do you want something cold to drink? I have apple juice, water? You look hot. Tell me you didn’t ride from Bellingham.” Her eyes brightened. “You didn’t, did you?”
“No. No, Moonlight Valley.” Colton rubbed the sweat from his forehead. “A water would be great, thank you.”
“So, what brings you to Omak?” She put her son down, and he wiggled to his scattered toys on the living room carpet. “I wasn’t expecting company.” She looked around and patted her shirt. “It’s a mess in here.”
Colton lay out his hand, shaking his head. He didn’t even notice. “I should have called, but I didn’t know when I’d be able to visit.” He spoke slowly and glanced at the little boy with bright eyes like his dad.
Denise disappeared into the kitchen. “It’s a hard day today.”
“Of course,” Colton said, following her. “Anniversary.” He couldn’t even say a full sentence. The word caught in his throat. “I’m sorry.” He touched his mouth.
“Yeah,” she sighed and handed him a tall glass of ice water.
He guzzled it down and put the empty glass on the counter. “I guess I was thirsty.”
She took the glass. “I’ll get you another.”
“Thanks. How have you been?” Colton asked.
“I’m okay. I take it day by day.”
Colton’s heart crushed for a young family torn apart. “The reason I came to see you is...I have something to give you.” He pulled out the envelope from the inside of his coat.
She walked at a turtle’s pace, holding the refill, and eyeing the envelope. “What is it?” There was a flicker in her eyes.
“I don’t know,” he whispered. “It’s from Owen.”
“From Owen?” Her mouth dropped, and she brought down the glass. She hadn't notice it was slipping through her hand.
Colton leaped forward and took the glass from her before it fell. “Yeah. We had this, um, this deal.” His stomach turned. It was a thoughtful conversation when he had it with Owen, but now, talking to his wife made him feel displaced. Colton flexed his jaw. “He and I...we sealed an envelope with...” He paused. “I don’t know what it is. I’m guessing a letter. He gave me this to give to you in case anything happened to him.” The words stuck in his throat, and Colton paused again, pulling in whatever strength he could to tell her what he knew. “I promised Owen I’d give it to you if anything happened.” His voice faded. “He told me when your anniversary was, and I haven’t forgotten.” The side of his mouth twitched. “I thought it was important for you to have it today.”
She stared at the envelope for a long moment and cried.
“I wanted to give it to you sooner,” Colton said, planting his feet. Agony twisted his heart seeing Denise emotional. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t ready then.” His mouth dried, and he picked up his glass and gulped water.
“You lost a friend too,” she said through tears.
Colton nodded, but she lost her life partner. “I didn’t want to mail it. I wanted to give it to you in person.” Colton tapped his lips. “I made a promise. We had this thing, this pact, if one of us didn’t make it, we’d give a letter— I don’t know what it says.” Colton swallowed. He lifted his shoulders and pointed his hand at the envelope. “It’s something from Owen. It’s all I know.” He could guess it was poems, but he’d let Denise find out for herself. “I told him I’d hold onto the letter until we retired, then he’d take it back.” He squinted to hold back the tears filling. “I needed to fulfill my promise.”
