Roaring Fork Rockstar (Roaring Fork Ranch Book 3), page 23
The color drained from his face. He stared at Luna, his eyes widening with recognition. I saw it happen—the exact moment he realized she was his daughter. His lips parted, but no sound emerged.
Luna looked up then, her crayon pausing mid stroke as she noticed the stranger in our entryway. Her innocent gaze swept over him with mild curiosity before returning to her coloring book.
Sam and Beau came out of the kitchen, where they’d been helping me throw a casual dinner together. Beau’s expression darkened when he spotted Remi.
“What are you doing here?” Beau demanded, stepping forward.
Sam put a restraining hand on his arm and motioned to Luna, who looked up again at the harshness of Beau’s voice. He took a deep breath. “If you don’t leave right now, I’m calling the sheriff.”
Remi seemed not to hear him, his attention still fixed on Luna. I moved between them, blocking his view.
“You need to go,” I said quietly. “This isn’t the time or place.”
Something flickered in his eyes—shock, recognition, maybe even a hint of emotion I’d never seen from him before. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
“She’s…” he began, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Not now,” I interrupted. “Luna is very tired from the concert today. Call me tomorrow, and we can set up a time to talk.”
Remi stepped away slowly, still looking dazed. Without another word, he turned and walked out the door. My father closed it firmly behind him.
“Are you okay?” Sam asked, coming to my side.
“Yes,” I said, though my legs felt weak. “I never expected him to show up like that.”
“He realized, didn’t he?” Sam’s voice was gentle.
“Yes,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady so Luna wouldn’t notice my distress. “The look on his face… I’ve never seen him like that.”
“Do you think he’ll cause problems?” Beau asked, his tone suggesting he was already planning how to handle any trouble Remi might create.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I never thought he’d want anything to do with her. He made that pretty clear five years ago.”
Luna called from the living room, “Mommy, look what I drew!”
I plastered on a smile and went to her, crouching beside the coffee table. “That’s beautiful, Luna-bug. Is that for your story?”
“This is Shimmer. She’s at a concert with her friends.”
“I love it,” I said, touching her cheek with my fingertip. “Are you hungry?”
She shook her head, then changed her mind when she saw the apple slices and peanut butter I’d set beside her.
As Luna nibbled, Sam pulled me aside. “Holt called while you were with Luna. He said something very important with his family is happening, and he’ll be delayed longer but will explain when he gets here.”
“I got a text from him a little while ago.” I checked my phone again, and when I saw I’d missed a call from him two minutes ago, my stomach tightened with anxiety. “Did he say what it was about?”
Sam shook her head. “He asked Beau and me to hang out until he arrives. Cord cryptically mentioned that whatever it is might involve me too.”
I considered telling them they didn’t need to stay, that we’d be fine, but the truth was I wanted them here, especially after Remi’s unexpected visit.
“Thank you,” I said instead.
Sam squeezed my hand. “Of course. We love spending time with you and Luna.”
My father came in from the kitchen with coffee for everyone. “That man,” he said, his expression dark, “is he…?”
“Remi Gilbert. He’s CB Rice’s manager.”
“But he denied she was his,” my father said under his breath.
“He did,” I confirmed.
“And now, he knows.” My father’s tone was grim. “You should call your attorney.”
“Dad—”
“Just a consultation,” he insisted. “To know your rights. To protect Luna.”
He was right, of course. If Remi decided to assert his parental rights now, I needed to be prepared.
“I’ll call on Monday,” I promised.
Holt arrived about an hour later. The tension in his shoulders and the furrow between his brows told me something significant had happened. He embraced me as soon as he walked in, holding me tight.
“Where’s Luna?” he asked, glancing around.
“Upstairs with my dad. She was getting tired, so he offered to read her a story.” I searched his face. “What’s going on, Holt? Sam said something happened with your family.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “We should sit down.”
In the living room, Sam and Beau joined us.
“Bridger discovered something on the ranch that explains his odd reaction when I mentioned the charity’s original name,” he began in a low voice. “It was a grave hidden in a small clearing, marked with a simple headstone.”
My heart rate quickened. “Whose?”
“My sister’s.” His blue eyes met mine. “A sister none of us knew existed. Scarlett Blanche Wheaton. She only lived nine months.”
I gasped. “Scarlett’s Hope.”
“Exactly,” said Holt.
Sam leaned forward and opened her mouth to speak, but when she didn’t, Holt continued.
“We went back to the house after finding the grave, and Echo—Bridger’s mother—was there. She told us that no one ever knew who the anonymous founder of the charity was, but she wanted us to know that it’s directed millions of dollars into pioneering cancer research over the years.”
He reached for my hand, his fingers entwining with mine. “Research that has dramatically increased survival rates—including for kids like Luna.”
My breath hitched, and my eyes filled with tears.
Sam cleared her voice. “Cena, my great-grandmother and also Holt’s great aunt, had a daughter named Blanche who died from leukemia.”
Blanche. That was the baby’s middle name. Clearly not a coincidence.
Holt continued. “While we still don’t know who the trustee is, at least we now understand why the charity would be the beneficiary in the event one of us didn’t fulfill the terms stipulated by the trust.”
We sat in silence for a few minutes, and eventually, Sam and Beau returned to the kitchen.
“How are you doing?” he asked, pulling me into his arms.
“Okay,” I murmured, unsure whether I should tell him about Remi in the midst of his news. However, I knew I had to. “Earlier today, when you took Luna to get ice cream, Remi confronted me at the concert. Then, he showed up here a little while ago. He pushed his way in when my dad tried to turn him away.”
Holt’s expression darkened. “What happened?”
“Bridger, Cord, Porter, and Beau intervened and told Remi to get away from me.”
“How about when he was here? Did Luna see him?”
“She did but didn’t appear to pay much attention. He saw her, though, Holt. He knows she’s his.”
Holt’s jaw tightened. “What did he say?”
“Not much. He was in shock. I told him to call me tomorrow so we could talk.”
“You’re too kind, considering what he did to you,” Sam said from the doorway.
“I’m not being kind,” I corrected. “I’m being practical. He’s her biological father. If he decides to pursue his rights now…” I trailed off, not wanting to say the words aloud.
“He won’t get anywhere,” Beau assured me. “Not after abandoning you and her.”
I wished I shared his confidence. “My dad thinks I should call an attorney.”
“I agree,” said Holt. “It’s important to be prepared. Not that I think Remi has a chance, given the history. It isn’t like you kept her from him. You told him you were pregnant.”
The sound of footsteps on the stairs made us all look up. My father appeared with Luna in his arms, her head resting against his shoulder, eyes heavy with sleep.
“Someone wanted to say good night,” he explained, carrying her to me.
Luna lifted her head, brightening when she spotted Holt. “Mr. Holt! You’re here. I missed you.”
He smiled, rising to take her from my father. “I missed you too, Unicorn Girl.”
“Will you tell me a story?” she asked, fighting to keep her eyes open.
“Tomorrow,” he promised. “You need your rest now.”
“Okay. But it has to be a long one.”
“The longest,” he agreed, carrying her upstairs.
“We should go,” Sam said after she and Beau exchanged a look. “It’s been a tiring day for everyone.”
“Thank you for staying,” I said, hugging them both.
“Hey, Sam,” said Holt, returning downstairs. “The family is going to meet again tomorrow. Our plan is to see if we can get Six-pack to come to the ranch. We’d like you to be part of that meeting.”
“Just tell me when.”
After they left, my father retreated to the guest room, claiming fatigue, though I suspected he wanted to give Holt and me privacy.
Holt’s expression was somber when he sat beside me on the sofa. “Luna asked if I was going to be her daddy now.”
My heart squeezed at the words. “What did you tell her?”
“That if it was okay with her and you, then yes.” He ran a hand through his hair again. “I hope that was all right.”
“More than all right,” I assured him, snuggling into him. “If I had to guess, I’d say it’s what she’s wanted since Christmas.”
He held me close, his chin resting on top of my head. “I never thought I’d have this, Keltie. A family of my own. Someone to love and protect.”
“No second thoughts?” I asked.
“God, no,” he said, leaning to look into my eyes. “If anything, finding out about Scarlett makes me more certain we were meant to find each other.”
I reached up to touch his face. “Even with all the complications? Luna’s illness, Remi’s involvement, your career?”
“Especially with all that,” he said. “I’m here to support you in every way I can.”
I kissed him then, a gentle press of the lips that conveyed more than words ever could.
“Stay tonight,” I whispered against his mouth.
His arms tightened around me. “I wasn’t planning to leave.”
Later, as we lay in bed after making love, my head resting on his chest, I couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly my life had changed. Now, I wore Holt’s ring on my finger, and Luna had asked him to be her daddy. The universe, it seemed, had a far different plan than what I’d previously envisioned.
“What are you thinking about?” Holt asked, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my arm.
“How none of this makes sense, yet somehow, it all does,” I replied honestly.
As we drifted to sleep, he hummed a familiar tune.
“My dad used to sing me a lullaby like that when I was young,” I told him.
He tightened his hold on me. “When I was standing by Scarlett’s grave, I realized my mom did too.”
“I suppose it’s common enough to be a coincidence,” I offered.
Holt shook his head. “Something tells me it isn’t.”
28
HOLT
The small headstone remained fixed in my mind as I woke in Keltie’s bed the next morning. My sister Scarlett—a whisper from the past that now haunted me in the most unexpected ways. The early sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft patterns across the room where I’d spent the night holding the love of my life close.
I turned to find her already awake, watching me with solemn eyes.
“I think we should meet with Six-pack today,” I said quietly, reaching out to brush a curl from her face. “After the family meeting at the ranch. He could refer a custody attorney, help us prepare for whatever Remi might try.”
Keltie’s fingers laced with mine. “Good idea. I spoke with my dad this morning. He’s taking Luna to the park again.”
“She’s feeling up to it?”
“She seems better than ever,” she said, a smile finally breaking through the worry. “The resilience of children is incredible.”
The sound of small feet racing down the hallway interrupted us. Luna appeared in the doorway, still in her pajamas.
“Mr. Holt! You’re here!” She launched herself onto the bed, wiggling between us. “Are we having pancakes? Abuelo makes the best pancakes.”
“Is that so? I thought your Mommy made the best ones.” I said, tickling her side and grinning as she squirmed.
“She makes the best ones with blueberries.”
Behind her, Keltie rolled her eyes.
“Ah, right,” I murmured, winking.
The smell of coffee lured us to the kitchen, where Victor was already at the stove, pouring batter on the skillet.
“Buenos días,” he said. “Sleep well?”
“Very,” I replied, accepting the mug he offered.
After breakfast and quick showers, Keltie and I got ready for the day. I’d brought a change of clothes when I came over yesterday, anticipating I might stay the night.
“I’ll change, and then we can go,” I said to Keltie.
Luna tugged at my jeans as I headed toward the stairs. “You’re coming back, right?”
“Of course,” I promised, kneeling to her level. “Five minutes. Max.”
She shook her head. “I mean later.”
“If there’s ever a day, I can’t, I’ll tell you, okay? Otherwise, you can expect to fall asleep with me here and wake up to me too.”
She beamed and followed Keltie and me up the stairs.
“Still nothing from Remi?” I asked quietly when we came back down.
“No,” Keltie replied, sliding the phone into her pocket. “I don’t understand. I thought after seeing Luna…”
“Hard to say what he’s thinking.” My words weren’t as reassuring as I intended them to be, but with a guy like Remi, it was impossible to predict what he’d do.
After we’d said goodbye to Luna and Victor, Keltie and I headed to the ranch. The pressure of her hand resting on my thigh steadied me, reminding me once again that whatever came next, we’d face it together. Her for me and me for her.
I glanced at my watch. “When do you expect Six-pack to arrive?” I asked once we joined everyone in the living room of the main house, where they were gathered. While Flynn and Irish had taken down the Christmas tree a while ago, memories of those happy, magical days lingered in the place where Keltie and I had gotten to know each other beyond a bar owner and guitar player.
“Any minute,” Buck said, checking his phone.
Flynn stiffened at the mention of our attorney, and I understood why. She was the only one who hadn’t received a codicil yet. The fear that she might be forced to leave her husband and twin boys was evident in her eyes, though unspoken.
“Hello, everyone.” Six-pack entered with his usual smug expression, briefcase clutched in his manicured hand.
“Let’s get on with it,” Buck said, foregoing any pleasantries.
“I wanted to touch base with you all about the recent developments with the trust,” he said, opening his briefcase on the coffee table. His eyes swept across the room. “As I understand it, you’ve discovered information about a previously unknown sister, Scarlett Blanche Wheaton.”
“That’s right,” I said, my voice harder than intended. “And the connection to Miracles of Hope Children’s Charity.”
“Which still doesn’t tell us who’s behind the trust,” Cord added.
“As I’ve said more than once, until the trustee chooses to reveal themselves, there’s nothing more I can do. I’m simply the messenger.”
“And we’re supposed to believe you have no idea who it is?” Porter’s skepticism was evident.
“I’ve told you repeatedly that I don’t,” Six-pack insisted. “My instructions arrive anonymously. I’ve never met or spoken with the trustee directly.”
“Convenient,” Buck muttered.
Six-pack straightened his tie. “I should also remind everyone that Holt’s year doesn’t end until December 23, and there is still one sibling who hasn’t been required to fulfill any stipulations.”
Flynn visibly tensed, and Irish’s arm immediately wrapped around her shoulders.
Anger flared in my chest. “That was unnecessary,” I snapped. “We’re all aware of the situation.”
“Just clarifying the status of the trust,” Six-pack replied, unfazed.
Looking at Flynn’s anxious expression, I made a silent promise to myself. If another codicil arrived and it demanded she be separated from her family, I’d suggest we abandon the whole inheritance. The ranch was worth millions, but not at the cost of tearing my sister’s life apart.
For the next thirty minutes, Six-pack fielded questions about the trust, offering nothing new or helpful.
“Before you go,” I said, standing. “Keltie and I need to speak with you privately.”
“Of course.”
I led him and Keltie into a small room, which had once been our father’s study, off the main hallway. The leather chairs and oak desk remained unchanged from when he’d summoned us here for lectures on responsibility and duty.
“What can I help you with?” Six-pack asked once the door closed behind us.
“We need a referral to a custody attorney,” Keltie said. “Luna’s biological father has reappeared after five years of absence.”
Six-pack raised a brow. “Actually, family law is one of my specialties. I handle custody battles all the time.”
I exchanged a skeptical look with Keltie. Six-pack wasn’t exactly who I’d had in mind.
“What’s the situation?” he asked, settling into one of the chairs in front of the desk. I motioned for Keltie to sit in the other. I remained standing.
Keltie explained Remi’s sudden reappearance, his history of abandonment, and our concerns about his intentions, given Luna’s illness.
