Runaway Colton

by Karen Whiddon

  Ignoring the clattering, which sounded like Renee deliberately banging various pots and pans in an effort to get him out of bed, he made his way to his bathroom. A short while later, having showered and brushed his teeth before getting dressed, he felt human enough to go to the kitchen and rustle up some strong, black coffee.

  “Mornin’,” he muttered, rummaging in the cabinet for a mug. Once he’d filled it and taken a long, grateful drink, he walked over to the table and took a seat. “Renee, I’m sorry about last night.”

  “It’s okay,” she began, refusing to look at him.

  “No, it’s not. I was upset about Piper leaving. I had no idea you’d be home early. I hate that you saw me like that.”

  “I see people like that every night at work.” At least this time she glanced at him, a quick short look through her lashes. “And of course, Mom and Dad liked to party.”

  He winced. “You know I’m not like that. I don’t want you subjected to that kind of lifestyle at home ever again.”

  “Thanks. Are you hungry?”

  “I’m not sure.” Based on past experience, eating something, anything, would do him some good. Though right now the smell of whatever Renee had cooking made him a bit queasy.

  Truman, apparently having been persuaded to give up his porch-front vigil, lay listlessly in his dog bed, eyes closed.

  “Did you feed him?” Cord asked.

  “I tried to. Poor guy wouldn’t eat.” They both knew why. Cord sympathized.

  “Here.” She dropped a plate with scrambled eggs on it in front of Cord. “Eat.”

  Sheepishly, he dug in. After one bite he feared he might get sick, but under Renee’s determined glare, he managed to eat it all. “Thank you,” he said, pushing his plate away. “I needed that.”

  “Yeah, I thought you might.” She pulled out the chair across from him and took a seat. “Are you ready to tell me about what happened with Piper? I checked out her room and all her stuff is gone.”

  “She went back home, where she belongs.” He thought the words came out pretty steady, considering saying them out loud ripped him up inside.

  “Bull.” Renee snorted. “Piper no more belonged there than you and I do. She was happy here.”

  He sighed. His niece was only eighteen, a baby. Despite everything she’d been through, her innocence touched him. She still viewed life through rose-colored glasses. Like Piper. Pain stabbed his heart.

  “She needed more than I could ever give her.” He held up his hand when Renee started to speak. “Let’s leave it at that, all right?”

  “No.” Renee slammed both hands down on the table, sending his plate jumping. “It’s not all right. I care about Piper and I care about you. You two were pretty perfect together. I want to know what happened to make her go. Clearly, something did.”

  Now he looked away, trying to compose the right words to make her understand. “I told her to go,” he said, pushing to his feet. The room spun slightly before righting itself.

  “But why?” Renee cried.

  “Because I want what’s best for her.” Going back to the coffeepot, he refilled his mug. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. Consider this topic closed.”

  “Piper’s not a topic!”

  He didn’t respond, taking his cup with him as he headed outside to perform his morning chores slightly later than usual. Of course Truman, once an eager participant in the farmyard life, didn’t follow.

  *

  Though Renee kept calling her phone, Piper didn’t want to answer until she figured Cord would have had enough time to talk to his niece. The two of them were family—blood—and she couldn’t bear to think she might somehow cause a rift in their relationship.

  But Renee was nothing if not determined. She called hourly, leaving messages every other time, until finally Piper realized the teenager wouldn’t stop until she picked up the phone.

  “Hi, Renee,” she said softly.

  “Why are you avoiding me?” Renee demanded. “I’m not your enemy now, am I?”

  “Of course not. I want to make sure you and Cord had time to talk.”

  “We did.” Renee sighed. “Though all he’ll say is it’s all for the best. Maybe that’s true, but it sure doesn’t feel that way.”

  Though Piper wholeheartedly agreed with that statement, she couldn’t let Renee know. “No matter where I live, you’ll always have me as a friend.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” Piper attempted a laugh, hoping it didn’t sound too forced. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

  “Thank goodness. I really miss you.”

  Piper’s heart squeezed. “I miss you, too, hon. Tell me, what did Cord have to say about your acceptance to art school?”

  Silence. “Uh, I didn’t tell him.”

  “Why not?” Shocked, Piper wondered what exactly had gone on after she’d left. “I know he’ll be thrilled for you.”

  “Maybe,” Renee allowed. “Or maybe he’ll be worried about how he’s going to pay for it.”

  “If he is, don’t you worry. We’ll figure something out, I promise.”

  “Thanks. How’s life back among the rich? Does it feel weird being back there after living like ordinary folks for a while?”

  Piper looked around at the small, yet cozy cabin. “I didn’t go home, actually. I rented my own place. I needed time alone to think.”

  “But that’s...” Renee bit back whatever she’d been about to say. “I’ve got to get ready for work,” she said instead. “I’d like to come see you sometime soon.”

  “That’d be great,” Piper replied, meaning it. “Just give me a call and we’ll figure something out.”

  After Renee had hung up, Piper wandered outside her small cabin. From her front porch, she could see Lake Whitney. She found the water view soothing.

  Taking a seat in the oversize, wooden rocking chair, she wondered why Renee hadn’t shared her most important news with Cord. Cord had seemed supportive earlier, when Piper had helped Renee put together a portfolio.

  Though she knew she no longer had a place in their family, she couldn’t help but worry about Cord and Renee’s relationship. The last thing she wanted was for her leaving to drive a wedge between the two of them. Of course, in reality, the last thing she really wanted was to have left.

  Fowler may have initiated all of this, but in the end, Cord hadn’t trusted her enough to believe her admission of love. He’d trusted Fowler’s assumption of how she felt instead, and now their chance was gone forever. She’d have to come up with a way to let go of her feelings and move on.

  Even though right now, all she wanted to do was curl up and die.

  Chapter 17

  Working nine-to-ten-hour days didn’t allow Cord the luxury of wallowing in self-pity. If not for his job, he thought he might have gone crazy. He hadn’t known it was possible to miss someone so much it felt like a broken bone—an actual physical manifestation of his pain. For a distraction, he’d thrown himself into reviving his business. He’d worked the phones, renewed his contacts, and as a result had several new assignments. This was a tribute to how hard he’d been working during the week Piper had been gone.

  Success would have felt a hell of a lot better if he’d had Piper to celebrate with.

  Alone in his office, he glanced up when the door opened. When Fowler walked into his office, Cord nearly groaned out loud. His first reaction—shock—gave way to anger.

  “If you’re coming to gloat, don’t bother,” Cord said tiredly. “You won, you were right, and I did what you wanted.”

  “May I?” Fowler indicated the chair across from Cord’s desk. Cord jerked his head in a reluctant nod. Fowler could sit, but damned if he would offer the other man bourbon.

  “I didn’t come to gloat. I came to see how you were doing.”

  Hope flared, unbidden and unreasonable, but there nonetheless. “Did Piper send you to check on me?”

  Fowler shook his head, watching Cor
d closely. “No. I’m here of my own accord.”

  “What do you want?” Cord didn’t even attempt to modulate his flat tone.

  “I made a mistake,” Fowler admitted. His frank tone and the direct, unabashed way he met Cord’s eyes almost convinced Cord he meant it. Almost. Except men like Fowler always had an ulterior motive.

  Cord decided to play along, just to see where this led. “I’m listening.”

  “I wanted to talk to you about Piper.”

  Even her name brought a sharp stab of pain. “Why? She’s no longer with me. I sent her on to live her bigger and better life. At least tell me she’s happy there, back at Colton Valley Ranch.”

  “I can’t,” Fowler said. “Though I truly wish I could. But after Piper left you, she didn’t come back home.”

  “What?” Cord shoved up out of his chair. “Is she all right? What happened to her?”

  “She’s fine. Other than having the strangest hair cut and color I’ve ever seen. Sit back down.” Was that amusement curling one corner of Fowler’s mouth?

  Clenching his hands into fists, Cord suppressed the urge to punch the other man. Glaring, he took a moment to push his anger away. Finally, he dropped back into his seat. “Say what you have to say,” he ordered. “And then get the hell out.”

  Taking a deep breath, Fowler nodded. “I understand your anger. It’s well deserved. I wanted to let you know I was wrong. Piper didn’t want any of the things I thought she needed. She doesn’t care about the Colton lifestyle.” He took a deep breath. “Turns out, she only wanted you.”

  Stunned, Cord couldn’t find his voice for a moment. When he did, it came out in a croak. “Is this your idea of a cruel joke?”

  Fowler bowed his head. “No. Piper called me after you made her leave. We had quite an enlightening conversation. She told me she wasn’t coming home. That she loved you. And when she said she’d hoped since I’d discovered love with Tiffany, I’d understand, I realized I’d made a huge mistake. I never should have interfered in your relationship with her.”

  Fowler looked down at his hands, twisted together in his lap. “I’m sorry. If I can do anything to help fix it, let me know.”

  “Fix it? I think it’s broken beyond repair, Fowler.” Cord almost choked on the words. Wild pain, mingled with a desperate hope, warred inside him. “It’s been a week! I made Piper hate me. I convinced her that I didn’t want her or love her or even really care about what happened to her.”

  Anguish filling him, he stood, paced to the bookcase and returned to his desk, then dropped back into his chair. “I actually lied to her, Fowler. On purpose. She knows I usually don’t lie, so she believed me. But this time, I didn’t tell her the truth. I couldn’t, because I love her enough to want what’s best for her. And you convinced me she wanted more than I could ever give her.”

  “I know.” Fowler cocked his head, his expression pensive. “Though I have to say, it’s a measure of your lack of confidence in your relationship that you were so easily convinced of this. Why didn’t you think to actually ask her?”

  Cord cursed. Again he had to suppress the urge to throttle the other man. “Because I knew what she would say,” he snarled. “I knew she loved me. I broke her heart because I wanted—want—more than anything for her to be happy. You’ve got a hell of a nerve saying that to me after what you caused.”

  “You’re right,” Fowler said agreeably. “I probably shouldn’t have said that.” His tone softened. “Honestly, you have to find Piper and tell her all of that, not me.”

  “Find her? Again?”

  Fowler’s laugh grated on Cord’s nerve endings. “I’ll make it easy on you. I thought you might like to know where she’s living. Reid visited her and passed the information on to the family. I think even Whitney’s been over there or is planning to go soon.”

  “Please.” Heart pounding so loud he couldn’t hear, Cord handed Fowler a pen and a notepad. Fowler jotted down an address and slid the paper and pen across the desk to Cord.

  “There you go.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Standing, Fowler turned to go. As he opened the door, he glanced back across his shoulder at Cord. “And whatever you do, don’t mess this up.”

  With that parting shot, he left.

  Hands shaking, Cord pulled the address up in his phone. Out by Lake Whitney? Judging by the map, she’d rented one of the lakefront cabins that were so popular in the summer. Now, with winter knocking on the door and the Christmas holidays around the corner, she probably rented one for a song.

  He wasn’t usually a praying man, but he uttered a quick prayer as he locked up his office and headed for his truck. He prayed he could undo the damage he’d mistakenly done. And he prayed Piper loved him half as much as he loved her.

  The drive took him over the dam. Back when Sam was alive, the two had spent a lot of time fishing this lake. Sam had owned a little bass boat and loved taking Cord out and teaching him everything he knew about fish. While Cord enjoyed it, after Sam died he’d sold the boat and hadn’t been fishing since. Seeing the lake again, he thought it might be time to change that once he got the rest of his life in order.

  When he located the turnoff, the road changed from paved to gravel. As he turned down her street, he immediately spotted her car parked in the driveway of a tiny, wood frame cabin painted a deep red color. It made him smile because somehow, the place reminded him of Piper.

  Parking in front, he crossed the sidewalk and headed toward the front door. Since there didn’t appear to be a doorbell, he knocked. Inside, he could hear loud music playing. Something bluesy and slow. He could picture Piper dancing by herself to the seductive beat, and his mouth went dry.

  Taking a deep breath, he knocked again. This time, the music cut off. A moment later, Piper opened the door, just a crack. She stared at him, her expression neutral, her bright green gaze direct. “How did you find me?” Then she rolled her eyes. “I imagine Reid gave you my address.”

  The impact of her beauty slammed him in the gut. Somehow, he managed to answer. “No, it wasn’t Reid. Actually Fowler told me where I could find you. Can I come in?”

  “Fowler?” Despite her apparent shock, she made no move to open the door any wider. “That’s weird. And as for you coming in, I don’t think that’d be a good idea. What do you want, Cord?”

  “You,” he said. “I want you.”

  She froze. “For how long, this time? I don’t think you realize how badly you hurt me.”

  “Believe me, I do. Please, let me in.”

  Eyeing him while he stood on the doorstep feeling more exposed than he ever had in his life, she considered. Finally, she opened the door. “You’d better start explaining. And don’t try blaming all of this on Fowler.”

  Her words made him laugh. “I’ve missed you,” he said.

  Instead of responding in kind, she only folded her arms across her chest and waited.

  “Why didn’t you go home?” He knew the reason Fowler had given, but he wanted to hear what she had to say.

  “I don’t belong there anymore,” she said, without a trace of sadness. “Home is where the heart is, you know.”

  Was that an opening? Did she mean her heart was with him?

  Aching to touch her but not wanting to rush things, he took a step closer. She didn’t retreat. Instead, she held her ground, head high, eyes flashing. Fierce and independent, two of the many things he loved about her. His heart swelled.

  “I’ve been an idiotic fool,” he said, meaning it.

  “Agreed.” No hesitation there.

  Again he found himself smiling. “You know what? In the few minutes I’ve been here with you, I’m happier than I’ve been since you left.”

  “Since you threw me out, you mean.” Pain flashed in her eyes before she smoothed out her expression and sighed. “And since you claim you don’t lie, I have to take what you said at face value.”

  Desperate to make her understand, he swallowed
hard. “It seems I’ve been lying a lot lately. I lied to Fowler, and then to you. I knew the only way I could convince you to leave was to lie. So I told the whopper of them all.”

  “Because?” Her voice silky with exaggerated patience, she eyed him. “Look, Cord, I know Fowler somehow convinced you that I couldn’t be happy with you. He admitted as much. What I don’t understand is why you believed him.”

  Good question. All he had was the truth. “Because it made sense.”

  “No. Nothing about that makes the slightest bit of sense.”

  Now the time had come to lay himself bare, to strip away the confidence he presented to the world, leaving only what remained of the uncertain son of an alcoholic. He swallowed hard and met her gaze. “What he said played on my insecurities. Deep down, I guess I believed someone like me could never be good enough for someone like you.”

  Struggling to find the right words, he continued. “You came from wealth, a world of servants and chefs and designer clothes. I own a small farm and right now I struggle to pay the bills.”

  She shook her head. “None of that matters to me.”

  “But it might, as Fowler pointed out. In the future, someday after the newness wears off and our life isn’t as grand as the one you left behind. I couldn’t stand it if there came a time when you looked at me with bitterness for keeping you from the life you deserved.”

  Now she closed the distance between him, reaching up and cupping his face in her hands. “What about you, Cord Maxwell? What kind of life do you want and deserve?”

  Holding perfectly still, even though he ached to kiss her with every fiber of his being, he answered. “The kind of life with you in it.” He turned his head, kissing the palm of her hand instead. “Earlier, when I said I wanted you, you asked me for how long. The answer is forever, if you’ll have me.”

  Though he hadn’t planned this part, he dropped to one knee in front of her, still holding on to her hand. “Will you marry me, Piper? Become my wife and make me the happiest man in the world?” He didn’t have a ring, but if she accepted, he figured they’d pick one out together.