HOOKED ON YOU (Paradise Cove)

by Wilton, Patrice

  “As long as he treats you right, I’m all for it.” She hoped her mom never stopped giving love a chance. And at this rate, it seemed likely.

  “Thank you, dear.” Her mom put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry about Colt, honey. I know you’re hurting even though you never talk about it. What is he going to do if he doesn’t get custody?”

  “Move to Chicago to be close to his son.”

  Her mother was silent for several seconds. “He wouldn’t do that, would he?” Her eyes got misty and she sniffed. “What about you?”

  “What about me?” Taylor shrugged as if it didn’t matter. “It’s his son that’s important. We are fond of each other, but he’ll forget me soon enough.”

  “Oh, honey.” Anna put her glass down long enough to give her a hug.

  “It’s okay. I’ll survive. Got lots to do right here. Sure don’t need to be chasing after a man in Chicago.”

  “What if he asks you to go with him?”

  “He won’t, Mom.” The days of keeping her heartache to herself were over. It was a relief to share it now, and get it out in the open.

  Her eyes were dry as she said, “Colt asked me to marry him,” she held up a halting hand before her mom got too excited, “so we’d be a family. It was a desperate plea to save his son.” She swallowed. “Of course I turned him down, and haven’t spoken to him since.”

  “Oh, Taylor,” Anna said sadly. “No wonder the man never comes around anymore. Do you know what you did, honey? Have you any idea of how devastated he must be?”

  “What about me?” Taylor asked, angry. “He only asked me to marry him because of Jamie. He never once told me he loved me before this.” Although she’d felt his emotion when they’d made love, and in so many other ways.

  “What does your heart say?” Anna walked to where Taylor sat, and gently pushed aside a loose curl from her cheek.

  “My heart’s telling me to be patient.” Which was true. She added, “To wait for the right man to come along. Someone who loves me the way Sean loves Kayla, and both dads loved you!” Tears filled her eyes as she recalled the immediate regret in Colt’s gaze. “I want that kind of love, Mom. And I will damn well wait for it.”

  Her mom wrapped her in a hug. “And so you should. I might not have had that love for long, but in both cases, it was worth the heartache in the end.” Anna gave her shoulder a squeeze and then released Taylor to pick up the tray of warm appetizers. The show must go on, Taylor thought to herself.

  “Could you help me down to the pool with this? Our guests will be wondering what’s taking so long.” They had six cabins occupied and more guests arriving in a few days.

  “Of course.” She carried the pitcher of drinks down to the pool, then returned for the cheese platter. After greeting all the guests, she hurried back to the cottage to shower and change into shorts and a t-shirt for her play date with Meri. They had a small space set up for her with Play-Doh, wooden blocks and soft toys, and a magical doll house. A little girl’s dreams come true.

  There would be plenty of time later for her to grow up and realize that dreams didn’t last and happiness was as fragile as an over-full balloon one tap away from bursting.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Colt had a miserable week. Although miserable might be a mild description of the hell he’d been put through. First his wife tells him she’s taking his son away, then he gets a court order to defend a charge of battery—as if the guy didn’t deserve a good punch in the nose.

  Worse, he had made a real mess of things with Taylor. His stupid proposal, or whatever the hell it was, had wounded her deeply. On hindsight—and he’d had a lot of time to mull it over and dwell on it in his spare time—he’d realized that she’d been right. Marriage was something really special—not to be entered lightly or for the wrong reasons. And his had been all wrong. True, he’d done it nobly enough—wanting to keep his son from moving away and to create a home for him, a home with two parents who cared about him. Taylor had been instrumental in that part of the plan.

  Unfortunately, she didn’t realize how much he wanted that idyllic picture he’d painted. Wanted her. Because fool that he was, he’d never told her. Fact was, he hadn’t realized it himself. Not until he pissed her off good and she stormed out. And never came back. Didn’t call to ask how he was, how things were working out with Jamie. Nothing.

  Every minute of every day he’d relived those last awful moments. If he’d done something different, might there have been a better outcome? Had he gotten down on his knees and proposed properly, or swept her into his arms and proven his love once again? Every kiss had been heartfelt. Every touch he’d ever laid on her. Every smile, and hug, and caress had come with love.

  What were words anyway? Had he not shown her in dozens of ways how much he cared about her and her family? He loved them all, but he only wanted to marry her. Damn woman. He hadn’t wanted to get married again so soon. Heck, his divorce was not much more than a year ago. He’d been quite happy bedding every single girl in town. Visitors too.

  It had been good for a while, but then she’d caught his eye with her long-limbed gait and dancing eyes—the warmth of her smile, the music of her laughter. Suddenly everyone else had paled in comparison. They had been cheap substitutes for a woman he couldn’t have, and didn’t deserve.

  Bedding Taylor had been a big mistake. He knew that she wasn’t the kind of girl he could take to bed and not commit to. For many reasons—one being that he respected her so much, and her family. And two, she wasn’t the love ’em and leave ’em kind. She was a gal that would get so deep under his skin, he’d never get her out.

  Hell—he didn’t want her out. He wanted her to own his heart, to be so much a part of him that he couldn’t live or breathe without her.

  No one had ever mattered this much before. How foolish he’d been to hide himself from her, and not explain about his past. As if she’d care about the son-of-a-bitch he’d had for a father. She wouldn’t judge him for that. And she’d understand why material things held no allure for him. Sure he could become a private boat captain and be at the beck and call of some filthy rich billionaire, but he’d hate every damn minute of it. Taking the money would slowly rot away at his soul.

  Luckily, he’d been busy for most of the week taking her guests out on his boat. He’d avoided seeing her by parking his car in the marina lot, and not taking his normal route through the resort. He’d needed to work out a few things in his head, and to have all the answers when he saw her next.

  Well, he still didn’t have all the answers, but he knew one thing. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer. She was going to marry him, whether she liked it or not.

  He chuckled and ran a hand over his chin. Now, that would go down well. Matter-of-fact he couldn’t wait to tell her so and see the fire in her eyes, and the haughty look she’d give him.

  Tears sprang to his eyes. Damn he missed her. And he needed to tell her.

  An hour later, he was spruced up and drove over to Paradise Cove. He made his way to the pool, knowing that happy hour would be a good place to start the comeback trail. She wouldn’t put up a fight and kick him out—not in front of their guests.

  “Hey, Anna.” Colt swept a hand around Anna’s waist. “I don’t see Taylor. Is she coming back?”

  “Why, hello, Colt. We haven’t seen you here for awhile. Thought maybe you’d lost your way.”

  “No, ma’am.” He grinned. “I found it at last. Now I need to make my intentions clear. Where is she?”

  “At the cabin. With Meri. Miguel and Juanita have gone to the baseball game at the school. Taylor’s taking care of the baby.”

  “Ah. Two of my favorite people.” He winked at her. “I’ll just head over. Wish me luck.”

  “Luck.” She watched him leave, and he knew that he’d made one important women in his life happy. Now for the other.

  He knocked on the door, but knowing it was unlocked he opened up and entered.

  Taylor w
as sitting on the floor with Meri in her lap, playing with a couple of plastic dolls. The sight of her and the baby sent a low thrill riding through him. He wanted to see her with more babies of her own. She was so beautiful, inside and out, and would make a great mother too.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  Meri jumped out of her lap and came running into his arms. “Hug, hug,” she said, as he swung her up high, then cradled her against his chest.

  He walked slowly over to the woman he loved, who wore a scowl instead of a smile. He plopped down beside her, and settled Meri between them. “I came to see you. We have things to discuss.”

  “What kind of things?” Her beautiful eyes narrowed. “I thought I’d made myself perfectly clear.”

  “Uh. Yes, you did.” He flashed a smile, which wasn’t returned. “But in my haste, I didn’t.”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore. I understand what you have to do.” She refused to look at him, but played with the toy doll in her hand. “I’m sorry, Colt. I know leaving here will be hard for you.”

  “I’m not leaving. Matter-of-fact, on my way over here my lawyer called.” He grinned and bent over to kiss Meri. She had climbed back into his lap and was patting his cheeks with her plump small hands.

  “What did he say?” Suddenly Taylor looked at him with interest.

  “He said…” he held the baby’s hands in his, so he could focus on Taylor. “He said Sharon has agreed to let me keep Jamie, and she’d work out a plan where she could have him for the summer and holidays.” He kissed Meri’s little fingers. “She loves her son as much as I do, and knows he’ll be happier here with me.”

  “Oh, my gosh. That’s wonderful, Colt. I’m so happy for you.”

  “Yes. And I don’t have to go to jail either. She got Dennis to drop the charges.”

  “Wow. That’s really great news.” She stood up, and brushed Play-Doh from her shirt. “Want a drink to celebrate?”

  “Not yet.” He put the baby down and stood as well. He moved toward her. “I have more news for you.”

  “What’s that?” She stepped behind the kitchen counter to put some distance between them. But nothing was going to keep them apart. Not anymore.

  He stepped around the counter, and put his hands on her waist. “We’re getting married.”

  “What the hell do you mean?” Her head shot up, and her eyes flashed with anger.

  “Don’t swear around the child,” he said then bent his head and kissed her.

  “What are you doing?” She pushed at his shoulders, but he didn’t break away, only tightened his grip and pulled her in so his legs could straddle hers.

  “I mean that it’s time to admit defeat. You and I have been fighting this for darn near a year now, and I’m done fighting. I want you. Forever. I love you and you love me. We are good together.”

  “No.” She shook her head, her hair flying about her face. “We’re not.”

  “Yes, we are.” He cradled her head and looked deeply into her eyes. His heart thumped and swelled. He loved her so much and could only see pain and confusion in her beautiful dark eyes. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. So sorry for hurting you. For making you doubt me. This proposal is for real. I want you to be my wife. I want to wake up every day with you. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms. I love you and have never loved anyone more. I want to make babies with you.”

  “I…uh…don’t know what to say.” Her eyes filled with tears, and he kissed them away. Then he dropped to his knees before her.

  He looked up and reached for her hand. “Will you marry me, Taylor, and make my life whole again? I’m nothing without you. Say yes. Please say yes.”

  Meri had crawled over to him. She hugged him from behind, but his eyes were only on Taylor.

  Finally, the magnificent woman he adored smiled back at him and laughed. Then she bent down to kiss him. Her hands clasped behind his head and Colt could feel her tears on his cheeks. Her mouth was warm and sweet, and clung to his for so long he grew worried.

  He broke away, needing her answer. “Taylor, will you be my wife? Don’t make me wait any longer. I’ve waited my whole life for you.”

  “Then the answer is yes. I love you, Colt Travis, and will be very proud to be your wife.” She cocked her head to look him in the eyes. “What about Jamie? Is he on board with this?”

  “Jamie doesn’t know yet. But he will be pleased, since he already adores you.”

  “I adore him too. You know why I turned down your proposal, right? Not because of Jamie, but because I didn’t think your love was real.”

  “It’s real, baby. And I’ll spend my life proving it every single day.”

  Her eyes lit up. “One question. Can we have the reception here? At my cafe?”

  He laughed and kissed her again. “You can have the reception anywhere you want, but I thought it might be nice to take you to Europe for a honeymoon. There are a lot of places I want you to see, and a lot of stories I need to tell.”

  “Then we have the rest of our lives to hear them, don’t we?”

  “I guess we do. I haven’t always been a fisherman you know.”

  “Well, whatever you were, and the man you are now—one thing I know for sure. From your first dazzling smile, I was hooked on you.”

  He grinned, and kissed her nose. “Lucky me. You are the finest catch of all.”

  THE END

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Thank you for reading HOOKED ON YOU, and please take a moment to check out my other titles.

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  MORE BOOKS BY PATRICE WILTON

  REPLACING BARNIE

  book 1 in the Candy Bar series

  WHERE WISHES COME TRUE

  book 2 in the Candy Bar series

  NIGHT MUSIC

  book 3 in the Candy Bar series

  REVENGE IS SWEET

  single title Women’s Fiction

  CHAMPAGNE FOR TWO

  single title Contemporary Romance

  ALL OF ME

  single title Women’s Fiction

  CATERED AFFAIR

  single title Women’s Fiction

  A HERO LIES WITHIN

  Contemporary Romance

  HANDLE WITH CARE

  Contemporary Romance

  AT FIRST SIGHT

  Contemporary Romance

  SERENDIPITY FALLS

  Romantic-comedy–book 1 in the Serendipity Falls series

  WEDDING FEVER

  Romantic-comedy–book 2 in the Serendipity Falls series.

  LOVE STRUCK

  Romantic comedy–book 3 in the Serendipity Falls series

  TROUBLE IN VEGAS

  Romantic comedy–book 1 in the Vegas series

  A HOT NIGHT IN VEGAS

  Romantic comedy–book 2 in the Vegas series.

  PARADISE COVE

  first book in my new series

 

 

 
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